Khak L’Yisrael—signature of Rabbi Ishmael HaKohen of Tzfat. Livorno 1860.

Khak L’Yisrael—signature of Rabbi Ishmael HaKohen of Tzfat. Livorno 1860.
Volume 1: Khak L’Yisrael, Book of Exodus, with signatures of Rabbi Ishmael HaKohen, head of the Tzfat rabbinate, and of Rabbi Moshe Yaakov. Rabbi Ishmael HaKohen (1851-1929) was born in Yezed, Persia, the son of Rabbi Pinchas (known as the Mula HaMayon), the head of the Beit Din there. In 1871 he immigrated to Israel with his rich uncle (the Aja Humayon), who established a synagogue in Tzfat and supported talmidei chachamim including his nephew, who studied the Zohar and kabbalah there. He mentions his uncle in this book: “My righteous and yashar uncle…Aja Humayon…the young Yishmael HaKohen.” In 1906 he arose to serve as the Chief Rabbi of Tzfat, which he held (with a break for a number of years, when he served as Rabbi of Tiriya next to Izmir) until he was murdered in the events of 1929. There is an additional stamp and signature on the title page “Moshe Yaakov s”t.” This is another Tzfat rabbi, who signed the Letter of Tzfat Sages in favour of the Gabalya takkanah (see Takanot Chochmei Mekhnes, p. 300). On page 4 there is a 15-line gloss that seems probably to be in Rabbi Yishmael HaKohen’s handwriting. 200 leaves. Fair condition, moisture damage, stains. Volume 2: Khak L’Yisrael, Deuteronomy. More stamps of Rabbi Moshe Yaakov.