Rambam
Fragment from
the Rambam”s commentary
on Mishnayos
Aden Yemen, 1222
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Only 18 years after the Rambam’s passing!
Folio of the Rambam’s Commentary on Mishnayos Inscribed by Saadia ben Khalfon El-Adani. Aden, Yemen, 1222
800 year old page from the Rambam’s commentary on Mishnah Seder Kodshim in his original Arabic. This manuscript was inscribed by the pious scribe Saadia ben Yichya ben Khalfon El-Adani of Aden, Yemen in the year 1222, only 18 years after the passing of the Rambam.
The present item is one of the earliest known Hebrew Yemenite manuscripts!
Double-sided handwritten leave of the commentary on Maseches Krisus contains the end of Ch. 5 and beginning of Ch. 6 , Page size: 20×17 cm.
Identification of the Manuscript.
The National Library in Berlin possesses a manuscript of the commentary on Mishnayos Seder Nezikin with a colophon proclaiming:
“With the help of Hashem, half of Seder Nezikin is complete… in the country of Aden… Written by Saadia the Scribe son of Yichya son of Rabbi Khalfon [who is[ known as El-Adani.”
The identical script, identical paper and other features of these folios indicate that these relics are parts of the above manuscript confirming the identity of the scribe and the time it was written.
The discovery and successful identification of ancient manuscripts, along with the identity of the scribe and year it was written, is a very rare phenomenon.
Genazym expresses its thanks to Professor Benjamin Richler for his efforts in identifying this manuscript. Another folio from this manuscript identified by the above, sold at the Kestenbaum Auction Lot 282 in March 2002 for $23,000!
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