A Rare Blessing Sheet Written by a Woman [Rome]: 1770

Rabbinic authorities disagreed as to whether an Esther scroll may include any extraneous matter that is not part of the biblical text itself. In some communities, this led to the practice of creating a separate sheet that would accompany the scroll and include the blessings traditionally recited before and after the reading of the megillah.   In addition to these benedictions, the present sheet also includes a liturgical hymn, korei megillah, traditionally recited by the Jews of Italy.  A medallion in the center of the outer frame prominently asserts that this blessing sheet was written by Camilla the daughter of Moses Ephraim Miele-Rossi in the year 1770.  It is the only known example of an Esther Scroll blessing sheet written by a woman in the pre-modern period.