Physical Description:

Revised edition. [4], 159, [1] ff., octavo, 222:150 mm., wide margins, usual age staining, stamps. A very good copy bound in later boards, rubbed.

Detailed Description:   

On Talmudic methodology and the codifiers by R. Malachi ben Jacob ha-Kohen. This is the author’s most important work. In three parts, the first part and largest part of the book contains detailed descriptions of the principles of the Talmud in alphabetical order. It concludes with an index of the entries. Part two are the principles of the codifiers in chronological order, based on and described as the rules of the two ha-Talmudim, the Rif, Rambam, Rabad, Semag, Rosh, and others. The third part is principles of various laws in alphabetical order. Yad Malakhi has an approbation from R. Issachar Abulafia, and introductions from R. Elijah Ben Moses ha-Kohen, R. Abraham Hertz, who brought the book to press, and from the author. It is set in a single column in square letters.

R. Malachi ben Jacob ha-Kohen (d. 1785–1790) was an Italian scholar. Little is known of his life. He was the pupil of R. Abraham Hayyim Raphael Rodrigues and of the kabbalist R. Joseph Ergas, whom he succeeded as rabbi of Leghorn after the latter’s death in 1730. R. Malachi arranged R. Ergas' work Divrei Yosef for publication (Leghorn, 1742). He also drew up an order of service Shivhei Todah ("Praises of Thanksgiving"; Leghorn, 1744), for the 22nd day of Shevat, an annual fast day proclaimed to commemorate the rescue of the Leghorn community from the earthquake of 1742. He lived to an old age, dying in Tripoli, where he had apparently served as an emissary for Erez Israel. His novellae and responsa are found in the works of contemporary scholars. A manuscript of his responsa, Teshuvot Yad Malakhi, was published by E. Gruenhut in Ha-Me’assef, 5 (1900). R. Malachi was also a liturgical poet. He composed Sefer Shirei Zimrah, which includes poems and dirges, part of which was published by S. Bernstein (Mizrah u-Ma'arav, 3 (1929), 245–61). His poem written on the occasion of the inauguration of the synagogue in Leghorn in 1742 was also published in Piperno's Kol Ugav (Leghorn, 1846).

Hebrew Description:   

... נדפס פעם שנית עם כמה הוספות ותקונים (הגהות ותוספות... ר"י [ר' ישעיה] פיק ז"ל... אשר מצאתי בעקד הספרים הנקרא בריטיש מוזעאום בכתב ידו... המוציא לאור)... אפרים הערץ ממדינת שלעזיען... לפרט ולסדר לקח א'ת ספר ה'ת'ו'ר'ה' הזה [לפ"ג]

עם ההסכמות מן ההוצאה הראשונה. דף ו,א: הג"ה, מאת... מו"ה צבי (הירש [לוין]) ז"ל... אב"ד... בערלין... מצאתי מכ"י [מכתב-ידו]... בק"ק לונדון. [1] דף: קצת הגהות... מו"ה יצחק דוב הלוי [באמבערגער] ני' אב"ד דק"ק ווי"ב (ווירצבורג). בסופן הערה מאת המו"ל, אפרים הערץ.

References:  

BE; EJ; Landshuth, Ammudei, 173–6; S. Bernstein, Mi-Shirei Yisrael be-Italyah (1939), 81–86; N. Slouschz, Massa'i be-Erez Luv (1937), 246; J. Schirmann, Mivhar ha-Shirah ha-Ivrit be-Italyah (1934), 399–400; A. Toaff and A. Lattes, Gli Studi ebraici a Livorno (1909), 25ff; Bibliography of the Hebrew Book 1470-1960 #000302367