Rare Illustrated Memorbuch  manuscript on parchment. Germany, 1694

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Rare Illustrated Memorbuch  manuscript on parchment. Germany, 1694

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Tefillos and Hazkaras Neshamos for the Chazzan. 

An exquisite manuscript of prayers and blessings for the chazzan and gabbai, enhanced with many interesting drawings related to the prayers, some of which are unique and unusually odd. (See below).

One of a kind:

This manuscript precedes the 18th-century revival of Hebrew illustrated manuscripts and is from the earliest known illustrated Memorbuch with an illustration related directly to the content of the prayers!

 

The manuscript has a decorative title page depicting elaborate pillars with images of animals, birds and people, and bears the following inscription: “ This book was ornately inscribed as a lasting remembrance by the scribe Avigdor son of…Yitzchak. The property of the  aristocrat Rabbi Avraham ben Rabbi Moshe, 5454 (1694).”

The majority of the prayers open with large letters colored with red, green and gold ink, enhanced with various designs and unique illustrations related to the prayers.

One of the most striking illustrations are the drawings associated with the prayer of “Kel Malei Rachamim” recited for the victims of the Chmielnicki massacres in 1648-9; with disturbing drawings of a Jew being hanged; Cossack soldier brandishing a sword against a Jew, and an elderly tzaddik facing a gentile armed with a bow and arrow.

Other notable illustrations: For the prayer of imposing a Cherem - a drawing of two Jews embracing a Sefer Torah and blowing a shofar near a candelabra;

For the Order of Prayers of Simchas Torah - a drawing of a boy holding his father’s hand, and holding a flag in his other hand, along with another drawing of 3 men holding flags;

For additional prayers for Simchas Torah - drawings of men playing musical instruments; (the players are without head-coverings, and are likely gentiles, as it was the custom in some communities to hire gentile musicians on Yom Tov).

For the blessings recited prior to reading the Megillah - a drawing of Mordechai riding on the horse and Haman hanging on the tree;

For the blessing of “ha’gomel” - a drawing of a frightened man with a bear attacking his knapsack;

For the order of the shofar blessing - the names of the shofar sounds are written in a decorative pattern in the shape of a menorah;

Some prayers are accompanied with drawings of various animals, most notably “Av Harachmim” which is adorned with drawings of 2 unicorns.

Content of manuscript:

“Yehi Ratzon” and “Acheinu Kol Beis Yisrael”; “Baruch She’amar” which was customarily intoned as a song on Shabbos and Yom Tov; Blessings of the Haftarah; Kabbalas Shabbos; Haftarah for fast days (“Dirshu Hashem B’himatzo”); “Yekum Purkan”; Birkas Hachodesh; “Ka Keli”; “Av Harachamim” and “Kel Malei Rachamim” upon the victims of the Chmielnicki massacres and Kedoshim”; “Yizkor” and “Mi Shebeirach”; Order of Prayers for Simchas Torah, including Chassan Torah and Chassan Bereishis; Birkas Kohanim; Hatavas Chalom; Blessings on the Megillah; Order of Blowing Shofar; beginning with the piyut “Hamelech Hashem Rom V’tachas Koneh” (Otzar Hashirah Vehapiyyut #765); and texts for imposing a cherem.

Two leaves inscribed in script were added to the back of the manuscript. These leaves include the text of “Mi'shebeirach” for the ill and the prayer “Hanosein Teshuah Lemelachim” in Yiddish, written in honor of the Austrian Archduchess Maria Josefa (1699-1757), wife of the Polish king Augustus III.

Germany, 1694. Page Count: [15] Parchment Leaves + [2]  Paper leaves.  Page Size: 31 cm. Condition: Used, worn and faded. Initial leaves reinforced with glue on inner margins. Several leaves cropped at outer margins. Tear on Leaf [7] with damage to text. Antique leather binding.

Provenance: Yechezkel Toporowitch Collection

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