Description of Aims and Content

The book: "Sefer Haner" on Tractate Shabbos.

The author: Rabbi Zechariah ben Yehuda Halevi of Agmat, Morocco. He lived in the time of the Rambam and
wrote this work in the years 4949-50 (1189-1190).

Outline of the work: A compendium of the commentaries of the Geonim and Rishonim on Massechet Shabbos
with the author’s additions. This work is the earliest known compendium of commentaries on the Talmud.
Preserved in this work are many important passages from Rabbi Sherira Gaon and Rabbi Hai Gaon, and from
other notable commentators that have survived nowhere else. Also, this book supplies many missing passages and
alternative texts of already publicized commentaries such as Rabbi Chananel and Rashi.

The Importance of this publication: "Sefer Haner" on Masseches Shabbos has never been printed or published
before, The vital importance of publicizing works by Geonim and Rishonim, especially those never published
before, is obvious, both because of their innovations, the new insight they shed on other Rishonim, and because of
their alternative Gemara texts. This edition of “Sefer Haner” sheds new light even on excerpts already published,
due to its alternative texts and passages that are missing in other versions.

The editing: I have invested much effort editing this book for over three years, including procuring a new
facsimile of the British Library manuscript, correction of copyists’ errors, emendations, comparison of variant
texts etc. What still remains to be done is translation of certain Arabic sections, final editing, the layout and
printing.

Introduction to Sefer Haner

"Sefer Haner" of Rabbi Zechariah of Aghmat, Morocco, is a compendium of excerpts from the Geonim and
Rishonim interspersed with his own comments. The work follows the order of the Gemara and the Rif. In his
introduction Rav Zechariah writes, "I lit a candle (to illuminate) the whole Great Halacha Work" (the Rif).
However, although much of the book discusses subjects found in the Rif and not in the Gemara, and although the
Rif is often quoted, most of the work concerns issues mentioned in the Gemara and not in the Rif.

The vital importance of publicizing works by Geonim and Rishonim, especially those never published before, is
obvious, both because of their innovations, the new insight they shed on other Rishonim, and because of their
alternative Gemara texts. All this applies no less to “Sefer Haner.” Even those parts of it already published will
now be better understood due to alternative texts and missing passages added in this new edition.

Little is known about its author. He in all probability came from Agmat, a town in Southern Morocco near
Marrakech. He began his work “in the year 1500 according to the dating of documents, and finished it in 1501.”
This corresponds to the years 4949-50 (1189-1190).

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 Description of Aims and Content

However, it is improbable that he composed his work on the entire Rif in one year. His comment probably refers
to his final draft or to one volume, or to the first tractate of his work. Scholars theorize that he studied in Moslem
Spain, a major Torah center in his time. This was common for Moroccan Torah students in those days and, in
addition, the author quotes Spanish sages such as the Ri Migash.

As mentioned earlier, Rav Zechariah writes, "I lit a candle (to illuminate) the whole Great Halacha Work." But
only six tractates of this work are still extant – Berachos, Shabbos, Eiruvin (all three in this manuscript) and the
three Bava Mesechtos (British Library Or. 10013). The Leningrad Library has a few pages of his commentary on
Berachos, and in a commentary on the Rambam (Ahava and Zemanim, Colombia m286) contains some excerpts
from his work on Berachos.

“Sefer Haner” on Tractate Moed Katan is mistakenly ascribed to Rav Zechariah, but it is not written in his style.
Rav Zechariah’s commentary on Berachos has been printed (Rabbi Meir David ben Shem 5718.1958), as has Bava
Kama (In the "Ohel Yeshayahu" journal edited by Rabbi Hillel Mann 5761/2001), Bava Metzia (in "Sakkosa
Leroshi" 5763/2003) and the beginning of Bava Basra (Rabbi Yekusiel Cohen 5748/1966). A facsimile of the
three Bavos has been printed (Yaakov Levin in "The British Quarterly 1932-3 vii).

Most of the excerpts of the Geonim in Masseches Shabbos have been printed in "Hadarom" (Volume 46
5738/1978) by Dr. Elazar Hurvitz. The commentaries of Rabbeinu Chananel it quotes were an important source
for the revised commentary of Rabbeinu Chananel on Massechet Shabbos produced by Wagshall Publishers. In
addition, other small excerpts of this work have been printed in various books and journals.

Our edition is based on the manuscript written in Sefardi script during the 14 th century of the British Library Or.
11361. It includes Rav Zechariah’s commentaries to Berachos, Shabbos, and Eiruvin.

In order to obtain the clearest and sharpest copy possible, I requested and obtained a new photocopy from the
British Library from the original manuscript. The existing microfilms contain many imperfections. Nevertheless
this best available copy still contains many inaccuracies and omissions. My principle concern has been to
reconstruct the original text. To achieve this goal every single amendment is clearly noted - even obvious ones
such as transposed letters and split words. Sources of the amendments are indicated.

Quotes in “Sefer Haner” that vary from the texts in common use today are indicated, as are sources that correlate
with these texts. Comments and explanations of my own have been added, but most of the book is self-
explanatory.