Discovery of a Complete Unpublished Work from the Chachmei Djerba: ‘VaYosef Avraham’ by Rabbi Avraham HaKohen (Avrach)
Djerba, 1872
A large manuscript of over 400 pages, ‘VaYosef Avraham’, containing explanations and insights on various concepts across all areas of Torah, compiled from various seforim with additions from the author.
Written and signed by the author, the Gaon Rabbi Baruch Avraham HaKohen (Avrach), among the greatest of Djerba’s chachamim and uncle of the Raavad Rabbi Moshe Kalphon HaKohen.
The work is essentially an encyclopedia arranged alphabetically, containing many entries on Torah concepts. Within each entry, the author collected various sources discussing the topic.
Throughout the sefer there are many original passages from the author himself, as well as passages he brings from the chachamim of Djerba in his generation, such as Rabbi Chaim Churi (the Second) and Rabbi David HaKohen. On these passages he signed with this text (abbreviated): "This appears correct in my humble opinion, You in whom the orphan finds mercy, and if I erred, may the good Hashem atone for me."
This important manuscript was mentioned over a hundred years ago in the sefer ‘Shalom David’ Vol. 2 (Djerba, 1916) by his friend Rabbi David HaKohen. A few isolated passages from this volume were printed in that sefer, as mentioned in the introduction.
The vast majority of this manuscript has never been published!
Rabbi Baruch Avraham HaKohen, known as ‘Avrach’, was among the chachamim of Djerba in the 1800s, a primary talmid of Rabbi Chaim Churi the Second (as mentioned on page 107 in the manuscript), and a close friend of Rabbi David HaKohen Gisha, author of ‘Shalom David’. He was a great-grandson of Rabbi Nissim HaKohen, author of ‘Ma’aseh Nissim’ (Tunis, 1895). See about him: Sefer Malchei Tarshish, Section Kohen letter 5.
His nephew through his sister was the Gaon Rabbi Moshe Kalphon HaKohen, Raavad of Djerba (who printed a tiny portion of this manuscript in Sefer Shalom David as mentioned above).
Djerba, 1872
Page Count: [271] leaves, of which [407] pages are written. Several leaves were bound before the main text containing compilations from seforim and compilations from Rabbi David HaKohen’s manuscripts. Autographic writing, with additions and deletions.
Size: Approx. 17.5 cm.
Condition: Fair condition. Detached leaves and booklets. Holes. Tears, wear and signs of age. Damaged antique leather binding.
