University of Pennsylvania, CAJS Rar Ms 489

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[Meditational verses for the High Holidays]; [פסוקים וצרופי שמות על דרך הקבלה לראש השנה ולימים נוראים]

Available Online: https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/catalog/81431-p3tb0zh1p
Title: [Meditational verses for the High Holidays], [פסוקים וצרופי שמות על דרך הקבלה לראש השנה ולימים נוראים]
Name: Yaḥya, Avraham, 17th century, Jacob, of Orleans, -1189, Moses, ha-Darshan, active 11th century, Hai ben Sherira, 939-1038, Azikri, Eleazar ben Moses, 1533-1600, Spira, Nathan Nata ben Solomon, approximately 1585-1633
Date: 1600
Collection: Moldovan Family Judaica Collection (University of Pennsylvania)
Item Type: Text
Physical Format: Codices (bound manuscripts), Miscellanies, Prayers, Devotional literature, Manuscripts, Hebrew, Manuscripts, European, manuscripts (documents)
Description: This is a manuscript of a liturgical miscellany with many diverse kabbalistic elements to it. It begins with a silent prayer for the cantor on the High Holidays, supplying verses to meditate on and guaranteeing that the audience will not have a harmful verdict ("gezerah raʻah") for the upcoming year (f. 1r-1v). The prayer ends with additional texts, titled "Ḳabalot", of verses to recite with supplications; the first attributed to R.T. (likely a reference to Jacob of Orléans (died 1189), also known as Rabbenu Tam) and the second attributed to Rav Mosheh ha-Darshan (11th century Narbonne, f.1v-2r). Following this, after a space, is a transcription of a riddle which, by the use of notarikon, claims to develop a definite date for the arrival of the Messiah, based on Micah 2:12; the author attributes this text to "an ancient miscellany ("Ḳovets yashan") written by the wise R. Hai son of R. Sherira Ga'on, [and when] he was asked about the 'end-days of wonders'" ("Ḳets ha-pelaʼot," quoting Daniel 12:6); this attribution is to R. Hai b. Sherira Gaon (Iraq, 939-1038, f. 2r). Following this is a prayer for one to remove unwanted thoughts while praying (f. 3v). Also on that folio is the poem Yedid nefesh, with an inscription in a late 17th-century Sefardic cursive hand, "ידיד נפש לר' אלעזר", or "Yedid nefesh by R. Elazar." Following are the Ten Commandments as written in the Pentateuch (Exodus 20:1-14, f. 3v). Following this is the Tiḳune ha-Zohar chapter 17 (begining "Ribon ha-ʻolamim," f. 4r). Following is a page of commentary of practices for Rosh ha-Shanah and Yom Kippur, from the author's teacher; some of it is attributed to this teacher's correspondence with R.B.L. (unknown reference, f. 4v). Following is a kabbalistic dissertation (titled "Diḳduḳ") involving variations of verses drawn seemingly at random; this is followed by a colophon and the signature of the author (f. 6r). Following this is an amulet text. Following is a chart with terminology for the sefirot, attributed by the author to R. Natan Spira. At the bottom of the folio is further laws pertaining to behaviors for the High Holidays (f. 7r). Following this is a divine prayer with diagrams of the letter ṿaṿ in different vowel structures for the purpose of both recitation and meditation (f. 7v-9r). The manuscript finishes with a prayer for sea travelers to be protected from the dangers of ocean voyages.
Extent: 10 leaves : paper ; 150 x 105 mm
Language: Hebrew
Coverage: Early works to 1800
Note: Table of contents: 880-04 1. f. 1r-1v: [Tefilah] le-mi she-ʻover li-fene ha-tevah be-R.H. ṿe-Y. ha-K. -- 2. f. 2r: Ḳabalah / me-R. Mosheh ha-Darshan -- 3. f. 2r: Heʻteḳ ... meḳubal yashan [ʻal zeman ḳets ha-pelaʼot] -- 4. f. 3r: Tefilah yafah le-omro be-khol yom uve-khol zeman ha-tefilah -- 5. f. 3v: [Tefilah] le-hasir maḥshavot raʻim be-ʻet ha-tefilah -- 6. f. 3r: Yedid nefesh -- 7. f. 3v: [ʻAśeret ha-dibrot] -- 8. f. 4r: [Tiḳune ha-Zohar 17] -- 9. f. 4v: Dinim ha-shayakhim le-R.H. ṿe-Y.ha-K. -- 10. f. 5r-6r: Diḳduḳ [...] le-havin ule-horot amarot ṭehorot -- 11. f. 6v: [Ḳameʻa] -- 12. f. 7r: [Seder] be-khitve / ḥaveri ha-R.N. Śpira -- 13. f. 7v-9r: Seder ha-yiḥud ha-gadol ha-mesugal leha-shanah -- 14. f. 9v: Tefilat ha-yam ʻal kol tsarah she-lo tavo., Ms. gatherings., Title supplied by cataloger., Table of contents: 880-04 1. f. 1r-1v: [Tefilah] le-mi she-ʻover li-fene ha-tevah be-R.H. ṿe-Y. ha-K. -- 2. f. 2r: Ḳabalah / me-R. Mosheh ha-Darshan -- 3. f. 2r: Heʻteḳ ... meḳubal yashan [ʻal zeman ḳets ha-pelaʼot] -- 4. f. 3r: Tefilah yafah le-omro be-khol yom uve-khol zeman ha-tefilah -- 5. f. 3v: [Tefilah] le-hasir maḥshavot raʻim be-ʻet ha-tefilah -- 6. f. 3r: Yedid nefesh -- 7. f. 3v: [ʻAśeret ha-dibrot] -- 8. f. 4r: [Tiḳune ha-Zohar 17] -- 9. f. 4v: Dinim ha-shayakhim le-R.H. ṿe-Y. ha-K. -- 10. f. 5r-6r: Diḳduḳ [...] le-havin ule-horot amarot ṭehorot -- 11. f. 6v: [Ḳameʻa] -- 12. f. 7r: [Seder] be-khitve / ḥaveri ha-R.N. Śpira -- 13. f. 7v-9r: Seder ha-yiḥud ha-gadol ha-mesugal leha-shanah -- 14. f. 9v: Tefilat ha-yam ʻal kol tsarah she-lo tavo., Collation: Paper, 10; 1², 2 detached leaves, 2² 3⁴; modern foliation in pencil, 1-10, center left recto., Layout: Written in 18 to 26 lines on unruled pages; the original paper sizes are not determinable due to the clear evidence of trimming at some edges (for example, the bottom part of f. 4r), with other leaves formatted for their current size (for example, f. 3v, 5v); the manuscript may have originated as separate leaves later joined as a miscellany., Script: Written in an Ashkenazic semicursive script, with highlights in square script, by multiple hands. The portion of text ascertaining the time of the arrival of the Messiah is written in a larger semicursive script, with a more Italian appearance and a lower slant, probably by another hand (f. 2r). One work is signed by the scribe after a small colophon (f. 6r). In the amulet text, the Tetragrammaton with tserufe shemot (formulaic tetragrammaton) is written in very large square script and three rows below, with the titles "śerafim - ḥayot - ofanim" at the ends, are written in vocalized smaller square script (f. 6v)., Decoration: Round enclosures in text ink of ṿaṿ combinations (with different vocalizations) scattered within the text (f. 7v-8v)., Origin: Written likely in northern Italy in the early 17th century by Abraham Yaḥya, or Yaḥiya; perhaps he was a relative of the prominent (and widespread) Yaḥiya family, with roots in 12th century Lisbon whose descendants at this period were prominent in Portugal, Spain, Italy, and Turkey. The dating of the manuscript is based on Yaḥya's friendship with a R. Natan Spira (f. 7r); likely a reference to R. Natan Note Spira of Kraków, a famed kabbalist and author of Megaleh ʻamuḳot, who lived 1585-1633. Also, the poem Yedid nefesh is attributed in this manuscript (f. 3r) to R. Eleazar Azikri (1533-1600), who printed it for the first time in 1600-1 in a volume he authored (Sefer ḥaredim, Venice: Daniel Zanetti, 1600-1601)., No binding; fragile remnants of sewing. Heavy wear and darkening on the leaves and writing., Hebrew and Aramaic.
Relation: Digital facsimile for browsing (Colenda): https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/catalog/81431-p3tb0zh1p
Subject: Cabala -- Early works to 1800, Messiah -- Judaism -- Early works to 1800, Judaism -- Prayers and devotions -- Early works to 1800, Judaism -- Prayers and devotions, Messiah -- Judaism, Cabala
Physical Location: Library at the Katz Center, Rare Book Manuscripts, CAJS Rar Ms 489
Provenance: GIFT FROM THE MOLDOVAN FAMILY COLLECTION By Joseph T. Moldovan C'76 and Susan A. Moldovan C'76. Donated in Honor and Memory of Jean and Dr. Alfred Moldovan., Moldovan, Joseph, donor., Moldovan, Susan, donor.
Rights: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-US/1.0/
Bibnumber: 9977510241303681

IIIF manifest: https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/items/ark:/81431/p3tb0zh1p/manifest

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Metadata

DS ID:: DS25800
Shelfmark:: CAJS Rar Ms 489
Title:: Meditational verses for the High Holidays / פסוקים וצרופי שמות על דרך הקבלה לראש השנה ולימים נוראים
Author:: Yaḥya, Avraham, 17th century / יחיעא, אברהם, המאה ה-17
Place:: Italy?

Italy TGN
Date:: between 1600 and 1633

seventeenth century (dates CE) AAT
Language:: Hebrew and Aramaic

Hebrew WIKIDATA

Aramaic WIKIDATA
Material:: paper

Paper AAT
Physical Description:: Extent: 10 leaves : paper ; 150 x 105 mm
Note:: GIFT FROM THE MOLDOVAN FAMILY COLLECTION By Joseph T. Moldovan C'76 and Susan A. Moldovan C'76. Donated in Honor and Memory of Jean and Dr. Alfred Moldovan.
Ms. gatherings.
Title supplied by cataloger.
Collation: Paper, 10; 12, 2 detached leaves, 22 34; modern foliation in pencil, 1-10, center left recto.
Layout: Written in 18 to 26 lines on unruled pages; the original paper sizes are not determinable due to the clear evidence of trimming at some edges (for example, the bottom part of f. 4r), with other leaves formatted for their current size (for example, f. 3v, 5v); the manuscript may have originated as separate leaves later joined as a miscellany.
Script: Written in an Ashkenazic semicursive script, with highlights in square script, by multiple hands. The portion of text ascertaining the time of the arrival of the Messiah is written in a larger semicursive script, with a more Italian appearance and a lower slant, probably by another hand (f. 2r). One work is signed by the scribe after a small colophon (f. 6r). In the amulet text, the...
Decoration: Round enclosures in text ink of ṿaṿ combinations (with different vocalizations) scattered within the text (f. 7v-8v).
Origin: Written likely in northern Italy in the early 17th century by Abraham Yaḥya, or Yaḥiya; perhaps he was a relative of the prominent (and widespread) Yaḥiya family, with roots in 12th century Lisbon whose descendants at this period were prominent in Portugal, Spain, Italy, and Turkey. The dating of the manuscript is based on Yaḥya's friendship with a R. Natan Spira (f. 7r); likely a...
No binding; fragile remnants of sewing. Heavy wear and darkening on the leaves and writing.
Keyword:: Devotional literature

Manuscripts, European

Prayers

miscellanies

codices (bound manuscripts)

Manuscripts, Hebrew

Early works

Messiah--Judaism

Cabala

Judaism--Prayers and devotions

Judaism

Prayers and devotions
Institutional Record:: https://find.library.upenn.edu/catalog/9977510241303681
IIIF Manifest:: https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/items/ark:/81431/p3tb0zh1p/manifest
Holding Institution:: University of Pennsylvania

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