Nishmat HaChaim Manuscript – Volume of Novellae by Rabbi Chaim Amram author of MiTa'am HaMelech – Lost Compositions ...

Nishmat HaChaim Manuscript – Volume of Novellae by Rabbi Chaim Amram author of MiTa'am HaMelech – Lost Compositions, not Printed
Nishman HaChaim manuscript – volume of novellae by Rabbi Chaim Amram. Damascus and Safed, 1788 and after.
Large manuscript composed of hundreds of leaves. Illustrated title pages and introductions handwritten and signed by the author. Many handwritten inscriptions in the handwriting of his son Rabbi Natan Amram. In one section he writes "This book of novellae and simple meaning and ways and jests and riddles and homiletics which I have written on the Talmud, on Torah verses and on the Nevi'im and Ketuvim".
From studying the manuscript it appears that this is a general notebook of novellae which the author wrote on various topics, from which his son Rabbi Natan Amram edited several works. Many inscriptions and titles of the names of works related to the novellae, some in the author's handwriting and some written by his son.
Most of the author's Torah was printed in his books MiTa'am HaMelech: Part 5 and Part 6 (Thessaloniki, 1829). Part 4 (Livorno, 1836). Part 2 (Thebes, 1908). Part 1 and Part 3 arranged for print were lost throughout the years. In the introduction by the author's son to his book Noam HaMidot, he relates of the loss of Part 3 of the book MiTa'am HaMelech and from his words we learn his method in editing his father's books. This is what he writes: "… It was lost by Rabbi the Emissary Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Ashkenazi when he went on the mission of the Rabbi of Jerusalem in 1832, I sent it with him to the city of Trieste, and after a while he informed me that it never reached him and woe to us is the loss. And the truth is that its source is included inside my father's holy writings nonetheless it entails much effort to compile it from its primary writing, and I toiled greatly until I arranged it in such a pleasing manner, G-d should remember me for the good". And indeed, this volumes is its "primary writing", many sections are inscribed "MiTa'am HaMelech Part 1" and "MiTa'am HaMelech Part 3".
This volume contains novellae on halacha and the Talmud, homiletics and explanations of the Bible and Chazal Agadot, explanations to Megillat Esther and the Passover Haggadah, jests [=opening to homiletics in rhyme and riddle] and many Cabalistic matters.
Apparently, most of the text of this manuscript has not yet been printed.
The names of works mentioned in the manuscript in titles as named by the author or his son:
* The six parts of his book MiTa'am HaMelech – only four were printed and two were lost. * Leshon Limudim. * Ma'aseh HaTzedaka. * Pri Shabbat on Tractate Shabbat and Kuntress Korban Shabbat. * Succat David on Tractate Succah. * Chanukat HaBait – on matters of Chanukah. * Pirsumei Nisa on matter of Purim and Kuntress Divrei HaPurim. * Chukat HaPesach and Korban Pesach. * Brit Olam on matters of circumcision. * Likutei Shas. * Likutei Tehillim and Likutei Tanach. * Other works.
During the editing, some of the names of the works were changed. But as already mentioned, most of the works were not yet printed.
Rabbi Chaim Amram (c. 1759-1825), was born in Safed and at the age of seven traveled to Damascus to study in the Beit Midrash of the rich descendants of the Farchi family, where the best students in the city gathered. In this yeshiva, he studied for 40 years and was renowned for his greatness. Eventually, Rabbi Chaim became the head of the Beit Midrash, a teacher and Dayan in the city's Beit Din. During these years, he wrote most of his works and became proficient in Kabala as well. In 1805, he returned to Safed and was one of its leading Torah scholars. In his later years, he moved to Alexandria in Egypt.
His father and uncles were leading Torah scholars in Safed and Damascus. In this manuscript, he mentions many things in the name of his father and his uncles and in the name of his grandfather [apparently, Rabbi Chaim Amram of Safed, one of the most prominent rabbis of his times. Died in 1760, and was buried in Tzippori].
His son is the renowned Rabbi Natan Amram (1790-1870) author of Kinyan Perot, Kinyan HaGuf and No'am HaMidot, emissary of Tiberias and Hebron. He expended great efforts in editing and printing his father's works and his own. From 1863, he was Rabbi in Alexandria (Thebes). While there, he tried very hard to print the rest of his father's books and even brought printing machinery to Thebes.
[4], 285 leaves. Approximately 24 cm. More than 550 closely written pages. Fair condition, wear and heavy moth damage. Some pages have fungus stains. New binding.