Img. ID: 262155
The 14-chart calendar; squatting man; decorated calendar: The 14-chart calendar indicates in abbreviated form the main events of the Jewish ritual year which occur during each month of the 14 types of year. The calendar consists of 14 rectangular panels enclosing each 12 monthly roundels (MS I:22-28 – e.g. fig. 1) and a square panel enclosing 7 roundels representing the additional month of Adar of the 7 leap years of the 19-year cycle (MS I:29 – fig. 2).
The type of year is indicated above each panel by means of two Hebrew letters, and whether it is ordinary or leap. For example, the type, or "signature", of the first year (MS I:22 – fig. 1) is הך פשוטה, which means that in this ordinary year (פשוטה) the difference between this New Year’s day and the next New Year’s day is ה (5) days, and the kind of year is regular ך (כסדרה , of 354 days), thus the type of year is הך.
The roundels contain titles with the Hebrew month followed in brief by the holiday, the Torah reading and the other ritual events of that month. The roundels are inter-linked and coloured.
Fig. 3: Two Rampant Lions Flanking a Flowery Motif
Munich, BSB 394, MS I:29, detail
The square panel is decorated in the spandrels with a geometric motif and surmounted by two rampant lions flanking a flowery motif (fig. 3).
The man squatting on a stand below the square (fig. 4) separates the Hebrew calendar from the Christian one (see General Document: Summary and Remarks). A similar motif fills the blank space under an initial word (MS I:46v - fig. 5).
Fig. 4: Squatting Man Fig. 5: Squatting Man
MS I:29, detail MS I:46v, detail
In MS I:29 (fig. 4) the scribe explains that he is going to construct the Christian calendar by similar methods to the Hebrew calendar. On the right:
עד כאן כתבתי לך ופרשתי לך לחשוב המולד ולבחנו וגם לקבוע ר"ה (ראש השנה) ביומו ולקבוע השנה בקביעתן וגם לחשוב התקופה בכמה פנים
(So far I have written and explained to you how to calculate the molad [lunations] and to check it; to date New Year [molad Tishrei]; to fix the kevi'ah [type of year], and to calculate the tekufah [the seasonal change] in several ways). On the left:
והנה אכתוב לך ג"כ (גם כן) לידע לוח הגוים הנקראים נוצריים (כתוב: מצריים) ולידע יום קביעות המילה של ישו שהוא ר"ה שלהם הנקרא יארשטג בל"א (בלשון אשכנז) וה' חוגות של הקדושים שבכל שנה בקל לפי חדשי הלבנה שלנו
(And now I shall write for you also to understand the calendar of the gentiles called Christians (the text reads מצריים = Egyptians), and the details of Jesus' Circumcision day which is their New Year, called in German Jahrestag, as well as the five feasts [and] saints' days that occur every year, according to our lunar months (cf. MS II:91; Carlebach 2011:123-124, and fig. 5.1).
The hand of the Censor marked the items pertaining to the Christian calendar.