Handwritten Leaf - Letter and Halachic Ruling Signed by Moroccan Rabbis - Rabbi Eliyahu HaTzarfati, Rabbi Refael ...

Handwritten Leaf - Letter and Halachic Ruling Signed by Moroccan Rabbis - Rabbi Eliyahu HaTzarfati, Rabbi Refael Oved Ibn Tzur and Rabbi Matitya Serrero - Fez, 1769
Handwritten leaf, letter and ruling signed by leading rabbis of Fez, Morocco: R. Eliyahu HaTzarfati, R. Refael Oved ibn Tzur and R. Matitya Serrero. Fez, [1769]. Regarding the estate of R. Yosef HaTzarfati (R. Eliyahu's father) and his family. The first part of the leaf contains a letter in Judeo-Arabic addressed to "our prominent friend R. Yosef Alshakar", dated Nissan [1769], bearing the calligraphic signature of R. Eliyahu HaTzarfati. The second part of the leaf, written concurrently, contains a halachic ruling with reference to the letter, signed by Fez rabbis: R. Refael Oved ibn Tzur and R. Matitya Serrero. This ruling discusses the "properties which were known to be of R. Yosef HaTzarfati… became a mound of earth and also the synagogue was reduced to a graveyard, and the Torah scholar whose signature appears here (apparently, R. Eliyahu HaTzarfati) did not inherit property or chattels from his father, the aforementioned R. Yosef…". R. Eliyahu HaTzarfati (1715-1805) was an eminent Moroccan rabbi and dayan in the city of Fez. He was a disciple of R. Chaim ibn Attar (the holy Or HaChaim) and of R. Yaakov ibn Tzur, the Yaavetz. The Chida, a contemporary of R. Eliyahu, refers to him with lofty titles in his book Shem HaGedolim (entry R. Vidal HaTzarfati), writing that he has heard that R. Eliyahu traces his genealogy fifteen generations back until Rabbeinu Tam, Rashi's grandson, and that he is a disciple of R. Chaim ibn Attar. R. Eliyahu was among the five leading Fez rabbis ordained by the Yaavetz, who were termed the "Beit Din of Five". These five rabbis led the Fez community and wrote hundreds of responsa and rulings, their authority reaching all Moroccan communities. The other four members of this "Beit Din" were R. Shaul ibn Danan, R. Refael Oved ibn Tzur, R. Matitya Serrero and R. Moshe ibn Zimra. R. Refael Oved ibn Tzur (1706-1769) was a prominent Moroccan rabbi, ordained by his father, the Yaavetz, and likewise appointed to the "Beit Din of Five" which led the Fez community. This leaf bears his signature from the year of his demise. R. Matitya Serrero (died 1786) was a leading Fez Torah scholar, maternal grandson of the Yaavetz. He too served as dayan in the aforementioned "Beit Din of Five". [1] double leaf. 25 cm. Fair-poor condition. Stains and signs of past dampness. Tears and worming, affecting text. Folding marks and wear.