Manuscript, Anthology of Commentaries and Sermons on the Torah and Pirkei Avot – Midrashim and Tales, Segulot and ...

Manuscript, Anthology of Commentaries and Sermons on the Torah and Pirkei Avot – Midrashim and Tales, Segulot and Amulets – Iran, 1883-1885

Large manuscript volume, compendium of commentaries and sermons on the Torah and Pirkei Avot. Includes also: midrashim and tales, segulot and amulet texts, texts of legal documents and divorce documents, handwritten by R. David son of Reuven Guni. Shlaver (presumably Shalvar, North-Western Iran), [1883-1885].
Neat, semi-cursive Oriental script (typical of the Persian region). Headings and initial words in square script.
The main part of the work was written in 1883-1885. Chronogram in the preface, indicating the year 1884. At the end of the work on Pirkei Avot, colophon: "David son of Reuven, grandson of Binyamin, great-grandson of Rachamim, I began writing in Tammuz 1883, completed it in Shevat 1885…" (this colophon is followed by a quote from the Baal Shem Tov).
Later additions at the beginning and end of the manuscript: on the first leaf, title page with colorful ornaments (including birds, crowns and stars. The upper ornament is topped with a crown and crescent). Birth and death records are inscribed in the center of the page, including an inscription by the author R. David son of Reuven regarding his birth in 1849 and the birth of his son "Dada Reuven son of R. David" in Cheshvan 1875. Birth records of his grandsons, sons of Dada Reuven (in 1906-1911). A later inscription near the author's birth record: "Passed away on 28th Adar 1922". The first leaves (preceding the preface and the body of the work) contain amulet and goralot texts, with kabbalistic illustrations and diagrams, including Hamsas. On p. 2b, round chart "for a sick person to know if he will live or die".
The work is arranged in order of the Torah portions, with various texts scribed in separate columns on each page – three to eight texts per page. The work ends with: midrashim on the p+O44assing of Moshe Rabbenu, Midrash Tapuach (homily on a verse in Shir HaShirim), "The birth of the Arizal and his praises", and texts of ketubot and divorce documents. Further in the manuscript: Pirkei Avot with homilies on Tractate Avot, sermons for Shabbat and festivals, and tales ("Tale of Nitai HaArbeli" and "Tale of the horse").
On p. 3a, certificate of ordination for the shochet R. David son of Reuven of Shlaver – the writer of this manuscript – handwritten, signed and stamped by the emissary of Tiberias R. Eliyahu Adahan, shochet and bodek of Tiberias, dated Kislev 1885. Authorization of the ordination, handwritten and signed by R. Yechezkel Aharon Levi, dated Tevet 1887. Additional stamp: "Chacham Avraham son of R. Aharon – rabbi of Tafkam[?]".
Shlaver (שלאוויר), mentioned in the certificate of ordination on p. 3a as the city where the writer R. David son of Reuven Guni lived, is presumably Shalvar, North-Western Iran (close to Hamadan and Iranian Kurdistan). In his foreword, the writer writes how he devoted himself to compiling this book rather than to commerce, so as to have the merit of disseminating Torah to the public. He then lists the names of dozens of books from which the teachings in this manuscript are compiled – Midrashim and Torah commentaries, kabbalistic works and books of segulot.

[160] leaves (and several blank leaves). 34 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains and wear. Tears in several places, repaired with paper. Worming (primarily to binding). Original leather binding.

Provenance: The Gross Family Collection, Tel Aviv, KU.011.013.