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Presentation copy, with inscription on title verso, of the Shai'urei Keneset Hagadola (R. Hayyim Benveniste, Constantinople 1617, 152 f.) to R. Jacob ibn Zur (Yavetz), Judge of the Rabbinical Court in Alexandria by R. Yom Tov Krispin. Notes throughout the volume are signed by the Yavetz and his great-grandson R. Shlomo Elijah ibn Zur (Shabatz). The Shabetz's signature appears five times on the title.
R. Jacob ibn Zur (Yavetz), (1673–1752), rabbi, scholar, and poet; born in Fez. Among his teachers were R. Menahem Serero and R. Vidal Zarfati. Oppressive taxation induced Ibn Zur to move to Meknes, where he became a member of the bet din of R. Judah ibn Attar. Between 1738 and 1740 he moved to Tetuan where he also served on the bet din. At an advanced age, he ordained five of his students, who later became known as the "Court of Five" (bet din shel hamishah). Ibn Zur's works include responsa of considerable historical value. Some were published in the collection Mishpat u-Zedakah be-Ya'akov (Alexandria, 1894). Others are found in the works of his contemporaries and several hundred remain unpublished. He also wrote Et le-Khol Hefez, a poetical miscellany (Alexandria, 1893).
R. Yom Tov Krispin of Jerusalem was a representative of the Hebron community in the early 18th century. Yaari in Shluchei Eretz Yisrael places him in Fez in 1718 and subsequently in a number of European cities. He was apparently well traveled and highly respected by the Rabbinate. This volume places him in Alexandria as well.
R. Shlomo Elijah ibn Zur (Shabetz, 1822-1873) was born and raised in Fez where he subsequently rose to the position of Judge in the Fez Rabbinical Court. Although some of his novellae and decisions were printed in various books, the majority remains in manuscript. |
