Autograph 'Birkat Kohanim' by the 'Ben Ish Chai.' Baghdad, 19th Century

Autograph 'Birkat Kohanim' by the 'Ben Ish Chai.' Baghdad, 19th Century

"Yeverechecha Hash-m V'Yishmerecha ..."

Four handwritten pages by Rabbeinu Yosef Chaim, author of Ben Ish Chai, containing elucidations and commentary on the verses of Birkat Kohanim.

The manuscript contains wonderful commentary on the priestly blessing and additional verses of blessing. For example: (p. 1) "Ya'er Hash-m Panav Elecha" - Rabbi Yosef Chaim connects the reason that G-d will light up His face specifically to you ("Elecha") and not to the Gentiles with the concept that for the Jewish people, a good thought is added on to the deed itself, and with the segulah of the Oral Torah that was given only to the Jewish people. (Pages 3-4) elucidation on the verses of Psalms "Az Yimaleh Schok Pinu ... Hayinu Semechim," and "Mi Yiten M'Tziyon Yeshuat Yisrael" and ends the homiletic thought with the words "May G-d always help and protect and assist us, amen, ken yehi ratzon." At the end of the homiletic thought, there is a later addition, also handwritten by the author, on the reason that the verses of Birkat Kohanim increasingly expands - the first verse is made of 3 words, the second of 5 and the third of 7, - hinting at G-d's abundance, which increasingly expands. 

Manuscripts by the 'Ben Ish Chai' were known among Iraqi immigrants as a segulah for success and protection - especially the manuscript before us, which contains the priestly blessing and all possible words of blessing and commentaries on them handwritten by the head of the Diaspora, the author of Ben Ish Chai, and surely constitutes a segulah for one who owns it. 

Very fine condition. New leather binding.