Machzor for Yom Kippur – Venice, 1792 – With a Printed Leaf, "Prayer for VaYaavor" by the Or HaChaim HaKadosh – Unicum

Machzor for Yom Kippur – Venice, 1792 – With a Printed Leaf, "Prayer for VaYaavor" by the Or HaChaim HaKadosh – Unicum
Machzor for Yom Kippur, Sephardi rite, with prayers from the writings of the Arizal and from the book Chemdat Yamim. Venice, [1792].
Fine copy, with original leather binding.
A printed leaf entitled " Tefillah LeVayaavor" was attached to the front endpaper (with a metal pin). The leaf contains a prayer composed R. Chaim ibn Attar, the Or HaChaim, "to be recited on Yom Kippur while the cantor says VaYaavor". This is a prayer about the Shechina being in exile, and expresses the Jewish people's passionate desire and yearning for G-d.
The prayer first appeared in a small, rare booklet named Seder Tikkun Shovavim (on leaf 34) printed in Livorno in 1740, during the Or HaChaim's sojourn in Livorno on his way to Eretz Israel. The heading at the beginning of the prayer states that the prayer was composed by R. Chaim ben Attar, and is to be recited in the three prayers of Rosh Hashana at the end of the Amida prayer, before Elokai Netzor, and on Yom Kippur while the cantor is saying VaYaavor. The prayer quickly became widespread, and was printed in machzorim and siddurim in Italy and Turkey. Additionally, it was copied in many manuscripts, and eventually even printed in the Chassidic Berditchev siddur named Tefilla Yeshara Keter Nehora (due to the rarity of Seder Tikkun Shovavim, later copyists did not indicate that the prayer was intended also for Rosh Hashana, and they recorded it as a prayer for Yom Kippur only).
The prayer is quoted and mentioned several times in the books of R. Chaim Palachi. In his book Yimatzeh Chaim (section 3), R. Chaim Palachi writes: "On Yom Kippur after Musaf, when the cantor recites the final VaYaavor, one should recite this prayer composed by R. Chaim ibn Attar". In his book Moed LeKol Chai (section 19, 29), R. Chaim writes: "And I would recite it aloud following the conclusion of the Selichot of Musaf, prior to Kaddish". The Torah researcher R. Reuven Margolies writes regarding this prayer: "This prayer… is completely dedicated to G-d, without any physical requests…" (Margolies, Toldot Rabbenu Chaim ibn Attar, p. 25).
This leaf was printed alone, presumably in Livorno, close to the time of printing of this machzor. The leaf was not recorded in the Bibliography of the Hebrew Book, nor does it appear in the NLI catalog. To the best of our knowledge, this is the sole exemplar in the world of this leaf.
[1], 146-206, 193-352, 2 leaves + [1] printed leaf. 18.5 cm. Good condition. Stains. Worming to final leaves. Gilt edges. Original leather binding with gilt decorations, with damage. Wear and minor tears to the enclosed leaf.