Seder Brit Milah (Order of Circumcision Rite) [Italy: ca.1750]

Estimate

12,000 - 18,000 USD

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Description

38 leaves (4 x 3 in.; 103 x 76 mm) including six blanks [iii, A-H^{4, iii]. Manuscript on parchment, written in brown ink in square script; instructions in eighteenth century semi-cursive Italian Hebrew script; thirteen lines to the page; signatures in Roman characters and Arabic numerals; catchwords at most quire endings. Some soiling and staining; cropped, affecting only signatures; all edges gilt. Contemporary red morocco, edged in gilt, covers with gilt-tooled border and central armorial shield, headed by initials A.E.F.; spine, gilt in five compartments, with some losses; housed in a modern brown limp sheep slipcase.}

Provenance

A.E.F.-initials stamped in gold on front and rear boards.

Literature

Sharon Liberman Mintz et.al., Kehillat ha-kodesh: creating the sacred community, New York:1997.

Catalogue Note

A mohel is a religious functionary who performs the brit milah (circumcision) on eight day old male Jewish infants. In addition to the requisite pertinent medical knowledge a mohel must be familiar with the text of the blessings, prayers and special occasional poems to be recited during the ceremony. Since these were rarely found in more general liturgical works, mohalim tended to have their own private milah-books. Typically quite small so that they might easily be slipped into a pocket or medical bag, these volumes were often personalized by individual mohalim to include specific poems or prayers.

This volume contains several noteworthy additions to the standard texts found in similar circumcision manuals including a piyyut (liturgical poem) written by Benjamin ben Eliezer ha-Kohen Vitale of Reggio (1651-1730) on the mystical aspects of circumcision (Sodot ha-Milah). Well-known as a preacher and poet, but in particular as a kabbalist, he was considered one of the major exponents of Lurianic Kabbalah in Italy. This is followed by another prayer, unknown from other milah-books. Another of the many liturgical poems found in this small volume indicates by means of an acrostic that it was written by Mordechai Lattes.

The coat of arms stamped on the covers of the manuscript shows the Shield of David over a palm tree flanked by two lions, the family badge of the distinguished Foa family, perhaps Abraham Foa of Genoa.