Two leaves of Torat Haim (Responsa of Haim Shabtai), Signed by the Author [Salonika:first half of the Seventeenth century]

2 leaves (8 x 5 1/2 in.; 204 x 140 mm), a single bifolio, written in ink on paper in a Sephardic semi-cursive Hebrew script. Upper margin with losses from wear and creases expertly repaired, though affecting some words. Author's signature; a few later markings and underlinings. Mylar sleeve.

Hayyim Shabbetai (1556-1647) served as the Chief Rabbi and head of the rabbinical academy of Salonika for forty years, after succeeding his teacher Aaron Sason in 1607. During his decades-long tenure, his students included a great many eminent Talmudic scholars and rabbis who would make their own marks across the Jewish world in the following generation. Shabtai was the author of many responsa and decisions, including the first responsum penned in reply to a query from the New World. The present lot comprises parts of sections 41 and 38 of the first volume of Torat Hayyim (Salonika:1713).  It is believed by scholars (based upon initials in a marginal gloss found here) that these particular leaves were copied by Shlomo HaLevi (1581-1634), one of Shabtai’s many disciples. The master himself affixed his signature at the end of section thirty-eight.