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Zürich, Braginsky Collection, B282 : Kalonymus ben Kalonymus, <i>Massekhet Purim</i>
No full textThe Massekhet Purim contained in this manuscript is a Purim parody by the Provençal author and translator Kalonymus ben Kalonymus (Arles 1286- after 1328), who wrote this work in Rome in the early 1320s. The text is about eating, drinking and drunkenness during Purim. The author humorously imitated the text and style of the Talmud. The illustrations include depictions of harlequins, of a street musician and of seven playing cards represented as trompe l’œil, which is rarely found in Hebrew manuscripts. The codex was copied in Amsterdam in 1752, at a time when this work was very popular in the Ashkenazic Jewish community.Online Since: 2014-12-1
Zürich, Braginsky Collection, B316 : <i>Septem Psalmi Poenitentiales</i> and Ps. 138
No full textThis calligram depicting King David playing a harp comprises the Latin text of what is known as the Seven Penitential Psalms (6, 31, 37, 50, 101, 129 and 142) and of Psalm 138. The calligram is signed by the well-known Jewish scribe-artist Aaron Wolf Herlingen, the creator of the Haggadah from 1725 (B284) in the Braginsky Collection. The artist used a technique in which text is written in miniscule letters, also known as micrography. Herlingen wrote this calligram for Prince Joseph II (1741-1790), the son of Empress Maria Theresa and Emperor Francis I.Online Since: 2016-12-2
Zürich, Braginsky Collection, B217 : <i>Seder Birkat ha-Mazon</i> (Grace after Meals and other prayers and blessings)
No full textIn addition to the Seder Birkat ha-Mazon ("Grace after Meals"), this mid-18th century manuscript contains the Birkhot ha-Nehenin ("Blessings over Enjoyments"), the Shalosh Mitzvot Nashim ("Three Commandments for Women") and the Seder Keri’at Shema al ha-Mittah ("Reading of the Shema before retiring at night"). The passages relating to the three commandments imposed on women indicate that the book was meant as a bridal gift. Besides the image on the front page, the book contains 22 smaller colored illustrations. A Hebrew phrase on the the title page refers to the place of origin, Deutschkreutz in Burgenland (Austria). Based on stylistic characteristics of the script and decoration, the manuscript can be attributed to the scribe and illustrator Aaron Wolf Herlingen.Online Since: 2014-12-1
Zürich, Braginsky Collection, S7 : <i>Megillat</i> Esther (מגילת אסתר) / Esther Scroll
No full textThe Esther story in this megillah (pl. megillot) isn\u27t presented as an historic drama, but rather as a funny satire. The character of Alsatian Jewish life is captured in the ornamentation of the scroll: the whimsical imagery includes peasant figures in colorful local costume and reflections of folk humor. Lively figures, several shown strolling with walking sticks in hand and others gesturing, are interspersed with human busts, owls, and a gargoyle, while the Hebrew text is arranged within octagonal frames approximately 6 cm high. The few known Alsatian megillot share several distinctive characteristics, such as a bright palette of yellow, red, and green; stocky robust figures; and large vibrant flowers. In this Braginsky Collection Esther scroll, the women wear red or blue garments with yellow corselets laced in front, whereas the men are depicted wearing, amongst others, traditional white ruffs, red or blue jackets with culottes, and a variety of hats.Online Since: 2016-10-1
Zürich, Braginsky Collection, B104 : Elijah ben Solomon Zalman, <i>Kitzur Hekhalot ha-Kudushah</i> ("Abridgment of [the treatise on] the Holiness of Celestial Palaces")
No full textThis manuscript contains one of the four autographs of Elijah ben Solomon Zalman, known as the Vilna Gaon ("exceptional Talmud Scholar") (1720–1797). He was revered during his lifetime already and is considered the most important scholar among Lithuanian Ashkenazi Jews; his teaching influences Judaism up to today. This autograph comments on a passage of the Zohar, the classic work of Jewish mysticism. The comments from this manuscript were printed in the 19th century, carefully reproducing even the marginal notes and corrections in this manuscript.Online Since: 2015-03-1
Porrentruy, Bibliothèque cantonale jurassienne, A107 : Catalogus von dem Ursprung des Bisthums Basel
No full textThis paper manuscript, copied by a single scribe, has various materials related to the history of the Diocese of Basel. The title on the spine reads: “Catalogue des Evêques d. Bâle”. It begins with general information on the history and organization of the diocese, including a list of roles at the episcopal court (pp. 9-11) and another one of the vassals of the bishopric (pp. 11-13). Then, after a table of contents listing the bishops of the diocese, from Saint Pantalus to Joseph Guillaume Rinck de Baldenstein (pp. 14-16), there follow summaries in German of the deeds done under their episcopates, dating from 238 to 1747 (pp. 17-131). As the ex libris on the front pastedown states, this work belonged to Pierre Joseph Koetschet (1800-1869) when he was director of the Collège de Delémont.Online Since: 2024-05-3
Neuchâtel, Bibliothèque publique et universitaire de Neuchâtel, Ms. A 558 : Summary of the history of the county of Neuchâtel and its territories
No full textThis manuscript contains an Abrégé de l\u27histoire du Comté de Neuchatel et de ses dépendances, an Abrégé de l’histoire de la Souveraineté de Neuchatel et Valengin and a Sommaire description des Comtés de Neufchatel et Vallangin. This manuscript, which had been owned by the von Dardel family, describes the historical period from 1035 until 1707. It comes as a single volume, accompanied by two separate booklets, with marginal notes. The author is anonymous and there is no date. The manuscript is one of numerous copies of a text attributed to Daniel Droz and D. Quartier-dit-Maire, written in 1749 and published in 1786 under the title « Abrégé chronologique de l’histoire du Comté de Neuchatel et Valengin depuis l’an 1035 jusqu’en 1787 » [sic]. On page 661, 3 printed pages, taken from the Journal hélvétique of October 1750, have been glued in. They recount the flooding of the town of Neuchâtel on 8 October 1579, also described on page 439 of the same manuscript.Online Since: 2016-03-1
Zürich, Braginsky Collection, B52 : <i>Seder Tikkun ha-Mohel</i> ("Prayers for the circumsicion ceremony")
No full textThis codex contains prayers for the circumcision ceremony. The ceremony, depicted on f. 10r, takes place in a synagogue. The prophet Elijah, who will come in order to announce the advent of the Messiah, is considered to be present at the ceremony. An illustration on f. 18r depicts the blessing over wine. The decoration is the work of the illustrator Uri Fayvesh ben Isaac Segal, who was a prominent representative of the so-called Hamburg-Altona school for the production of 18th-century illuminated manuscripts, and who, according to current research, produced at least five more manuscripts in addition to this one. The title page bears the name of the owner, Joseph ben Samuel, as well as a not yet identified coat of arms with the Order of the Elephant, the highest order of the Royal House of Denmark.Online Since: 2014-12-1
Zürich, Braginsky Collection, S24 : <i>Megillat</i> Esther (מגילת אסתר) / Esther Scroll
No full textThis eighteenth-century megillah was created in Lower Saxony and exemplifies a type of folk art decoration and color palette found in other megillot from this region. The most distinctive image in this scroll is the one depicting the hanging of Haman. Bound in chains, he is suspended from the gallows. A venomous snake, a symbol of evil, encircles the upright support of the gibbet. Below, a double-tailed lion, an allegoric embodiment of the Jewish people, is depicted holding a crowned shield and gazing up at the execution. This Braginsky Collection megillah is one of three similar German scrolls containing distinctive images of Haman hanging. Inscriptions on the opening and closing panels of this scroll indicate that this scroll was owned by Berel the son of Abraham Neumark of Hamburg.Online Since: 2017-03-2
Zürich, Braginsky Collection, K68 : Ketubah (כתובה), Livorno, 14 Nisan 5508 (12 April 1748)
No full textThe bridal couple mentioned in this marriage contract, Dona Sarah, daughter of Jacob Guttieres Pegna (Peña) and David, son of the late Benjamin Racah (or Raccah), both are members of wealthy families of the Sephardic community of Livorno. As is customary, the ketubah lists the dowry and increment: It consists of a house on the Piazza delle Erbe with a value of 907 piesas, 6 solidos and 10 dinaros da ocho reali di Spagna, plus 150 piesas in cash and an increment valued at half of the dowry. The unusually large ketubah is decorated with interlace design in the style of “love knots”, floral scrolls, a pair of birds and two winged putti supporting a blank cartouche intended for the family emblem.Online Since: 2018-10-0