Physical Description

Only edition. 4 [i.e. 6], 87 ff., 264:177 mm., nice margins, age and damp staining, old hands, worming, tears with small losses, bound in recent boards.

The copy of and inscriped by R. Israel Jacob b. Yom Tov Algazi (1680–1756), halakhic scholar and kabbalist, grandson of both R. (Nissim) Solomon Algazi and Joseph Hazzan. Probably born in Smyrna, R. Algazi lived in Safed, and for a few years, prior to 1730, in Smyrna. He was a member of a closed circle of kabbalists headed by R. Jacob Vilna. R. Algazi copied and published Hemdat Yamim (Smyrna, 1731–32), with many of his own glosses. By 1737 he was in Jerusalem and, a year later, dedicated "Neveh Shalom Berit Avraham," a yeshivah founded there for him. R. Algazi became head of Bet El, a bet midrash for pietists, and was consequently known as "the pietist rabbi." His was the first signature on the constitution of the kabbalistic group Ahavat Shalom. R. Algazi was appointed chief rabbi upon the death of his colleague, R. Isaac ha-Kohen (1755), but he died the following year. One of the most productive scholars of his time, he wrote many halakhic and homiletic works including: Emet le-Ya'akov (Constantinople, 1764) on the laws of Torah scrolls; Ara de-Rabbanan (ibid., 1745), reprinted with Judah Ayyash's commentary; Afra de-Ara (Leghorn, 1783), a methodology for Talmud and codes; Hug ha-Arez (Jerusalem, 1910; with addenda, 1927), on the laws of Purim; Ne'ot Ya'akov (Smyrna, 1767); Kehillat Ya'akov (Salonika, 1786), a methodology;sermons Part 1 Shema Ya'akov (Constantinople, 1745); and Part 2; She'erit Ya'akov (ibid., 1751). Some of his works are still in manuscript. R. H. J. D. Azulai, who knew him, condensed and completed R. Algazi's work, Emet le-Ya'akov, which he published under the title Le-David Emet (1786).

Detail Description

R. Baruch b. Solomon Kali (d. 1597), who studied under R. Aaron ben Hason, was rabbi of Siderocapsa, near Salonika. Mekor Barukh contains 61 responsa which consist of halakhic discussions with his teacher, and with R. Solomon Levi the Elder, in addition to those with his brother. He also wrote Arba Shitot, on four tractates of the Talmud, and left an unpublished volume of sermons on Sabbaths and festivals. Included are responsa by his brother R. Mordecai Kali, (1556–1647), Salonikan talmudist. The family name derives from Calatayud in Spain. R. Mordecai was born in Salonika, and also studied under R. Aaron ben Hason and Aaron Sason. His manuscripts were destroyed in the great fire in Salonika in 1625, but he resumed writing. He was known as a capable communal leader, being active in the ransoming of captives and other charitable and benevolent activities. Among his many disciples who later served as rabbis in the cities of Peloponnesus were R. Daniel Estrosa and R. David Conforte. R. Kalai is quoted by many of his contemporaries, including R. Joshua Handali, R. Hayyim Shabbetai (Maharhash), R. Judah Lerma, and by R. Solomon Levi and Joseph of Trani in their responsa.

Hebrew Description

להרב... ר' ברוך... בן... ר' שלמה קלעי זלה"ה והוא תשובות לשאלות... והובאו אל הדפוס בהשתדלות... ר' יצחק ישורון יצ"ו לבקשת... ר' שלמה קלעי יצ"ו בן... המחבר... הוגה... על ידי... ר' שמואל באלנסי יצ"ו. שנת א'ו'ת' ה'ו'א' לעולם

דף ב: הקדמה, מאת בן המחבר; התנצלות המגיה. דף ב-[ו]: מפתחות, עם הקדמה בראשם, מאת ר' שלמה ב"ר משה ן' עזרא. בין השאר הוא כותב: "ועשיתי... המפתחות... על סדר הארבעה טורים ... [וגם] נמצא בבית גנזי ג תשובו' הא' מהרב ... ר' אהרן ן' חסון ז"ל רבו של... המחבר... והא' להרב... ר' שלמה ן' חסון ז"ל והשלישית להרב כמה"ר מרדכי קלעי ז"ל אחי... המחבר... אמרתי... לעשות ולהדפיס תשובות אלו בסוף הספר". מר' אהרן ן' חסון ומר' מרדכי קלעי וגם מרבנים אחרים נדפסו תשובות בפנים הספר.

References

EJ; M. Benayahu, Rabbi H. Y. D. Azulai (Heb., 1959), 351ff.; Bibliography of the Hebrew Book 1470-1960 #000164529