Amazing Discovery: A Personal Handwritten Prayer Book, with Kabbalistic Customs and Influences by the Sage Rabbi ...

Amazing Discovery: A Personal Handwritten Prayer Book, with Kabbalistic Customs and Influences by the Sage Rabbi Avraham Hamuy of Aleppo, Whose Fascinating Image is Shrouded in Mystery.

A fascinating and unique miniature manuscript containing a special siddur for traveling and wandering. The manuscript appears to be a kuntras of Kabbalistic supplications and practices but differs from any other known prayer book.

It is very likely that Rabbi Hamuy (1838-1886) wrote the siddur for his own personal use during his extensive travels.

 The prayer book begins with blessings we say before Torah learning, the morning blessings, with interesting and captivating variations in the wording. For example, in the prayer "Elohai Neshamah" (My God, the soul), it is written as follows:

"Who am I that I merit to pray, whether little or much, if not in the merit of Your abundant mercies? Our God, the King of the world, the pure soul that You have placed within me, You created it, formed it, and breathed it into me, You guard it within me, and You are destined to take it from me and restore it to me in the future resurrection of the dead, I acknowledge before You, O Lord, my God and the God of my fathers, that You are the Master of all deeds, the Lord of all souls, the ruler over all creatures, alive and enduring forever, blessed You are God, who revives the dead."

Afterward, abbreviated versions of the regular prayers appear, as well as short original prayers. There are supplications to say before sleep and after reciting the bedtime Shema, a shortened version of the 18 benedictions, and more.

At the end of the manuscript, appears a colophon from the year 5641 (1880) in which the writer identifies himself as the emissary A.H. (Avraham Hamuy).

Comparing this manuscript to other known manuscripts reveals an extraordinary figure about whom little is known – Rabbi Avraham Hamuy – one of the sages of Aram Tzova (Aleppo) in the 19th century.

Rabbi Avraham Shalom Chai Hamuy was a Rabbi, Halakhic Posek, Kabbalist, polemicist, and journalist who authored some fifty books in various fields, sixteen of which were published. His persona has been largely unknown, and only in the past decade have details of his life and the scope of his writings begun to emerge.

Rabbi Hamuy's striking, multifaceted personality intrigued me, and I became convinced that the story of his life could reveal new perspectives on Sephardic Torah scholars in the nineteenth century. The biographical details of Rabbi Hamuy, who gained recognition through his published books, are still shrouded in obscurity, and our knowledge about him is limited. His persona elicits admiration for several reasons, including the innovative nature of his writings, the broad scope of his content due to his many wanderings, his eloquent writing style, and his resolute defense of his positions" (Dov Hakohen, "Shaliach La'atzmo" - Outlines of the Figure of Rabbi Avraham Hamoui).

Rabbi Avraham Chaim Hamuy was born in Haleb (Aleppo) on the 9th of Kislev, 5599 (1838), to a family affiliated with scholars. His father was a scholar and Kabbalist, and his mother was the daughter of Rabbi Yosef Sasson and, on her mother's side, the granddaughter of Rabbi Chalfon Kasachi, the father of Rabbis Shalom and Ezra Kasachi, all three of whom were prominent Rabbis in the city. He received his education in the local yeshivas, aside from learning with his father, he also studied Torah with Rabbi Rachamim Entebbe whom he called "Mori VeRabi" (my teacher and my rabbi), and with his uncle, Rabbi Shalom Kasachi, mentioned earlier.

In the early 1920s, at the age of 25, Rabbi Avraham Chaim traveled to Izmir in Turkey and studied with Rabbi Chaim Palaggi. At the age of 25, he returned to Haleb and married, but his marriage ended with his wife's death after only two years. Since then, Rabbi Avraham Chaim remained alone in his life, travelling traveling and living in an incredible array of cities throughout Europe, the Ottoman Empire, North Africa, and the Middle and Far East.

During his stay in the city of Marrakesh in Morocco, Rabbi Avraham Chaim witnessed a miracle when heavy rains fell and decrees imposed on the Jews of Marrakesh were annulled.

In all likelihood an unknown manuscript from a Jewish sage from Aleppo who wandered and traveled extensively, and whose image is fascinating and shrouded in mystery.