Manuscript, Anthology of Halachot, Zodiacs, Goralot, Amulets, Segulot and Cures – Illustrations and Ornaments – ...

Manuscript, Anthology of Halachot, Zodiacs, Goralot, Amulets, Segulot and Cures – Illustrations and Ornaments – Round Charts for Calculating Tekufot – Kurdistan, 1792

Manuscript, large anthology comprising a variety of works – halachot, zodiacs, goralot (lots), amulets, segulot, cures, and more. [Kurdistan?], 1792.
Neat semi-cursive Oriental script; with additions by various writers. Decorated title page. Ornamented initial words and borders, illustrations, tables and round charts – including a volvelle (movable wheel-chart) for calculating tekufot.
Decorated title page on p. 9a (preceded by several leaves with additions and tables of contents). The title page states: "Gelilei Zahav, a compilation… laws of shechitah… segulot… regarding plagues… moladot and Goral HaChol… sick people, and some other topics from Midrash Talpiot and segulot… begun in 1792…". The name "Zakai Chagai son of Chacham Mordechai" is inscribed within the hollow letters at the top of the title page. On verso of the title page, decorated page with the continuation of the title page text, stating the name of the writer of the manuscript – Zakai Chagai son of R. Mordechai (the name "Zakai Chagai" is written in small characters between the lines).
Each page of the manuscript is enclosed in a border, and divided into two columns: a wide column on the inside of each page, containing the text of various works, and a narrower column on the outside of the page. The narrow column contains occasional inscriptions, glosses and various additions, some inserted by the scribe of this manuscript, and some by later writers. Illustrations, diagrams, round charts and tables in several places. Including: illustrations clarifying the laws of shemittah; illustration of a palm of a hand for calculating tekufot (from the book Levush HaChur, section 428; adapted to the years 1790-1792 – the time of writing of the manuscript); on p. 61, paper volvelle for calculating years (sewn to the leaf at the center); on p. 98a, protection for a child with the figure of Lilith bound in chains; illustrations of amulets, angelic script, and more.
Ownership inscriptions, signatures and death records of various figures from different periods, including: "Date my brother was killed… Thursday, 7th Av 1799" (p. 9b, in the lower part of the title page border). Other inscriptions, apparently relating to the writer or owners of the manuscript: "Passing of my father Chacham Chagai… Elul 1829", "Passing… of Chacham Zakai… Rosh Chodesh Adar 1868…", "Passing of my mother… 1868", "Zakai son of R. Chagai".
There was a Kurdistani Chacham named R. Chagai; a wondrous story is retold of the Kiddush Hashem he caused when he promised the local ruler that rain would fall in the month of Nissan in a drought year (see: Yitzchak Tz. Mizrachi, R. Chagai Sanctifies G-d's Name, in Hed HaMizrach, year II, issue X, Cheshvan 1943). This may be Chacham Chagai mentioned here, or one of his relatives.
The anthology includes many segulot and cures, protections, hashbaot and amulet texts (some with illustrations and kabbalistic diagrams). See Hebrew description for examples. It comprises a wide range of works and topics, including: text of ordination for a shochet and laws of shechitah, texts of various legal documents dated 1792; annulling a ban; the angels who rule over the various days of the week and the 12 months; various works on the laws of shechitah and terefot (mentioning on p. 36a: "…my teacher and brother R. Shmuel Barzani" – prominent rabbi in Kurdistan) and many other works (see Hebrew description).

[157] leaves (including several blank leaves). Appears to be lacking several leaves. Approx. 20 cm. Fair-good condition. Stains and wear. Open tears to many leaves, affecting text. Leaves professionally restored with paper. Two detached leaves. New leather binding.

A similarly designed and ornamented manuscript, presumably by the same scribe, appears in the catalog The Jews of Kurdistan (curator: Ora Schwartz-Be'eri; Israel Museum, Jerusalem 2000) p. 211, from the Israel Museum collection (no. 180/86). There, the scribe was identified as "Meir son of Mordechai Yehuda", yet there was presumably a mistake in interpreting the calligraphic signature, and it should be read "Chagai son of the late R. Mordechai".
Provenance: The Gross Family Collection, Tel Aviv, KU.011.019.