First edition, [3], 22, 106, 48 ff., , 285:190 mm., wide margins, light age and damp staining old hand and notes on title and many margins, some minor worming. A very good copy bound in contemporary boards, rubbed.

The copy of with inscrition on title:

1. [13 verso, second count, signed note in margin] R. Abraham Ashkenazi, Rishon leTzion, (1813–1880). He was born at Janishar, near Salonica, in 1813. Aged fifteen, he was taken by his father to Jerusalem, where he studied rabbinical literature in the various colleges. The Turkish rabbis, in consulting him at the age of 35 on matters of religious law, addressed him as "Gaon." He authored several responsa and novellae.

In 1850, he was appointed dayyan (religious judge) of the Jewish community of Jerusalem with the support of both Sephardim and Ashkenazim. In 1857 he became the Av Beth Din (chief judge) and in 1869 the rabbis of Jerusalem elected him as their chief in succession to Haim David Hazzan, who died in that year. The sultan, in confirming Ashkenazi's election, conferred upon him the title of Hakam Bashi, whereby he became chief rabbi of Palestine, which post he held for about twelve years. The sultan also bestowed upon him the Order of the Medjidie; and Emperor Franz Josef of Austria, when at Jerusalem, decorated him with the Franz Josef medal.

The Tomb of Simeon the Just in Jerusalem was registered in his name. R. Ashkenazi was very popular among Christians and Muslims as well as among Jews; at his funeral most of the foreign consuls were present. He passed on at Jerusalem on January 22, 1880.

2. [Title] R. Jacob bin Nun (Benoun) signs המבי"ן. Refer to  biography in Yehudei haMizrah b-E.Y., vol 2, p. 711.

3. [Many margins] R. Abraham b. Bin Nun (d. 1887), son of above, signs marginal notes with his full name or initials אב"ן. Biographical note in ibid p.169; Zephunot 11, p. 10.

Responsa and novellae on the Talmud and the works of early halakhic authorities. R. Ephraim b. Aaron Navon (1677-1735), rabbi and halakhist. R. Navon was born in Constantinople, and emigrated to Jerusalem about 1700, together with his father-in-law, R. Judah Ergas. He returned to Turkey in 1721 as an emissary of Jerusalem. On the termination of his mission there in 1723, he was appointed a dayyan in the bet din of R. Judah Rosanes in Constantinople, and later received the appointment of rabbi. While in Constantinople, he continued to concern himself with the amelioration of the material conditions of the Jewish community of Jerusalem.

Hebrew Description

ספר מחנה אפרים : והוא חיבור ... משאלות ותשובות וחידושי דינים ... על סדר הרמב"ם ... הכינו וגם חקרו ... ר’ אפרים בכמה"ר אהרן נבון תנצב"ה. (וזאת ליאודה ויאמר, אותי צוה אדוני אבי ... להגיהו ולסדרו ... כל מקום שימצא המעיין כחצי עגולה ובתוכם א"ה וכו’ ממני יצאו הדברים).

בראש הספר הקדמת בן המחבר

ספירה אחרונה: "חידושי הרב המחבר ז"ל שנמצאו סביבות הרי"ף ומפרשיו ... סביבות המרדכי ... על הרמב"ם ומפרשיו ... על טור ... סביבות מהרדב"ז [שאלות ותשובות ר’ דוד בן זמרה] ... חידושים שנמצאו בגי[ליון] תשובות מהרימ"ט [ר’ יוסף מטראני]". בתוכם הובאו תשובת ר’ יעקב אלפאנדארי (בהלכות אישות סימן ד), ר’ משה הכהן (איסורי ביאה פרק יח) ור’ יהודה נבון, בן המחבר (מאכלות אסורות פרק יא).

Bibliography of the Hebrew Book 1470-1960 #000179298; EJ