Seder Berakhot u-Tefilot (Order of Benedictions and Prayers) [Northern Italy; ca. 1435]

Estimate

35,000 - 45,000 USD

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Description

27 leaves (5 x 3 1/2 in.;125 x 85 mm). Collation: 1-2^{10, 3^{6, 4^{1. Written in brown ink on vellum in semi-cursive Italian script, headings and opening words in square Ashkenazic script; without nikkud. Unfoliated. Catchwords between quires at the bottom center of the leaves with minor decorations; ruled, vertically and horizontally in plummet. A single stain, affecting some letters at inner margins throughout; else minor staining. Later vellum.}}}

Provenance

Prof. Lelio Della Torre- his stamp on ff. 16v and 26v; Yom Tov Shlomo Levi- his signature on f. 17r.

Catalogue Note

an exceptionally fine manuscript of life-cycle prayers

contents:

Fol. 1: Blank.

Fol. 2v-5r: Seder Brit Milah (Order of Circumcision), includes the laws, customs, blessings and benedictions recited in the Grace After Meals.

Fol. 5r-10r: Seder Hatanim (Order of Grooms), includes the laws pertaining to betrothal and marriage and the appropriate blessings. Also included are special poems and hymns dedicated to the bride and groom. An interesting and ancient custom of breaking two glasses (rather than one) is recorded in the present text (ff. 6r-7v). After the recitation of Birkhat Erusin (f. 6r): "The groom and bride drink the wine followed by the breaking of a cup full of wine." Following Birkhat Nissu'in (f. 7v): "Afterwards we break a glass cup... and the groom and bride drink." Here we have an early documented Italian custom of breaking two glasses after each recitation. This matter was the subject of a debate among the early codifiers, see for example: Seder Tefilot M'Kol Hashana (according to the Italian rite) from the city Norcia (Central Italy) mss. in the Jewish National Library, Jerusalem (Heb. 8* 4281), where this custom was deleted (cf. Responsa Moses Mintz no. 109, Maharil and Ra'avan in "Even HaEzer for a discussion of the matter).

Two poems are also included here, one beginning: "Esa Tefilah, Be'ad Hatan v'Kallah... (according to the Aleph-Bet), and the second poem based on the name Elazar.

Fol. 10v-16v: Inyan Aveilut (Matters of Mourning), includes the laws and customs of mourners as well as the prayers recited, e.g. Tziduk Hadin, Kadish and special Grace After Meals recited by the mourner.

Fol. 17: Blank.

Fol. 18r-24r: Order of recitation of 72 verses corresponding to the 72 Names of God based on the kabbalistic tradition in Ginzei ha-Melekh (an unknown work; the work by the same title authored by Isaac ibn Latif does not include this text.)

Fol. 24r-26r: Tefillot ha-Derekh (Prayers for Traveling), including both standard and abridged versions as well as a short prayer for the seafarer and several traveler's texts authored by Nahmanides.

Fol. 27: Blank.