Haftarot according to the Italian Rite [Northern Italy: 15th century]

10 leaves (10 1/4 x 7 1/4 in.; 260 x 184 mm). Written in black ink on parchment in Sephardic square Hebrew script with nikud; 20 lines; ruled, horizontally in ink, vertically in plummet; early foliation in ink; Latin marginal notations as well as numerical indexing. Stained and soiled; some ink faded, flaked. Twentieth century green half morocco over marbled paper; title gilt on spine.

an exceptionally rare manuscript exemplar of the Haftarot according to the Italian rite

Although the exact origins of the custom of reading a portion of the Prophets after the Torah reading is unknown, the most plausible suggestion is that the custom was instituted during the persecutions which preceded the Hasmonean revolt. According to this theory, when the reading of the Torah was proscribed, a substitute was found by reading a corresponding portion from the Prophets. Some scholars however, subscribe to the notion which posits that that the custom was instituted in opposition to the Samaritans, who denied the canonicity of the Prophets.

This single quire from a large Sefer Haftarot contains the readings, according to the Italian rite, for the last day of Passover, the readings for both days of Shauv'ot, both days of Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and the first two days of Sukkot.

The Italian rite began to crystallize in the late Middle Ages; it maintains specific variations from the more widespread Ashkenazic and Sephardic rites, both in terms of liturgical prayer and in its lectionary. It even possesses its own tradition of biblical cantillation in the reading of the Haftarah, including a special "festive" intonation of the hatftarah, for certain holidays. The Italian rite remains in use today, both in Italy itself as well as in the Italian synagogue in Jerusalem.

A search of the records in the National Library of Israel's Institute of Hebrew Microfilmed Manuscripts has yielded only one other (also incomplete) known surviving example of manuscript of Italian rite Haftarot (Parma-Biblioteca Palatina, Cod. 2538; De Rossi 700).