Manuscript. Mohel’s Ledger. Siena- Italy [1743]

Miniature manuscript. The order of the ...

Manuscript. Mohel’s Ledger. Siena- Italy [1743]

Miniature manuscript. The order of the circumcision, blessings, laws and customs, along with the ledger in which the circumcisor listed the circumcisions he did in the city of Siena in 1743-1754.

Siena is a city in Tuscany, in the center of Italy. In this time period, an ancient Jewish community lived between the walls of the city’s ghetto. The old synagogue of Siena exists still today.

The last three leaves feature the circumcisor’s list of the twelve circumcisions he did between 1743-1754. The list includes exact dates and the names of the baby, the father and the sandek.

The first circumcision took place on the 12th of Shevat, 1743. The circumcisor wrote: This is the day of my rejoicing. God gave me the merit of beginning to serve him with this mitzvah of circumcision.”

Content:

* Hymn for the circumcision – missing the beginning.

* Hymn for circumcision by Rabbi Shabtai Ber author of Beer Eshek, which is not listed in Davidson’s Thesaurus of Medieval Hebrew Poetry.

* Prayer for the circumcisor “authored by the outstanding Godly chassid Rabbi Yisroel Srok zt”l.

* Hymn to be recited when the baby is placed on the “kisei shel Eliyahu.”

* Hymn said while preparing the baby for the circumcision.

* Blessings recited before and after the circumcision.

* The “Harachaman” inserted into the Grace after Meals.

* Summary of the laws of circumcision in an Italian hand.

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Italy [1743-1753].

16 leaves (32 pages with text). Small format: 9x11 cm.

Missing the beginning of the work.

Fine condition, ancient leather binding, apparently original, scuffed.