[Tefilot u-fiyuṭim al derekh ha-ḳabalah]. [תפלות ופיוטים על דרך הקבלה]. [Fragment of Mystical Prayers, Hymns, Psalms].
Contains digital mediaDetails
Type of record: Archive
Title: [Tefilot u-fiyuṭim al derekh ha-ḳabalah]. [תפלות ופיוטים על דרך הקבלה]. [Fragment of Mystical Prayers, Hymns, Psalms].
Classmark: MS ROTH/54
Date(s): [17th century]
Language: Hebrew
Size and medium: 10 leaves : parchment (distinct hair and flesh sides)
Manifest: https://iiif.library.leeds.ac.uk/presentation/cc/zstvldnm
Persistent link: https://explore.library.leeds.ac.uk/special-collections-explore/115478
Description
Hebrew title supplied by cataloguer. English title supplied from Roth, “Catalogue”, in Alexander Marx: Jubilee Volume, vol. 1 (New York, 1950), no. 54.
Incomplete part of a very small prayer 'notebook' which fits easily into the palm of a hand.
Contains psalms and prayers, some of them kabbalistic in nature. The tiny booklet begins with Psalm 91, also known as Shir ha-pegaʿim (שיר הפגעים) which is traditionally recited for the protection against evils spirits or real-live catastrophes like plagues. The version contained in MS Roth 54 pairs every verse of Psalm 91 with divine or angelic names. Then follows the prayer Melekh kitro gavoha authored by the Italian kabbalist Mordekhai ben Yehudah Daṭo (1525–1591/1601?). After that, the piyut Ha-yom teʾamtsenu is copied, a prayer which is traditionally recited on Yom Kipur. The last part of the booklet contains Piṭum ha-ḳeṭoret according to the version of the sages of Mantua as it was laid out by Aharon Berekhyah ben Mosheh mi-Modinah (1549-1639) in his book Maʿavar Yaboḳ which was printed for the first time in Mantua in 1626 (see Aharon Berekhyah ben Mosheh mi-Modinah, Sefer Maʿavar Yaboḳ (Mantua: Yehudah Shemu’el mi-Perushah, 1626), 121v–122r). MS
Roth 54 is incomplete and breaks off at the end its last preserved folio (the last words are ואת משחית) which shows that at least one folio of the manuscript is missing (this is also indicated by the collation of MS Roth 54).
According to Kabbalistic tradition the correct recitation of Seder Piṭum ha-ḳeṭoret protects against the plague.
Contents:
1. folios iv–1v: יושב בסתר עליון.
2. folio 2r: blank.
3. folio 2v: מלך כתרו גבה.
4. folio 4r: blank.
5. folios 4v–5r: היום תאמצנו.
6. folios 5r–9v: סדר פטום הקטורת הנעתק מספר רב בעל מעבר יבק מגירסת גאוני מנטובה (בלתי שלם).
State of text: Incomplete; ink is faded and parts of the text is rubbed illegible. The parchment is worn but in a relatively well preserved state.
Bibliographical note:
Roth, “Catalogue”, in Alexander Marx: Jubilee Volume, vol. 1 (New York, 1950), no. 54.
National Library of Israel (NLI), Online Catalogue, system-no. 000185658. The NLI’s description is based on the microfilm of Ms Roth 54 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. 54.
Physical characteristics
Dimensions of written space: 62 x 50 mm.
Dimensions of binding: 80 x 66 mm.
Foliation: [10] (foliated [1], 1–9); modern pencil foliation, upper left recto; 2r, 3r are blank but ruled.
Collation: 1¹⁰.
Number of lines: 14–18 to a page, written below top line.
Rulings: ruled in dry point; 18 rulings to a page; prickings in outer and inner margins.
Script: Italian semi-cursive Hebrew script.
Ms.: width 66mm height 79mm
Binding
Stitch-bound into a, probably self-made, white cardboard wrapper (lacing is somewhat loose).
A small paper label marked with “54” is attached to the outer upper bend of the wrapper.
Roth’s description of MS Roth 54, cut out from a copy of his printed catalogue, is glued vertically right next to the fold of the wrapper’s upper cover recto. This make-shift label was probably made and attached by Roth himself.
Vocalisation and cantillation
Folios [iv]–1v: Angelic and divine names are vocalised.
Access and usage
Reproduction
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.
This material is in copyright as dictated by the 1998 Copyright, Designs and Patents Act in the UK until 31 December 2039 and has been identified as an Orphan Work. The Library has taken the approach to place the material online in order to support research, learning and teaching.
In Copyright
The University of Leeds respects the rights of copyright holders and their representatives. The University endeavours to ensure that all content hosted on the Special Collections website is compliant with UK Copyright law. View the Special Collections takedown policy
This material is in copyright. Photocopies or digital images can be supplied by the Library for research or private study. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain the copyright holder's permission to reproduce for any other purpose. Guidance is available on tracing copyright status and ownership.