Sharabi, Shalom (Mizrachi). Sidur RaSHa”SH [Prayer book with kabbalistic meditations]

(KABBALAH)

(Jerusalem)

(Late 19th Century)

Four volumes. Written in several hands. On opening blank of Vol. I, stamps of previous owner, Alter Issachar Frankel of Jerusalem

A most impressive manuscript. The Siddur Rasha”sh contains innumerable kabbalistic meditations, many of them arranged in diagrammatic form. The prayers conducted in this manner tend to be quite lengthy, in order to provide time for the prayer leader to mentally engage all of the kavanoth or mystical intentions. Followers of these practices are known as “mekhavnim” (from the word “kavanah”) or meditators. The founder of this method of prayer, R. Shalom Sharabi (1720-1777), a native of Yemen, led the kabbalistic conventicle known as “Beth El” in Jerusalem. He was the teacher of the great Sephardic luminary R. Chaim Joseph David Azulai (Chid”a). See EJ, Vol. XIV, cols. 1307-8