Letter handwritten and signed by the great Rabbi David Chassan, author of Kadshei David and Michtam L’David , primary disciple of Rabbi Chaim ben Attar, author of Ohr HaChaim .
The gaon Rabbi David Chassan was born in Salé, Morocco, where he became close to Rabbeinu, the author of Ohr HaChaim , and became his primary disciple. He ascended to Jerusalem with the Ohr HaChaim by way of Livorno, and he continued to serve him in the Land.
Rabbi David was considered one of the well-known and closest disciples of the Ohr HaChaim HaKadosh. In Shem HaGedolim , the Chid”a notes the fact that he was a disciple of the Ohr HaChaim (section 4, letter 18). Rabbi David is counted among the signatories, together with the group of disciples, on the introduction to Rishon L’Tziyon by their rabbi, the author of Ohr HaChaim .
After his rabbi’s passing, he remained on to study in the Knesset Yisrael yeshivah, which was established by the author of Ohr HaChaim . He eventually became the rosh yeshivah of Yepa’er Anavim. He traveled as an emissary to Italy in 1758 and again towards the end of his life. He passed away in Livorno in 1785. His son Rabbi Shlomo Chassan (son-in-law of the Mahari”t Algazi) published his important works posthumously: Kadshei David and Michtam L’David .
He mentions another disciple of the Ohr HaChaim’s in his letter: Rabbi Shem Tov Gabbai, who was also a signatory on the above-mentioned introduction.
[1] sheet of paper folded in two written leaves, 17×22 cm each. Oriental script; fine condition. Aging stains.