Thick manuscript – approximately [120] leaves: Sifrei Eme”t [ספרי אמ”ת] – Iyov, Tehillim and Mishlei. With Meggilat Antiochus and the renowned translation by Rabbeinu Sa’adiah Gaon (without the commentary). Notes about the sources and Arabic explanations of the uncommon words. [Yemen, Sana’a, 1910s or 20s]. Among the fundamental sefarim in every Yemenite household until the previous century.
Manuscript of rare beauty, preserved to our day in excellent condition. The first word of each chapter is framed by decorations in purple ink. Each verse in Arabic translation is introduced with the first word only in the Hebrew original. These words were written entirely in purple ink.
The scribe’s stamp appears at the end of Mishlei: “Daoud Chaim Badichi …” This is probably R’ David Chaim Badichi of Sana’a, disciple of Rabbi Yichye Nissim Mansourah.
Rabbi Yosef Kapach, in his introduction to the translation and commentary by the Rasa”g to Iyov (Jerusalem, 1973), notes the manuscripts he used to evaluate and compare his edition. One of these manuscripts is a transcription of a manuscript acquired by merchants in 1929. Rabbi Yichye Kapach identified its importance and borrowed the manuscript from them, divided it into fifteen sections, and distributed these to fifteen students of Rabbi Yichye Nissim Mansourah, who transcribed it throughout a complete night. One of these disciples was David Chaim Badichi. This is another transcription of Targum Rasa”g for Iyov in his script.
The Badichi family is a renowned rabbinic family. The family name comes from the village Badiach in the Rada’a district. In the 19th century, the various branches of the family became concentrated primarily in Sana’a and the surrounding region. For more about the family, refer to Shemot HaMishpachah shel HaYehudim B’Teiman , pp. 78-79.
[239] written pages (the first eight leaves are numbered א-ח). High-quality paper, wide margins. 23.5 cm.
Very fine condition. Minimal stains and ink smudges. Very light usage marks. Original Yemenite leather binding with imprints. Abrasions and wear. Worn leather buckles. The corresponding part of the top buckle is missing.