Obj. ID: 44708
Hebrew Illuminated Manuscripts Cantor’s Siddur, Franconia (?), c. 1800
For the full scan of the manuscript, see the website of the Bavarian State Library.
The Siddur was written for synagogue use, with benedictions and prayers recited by the prayer leader, cantor and warden. There are also benedictions
recited by individuals ( פלוני , somebody) when called by name to read the Torah.
The floral motifs as well as the style (fig. 1) recall the decorative folk art practiced in South Germany at the end of the 18th and beginning of the 19th century. It resembles flowers decorating for example a cupboard apparently from Franconia, executed in 1808 (figs. 2-3).
5 image(s)
sub-set tree:
Note: there are two types of parchment: fols. 1-4 are pliable and seem to be vellum (quires: I-II). The rest (fols. 5-18; quires III-VIII) is stiff, yellowish and seems to be sheepskin. The quires are arranged according to Gregory’s rule.
Text space: (176-183) x (153-160) mm.
Well preserved except for some sheepskin stuck on the damaged first leaf (fol. 1), the text continued by the scribe. Parchment and text by our scribe stuck on fol. 11v, apparently replacing erroneous text. There are red stains on fol. 3-3v offset from the red painted flowers on the opposite page. There are brown stains on fols. 1-4, 8, 15v, apparently due to water.
Ashkenazi Siddur for the cantor and prayer leader, containing various prayers and benedictions recited in the Sabbath morning service after the haftarah of the Torah readings and before the musaf. The Siddur is not vocalised.
Fols. 1-2: Yekum Purkan ( יקום פורקן , May the blessing of Heaven …): two Aramaic blessings, one for the leaders of Israel, the second for the public.
Fols. 2-2v: Mi she-berakh ( מי שברך , The one who blessed): benediction for the public.
Fol. 3: Hanoten ( הנותן תשועה , The one who gives deliverance): prayer for the ruler.
Fols. 3v-4: Announcing the New Moon on the Sabbath before Rosh Hodesh, including mi she-assa ( מי שעשה , May He who wrought), and Yehadshehu ( יחדשהו הקב"ה , May the Holy one bless the new moon).
Fols. 4v-5: Av Harahamim ( אב הרחמים , Father of Mercies): prayer for martyrs recited on the Sabbath before Shavuot and Ninth Av.
Fol. 5: Mi she-berakh: recited on the Sabbath before the “Monday-Thursday-Monday” fasting days (abridged in Hebrew בה"ב ), which take place after each of the Three Pilgrim Festivals.
Fols. 5v-6: Mazkir Neshamot יזכור, מזכיר נשמות , in memoriam): recalling family members.
Fol. 7-7v: Mi-she-berakh: blessing for the rabbi of the congregation and for those who make donations to the synagogue during the Days of Owe.
Fols. 8-10: Haftarah for fast days and its preceding blessing.
Fols. 10-12v: Blessing following the haftarah for fast days, Sabbath, the Three Pilgrim Festivals and the High Holidays.
Fols. 12v-14v: Blessing before reading the Esther scroll on Purim.
Fols. 15-18v: A procedure for changing the name of the sick, to ensure long life.
Columns: The text is written in one column, framed by an ink line, except for fol. 13.
None.
The scribe has written titles at the top of some pages:
אב הרחמים שוכן מרומים, in faint red (fol. 4v);
מזכיר נשמות, in black ink (fol. 5v);
לימים נוראים, in black ink (fol. 7v).
19th-century yellowish leather (sheepskin?) on cardboard.
The decoration is limited to quires I and II and consists mainly of large floral motifs in red and green colours and brown ink:
I. Text illustration: crescent and full moon and stars (fol. 4)
II. Decorated end of text (fols. 1v-2, 2v).
• A note along the inner margin in faint ink, in illegible cursive script, probably 19th century (fol. 2).
• A red leather sticker with a gold inscription .יקום פורקן
• In pencil on front pastedown: Cod.hebr. 512.
• Acquired in 2012 by the library from Yehoshua Pierce, Lux Judaica, Luxembourg.
Jewish Treasures, Catalogue of Rare and Antique Hebrew books, Manuscripts, Judaica and Objects of Art (Auction No.1. Zurich, 13th December 2005), Cat.82.
Bibliotheks-Magazine, Mitteilungen aus den Staatsbibliotheken in Berlin und München, No. 1, 2013, pp. 6-7.