Elucidations on the Perek Shira and Medrash Yilamdeinu [Tanchuma] in the handwriting of Rabbi Mordechai Henna, dayan in Hamburg and author of Aggadat Mordechai.
Specifications: [10] pages. 16×20 cm. Autograph.
Content: The first six pages feature the commentary on Perek Shira. These pages are titled “Shir Chadash”, apparently the first name of the work. Rabbi Henna’s epitaph reads, “Shirat Mordechai al Aggadita D’Shirata.” The remaining four leaves are titled “Yilamdeinu;” he may have written a work with elucidations on the Medrash Tanchumah, which is also known as Medrash Yilamdeinu.
Background: Rabbi Mordechai Henna was a Rosh Yeshiva, dayan and darshan in Hamburg. He was a descendant of the Maharal of Prague and the Chavat Yair. In his first marriage, he was the son-in-law of Rabbi Shimshon Chassid, author of Nezirot Shimshon and mechuten with the Yaavetz. He supported him at the beginning of the controversy, until the printing of the Akitzat Akrav when he turned to support Rabbi Yehonatan Eibshutz. He was a dayan in Hamburg from 1724 until his death in 1777. Rabbi Mordechai was a prolific writer who authored twelve works on all subjects of the Torah. However, only his haggada was printed Aggadat Mordechai (Amsterdam, 1777), and other excerpts of his work were published in various journals. Refer to: Chachmei Ah”u, p. 43-45; and Moriah, sixth year, issue 7, (67) Tevet, 1976, p. 9-12.
Condition: Fine-very fine. Minimal stains. All legible.