Koheles Yaakov by Mahari Algazi, Rishon Letzion
With Dozens of Signed Glosses by Leading American Rav
First Edition, Salonika 1786
An alphabetical guide to concepts and principles found throughout Shas and the Poskim, divided into three sections, each with its own title: Tosefes Derabanan, Ma’aneh Lashon (itself subdivided into two sections: Lashon Chachamim and Lashon Bnei Adam), and Middos Chachamim.
Authored by the holy and pious Rishon Letzion, Rabbi Yisrael Yaakov Algazi, head of the Rabbanim of the Beis El Kabbalistic circle during the era of the Rashash.
Printed by his son and successor, Rabbi Yom Tov Algazi, Rishon Letzion, disciple of the Rashash and close friend of the Chida.
An important sefer.
The author,
Rabbi Yisrael Yaakov Algazi (1680–1756), was born in Izmir and studied under Rabbi Chaim Abulafia and Rabbi Yitzchak HaKohen Rappaport. He moved to Eretz Yisrael and, upon the passing of his teacher Rabbi Yitzchak HaKohen in 1755, succeeded him as Rishon Letzion until his own passing in 1756.
Salonika 1786. First Edition. Page Count: 212 leaves.
Condition: Good. Reinforcements to the title page and leaf 3b. Some stains. Regular binding.
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Throughout the leaves of the sefer are over 120 handwritten glosses, more than half of which are in the handwriting of
Rabbi Gavriel Zev Margolies of Horodna, an esteemed Rav in the United States, and son-in-law of the illustrious tzaddik Rabbi Nachumke of Horodna (primary Rebbi of the Chofetz Chaim). He was given semicha by the Netziv of Volozhin and served as Rav in several towns in Lithuania and its surroundings. Later, he immigrated to the United States, where he became one of its leading Rabbanim and oversaw Torah institutions in New York. He passed away in 1935 at the age of 87, and is known for his sefer ‘Toras Gavriel’ which he published during his lifetime in Jerusalem.
Most of Rabbi Gavriel Zev’s glosses are signed with his name or his initials “גז"מ”.
Some of the remaining glosses are signed “Menashe” or “מ"מ”, apparently referring to his son, Rabbi Menashe Margolies.
Leaf 137b features a gloss in Eastern script.
The opening leaves contain a signature in Eastern script: “Mordechai Ashkenazi.”
