Finding Aid for the Feldman collection of Hebrew manuscripts, ca. 1500-1950
Restrictions on Use and Reproduction
Provenance/Source of Acquisition
Other Index Terms Related to this Collection
Manuscript no. 1 Tzurat ha-aretz / The shape of the earth [between 16--? and 17--?]
Scope and Content Note
- Author: Ibn Ezra, Abraham ben Meïr, 1092-1167
- Language: Text in Hebrew
- Layout: Text within a ruled border of two double lines; average of 15 lines of text per page.
- Script: Cursive Hebrew script in black ink, diagrams in lighter ink. Ashkenazi.
- Binding: Bound in vellum, with blue and white paper spine labels.
- Additional description: Illustrations on ff. 9b, 10a, 10b, 11b, 13a, 14a, 14b, 17a, 28b, 30a, 31a, 42b, 45a, 49b 60b, 68b, 74a, 128b.
- Contents:
- ff. 4a-8a: Preface: a note from the author or scribe on the context and scope of the text;
- ff. 9a-38b: Chapter 1. The shape of the sky and earth from the firmament, cloud movements, and placement of sun's and stars' orbits;
- ff. 38a-57a: Chapter 2. The formation of star clusters and the movement of the sun;
- ff. 57b-75b: Chapter 3. The expanse of the moon and movement of the earth;
- ff. 75a-101b: Chapter 4. The sun and the light it produces;
- ff. 101b-109b: Chapter 7. The expanse of the stars;
- ff. 109b-113b: Chapter 8: "Order of the Moon," (ff 111a-111b) the moon's dissimilarity from other heavenly bodies; and how the stars remain hidden and are shown;
- ff. 113b-119a: Chapter 9: The measures of the earth;
- ff. 119a-127b: Chapter 10: Conclusion;
- ff. 129a-133b: Nine short numbered chapters on astronomy.
- ff. 134a-154b: Blank.
Manuscript no. 2 [Babylonian Talmud] [between 15--? and 17--?]
Scope and Content Note
- Language: Text in Hebrew
- Layout: Average of 25 lines of text per page.
- Script: Hebrew cursive script written in fine black ink. Ashkenazi.
- Additional description: Illustrations on ff. 34b, 105a, 123b, 125a, 129b, 130a, 131a, 192a, 193a, 193b, 194a, 195b. Notations in pencil: ff. 76a, 101a, 120a, 196a.
- Contents:
- ff. 1a-119b: Baba Meẓi'''a;
- ff. 121a-226b: Baba Batra;
- ff. 235a-250b: Baba Makhot;
- ff. 251a-288b: '''Abodah Zarahh.
Manuscript no. 3 Zebed ṭob / A goodly gift [18--?]
Scope and Content Note
- Author: Aharon Mosheh ben Mordekhai ben Ya'''ḥaḳov
- Scribe: Aaron Moses ben Mordecai, d. 1878
- Language: Text in Hebrew
- Layout: Average of 24 lines of text per page.
- Script: Hebrew cursive script. Ashkenazi.
- Binding: Severely deteriorated leather binding with leather ties; exposed boards and spine.
- Contents:
- ff. 1a-129a: Part 1. Perush Bereshit. Parashot: Bereshit, Noaḥ, Lekh Lekha, VaYera, Ḥayey Sarah, Toledot, VaYetse, VaYishlakh, VaYeshev, MiKets, VaYigash, and VaYeḥi.
- ff. 132a-168a: Part 2. Sefer nmala l-shavet (?).
Manuscript no. 4 To ''arim yushmu / Titles shall be bestowed [18--?]
Scope and Content Note
- Language: Text in Hebrew
- Layout: Average of 23 lines of text per page.
- Script: Fine Rashi Hebrew script.
- Binding: Brown speckled paper over boards; red leather spine with gilt title.
Manuscript no. 5 [Songs and liturgies] [18--?]
Scope and Content Note
- Language: Text in Hebrew
- Origin: [Italy?]
- Layout: Average of 18 lines of text per page.
- Script: Hebrew block script.
- Binding: Decorative green, red, and black wrappers; some leaves taped in. Vocalization on last work in blue ink; notations in pencil.
- Additional descriptive data: Leaf 1a signed in ink, "Carpi Bastante du Bened, 1864."
- Contents:
- ff. 1a: Inscription;
- ff. 2a-2b (laid in): Three liturgies, Tefilah, Tefilah le-mohel, and Brakhot;
- ff. 3a-4b: Purim poem with 5 rhyming stanzas per page;
- ff. 5a-8a: Sim'''ḥat Torah;
- ff. 9a-9b: Congregational prayer (incomplete?);
- ff. 12a-12b: Three liturgies, possibly by Hollan[d]er (ff. 12b).
Manuscript no. 6 Toldot / Biography [between 1740 and 1800]
Scope and Content Note
- Author: [David the Copyist]
- Language: Text in Hebrew
- Origin: Amsterdam
- Layout: Text within lined penciled rules; average of 23 lines of text per page.
- Script: Rashi Hebrew script in black ink.
- Binding: Stiff vellum; remnant of blue and white paper spine label.
- Additional description: Gift inscription, leaf 1b. Pages numbered in Arabic.
- Contents:
- ff. 1b: Inscription;
- ff. 2b: The life story of Moses Uri ha-Levi of blessed memory from Amsterdam;
- ff. 2a-8a: Biography of Moses Uri ha-Levi.
Manuscript no. 7 Sefer sod ha-Shem ... [et al.] / The secret of the Lord book ... [et al.] [1745-1828]
Scope and Content Note
- Author: David ben Aryeh Leib, of Lida, ca. 1650-1696
- Language: Text in Hebrew and German
- Origin: [Amsterdam]
- Layout: The printed text of Sefer sod ha-Shem varies in size and format, with up to three columns of text per page. The journal has five entries per page, with three lines of text per entry.
- Script: Printed text in Hebrew and Rashi script; manuscript in cursive Hebrew and German. Ashkenazi.
- Binding: Brown leather, stamped in gilt on cover and spine. White, green and red endpapers, gilt edges.
- Contents:
- Part 1:
- ff. 3a: Title page;
- ff. 4a: Preface;
- ff. 5a-12a: Secrets of the Lord;
- ff. 12a-19b: Food blessings;
- ff. 21a: Covenant of the Lord.
- Part 2:
- ff. 32a: Different methods of stopping the blood flow in circumcision;
- ff. 33b: Introductory note by the circumciser;
- ff. 32b-76a: Records of circumcision;
- ff. 76b-126: Blank.
- Part 1:
Manuscript no. 8 [Liturgies] [between 16--? and 17--?]
Scope and Content Note
- Language: Text in Hebrew
- Layout: Average of 22 lines of text per page.
- Binding: Brown stamped leather over wooden boards.
- Contents:
- ff. 2a: Preface;
- ff. 3a-71a: Poetry and liturgy;
- ff. 72a-79b: 'Ḳ'tzat sayad Yosef."
Manuscript no. 9 [Rectifications] [1816?]
Scope and Content Note
- Author: Uzziel, Moshe
- Language: Text in Hebrew
- Layout: Text in ruled pencil margins; average of 24 lines of text per page.
- Script: Cursive Hebrew.
- Binding: Brown and yellow paper wrappers.
Manuscript no. 10 Pilpul 'al zman zmanim zmaneihem / Polemic of the time of times and their times [between 1902-1908?]
Scope and Content Note
- Author: [Raffe, Jonah]
- Language: Text in Hebrew
- Origin: [Parma, Italy?]
- Layout: Average of 12 lines of text per page.
- Binding: Blue, black, and white marbled paper over boards; cloth spine.
- Additional description: German inscription on front endpapers.
- Contents:
- ff. 1a-55b: Discourse;
- ff. 56a-68: Blank leaves.
Manuscript no. 1 Beit Yehudah / House of Judah 1882
Scope and Content Note
- Author: Yehuda Ben Ben Tziun from Lazdi
- Language: Text in Hebrew
- Origin: [Lithuania]
- Layout: Average of 19 lines of text per page.
- Script: Hebrew cursive in fine black ink, with a strong slant. Ashkenazi.
- Binding: Half leather binding, with green and black speckled paper over boards.
- Additional description: Pages are numbered by Hebrew letters, beginning on leaf 3a.
- Contents:
- ff. 1a: Illustrated title page, "Beit Sh'''ni; Beit Yehudah; Etz Haim";
- ff. 2a-2b: Preface. The giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai and its significance to Israel and man;
- ff. 3a-46a: Commentary.
Manuscript no. 2 [Unidentified manuscript] [between 18--? and 1950]
Scope and Content Note
- Language: Text in Judeo-Arabic dialect
- Layout: Average of 16 lines per page.
- Script: Hebrew script written in fine black ink. Sephardi.
- Additional description: Blind stamp, "Bath" impressed on the bottom left corner of most leaves.
Manuscript no. 3 He lecha be' kitzur halacḥot heter ve-isur / Summary of Jewish laws on permission and prohibition [18--?]
Scope and Content Note
- Language: Text in Hebrew and Italian
- Origin: [Italy?]
- Layout: Average of 25 lines of text per page.
- Binding: Stiff paper boards stamped in a green and gold floral motif.
- Contents:
- ff. 1b: Inscription in Italian;
- ff. 2a-10b: Halach b-kituzr: The gullet, jaw, placebo, bowels, lungs, etc., also directions on what to do if cattle is pressed or eats poison, etc.
- ff. 11: Seder ha-nikkud be-kitzur: 10 concise points, including discussion of the head, forearm, shoulder, loin, spleen, kidney, etc.
Manuscript no. 4 [Homilies] [19--?]
Scope and Content Note
- Author: Glassberg, Benyamin Shlomo
- Language: Text in Hebrew and Yiddish
- Layout: Vol. 1 has an average of 19 lines of text per page; vol. 2 has an average of 22 lines of text per page.
- Script: Hebrew script in blue ink, with corrections in pencil. Ashkenazi.
- Bindings: Composition booklets.
- Contents:
- Volume 1:
- ff. 3a-16a: Genesis. Parashot: Bereshit, Noaḥ, Lekh Lekha, VaYera, ḥayey Sarah, Toledot, VaYetse, VaYishlakh, VaYeshev, MiKets, VaYigash, and VaYeḥi;
- ff. 17a-32a: Exodus. Parashot: Shemot, VaEra, Bo, BeShalakh, Yitro, Mishpaṭim, Terumah, Tetsaveh, Ki Tisa, VaYaḳhel, and Peḳudey;
- ff. 33a-46a: Leviticus. Parashot: VaYiḳra, Tsav, Shemini, Tazrỉa, Metsoŕa, Aḥarey [Mot], ḳedoshim, Emor, BeHar, and Beḥuḳotai;
- ff. 47a-58a: Weekly Torah readings in Numbers. Parashot: BeMidbar, Naso, BeHảalotekha, Shlaḥ, ḳoraḥ, ḥuḳat, Pinchas.
- Volume 2:
- ff. 1a: Personal preface with reasons for writings in Yiddish, and the author's signature;
- ff. 2b: List of subscribers;
- ff. 3a-59a: Deuteronomy. Parashot: Devarim, VaEtḥanan, ۢEkev, Rểۢeh, Shofṭim, Ki Tetse, Ki Tavo, Nitsavim, VaYelekh, Hẳۢazinu, and HaBeraḥah.
- Volume 1:
Manuscript no. 5 Shirim pizmonim / Melodious poems [between 1759 and 1802]
Scope and Content Note
- Author: Venṭura, Mimon Ben Yitzḥak
- Language: Text in Hebrew and Italian
- Origin: [Trieste, Italy?]
- Layout: Text within ruled pencil lines; average of 28 lines of text per page.
- Script: Neat Rashi Hebrew script and Italian in black and blue ink. Sephardi.
- Binding: Brown cloth stamped decoratively in black and gilt, with the cover title "Poesie." Gilt edging and white silk end papers.
- Additional description: Pencil inscription on front pastedown.
- Contents:
- ff. 1a: Title page;
- ff. 1b: Table of contents;
- ff. 2a-26a, 44b-59a: Assorted works and poems.
Manuscript no. 6 [Letter and poems] [between 18--? and 1885]
Scope and Content Note
- Language: Text in Hebrew and Italian
- Origin: Italy, Morocco
- Contents:
- ff. 1-5: Liturgy;
- ff. 6: Wedding poem for David Hon, son of Rabbi Eliyahu Hon;
- ff. 7-9: Liturgy;
- ff. 10a: Liturgy for circumcision;
- ff. 11-12: Liturgy;
- ff. 13: A wedding note;
- ff. 14: Letter by Moses Montefiore.
Manuscript nos. 7-8 Geschichte der familie Friedlander / A history of the Friedlander family [1920-1930?]
Scope and Content Note
- Author: Friedlander, Siegfried
- Language: Text in German
- Origin: [Germany, Potsdam?]
- Layout: Typescript, average of 39 lines of text per page.
- Binding: Composition books.
- Contents:
- Volume 1:
- ff. 2-4: Preface;
- ff. 4-13: Introduction, including mention of anti-Semitism;
- ff. 13-17: Von meinen vorfahren (My ancestors);
- ff. 17-18: Von meiner Urgrossmutter (My great-grandmother);
- ff. 18-19: Family names;
- ff. 20-53: Family history;
- ff. 64-107: Von meinem vater (Of my father);
- ff. 107-109: Von meinem mutter (Of my mother);
- ff.109-111: Von Tante Rosel (Of Aunt Rosel).
- Volume 2:
- ff. 1-111: Continued narrative on the Friedlander family.
- Volume 1:
Manuscript no. 9 G'lei َamichtah / Revelations of the deep [18--?]
Scope and Content Note
- Author: Luria, Isaac ben Solomon, 1534-1572
- Language: Text in Hebrew
- Origin: [Southern Italy?]
- Text: Average of 33 lines of text per page. Script: Mizraḣi Hebrew script used in southern Italy; black ink.
- Binding: Half leather binding with brown marbled paper; simple tooling on spine.
- Additional description: Illustrations on leaves 1b and 50a.
- Contents:
- ff. 1a-2a: Introduction;
- ff. 2a-315b: Cabalah.
Manuscript no. 10 [Prayer book] [between 18--? and 1950]
Scope and Content Note
- Language: Text in Arabic
- Layout: Text within ruled margins; average of 12 lines of text per page. Script: Arabic written in black, yellow, red and blue ink.
Manuscript no. 11 َ Ekvei hatzon / Footprints of the flock [1904]
Scope and Content Note
- Author: Michaelishak, Aaron
- Scribe: Hersh, Tsvi
- Language: Text in Hebrew
- Origin: Los Angeles, California
- Layout: Average of 20 lines of text per page.
- Script: Rashi Hebrew script in black ink.
- Binding: Black leather.
- Additional description: Title page in blue, black and red ink.
- Contents:
- ff. 2a: Title page;
- ff. 3a: Preface;
- ff. 4a-10a: Chapter 1 (aleph);
- ff. 10a-22b: Chapter 2 (bet);
- ff. 22b-34b: Chapter 3 (dalet);
- ff. 34b-41a: Chapter 4 (gimmel);
- ff. 41a-44b: Chapter 5 (heh);
- ff. 44b-48b: Chapter 6 (vav).
Manuscript no. 1 Festeggiandosi nel tempio Israelitico di Genova il centesimo anno di vita / Celebrating a century of life in the Jewish temple of Geneva 1884
Scope and Content Note
- Author: Finzi, Felice
- Language: Text in Italian and Hebrew
- Origin: Geneva, Italy
- Layout: Printed Italian text; handwritten Hebrew has an average of 30 lines of text per page, in columns.
- Script: Neat Hebrew script with vocalization.
- Binding: Red wrappers over stiff paper boards; embossed in gilt.
- Contents:
- ff. 1a: Title page;
- ff. 2a: Illustration of Moses;
- ff. 3a-4b: Speech in honor of Moshe Montefiore;
- ff. 5a: Poem in honor of Montefiore's birthday (Hebrew);
- ff. 6a-7a: Printed Italian version;
- ff. ff. 8a: Second poem in honor of Montefiore's birthday (Hebrew).
Manuscript no. 2 Familien-aufzeichnungen niedergeschrieben[?] [und] fortgesetzt / Family notes [19--]
Scope and Content Note
- Author: Adler, Nathan
- Language: Text in German and Hebrew
- Origin: [Germany?]
- Layout: Ruled paper; average of 23 lines of text per page.
- Script: German (Latin letters) in cursive script; Hebrew written in black block script.
- Binding: Half canvas composition booklet binding.
- Contents:
- ff. 1a: Author's note;
- ff. 2a-100b: Biography of family members, with family tree on ff. 6b-7a (page numbers marked 10-11);
- ff. 101a-129a: Blank pages;
- ff. 129b-134a: Eight poetic eulogies;
- ff. 135b-136a: A family chart tipped in, using Hebrew months, to record death dates.
Manuscript no. 3 Ḳol ََanot / Voice of lament 1886
Scope and Content Note
- Author: Fornari, Angelo
- Scribe: Tanuri, Mordeḥai
- Language: Text in Hebrew and Italian
- Origin: Rome
- Layout: Ruled pages, with 22 lines per page.
- Script: Hebrew and Italian cursive.
- Binding: Half canvas binding with brown, black and red wrappers over stiff paper boards.
- Additional description: Some leaves have been cut from the manuscript.
- Contents:
- ff. 1a: Title;
- ff. 4a: Second title page;
- ff. 5a-83b: Elegies and epigraphs in Hebrew and Italian.
Manuscript no. 4 Ḥidushim Beit YaḲov / Rectifications apropos the Congregation of Jacob [19--?]
Scope and Content Note
- Author: Gaguine, Shemtob, 1884-1953
- Language: Text in Hebrew
- Layout: Varied layout.
- Script: Rashi Hebrew script in multiple hands.
- Binding: Red, green, and purple Dutch marbled paper boards; white cloth spine.
Manuscript no. 5 Ṭiv shemot giṭin ... / Legal form of names for divorces and betrothals ... 1873
Scope and Content Note
- Author: Karasik, Dov Baer, of Krolevetz, fl. 19th cent.
- Language: Text in Hebrew
- Origin: Vilna, Lithuania
- Layout: Printed pages have average of 40 lines of text per page; manuscript pages have average of 33 lines of text per page.
- Script: Printed Rashi script, handwritten Ashkenazi.
- Binding: Burgundy cloth binding; detached spine.
- Contents:
- ff. 1a-1b: Preface. Explains the political situations which give rise to divorces;
- ff. 2a-2b: Title page;
- ff. 3a-3b: Braḥat Ha-yamim;
- ff. 4a-5a: Table of contents;
- ff. 6a-46b: Section 1. Names of men;
- ff. 47a-70a: Section 2. Divorce rules;
- ff. 70a-104a: Section 3. Names of women;
- ff. 104a-108b: Section 4. A compilation of the names of towns and rivers, copied from the writings of Rabbi Baal Damesak Eliezer;
- ff. 108b-114a: Section 5. Congregation of Samuel and regulations;
- ff. 114a-122a: Comments by Rabbi Menachem Mendell, including names of men and women;
- ff. 122a-128a: Questions and responses;
- ff. 128a-130b: Amendments and remedies;
- ff. 131a-131b: Divorce, incomplete.
Manuscript no. 6 Ḳ َarah kesef / Silver bowl 1814?
Scope and Content Note
- Author: Ha ٴizuvi, Yosef
- Language: Text in Hebrew
- Layout: Text within ruled borders; average of 22 lines of text per page.
- Script: Rashi Hebrew script, fully vocalized text.
- Binding: Pink and green floral wrappers over stiff paper boards, blue cloth spine.
- Contents:
- ff. 3a: Title page;
- ff. 3b: Introduction;
- ff. 4a: Mounted frontispiece;
- ff. 5a: Preface; start of first poem;
- ff. 5a-23a: Four poems.
Manuscript no. 7 Yamim noraim t َ ḥinah / Supplemental prayer book for the days preceding the high holidays 1837
Scope and Content Note
- Scribe: Kraus, David
- Language: Text in Hebrew and Yiddish
- Layout: Average of 29 lines of text per page.
- Script: Decorative Yiddish and Hebrew in fine black ink. Ashkenazi.
- Binding: Severely deteriorated blue, red, and cream marbled wrappers.
- Contents:
- ff. 1b: Gift inscription;
- ff. 2a: Title page;
- ff. 3a: Preface in Yiddish by the scribe;
- ff. 4a-36a: Prayers;
- ff. 36a: Hand painted floral illustration;
- ff. 37a-37b: Table of contents.
Manuscript no. 8 Evanim yَ Ḳarot / Precious stones 1878
Scope and Content Note
- Author: Belinfante, Isaac, d. 1780
- Language: Text in Hebrew
- Origin: Amsterdam
- Layout: Stanzas; average of 18 lines of text per page.
- Script: Hebrew script in fine black ink. Sephardi.
- Binding: Bound in contemporary cat's paw calf with gold tooling and two paper labels on spine; all edges stained blue.
Manuscript no. 9 Masekhet Purim / Purim tractate [between 18--? and 19--?]
Scope and Content Note
- Language: Text in Hebrew
- Origin: [Morocco]
- Layout: Text written within a ruled border; average of 15 lines per page.
- Script: Hebrew block script, fully vocalized.
- Binding: Faded green and pink wrappers with embossed floral design over stiff paper boards.
- Additional description: Purple ink stamp on front endpapers.
- Contents:
- ff. 2a: Title page;
- ff. 3a-8b: Chapter 1;
- ff. 8b-10a: Chapter 2;
- ff. 10-13b: Chapter 3;
- ff. 13b-15a: Chapter 4.
Manuscript no. 10 Tlunot bَnei adam / The complaints of man 1827
Scope and Content Note
- Author: [Visviah, Dov]
- Scribe: Tel, Ziskind Levi
- Language: Text in Hebrew
- Origin: Amsterdam
- Layout: Text neatly written with 2 pencil ruled margins on the right; average of 21 lines of text per page.
- Script: Cursive Hebrew. Ashkenazi.
- Binding: Speckled white and red wrappers.
- Contents:
- ff. 1a: Title page and dedication;
- ff. 2a-13b: Five works of liturgy.
Manuscript no. 11 [Sermons] 1863
Scope and Content Note
- Author: Gordon, L.
- Language: Text in Hebrew and Yiddish
- Origin: Radichov, Poland [Ukraine]
- Layout: Text written within printed blue lines; average of 16 lines per page.
- Script: Cursive Hebrew in fine black and blue ink.
- Binding: Yellow wrappers.
- Additional description: Notations in pencil and ink on front cover. Yiddish appears sparsely throughout text.
Manuscript no. 12 Ketubah shel Shavuَot / Contracts for the Feast of Tabernacles [between 17--? and 18--?]
Scope and Content Note
- Language: Text in Hebrew
- Origin: [Italy?]
- Layout: Average of 13 lines of text per page.
- Script: Hebrew block script.
- Binding: Vellum over stiff paper boards.
- Contents:
- ff. 2a-14a: Liturgy 1, written for the first day of the Giving of the Torah for Shavuۢot;
- ff. 14a-20a: Liturgy 2, written for the second day of the Giving of the Torah for Shavuۢot;
- ff. 20a-26a: Liturgy 3, written for the Giving of the Torah for Shavuۢot to the taking out of the Torah;
- ff. 27a-28a: Liturgy 4, untitled piece on receiving the Torah on Mount Sinai.
Manuscript no. 13 M َaseh gadol ve-norah min Rabbi Yosef Della Reina / The great and awesome tale of Rabbi Joseph Della Reina [between 17--? and 18--?]
Scope and Content Note
- Language: Text in Hebrew
- Layout: Average of 20 lines of text per page.
- Script: Hebrew script in bold black ink. Ashkenazi.
- Binding: Severely deteriorated wrappers with embossed floral motif.
Manuscript no. 14 [Certificate ... et al.] 1843-1857
Scope and Content Note
- Language: Text in Hebrew and Italian
- Origin: Ancona, Italy
- Layout: Part 1: average of 25 lines of text per page; Part 2: 35 lines from ff. 6a-7a.
- Script: Hebrew in bold and fine ink; cursive Italian on ff. 3b. Ashkenazi.
- Binding: Red wrappers.
- Additional description: Oval green ink stamps throughout manuscript. Creased.
- Contents:
- ff. 1a-4a: Four certificates of ritual slaughter for Yitzḥak Eliah Yekhiel;
- ff. 7a-8a: A teaching on the ritual slaughter of fowl.
Manuscript no. 15 Mikhtav le-David / A letter to David 1744
Scope and Content Note
- Author: Ḳorinaldi, Daṿid Ḥayim, d. 1771.
- Scribe: Lampronti, Isaac Hezekiah ben Samuel, 1679-1756.
- Language: Text in Hebrew
- Origin: Rovigo, Italy
- Layout: Average of 33 lines of text per page.
- Script: Neat, fine Hebrew script.
Manuscript no. 1 Sefer ha-praṬei kol / Book of all details 1919
Scope and Content Note
- Language: Text in Hebrew and Yiddish
- Origin: [Plainfield, New Jersey]
- Layout: Text on printed lined paper; average of 37 lines of text per page.
- Script: Hebrew script written in black and blue ink.
- Modifications of text almost all in pencil. Ashkenazi.
- Binding: Cream canvas wrappers over boards with red tips; stamped in black; raised bands on spine.
- Contents:
- ff. 1b-37b: Thirty-three entries dated 1919 June 12 to 1920 July 24. Includes prose, poetry, a list of addresses and names, and drafts to an introduction;
- ff. 38a-38b: Preface to Ha-Sefer Ha-Levi no. 2;
- ff. 38b-43a: Several pages of Ha-Sefer Ha-Levi no. 2;
- ff. 43a: Poem(s), El ha-ḥolmim (To the sick);
- ff.43b-44a: A discussion about Jewish obligations;
- ff. 44b: On the idea of work;
- ff.45a: Six terse paragraphs on Socialism;
- ff.46a: Poem, addresses Israel, Zion, etc.;
- ff. 46b: Three paragraphs on ethics;
- ff. 48a-51a: On reformed Judaism;
- ff. 52b-76b: On defining Judaism;
- ff. 77a-81b: On religious groups in Israel;
- ff. 82a-88b: On the Destruction of the Temple, the Talmud period and the first Christians;
- ff. 88b-89a: On the Mishnah;
- ff. 89b-90b: On Jews and Christians in the time of Constantine;
- ff. 91a-91a: On the Talmud;
- ff. 92a: A list of names from Beit Hilel;
- ff. 92b: Julian the Atheist and the Jews;
- ff. 92b-93a: A survey of the Jewish situation after the Talmud;
- ff. 94a-94b: A general look on the people of Israel, the Destruction, and the Diaspora;
- ff. 95b: On the Battle between Jews and Christians;
- ff. 96a-97b: Further discussion on the Jewish situation;
- ff. 98a: On the role of Hebrew literature ;
- ff. 98b: On the first poets;
- ff. 99a: On explaining the Talmud;
- ff. 99b-100b: On the beginnings of objections to the Torah and the Talmud;
- ff. 101a-116a: Religious discourse and essays;
- ff. 116a-140b: Poems;
- ff. 141a-152b: 12 leaves clipped to the manuscript, dated 1884 and 1915 March 22. Poems, letters, and receipts by Eliah Rabbah.
- Back pastedown: Table of contents for poems.
Manuscript no. 2 [Tree of life ... et al.] [between 16--? and 1800]
Scope and Content Note
- Author: Vital, Ḥayyim ben Joseph, 1542 or 3-1620
- Language: Text in Hebrew
- Layout: Average of 38 lines of text per page.
- Script: Hebrew script in fine black ink. Ashkenazi.
- Binding: Red and black wrappers over boards with a burgundy canvas spine; black fore-edge.
- Additional description: Illustrations on ff. 244a, 245b. Some pages show evidence of conservation.
- Contents:
- ff. 1-208b: Section 1, Pri ՛՛՛֨ۢetz ḥaim;
- ff. 209a-383b: Section 2, ՛՛՛֨ۢ Etz ḥaim.
Manuscript no. 1 [Talmud : commentary] [18--?]
Scope and Content Note
- Author: [Hurvitz, Tsvi Hirsh Ben-Pin?as?]
- Language: Text in Hebrew
- Origin: [Germany]
- Layout: Average of 50 lines of text per page.
- Script: Hebrew script written in black ink. Ashkenazi.
- Binding: Severely deteriorated brown leather binding; exposed spine.
Manuscript no. 2 [Bible : Torah] [between 16--? and 18--?]
Scope and Content Note
- Language: Text in Hebrew
- Layout: Text written within decorative borders of marginalia; average of 20 lines of text per page.
- Script: Main text in bold, block Yemenite script; marginalia in fine hand.
- Additional description: Many pages have been mended and repaired; evidence of conservation.
- Contents:
- ff. 1a-5b: Preface: four parts meticulously outlining the contents of the manuscript;
- ff. 6a: Title page of the first volume, with letter "aleph" and Aramaic "ḥadah";
- ff. 6b-155b: Genesis, Exodus, and Leviticus (incomplete) with commentary.
Manuscript no. 3 Sefer refaot / Medicinal book 1742
Scope and Content Note
- Scribe: Yehuda, Ben-Aharon
- Language: Text in Hebrew
- Layout: Average of 31 lines of text per page.
- Script: Yemenite Hebrew script in bold black ink.
- Binding: Brown and red marbled paper over boards; red leather spine.
- Additional description: The original title and chapter numbers have been erased (ff. 2a).
- Contents:
- Part 1:
- ff. 1a-21b: Encyclopedia of 22 sections listed from aleph (1) to tav (22) which give information about natural substances, such as pepper, clay, cinnamon, oil, and cactus. Natural substances are categorized according to name, so "pilpel" (pepper), for example, is under section "pe" ("P");
- ff. 22a-34a: Review of how sick or wounded peoples, including Rabbis, were treated with natural medicines;
- ff. 35a: List of 30 vegetables and shrubs with short descriptions;
- ff. 36a-59b: Encyclopedia of 22 sections listed from aleph (1) to tav (22) which give information about foods;
- ff. 59b: Scribe's note, stating the manuscript he copied was completed on the 6th day of Nisan in the year 1047.
- Part 2:
- ff. 60a: Author's note;
- ff. 63b: A list giving information about trees and their fruits;
- ff. 63b: Sefer ՛֨ۢarugat ha-boshem (Flowerbeds of fragrance). Incomplete with only one introductory paragraph.
- Part 1:
Manuscript no. 1 [Commonplace book] [191-?]
Scope and Content Note
- Author: Bénoliel, Joseph
- Language: Text in Spanish, French and Hebrew
- Origin: Lisbonne, Portugal ; Tangier, Morocco
- Layout: Average of 22 lines of text per page.
- Script: Spanish and French in Latin letters, Hebrew written in fine black ink with editing in pencil and pen.
- Binding: Half canvas faux-leather binding, with black and red speckled paper over boards.
- Additional description: Extensive editing and notations, several pages cut out; page numbers begin from the left to accommodate non-Hebrew works.
- Contents:
- ff. 1a-5a: Spanish poem, "Raquel llorando la perdida de sus hijos" (Raquel is mourning the loss of her children);
- ff. 6a-10a : Hebrew document sent by Felix Qareca for the author to translate;
- ff. 11b-17b: Thirty four poems in Spanish with a modest translation into Hebrew for the first five poems;
- ff. 18a-160a: Essays in French
- ff. 179b-237b: Two versions of a Hebrew speech, "Mlitza le-Sefer ḳahelet";
- ff. 238a-240b: Miscellany.
Manuscript no. 2 [Eulogy to Rabbi Haim Avraham Yakov Israel] [between 16--? and 1800]
Scope and Content Note
- Author: Viṭerbi, Mordeḥai Raphel Samson Tzemaḥ
- Language: Text in Hebrew
- Origin: [Italy]
- Layout: Average of 18 lines of text per page.
- Script: Hebrew block script in fine black ink.
Manuscript no. 3 [Joseph Bénoliel papers] 1892-1954
Scope and Content Note
- Language: Text in French, Spanish, Portuguese and Hebrew
- Origin: Lisbonne, Portugal
Manuscript no. 4 [Jewish law : questions and answers] [between 17--? and 18--?]
Scope and Content Note
- Language: Text in Hebrew and Italian
- Origin: Italy
- Script: Hebrew and Italian cursive, written in fine black ink.
Manuscript no. 5 Tehilim le-yom ha-shabat kerekh aleph / Liturgy for Sabbath 1911
Scope and Content Note
- Language: Text in Hebrew
- Origin: [Morocco]
- Layout: Text is within ruled impressions; average of 9 lines of text per page.
- Script: Large Ashkenazi block script in bold black ink.
- Binding: Black leather binding.
Manuscript no. 6 Mishnayot / Verbal doctrines 1909
Scope and Content Note
- Language: Text in Hebrew
- Origin: [Morocco]
- Layout: Text is within ruled impressions; average of 9 lines of text per page.
- Script: Large Ashkenazi block script in bold black ink.
- Binding: Black leather binding.
- Contents:
- ff. 1a: Title page and table of contents. "V-aelu ha-dvarim" (And these are the words) refers to Part 1; "Zeۢat batim" (Sweat of peoples) refers to Part 2; "ḥavit sh՛֨ۢnishbrah" (Vessel that was broken) refers to Part 3;
- ff. 2a-11a: Part 1, "Dmai pereḳ bet" (Our blood);
- ff. 12a-31a: Part 2, "Maḥshirin pereḳ aleph" (Preparatory acts);
- ff. 32a-42a: Part 3.
Manuscript no. 7 Ḳabalat Shabat / Liturgies welcoming the Sabbath 1911
Scope and Content Note
- Language: Text in Hebrew and Aramaic
- Origin: [Morocco]
- Layout: Text is within ruled impressions; average of 9 lines of text per page.
- Script: Large Ashkenazi block script in bold black ink.
- Binding: Black leather binding with brown cloth spine; spine partially exposed.
Manuscript no. 1 Dimَei k-maَyan / My tears as a fountain [between 16-- and 18--?]
Scope and Content Note
- Language: Text in Hebrew and Arabic-Judeo dialect
- Layout: Average of 20 lines of text per page.
- Script: Yemenite script in bold black ink.
- Binding: Brown leather, blind stamped, with leather ties; pink, purple and blue endpapers.
- Additional description: Evidence of mending and conservation.
- Contents:
- ff. 3a-7b: Introduction;
- ff. 9a-185a: Poems;
- ff. 185b: Miscellany.
Manuscript no. 2 [Literagy for the Jewish High Holy days] [between 16--? and 18--?]
Scope and Content Note
- Scribe: Yaḳov ḥiraḳ, Yosef
- Language: Text in Hebrew
- Layout: Average of 22 lines of text per page.
- Script: Yemenite script in bold black ink.
- Binding: Brown leather tooled binding with leather ties.
- Additional description: Leaves show evidence of mending and conservation.
- Contents:
- ff. 1a: Introduction;
- ff. 2a-6a: Commands and prohibitions in honor of Rabbi Solomon Ben Gabriel;
- ff. 7a-22a: Prayers from the beginning of the month of Alul to the Day of Atonement;
- ff. 22b-34b: Seven days of Hoshanot prayers till Succoth;
- ff. 34b-40a: Prayers for Simḥat Torah;
- ff. 40a-43b: Brakha Le-Rabim;
- ff. 44a-44b: Tiḳun Ha-ṭal for the first day of Passover;
- ff. 44b-45b: Tiḳun Ha-Geshem for Shmini ۢAtzeret;
- ff. 46a-49a: A song for the Blowing of the Sofar;
- ff. 49b-50b: Vows for the evening of Rosh HaShanah.
Manuscript no. 3 Drashot / Homilies [between 16--? and 18--?]
Scope and Content Note
- Language: Text in Hebrew
- Layout: Average of 27 lines of text per page.
- Script: Varies.
- Binding: Black and red marbled paper over boards, brown cloth spine.
- Additional description: The script of ff. 8a-13b resembles the semi-cursive Sephardi script found in manuscripts from Toledo, Spain in the 15th century. Dealer's description, dated 1954, laid in.
- Contents:
- ff. 1a: Title page;
- ff. 2a-2b: Sermon for day two of Sukot;
- ff. 3b-4a: Toldot Itzḥak;
- ff. 8a-13b: Parashat toledot naḥ, Parashat va-year elav;
- ff. 15a-15b: Discourse on Jacob;
- ff. 18a-18b: Parashat lekh lekha;
- ff. 21a-21b: Unidentified;
- ff. 24a-24b: Discourse on King Hosea;
- ff. 26a-29b: Parashat toledot itsḥaḳ, Parashat lekh lekha;
- ff. 32a-32b: Discourse on Jacob;
- ff. 35a-38b: Unidentified;
- ff. 41, 44: "Rabbi Itzḥaḳ Ashkenazi."
Manuscript no. 4 Tirgum ha-HafṬarot / Collection of the HafṬarot 1941
Scope and Content Note
- Language: Text in Hebrew
- Origin: Europe
- Layout: Average of 18 lines of text per page.
- Script: Bold Ashkenazi script written neatly in black ink.
- Binding: Wooden boards covered in severely deteriorated cloth; leather spine and leather ties. Pastedowns made of paper from the Daily Mirror, 1940.
- Contents:
- ff. 1b-2a: Calendar of Jewish Holidays;
- ff. 2b: "Luaḥ l-shmonim shanah r'tzufim" (Calendar of 80 broken years), 1943- 2022;
- ff. 3a: Brakhot ha-Hafṭarah;
- ff. 4a: Title page;
- ff. 5a-19b: Hafṭarat Bereishit (Genesis);
- ff. 19b-33a: Hafṭarat Shemot (Exodus);
- ff. 33b-42a: Hafṭarat VaYiḳrah (Leviticus);
- ff. 42a-54a: Hafṭarat BeMidbar (Numbers);
- ff. 54a-65a: Hafṭarat Devarim (Deuteronomy);
- ff. 65a-93b: Hafṭarat for Festivals;
- ff. 94a: Note of copier with dedication;
- ff. 94b: Conclusion.
Manuscript no. 5 Agadtah dَPasha / Passover Hagadah [between 16--? and 18--?]
Scope and Content Note
- Language: Text in Hebrew
- Layout: Average of 13 lines of text per page.
- Script: Yemenite script.
- Binding: Beige buckram binding; leather spine title stamped in gilt.
- Contents:
- ff. 1a-19a: Homilies for Passover;
- ff. 19b: Discourse on burning leavened bread;
- ff. 20a-20b: Miscellaneous discourse regarding the sons of Asher.
Manuscript no. 6 Maḥzor Teman / Prayer book from Yemen [between 16--? and 18--?]
Scope and Content Note
- Language: Text in Hebrew
- Layout: Average of 22 lines of text per page.
- Script: Yemenite script in bold black ink, with cantation marks.
- Binding: Beige buckram binding; leather spine title stamped in gilt.
- Contents:
- ff. 1a: Note of scribe;
- ff. 1b-8b: Baḳashot;
- ff. 9a-22b: Tefilat Rosh HaShanah;
- ff. 22b-30a: Tefilat Kipur;
- ff. 30a-38b: Seder ՛֨ۢAvodah;
- ff. 38b-50b: Keter Malkhut;
- ff. 50b-52a: Tefilat Neۢilah;
- ff. 52b-60b: Masekhet Yomah;
- ff. 61a-61b: Tefilat Sukot;
- ff. 62a-63b: Tefilat Shalosh Regalim;
- ff. 64a-75b: Hoshanot;
- ff. 76a-78b: Seder Ha֨ۢ ḳafot;
- ff. 78b-79b: Tiḳun Haṭal;
- ff. 79b-80b: Tiḳun HaGeshem;
- ff. 81a-85b: Simḥat Torah;
- ff. 85b-91a: Brakhat Rabim;
- ff. 91b: Agadta D'Pisḥa;
- ff. 92a-103b: Hagadah;
- ff.104a-104b: Tefilat Shavu֨ۢot;
- ff.105a-117b: Azharot.
Manuscript no. 7 BeShem Raḥaman / For the Merciful One [between 15--? and 17--?]
Scope and Content Note
- Language: Text in Aramaic and Hebrew
- Layout: Average of 30 lines of text per page.
- Script: Hebrew script written in bold black ink.
- Additional description: Beginnings of new reading are marked with small illustrations. Occasional notes in pencil.
- Contents, volume 1:
- ff. 2a: Preface;
- ff. 3a-70a: Genesis;
- ff. 70a-131b: Exodus.
- Contents, volume 2:
- ff. 1a-55a: Leviticus;
- ff. 55a-121a: Numbers;
- ff. 121a-182a: Deuteronomy;
- ff. 182b-205b: Holy days.