Manuscript – Judeo-Arabic Piyyutim – Moroccan Emissary to Italy – 18th Century

Manuscript – Judeo-Arabic Piyyutim – Moroccan Emissary to Italy – 18th Century
Manuscript, Judeo-Arabic piyyutim and other subjects. [Morocco, c. 18th century].
Impressive compilation including many piyyutim, written in attractive western handwriting, by several writers (some earlier). Versions of amulets and segulot.
Owner's signature and inscriptions of Rabbi "Michael Machluf Ibn Avraham Alvan". Inscriptions of two circumcisions which took place in the city of Siena during 1824 and 1825 and another circumcision from 1826 in the city of Portoferraio. Several pages in Italian (accounting and poems). In another place is an inscription of circumcisions which took place in the city of Taroudant (the Souss region, Morocco) of the sons of Shlomo Azulai and Yosef Sa'adon.
Several piyyutim were composed by Rabbi Michael Alvan (in Hebrew): "Piyutim which I composed on the day I left the city of Marrakech …". An Italian poem (in Hebrew letters) appears in one place.
Rabbi Michael Machluf Alvan of Marrakech, was sent as an emissary from Morocco to Italy in 1817. While in Livorno, he was appointed emissary to Eretz Israel instead of Rabbi Yehuda Bibas who was old and weary and in this capacity he was swept up in a polemic. He also served as mohel and scribe (see illustrated amulet which he made – Kedem Auction 35, Item 5). See enclosed material.
Approximately 142 written leaves. 15 cm. Most leaves are in good condition, several leaves have tears and worming. Stains and wear. Ancient leather binding, with damages.