Halachic decisions compiled from the works of the early sages, organized per the Arba Turim with references and sources in the margins marking the works of adjudication and responsa, all by an unidentified author. The writer was apparently an Ashkenazic sage in Italy in the first half of the 16th century. This manuscript was owned by Rabbi Hillel Modena, son of the author of Maavar Yabok . It then moved to the library of Rabbi Avraham Yosef Shlomo Gorziano, known by his initials I”Sh G”R, noted Av Beit Din in Modena. It was never printed!
Specifications : [433] leaves! 34×23 cm. Thick, draft paper, the text is in print and the notes are in fluent Italian script.
Content: The primary focus of the manuscript is halachic rulings, however it also includes other works. The following are the titles listed by the author: 1) Sefer shel Dinim 2) Sefer HaMaamarim 3) Darchei HaTalmud – rules 4) Maamarei Rabboteinu – aggadah, faith, Jewish philosophy. 5) Dictionary for words of the Talmud, compiled from Rashi and HaAruch . Ends with the rules for calculating dates from Adam through the deluge.
The name of the author and time period is not mentioned in the manuscript. The latest work that he mentions is a manuscript responsum by Yaakov Weil Ashkenazi (Mahar”i Weil), Teshuvot Maharik , and Sefer HaAgur . This work was definitely written prior to the Beit Yosef (1550-1559) and the Shulchan Aruch (1565-1566), since he never mentions them.
It seems that most of the works he mentioned were manuscripts. He never mentions a page number and when he does mention a print he writes “Alfasi in print” or “Mordechai in print.”
The Sefer shel Dinim is based on the Mordechai, of which the the author used both editions (Rhenish/Austrian). He compiled comments on the Mordechai under the title Likutei HaGahot sheli al HaMordechai [my personal collection of comments on the Mordechai]. They include comments from a sage called Rabbi Belvitio Tzarfati, which are unknown from any other source. He then quotes from the Baalei HaTosfot, the Ri”f, Rashb”a, Ro”sh, Ra”n, Terumat HaDeshen, Teshuvot Mahara”m, HaGahot Maimoniot and other works by prominent early sages (Rokeach, Sma”g, Sma”k, Rabbeinu Yerucham, Manhig, Tanya, Kol Bo, Tur). His rich and varied library helped him write this large, comprehensive work. In addition to the noted classical works on which his work is based, he also had some uncommon treatises such as Sefer HaNiyar, Sefer Amarkal, Sefer HaMelamed and even Sefer HaMaskil which was only printed in current times.
He had an interesting style. He precedes quotes from early sages with the expression פוק חזי [go out and look] and concludes them with the interesting phrase וזיל קרי .
This is a work similar to the Beit Yosef , authored before Rabbi Yosef Karo penned his masterpiece .
Background: Rabbi Avraham Yosef Shlomo Graziano, the rabbi of Modena, known by his signature I”Sh G”R, was born c. 1520, in Pesaro. He was a disciple of his relative’s, Rabbi Netanel Tarbut, Av Beit Din of Modena, who appointed him as his successor in the Modena rabbinate. He served in this position from 1566 through his passing in 1585. I”Sh G”R was an outstanding adjudicator who answered halachic questions sent to him from all over Italy. In addition, he studied many aspects of the Jewish religion, primarily variations in laws and customs. He had a prominent library, the most significant in all of Italy. He would purchase libraries from the heirs of great rabbis, including acquiring the library of kabbalist Rabbi Aharon Berachyah of Modena, author of Maavar Yabok and his son Rabbi Hillel Modena.
This manuscript was purchased from Rabbi Hillel Modena, as stated on the first leaf:
“BS”D. This work, which teaches holy wisdom to people and discusses the truth of halachah, sefer hadinim and also sefer hamamarim and darchei hagemara, I purchased from Hillel … Aharon Berachyah of Modena ztzuk”l for sixteen Modena coins on Friday … 1542 in Modena, and the seller waived his fee … Avraham Yosef Shlomo.”
In addition to this note, he signed his name on a number of places in the manuscript, at the beginning and end of each work.
Rabbi Hillel Modena was the son of the Maavar Yavok , and named for his father’s teacher, Rabbi Hillel Modena. After his father’s passing, he headed the Torah study society that the Maavar Yavok established in Modena in 1613. (A resposum by Mahra”sh Abuhav regarding the recital of the 13 attributes on Hoshana Rabbah night was printed in Zecher David by Rabbi David Modena, article 3, chapter 83).
Censor signature at the beginning and end of the manuscript from 1598, 1623. At the beginning of the manuscript, I”Sh G”R comments on these authorizations: “Purified, as signed here on the bottom and at the end by the censors.”
Condition: Antiquated leather binding.
