Handwritten and Autographed Letter from the Chida to his Son
A lengthy and previously unknown handwritten letter from Rabbi Chaim Yosef David Azulai, the Chida, to his oldest son Rabbi Raphael Yeshaya Azulai.
Rabbi Raphael Yeshaya’s name is alluded to cryptically at the beginning of the letter in the acronym: ברי"א מזליה. ברי"א stands for: Bni (my son) Raphael Yeshaya Azulai.
The Chida held his son Rabbi Raphael Yeshaya in high regard, showering him with fatherly love and admiration. His letters to him were filled with warmth and friendship.
At the beginning of this letter, he refers to him as ‘my light and my salvation, the delight of my heart and the light of my eyes’ and urges him not to neglect writing to him regularly about his well-being and the well-being of his family.
Among his words, the Chida encourages him to continue writing despite his distractions and troubles and even suggests that writing and sharing will help him cope.
Rabbi Chaim Yosef David Azulai (1724-1806) was one of the illustrious figures of the Jewish people, a great gaon and kabbalist, a student of the Rashash and the holy Ohr HaChaim, and among the greatest authors of all time. His many sefarim and works in all areas of Torah – halacha, commentary and kabbalah – were accepted throughout the Jewish diaspora and all Sephardic sages followed his rulings and teachings. It was said about him: "From Yosef [the author of the Shulchan Aruch] until Yosef there has not arisen one like Yosef."
Page Count: [1] leaf. 27 lines in the Chida’s beautiful handwriting with his impressive ornate signature.
Condition: Good.
To the best of Genazym’s knowledge, this letter has never been printed.
