Obj. ID: 1542 JMP Fragment of Eliyahu Sinigo Esther Scroll, Italy, 1813/1814
2 image(s)
At present only one membrane of the scroll is preserved. It contains 8 panels with the benedictions, a portion of the piyut שושנת יעקב, the owner's inscription, and the first chapter of the Book of Esther. The first panel is narrower than all other panels in the membrane. The upper and lower margins as well as the spaces between the text panels are decorated with foliate and floral ornaments. In one place, a face (mask?) is depicted.
Initial and final benedictions, a liturgical poem "שושנת יעקב", owner's note, and a fragment of the Book of Esther (Es. 1:1-2:1).
Benedictions: The first two panels contain the benediction and a liturgical poem. Every benediction starts from an enlarged word ברוך that is written separately, on the right side. They are written with alef-lamed ligatures, and the Tetragrammaton is inscribed as two letters י and a sign resembling the top of the letter ל.
Megillah: The sheet contains the first 5 columns with the text of the Book of Esther with 12 lines each.
The text is inscribed in Italian Hebrew square script, in dark brown ink, on the flesh side of the parchment membrane.
The hair side of the membrane is rather yellow and hair traces are well visible on it.
The letter ח (Es. 1:6) is highlighted by its size (it is larger than an average letter in the sheet) and form (this is the only letter ח containing two elements joined with a roof).
The membranes in the scroll were stitched; the remains of the sewing are visible on the left edge of the membrane.
In the panel placed between the benediction panels and the beginning of the Book of Esther, a Hebrew inscription of the former owner of the manuscript is penned:
המגילה שלי אני אליהו בר משה מרדכי סיניגא שנת התקעד
"This is my megillah, I am Elijahu, son of Moses Mordecai Sinigo, in the year 5574 [1813/1814]"
The name of the scroll's owner derives from the name of the town Sinigo (Germ. Sinich), which is presently a district of Merano.
It can be assumed that this was an owner-made manuscript.
The former number of the manuscript is Ms 418.
Olga Sixtova, O svitku / Form of the Scroll [katalog k výstavě konané v Galerii Roberta Guttmanna Židovského muzea v Praze od 22. června do 26. července 2006], Praha 2006, 31.
Two images of the scroll are available on http://collections.jewishmuseum.cz/index.php/Detail/Object/Show/object_id/221268 (accessed on 21.10.2020).