Tikun HaNefesh

MUSAFIA, ABRAHAM CHAI OF SPALATO AND JERUSALEM

Jerusalem

19th century

Manuscript on paper. 33 leaves (not including banks). Clear Sephardic cursive script

A work of ethics and Mussar tinged with kabblistic references to the Zohar pertaining to the learning of Torah, proper performance of the Mitzvoth, repentence, conceit and various other topics. R. Abraham Chai Musafia (known affectionately in Sephardic Rabbinic literature by his initials - ‘Achim’) was born in Jerusalem. He authored Tehilla Le-David, a commentary on Psalms (Livorno, 1867) and a number of Piyuttim (See Davidson, Otzar, Vol 4 p.355). He later succeeded his father as the Rabbi of the Croatian seaport of Spalato (Split). His father , R. Chaim Yitzchak is the author of an important work of responsa, Chaim VaChesed (Livorno, 1844). R. Chaim Yitzchak helped found Yeshivath Shevet Achim, the first Yeshiva for Bosnian and Croatian emigres residing in Jerusalem. For more information, see the introduction to Kapei Aaron, (Vol. 1, Jerusalem, 1874), by the Rosh HaYeshiva, R. Aaron Azriel; M. D. Gaon, Yehudei HaMizrach See Also: Be’Eretz Yisrael (Jerusalem) p.503; A.l. Frumkin and A. Rivlin, Toldot Chachmei Yerushalayim 3, p. 41; G. Pouzailov, Chachmeihen Shel Arba Arei Kodesh (Jerusalem 2002) p. 465. The author of the present manuscript apparently intended to write about issues concerning melancholy, desire and mercy, leaving chapter headings for these topics but apparently neglected to complete them. The title of the work and the author’s name were written on top of the first leaf and later excised.