Auction 58 - Rare and Important Items
Manuscript - Torah - Bukhara, 15th Century - Singular Bukharan Manuscript from the Middle Ages - Rare Testimony of an Early Source for the Ashkenazi Torah Tradition
Opening: $20,000
Sold for: $25,000
Including buyer's premium
Manuscript. Torah, sections of Bereshit and Shemot. [Bukhara, second half of 15th century].
Oriental script. Babylonian complex vocalization, with some signs being unique to this manuscript (shapes of the kamatz and the patach). Tiberian vocalization (sub-linear) is some places.
Extremely rare. A singular Bukharan manuscript from the Middle Ages. The only known Bukharan manuscript on this part of the Torah. Moreover, this manuscript contains an early Torah text tradition, constituting a source of the Ashkenazi tradition of the Torah in later times.
As aforesaid, Bukharan manuscripts are exceedingly scarce and besides this manuscript, only one more manuscript on the Torah is known. Most of that manuscript (with the exception of two and a half chapters) contains different sections than this manuscript (particularly of Bamidbar-Devarim). This is the earliest Bukharan manuscript and the only known one from this early time for this part of the Torah (Bereshit-Shemot).
The version in this ancient manuscript differs from the present Torah version and is a rare testimony of the early Torah version according to Ashkenazi tradition which apparently originated in Oriental countries. Ashkenazi manuscripts differ in many details in comparison to most Scriptural manuscripts in other countries. These variations include chaserot and yiterot (words with and without the letters vav and yud), parshiot petuchot and setumot (spaces left between sections) and the manner of writing the "songs" in the Torah. Although these variations were suspected to be attributed to new revisions by Ashkenazi scribes, recently, these variations have been proven to be based on early Oriental traditions which are preserved in few and scarce sources. This manuscript, written in 15th century Bukhara, reflects that ancient tradition and is one of the only known manuscripts which preserved the original version which later appeared in Ashkenazi manuscripts.
For example, the layout of the last verse of Shirat Hayam: the Ashkenazi tradition differs from traditions of other countries due to a disagreement among the Rishonim as to whether this verse is part of the song which calls for a different pattern of writing the words. In this manuscript, this verse is written according to the prevalent Ashkenazi practice.
This manuscript contains the following sections: Bereshit 27:33-29:13; 30:1-20; 30:33-31:41; 31:54-39:13; Bereshit 40:4-Shemot 25:33; 26:22-29:29; 39:14-39 (end of Parshat Toldot, sections of Parshat VaYetze, Parshat VaYishlach, most of Parshat VaYeshev, Parshat Miketz almost until the end of Parshat TeTzaveh [a small section of Parshat Terumah is lacking] and several verses of Parshat Pekudei).
[112] leaves. 18.5 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains and wear, dampstains in several places. Repaired wear and tears. Old binding.
Written according to (enclosed) article by Prof. Jordan S. Penkower, Professor in the Bible Department at Bar Ilan University. See also: Prof. Jordan S. Penkower, Torah manuscript proofread by Misha'el ben Uziel, Tarbiz 58, pp. 64-66.
Oriental script. Babylonian complex vocalization, with some signs being unique to this manuscript (shapes of the kamatz and the patach). Tiberian vocalization (sub-linear) is some places.
Extremely rare. A singular Bukharan manuscript from the Middle Ages. The only known Bukharan manuscript on this part of the Torah. Moreover, this manuscript contains an early Torah text tradition, constituting a source of the Ashkenazi tradition of the Torah in later times.
As aforesaid, Bukharan manuscripts are exceedingly scarce and besides this manuscript, only one more manuscript on the Torah is known. Most of that manuscript (with the exception of two and a half chapters) contains different sections than this manuscript (particularly of Bamidbar-Devarim). This is the earliest Bukharan manuscript and the only known one from this early time for this part of the Torah (Bereshit-Shemot).
The version in this ancient manuscript differs from the present Torah version and is a rare testimony of the early Torah version according to Ashkenazi tradition which apparently originated in Oriental countries. Ashkenazi manuscripts differ in many details in comparison to most Scriptural manuscripts in other countries. These variations include chaserot and yiterot (words with and without the letters vav and yud), parshiot petuchot and setumot (spaces left between sections) and the manner of writing the "songs" in the Torah. Although these variations were suspected to be attributed to new revisions by Ashkenazi scribes, recently, these variations have been proven to be based on early Oriental traditions which are preserved in few and scarce sources. This manuscript, written in 15th century Bukhara, reflects that ancient tradition and is one of the only known manuscripts which preserved the original version which later appeared in Ashkenazi manuscripts.
For example, the layout of the last verse of Shirat Hayam: the Ashkenazi tradition differs from traditions of other countries due to a disagreement among the Rishonim as to whether this verse is part of the song which calls for a different pattern of writing the words. In this manuscript, this verse is written according to the prevalent Ashkenazi practice.
This manuscript contains the following sections: Bereshit 27:33-29:13; 30:1-20; 30:33-31:41; 31:54-39:13; Bereshit 40:4-Shemot 25:33; 26:22-29:29; 39:14-39 (end of Parshat Toldot, sections of Parshat VaYetze, Parshat VaYishlach, most of Parshat VaYeshev, Parshat Miketz almost until the end of Parshat TeTzaveh [a small section of Parshat Terumah is lacking] and several verses of Parshat Pekudei).
[112] leaves. 18.5 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains and wear, dampstains in several places. Repaired wear and tears. Old binding.
Written according to (enclosed) article by Prof. Jordan S. Penkower, Professor in the Bible Department at Bar Ilan University. See also: Prof. Jordan S. Penkower, Torah manuscript proofread by Misha'el ben Uziel, Tarbiz 58, pp. 64-66.