Hebrew Manuscripts : Composite manuscript: fragments from several manuscripts

Composite manuscript: fragments from several manuscripts (Gaster Hebrew MS 61)

Composite manuscript encompassing fragments from several manuscripts written by various hands. It consists of a variety of texts, including poetry, baḳashot, narratives and magical texts, in Hebrew, Judeo-Arabic, and Aramaic. Similar to Gaster Hebrew MS 254, Gaster Hebrew MS 242 and Gaster Hebrew MS 246. Copied in Yemen in the 17th or 18th century.

Information about this document

Physical Location: The John Rylands Library
Classmark: Gaster Hebrew MS 61
Alternative Identifier(s): Gaster 61
Origin Place: Yemen
Date of Creation: 17th or 18th century
Language(s): Hebrew, Judeo-Arabic, and Aramaic
Former Owner(s): Gaster, Moses 1856-1939
Extent: 109 ff. (i+109+i) Leaf height: 165 mm, width: 118 mm.
Collation:
Catchwords at the bottom left corner of most pages.
Material(s): Paper
Format: Codex
Condition:
Water stains throughout the codex. Several folios attached to spine with repair paper.
Binding:
Modern blue fake leather binding with brown paste-downs.
Script:
Yemenite square and semi-cursive scripts by several hands.
Foliation:
Modern pencil foliation in Arabic numerals at the top outer corner of side a of each folio. The leaf after folio 93 is not foliated (called [94] in digital surrogate), and it is followed by folio 96. There is no folio 95. Paper stud, with handwritten text, between folios 10 and 11.
Hebrew foliation at the top left corner of side a of each folio between folio 96 and 105, counting from 132 [קלב] to 141 [קמא].
Layout:
Layout is not uniform.
Decoration:
Geometric decorations indicating end of paragraphs (see e.g. 7a and 8a).
Geometric decorations indicating end of paragraphs (see e.g. 12b and 14b).
Folio 16a: Geometric decoration framing title.
Folios 22a-58b: Tables of letters numbered in Hebrew from 1 [א] to 72 [עב] at the top left corner and at times decorated with spirals at the bottom of the vertical lines.
Geometric decorations indicating end of paragraphs (see e.g. 83a and 86a).
Magical symbols (see e.g. 88b, 89a, 96b and 98b).
Folio 104a: Magen Daṿid.

Folio 74a: ornamental ink geometrical band at the top of the page with a zig-zag decoration and text surrounded by ink frame.
Additions:
Small unfoliated bifolio (120 x 97 mm) 'ith magical text attached between folios 52 and 53.
Several loose paper slips with notes are inserted into the codex.
Folio 93a-b: notes and a list.
Origin:
Produced in Yemen in the 17th or 18th century.
Provenance:
Handwritten label on spine reading "61 / גורלות / תרגומים / סגולות / 61".
Front paste-down: Handwritten in pencil table of content reading "(XVI-XVII) / קבץ / לקטטים שונים / מדרשים, 〚גורלות (עברית וערבית〛 / מזלות, קמיעות, השבעות / גורלות (אורים ותומים) / מדרש פטירת אהרן ומשה / (בקיצור) / ס׳ רעשים ורעמים (דף אחד) / תרגום שמונה עשרה ברכות / סדר אירוסין, קדושין הבדלה / מלה ועוד / (עברית וערבית) / קמיעות וסגולות עם ציורים / שמות ממאנים ועוד כאלה / כ׳׳י שונים מזמנים שינים מתימן".
Folio ia: Handwritten in pencil number 61.
Folio 1a: Handwritten in black ink "N. 61 M.Gaster".
Folios 2a and 103b: Signature of Moses Gaster.
Birth records: on folio 40a from 2188 according to the Seleucid era (1877/78 CE): "נולד הפרח הטוב בני שמו שלום ביום ד' י"א לחדש סיון שנת בקפ"ח לשטרי הש"י ישמרהו ויחיהו ומכל צרה ונזק יציליהו יגדלו לעבודתו ויפתח לבו לת"ת אכי"ר"; on folio 40b from 2188 according to the Seleucid era (1877/78 CE): "נולד הפרח הטוב בני מנחם ביום י"א לחדש סיון שנת בקפ"ח לשטרי".
Folio 105b: Signature of Moses Gaster on the left margin of the page and on the bottom "105 leaves / M.G. 1893".
Folio 109b: Handwritten in pencil "109 / fols / M.G.".
Acquisition: Acquired by The John Rylands Library from the heirs of Moses Gaster in 1954.
Date of Acquisition: 1954
Data Source(s): Description based on Alexander Samely's unpublished draft catalogue, revised and expanded by Stefania Silvestri.
Revised by Zsófia Buda.
Bibliography:
Samely, Alexander, "Writing in an (almost) Classical vein: the art of Targum in an Aramiac paraphrase of the Amidah", Bulletin of the John Rylands Library 73.3 (1993): 175-264.
Gaster, Moses, "Ein Targum der Amidah", Monatsschrift für Geschichte und Wissenschaft des Judentums, 39.2 (1895): 79-90.

Section shown in images 233 to 233

Title: Baḳashah
Alternative Title(s): בקשה
Language(s): Hebrew
Note(s):
Beginning: "ידידי אם תבחר להבין סוד זוהר עמוד נא בשיר". Ending: נשלמה.

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Liḳuṭim ba-asṭrologiyah (image 7, page 1a) Ḳemeʿot (image 10, page 2b) Sefer Reʿamim (image 29, page 11a) Astrological text (image 31, page 12a) Goralot shel urim ṿe-tumim (image 39, page 16a) Nusaḥ birkat erusin (image 135, page 59a) Berakot ha-milah (image 138, page 60b) Tsafah al-havdalah (image 141, page 62a) Targum birkat shemonah eśreh (image 144, page 63b) Maʿaśeh (image 152, page 67b) Ṭaʿam neḥmad (image 153, page 68a) Liḳuṭim (image 154, page 68b) Tsalah al-mayyit (image 155, page 69a) Peṭirat Aharon (image 156, page 69b) Peṭirat Mosheh Rabenu (image 158, page 70b) Liḳuṭim (image 165, page 74a) Ḳemeʿot u-segulot (image 173, page 78a) Hisab 12 mazalot (image 177, page 80a) Unidentified texts (image 203, page 93a) Ḳemeʿot, segulot ṿe-hashbaʿot (image 207, page 96a) Fragment of a midrashic text (image 231, page 108a) Baḳashah (image 233, page 109a)

Information about this document

Physical Location: The John Rylands Library
Classmark: Gaster Hebrew MS 61
Alternative Identifier(s): Gaster 61
Origin Place: Yemen
Date of Creation: 17th or 18th century
Language(s): Hebrew, Judeo-Arabic, and Aramaic
Former Owner(s): Gaster, Moses 1856-1939
Extent: 109 ff. (i+109+i) Leaf height: 165 mm, width: 118 mm.
Collation:
Catchwords at the bottom left corner of most pages.
Material(s): Paper
Format: Codex
Condition:
Water stains throughout the codex. Several folios attached to spine with repair paper.
Binding:
Modern blue fake leather binding with brown paste-downs.
Script:
Yemenite square and semi-cursive scripts by several hands.
Foliation:
Modern pencil foliation in Arabic numerals at the top outer corner of side a of each folio. The leaf after folio 93 is not foliated (called [94] in digital surrogate), and it is followed by folio 96. There is no folio 95. Paper stud, with handwritten text, between folios 10 and 11.
Hebrew foliation at the top left corner of side a of each folio between folio 96 and 105, counting from 132 [קלב] to 141 [קמא].
Layout:
Layout is not uniform.
Decoration:
Geometric decorations indicating end of paragraphs (see e.g. 7a and 8a).
Geometric decorations indicating end of paragraphs (see e.g. 12b and 14b).
Folio 16a: Geometric decoration framing title.
Folios 22a-58b: Tables of letters numbered in Hebrew from 1 [א] to 72 [עב] at the top left corner and at times decorated with spirals at the bottom of the vertical lines.
Geometric decorations indicating end of paragraphs (see e.g. 83a and 86a).
Magical symbols (see e.g. 88b, 89a, 96b and 98b).
Folio 104a: Magen Daṿid.

Folio 74a: ornamental ink geometrical band at the top of the page with a zig-zag decoration and text surrounded by ink frame.
Additions:
Small unfoliated bifolio (120 x 97 mm) 'ith magical text attached between folios 52 and 53.
Several loose paper slips with notes are inserted into the codex.
Folio 93a-b: notes and a list.
Origin:
Produced in Yemen in the 17th or 18th century.
Provenance:
Handwritten label on spine reading "61 / גורלות / תרגומים / סגולות / 61".
Front paste-down: Handwritten in pencil table of content reading "(XVI-XVII) / קבץ / לקטטים שונים / מדרשים, 〚גורלות (עברית וערבית〛 / מזלות, קמיעות, השבעות / גורלות (אורים ותומים) / מדרש פטירת אהרן ומשה / (בקיצור) / ס׳ רעשים ורעמים (דף אחד) / תרגום שמונה עשרה ברכות / סדר אירוסין, קדושין הבדלה / מלה ועוד / (עברית וערבית) / קמיעות וסגולות עם ציורים / שמות ממאנים ועוד כאלה / כ׳׳י שונים מזמנים שינים מתימן".
Folio ia: Handwritten in pencil number 61.
Folio 1a: Handwritten in black ink "N. 61 M.Gaster".
Folios 2a and 103b: Signature of Moses Gaster.
Birth records: on folio 40a from 2188 according to the Seleucid era (1877/78 CE): "נולד הפרח הטוב בני שמו שלום ביום ד' י"א לחדש סיון שנת בקפ"ח לשטרי הש"י ישמרהו ויחיהו ומכל צרה ונזק יציליהו יגדלו לעבודתו ויפתח לבו לת"ת אכי"ר"; on folio 40b from 2188 according to the Seleucid era (1877/78 CE): "נולד הפרח הטוב בני מנחם ביום י"א לחדש סיון שנת בקפ"ח לשטרי".
Folio 105b: Signature of Moses Gaster on the left margin of the page and on the bottom "105 leaves / M.G. 1893".
Folio 109b: Handwritten in pencil "109 / fols / M.G.".
Acquisition: Acquired by The John Rylands Library from the heirs of Moses Gaster in 1954.
Date of Acquisition: 1954
Data Source(s): Description based on Alexander Samely's unpublished draft catalogue, revised and expanded by Stefania Silvestri.
Revised by Zsófia Buda.
Bibliography:
Samely, Alexander, "Writing in an (almost) Classical vein: the art of Targum in an Aramiac paraphrase of the Amidah", Bulletin of the John Rylands Library 73.3 (1993): 175-264.
Gaster, Moses, "Ein Targum der Amidah", Monatsschrift für Geschichte und Wissenschaft des Judentums, 39.2 (1895): 79-90.

Section shown in images 7 to 10

Title: Liḳuṭim ba-asṭrologiyah
Alternative Title(s): לקוטים באסטרולוגיה
Descriptive Title(s): Astological fragments
Language(s): Hebrew
Note(s):
Folio 1a: scribbles, notes.

Section shown in images 10 to 26

Title: Ḳemeʿot
Alternative Title(s): קמעות
Descriptive Title(s): Magical formulae
Language(s): Hebrew
Note(s):
Charaktêres (ring letters) on folio 9a.
The text ends on a stub glued onto folio 11a.
Folio 3b: Last two lines written upside-down.

Section shown in images 29 to 30

Title: Sefer Reʿamim
Alternative Title(s): ספר רעמים
Descriptive Title(s): Brontological treatise
Language(s): Hebrew
Note(s):
Beginning "אם ירעים בניסן... ".

Section shown in images 31 to 38

Title: Astrological text
Alternative Title(s): חסב סארס צפר
Language(s): Judeo-Arabic

Section shown in images 39 to 43

Title: Goralot shel urim ṿe-tumim
Alternative Title(s): גורלות של אורים ותומים
Language(s): Hebrew
Note(s):
Beginning "אתחיל לכתוב גורלות של אורים ותומים בעזרת שוכון(!) מרומים". Folio 18a: "חשן המשפט"; folio "הטור האחד אודם". Ending "נשלם ש'ו'ש'ר'ש' ו'ב'ה' ה'י'ק'ה' כמ"ש לפא"ו ת'ש'ל'ם'" (folio 58b).

Section shown in images 135 to 138

Title: Nusaḥ birkat erusin
Alternative Title(s): נוסח ברכת אירוסין
Language(s): Hebrew and Judeo-Arabic

Section shown in images 138 to 140

Title: Berakot ha-milah
Alternative Title(s): ברכות המילה; Blessing on the circumcision
Language(s): Hebrew

Section shown in images 141 to 143

Title: Tsafah al-havdalah
Alternative Title(s): צפה אלהבדלה
Language(s): Judeo-Arabic and Hebrew

Section shown in images 144 to 152

Title: Targum birkat shemonah eśreh
Alternative Title(s): תרגום ברכת שמונה עשרה
Language(s): Aramaic and Hebrew
Note(s):
Aramaic version of the Eighteen Benediction.
Beginning "בשם רחמן \ אתחיל לכתוב תרגום י"ח ברכות התפלת בעזרת אלהי אברהם".
Ending "נשלם תולבע בגלט שכט" (folio 67b).

Section shown in images 152 to 153

Title: Maʿaśeh
Alternative Title(s): מעשה
Language(s): Hebrew
Note(s):
Beginning "מעשה ושרי אשת אברהם לו(!) ילדה תמן תנינן נשא אשה".

Section shown in images 153 to 153

Title: Ṭaʿam neḥmad
Alternative Title(s): טעם נחמד
Language(s): Hebrew
Note(s):
Beginning "רק את המות הזה שרוקו ממית דאמר רבי נחמיה".

Section shown in images 154 to 154

Title: Liḳuṭim
Alternative Title(s): ליקוטים
Language(s): Hebrew
Note(s):
Beginning "שלשה הקב"ה נותן בהן חן חן תורה על לומדיה חן אשה על בעלה".

Section shown in images 155 to 155

Title: Tsalah al-mayyit
Alternative Title(s): צלוה אלמיית
Language(s): Hebrew and Judeo-Arabic
Note(s):
Prayer for the dead.

Section shown in images 156 to 158

Title: Peṭirat Aharon
Alternative Title(s): פטירת אהרון
Language(s): Judeo-Arabic

Section shown in images 158 to 164

Title: Peṭirat Mosheh Rabenu
Alternative Title(s): פטירת משה רבינו
Language(s): Judeo-Arabic

Section shown in images 165 to 172

Title: Liḳuṭim
Alternative Title(s): ליקוטים
Language(s): Hebrew
Note(s):
Beginning "אתחיל לכתוב ליקוטים בעזרת שוכן מרומים"; folio 76b: "טעם נחמד".

Section shown in images 173 to 176

Title: Ḳemeʿot u-segulot
Alternative Title(s): קמעות וסגלות
Language(s): Hebrew
Note(s):
Magical amulets and charms.

Section shown in images 177 to 203

Title: Hisab 12 mazalot
Alternative Title(s): חסאב י"ב מזלות
Language(s): Judeo-Arabic
Note(s):
Astrological treatise?
Charaktêres (ring letters) (e.g. folio 90b).
Ending תם on folio 93a.

Section shown in images 203 to 206

Title: Unidentified texts
Language(s): Hebrew and Judeo-Arabic

Section shown in images 207 to 226

Title: Ḳemeʿot, segulot ṿe-hashbaʿot
Alternative Title(s): קמעות, סגלות והשבעות
Language(s): Hebrew, Judeo-Arabic, and Arabic
Note(s):
Magical amulets, charms and incantations.
Numerous magical symbols.
On different types of paper by various hands.

Section shown in images 231 to 232

Title: Fragment of a midrashic text
Language(s): Hebrew
Note(s):
Lower part of the folio is torn, loss of text.
Excerpts:
Incipit: Folio 108a: "אויביו וינוסו משנאיו מפניו כולו שם אחד ר"ת בזה יאיאומם".

Section shown in images 233 to 233

Title: Baḳashah
Alternative Title(s): בקשה
Language(s): Hebrew
Note(s):
Beginning: "ידידי אם תבחר להבין סוד זוהר עמוד נא בשיר". Ending: נשלמה.