Has not been Printed! Compilation of Sermons Handwritten by Rabbi Yisrael Ya'akov Algazi – Jerusalem, 1743-1745

Has not been Printed! Compilation of Sermons Handwritten by Rabbi Yisrael Ya'akov Algazi – Jerusalem, 1743-1745

Compilations of sermons handwritten by Rabbi Ya'akov Algazi, who delivered them in Jerusalem during the years 1743-1745.

Manuscript of ten leaves, [20] handwritten pages, autograph of the author – Rabbi Yisrael Ya'akov Algazi. Contain five sermons. The sermons before us were not printed. Three pages titled "Panim Yafot", apparently in preparation of a book titled "Panim Yafot", which Rabbi Yisrael Ya'akov lagazi had intended to write and publish and is not mentioned in the lists of books by Rabbi Yisrael Ya'akov Algazi.

At the beginning of the sermons it is written when and in whose honor they were delivered.

On the first leaf "A sermon I delivered here in Jerusalem in 1743 * on the fourth page "Parashat Ekev Tu BeAv 1743 in honor of Rabbi Raphael Trivish" * ([9]b) "A eulogy for Rabbi Raphael Trivish died … in Elul 1743" * on the ninth leaf "Sermon for Shabbat Teshuva 1743" * on leaf ten "A sermon I delivered in Jerusalem … for the sage Mahari Navon 1745".

Some of the sermons and eulogies begin with poetic, rhymed phrases taken from biblical verses and from the Talmud. In one of his sermons, the rabbi writes about being strict with restrictions and safeguards and Milei DeChassiduta:

"... עם סגולתו... אשר מדקדקים על עצמם במעשה המצוות וגוזרי' עליהם יותר ממה שגזר עליהם אשר זו הוראה עצומה היותם עובדים את ה' מאהבה... ובר מן דין האיש המיקל במילי דחסידותא ובמילי דרבנן עובר אדאורייתא... דהואיל ומתנהג בחסידות ומקדש עצמו במותר לו אם ישגה ח"ו יהי מהחסידות העודף על עיקרה של תורה וכדפי' ..."

Rabbi Yisrael Ya'akov Algazi (1680-1756) a genius, Mara DeAra DeYisrael, one of the leading sages of Jerusalem and one of the heads of the "Beit El" Kabbalistic Yeshiva with Rabbi Gedalya Chayun and the Rashash, one of the prominent Dayanim of Jerusalem. His compositions were accepted throughout the Jewish world as basic study books. He was called "Chassid" by everyone due to his Torah and Kabbalah greatness and his holy, Chassidic behavior and customs.

He was born in Izmir to his father Rabbi Yom Tov Algazi (the first) who was one of the sages and rabbis of Izmir. There he studied with the old Rabbi Chaim Ubilafia author of "Etz Chaim" and Rabbi Yitzchak Hacohen author of "Batei Kehunah". He cites them in his books. He oimmigrated to Jerusalem before 1733 (as indicated by his introduction to his book "Ar'ah DeRabanan" and by his books "Shemah Ya'akov" and "She'erit Ya'akov" in which his sermons from 1738 and 1738 were printed). In Jerusalem, he studied with the Rishon L'Zion Rabbi Eliezer Nachum author of "Chazon Nachum" and with the author of "Admat haKodesh" and the author of "Batei Kehuna" whom Rabbi Algazi replaced as Rosh Av Beit Din of Jerusalem and the Rishon L'Zion. In those days, he wrote responsa, which was considered an unimpeachable source. Some of it appears in his book the "Neot Ya;akov" Responsa and the "Mahari Algazi" Responsa. He signed leading regulations of the rabbis of Jerusalem.

In Jerusalem, he headed the "Neveh Shalom – Brit Avraham" Yeshiva and some of his disciples were leading sages, among them his son the Maharit Algazi, Rabbi Nissim beracha (the in-law of the Chida), Rabbi Yisrael Ya'akov Burla, Rabbi Ephraim navon, Rabbi Avraham Sasson (his son-in-law) and more. In Jerusalem, he delivered sermons every Sabbath, yet not voluntarily, as he wrote:

"כי מנעורי גדלני כאב עסק הגמרא ולא לבי הלך לעשות קבע מדרשות... אנכי בדרך נחני ה' לעלות אל המקום אשר בחר בו ה'... המה מרוב צדקתם וענוותנותם על לבושי יפילו גורל... לדרוש בקהל רב בשבתות ובחגים ובמועדים"

These sermons were printed in his books "Shema Ya'akov" and "She'erit Ya'akov", which were

distributed all over the world. Beside his being a Dayan, Rosh Yeshiva and Maggid Meisharim, he never ceased writing Torah novellae.

His composition: "Shalmei Tzibur – Shalmei Chagiga" (salonika, 1790); "Shema Yisrael – She'erit Ya'akov" (Kushta, 1735); "Ar'ah DeRabanan" (Kushta, 1735); "Emet L'Ya'akob" (Kushta, 1764); "Kohelet Ya'akov" (salonika, 1786); "Neot Ya'akov"; "Pnei Shabbat"; "Parpera'ot L'Chochmah"; "Kuntras HaSfeikot"; "Mahari Algazi Responsa"; "Sha'ar Bat Rabim"; "Ruach Ya'akov"; "Ayin Yaffa". Some of them were printed only recently; some have not yet been printed. Before us is part of the unknown composition "Panim Yafot". (The author's biography was taken from "Shalmei Tzibur", Ahavat Shalom, pp. 13-22).

[2] pp. 16cm. Good overall condition. Blemishes (restored) in the corners of several leaves, with omission of several words. New, elegant leather binding with an inscription.