[Pizmonim le-moʿadim ule-hizdamnuyot shonot]. [פזמונים למועדים ולהזדמנויות שונות]. [Hymns for various occasions].
Details
Type of record: Archive
Title: [Pizmonim le-moʿadim ule-hizdamnuyot shonot]. [פזמונים למועדים ולהזדמנויות שונות]. [Hymns for various occasions].
Classmark: MS ROTH/52
Creator(s): Benjamin ben Eliezer ha-Kohen Vitale of Reggio (1651-1730)(poet)
Date(s): [18th century]
Language: Hebrew
Size and medium: 21 leaves : paper, illustrations
Persistent link: https://explore.library.leeds.ac.uk/special-collections-explore/115476
Description
Hebrew title supplied by cataloguer. English title derived from Roth, "Catalogue", in Alexander Marx: Jubilee Volume, vol. 1 (New York, 1950), no. 52.
Variant title:
ישרים ועדה תנו עוז ותודה לעונה בצרה.
Summary:
Although most likely written by a professional scribe, the prayer booklet appears to be more of a notebook in which the copyist possibly experimented with different script styles and sizes, layouts, as well as decorations.
Origin of the manuscript: "Perhaps from Casale." (Roth, "Catalogue", no. 52).
The item contains, among others:
Folio 1r (probably added by secondary hand): Hymn by Binyamin ben Eliʿezer ha-Kohen Vitale of Reggio (1651-1730) (בנימין בן אליעזר הכהן ויטל מרגיו) commemorating the deliverance of Alessandria (Piedmont, Italy) from the French siege in August 1657 during the Franco-Spanish War: זה השיר למועד צרפתים: ישרי[ם] ועדה תנו עוז וטודה[!] .
Folio 1v: המונים באו הלום (Roth, “Catalogue”, no. 52 stresses, that its “first verse only [is] published”).
Folios 4r–7r: Hymns for Sukot (לסוכות).
Folios 7v–10r: Hymns for Rosh ha-Shanah (לראש השנה).
Folios 10v–14v: Hymns for the night of Śimḥat Torah (לליל שמחת תורה).
Folios 20v–22r: Hymns for Shavuʿot (לשבועות).
State of text: Some ink seepage, staining, and wear; frayed and creased corners; edges are very closely trimmed; item underwent conservation work.
Bibliographical note:
Roth, "Catalogue", in Alexander Marx: Jubilee Volume, vol. 1 (New York, 1950), no. 52.
National Library of Israel (NLI), Online Catalogue, system-no. 990001856530205171. The NLI’s description is based on the microfilm of MS Roth 52 made on behalf of the Institute of Microfilmed Hebrew Manuscripts of the NLI during the 1960s. The microfilm can now be downloaded in a digitised form from the NLI-webpage.
Davis, Handlist 164 (Leeds, 2005), no. 52.
Decoration
Decoration 1: Shield of David drawn above heading (folio 15r).
Decoration 2: Decorative abstract designs on many pages (see, for example, folios 1v–2v, 3v–4r, 9v–11r).
Decoration 3: Different script sizes for different parts of the text; some parts of the text are in oversized script (see, for example, folio 17).
Decoration 4: Running titles on some folios.
Decoration 5: Decorative substitute for the Tetragrammaton.
Decoration 6: Poetic spacing.
Physical characteristics
Foliation: 21 (foliated as 1–20, 22); modern pencil foliation upper left recto; folios 18v and 22v are blanks.
Number of lines: 2–19, very irregular.
Script: Italian Hebrew script.
Ms. codex: width 145mm height 192mm
Binding
Full decorated paper (yellowish/pink floral design on white) over boarded back (spine) as well as upper and lower boards; kept in custom-made box.
Vocalisation and cantillation
Some hymns are vocalised.
Former owners and annotations
Roth’s description of MS Roth 52, cut out from a copy of his printed catalogue, is attached to upper board verso.
Access and usage
Access
This material is not subject to restrictions under Data Protection or other relevant legislation that might limit access. However, other protections, such as donor conditions or conservation considerations, may still apply where advised.