Beit Avot - First Work by Rabbi Chaim Palagi - Copy that Belonged to a Gvir, a Friend of the Author's

Beit Avot - First Work by Rabbi Chaim Palagi - Copy that Belonged to a Gvir, a Friend of the Author's

Tractate Avot with two important commentaries: Beit Avot by Rabbeinu Menachem HaMe'iri, and Darkei Chayim by Rabbi Chaim Palagi, av beit din of Izmir. Salonika, Bezalel Ashkenazi Press, 1821. First edition, uncommon.

This is the first sefer by the gaon Rabbi Chaim Palagi from his lengthy series of sefarim. Yesha"i Chasidah numbers over seventy works from the Chabi"f's Torah, many of which were printed in his lifetime.

Notation on the title page: "Bought with funds from the gvir ... Rabbi Yosef HaKohen Chamtzi, for (the rabbi's) yeshivah." Rabbi Yosef HaKohen, one of the most prominent gvirim in Izmir, supported many charities from his own funds, and printed sefarim by sages of his generation. His father-in-law mentioned here is the gaon Rabbi Chaim Yitzchak Algazi. After Rabbi Chaim Yitzchak's passing, Rabbi Yosef founded a yeshivah in his memory.

Rabbi Chaim Palagi writes about him: "Yosef HaTzaddik, remembered for his goodness, the gvir, the lofty chacham, Rabbi Yosef HaKohen Chamtzi z"l, was very involved in charity to hundreds and thousands, especially with the talmidei chachamim, to whom he gave from his abundant mercy and chessed ... happy is he and happy is his lot, his reward will be complete in the world to come" (Tzedakah L'Chayim 1852 page 23b).

Antique leather binding with gilt imprint: "הגביר החה"מ כמוה"ר סי' יאודה מושקאטיל נר"ו".

Yisha"i Chasidah, Rabbi Chaim Palagi U'Sefarav 1.

[3] 187 leaf. 18.5 cm.

Moderate-fine condition. Minimal worming perforations. Usage marks and aging stains. The binding is chafed and partially disintegrated. Blemishes in the spine and the corners.