Manuscript, Siddur Kavanot HaRashash for Passover Night and the Counting of the Omer – Scribed by Rabbi Yitzchak ...

Manuscript, Siddur Kavanot HaRashash for Passover Night and the Counting of the Omer – Scribed by Rabbi Yitzchak Moshe Ferrera

Manuscript, Siddur Kavanot HaRashash for Passover and the Seder, and for the counting of the Omer, scribed by the kabbalist R. Yitzchak Moshe Ferrera. [Jerusalem, ca. 1890-1900].
Scribe's colophon on p. 120b: "Scribed by [---] Yitzchak Moshe Ferrera…". Marginal glosses in a different hand in several places.
At the foot of the first leaf, signatures in Ashkenazic script of the kabbalist R. Tzvi Aryeh Goldman of Mezeritch.
R. Yitzchak Moshe Ferrera (ca. 1840 – 1917), son of the renowned kabbalist R. Aharon Refael Chaim Moshe Ferrera (d. 1887, author of Toldot Aharon VeMoshe and Efer Moshe). As a child, he immigrated from Salonika to Jerusalem together with his father. A Jerusalem Torah scholar, and one of the elite kabbalists of the Beit El yeshiva. He would deliver sermons every night in the yeshiva for laymen in the Old City. He was one of the scribes of the Beit El yeshiva for kabbalists, copying the kabbalistic works of the Rashash and of his father. He earned a living from writing amulets. He authored several works of ethics in Ladino, and published his father's work Me'il Kodesh UBigdei Yesha (Jerusalem, 1888), with the addition of his profound kabbalistic comments.
R. Tzvi Aryeh Goldman of Mezeritch (d. 1916), a kabbalist and wondrous man. Since his childhood, he exhibited knowledge of wondrous matters. Upon immigrating in his youth to Eretz Israel, he immediately joined the Beit El yeshiva, where he was considered one of the elite kabbalists. He was held in very high esteem, and commonly referred to as "the White Angel" and "the Tall Tzadik". He authored: Cheshbon Pirtei HaMitzvot (Jerusalem, 1904), Derech Chaim, and other works.

125 leaves (including several blank leaves). 23 cm. Fair condition. Stains, including dampstains. Dark wine stains to first leaves (Passover Haggadah). Tears and wear. Open tears to several leaves, repaired with paper. First leaf detached. Early, particularly elegant gilt-decorated leather binding (owner's name in center deleted).

Provenance:
1. Kedem, Auction 46, 7 June 2015, lot 267.
2. The Gross Family Collection, Tel Aviv, EI.011.023.

Manuscripts of Siddur HaRashash in the Gross Family Collection
Siddur HaRashash was a siddur with kabbalistic kavanot based on the writings of the Arizal and R. Chaim Vital. The siddur was edited by the kabbalists of the Beit El yeshiva in Jerusalem, based on the siddur compiled by their teacher the Rashash – R. Shalom Mizrachi Sharabi, dean of the Beit El yeshiva in the mid-18th century. For many years, copyings of Siddur HaRashash were produced from accurate manuscripts proofread by the kabbalists in the yeshiva.
Prayer using the manuscripts of the siddur was the privilege of just a few kabbalists. In general, the kabbalists themselves produced various copyings of Siddur HaRashash for their personal use, or entrusted them to reliable kabbalists only. Each of these manuscripts bore the stamp of the kabbalist who copied it, through the emendations and additions he inserted.
For many years, the siddur was zealously and intentionally kept in manuscript form only, without being printed at all. Only in 1911-1912 did several Ashkenazi kabbalists of Yeshivat Shaar HaShamayim in Jerusalem finally initiate the printing of the siddur, and parts I and II were published. Parts III-IX were printed later, presumably in 1916.
The Beit El yeshiva of kabbalists, also known as Midrash HaChassidim or Kehal Chassidim, was founded in Jerusalem in 1737 by R. Gedalia Hayun, and was designated as a place for studying kabbalah. Ever since, the kabbalists of Jerusalem have gathered to study there, directed by foremost kabbalists. Of particular prominence were R. Shalom Sharabi (the Rashash), who headed the yeshiva, and his successor R. Yom Tov Algazi. Reputedly, R. Gershon of Kitov – brother-in-law of the Baal Shem Tov, also studied there. Following the passing of R. Chaim Avraham Gagin in 1848, R. Yedidia Refael Abulafia (1806-1869), was appointed in his stead, a position he held until his passing. R. Abulafia's disciples include the sons of Rebbe Moshe of Lelov; the Imrei Binah Rabbi of Jerusalem; R. Shalom Moshe Chai Gagin, who succeeded him as dean of the Beit El yeshiva; and others.
Presented here is a unique collection of manuscripts of Siddur HaRashash from the Gross Family Collection, which reflects the tradition of manuscript transmittal of the Siddur HaRashash amongst kabbalists. Some of the present siddurim were scribed by most prominent kabbalists of the Beit El yeshiva, including R. Yosef Edrehi (scribe of the Rashash), R. Yedidia Refael Abulafia, R. Nissim Zerachya Azulai (grandson of the Chida), R. Yitzchak Moshe Ferrera, R. Masoud HaKohen Alhadad, and others.
Regarding the development of Siddur HaRashash, see: R. Moshe Hillel, The Rashash's Meditation Prayer Books, Between Tradition and Innovation, in: Windows on Jewish Worlds, Essays in Honor of William Gross, ed. Shalom Sabar, Emile Schrijver, Falk Wiesemann, pp. 205-239. An addendum at the end lists the manuscripts of Siddur HaRashash found in the Gross Family Collection.