Illustrated parchment manuscript, Seder Brit Milah and Pidyon HaBen – Mohel Book (Pinkas Milah). London, 1840. Ink and paint on parchment. Illustrated architectural title page. At the bottom is a medallion with a monogram of the initials M. S. [Samuel Moses]; made of micrographic art with inscription: “This notebook was made by Aharon son of Y. Leib of Lissa scribe and dayan in London in honor of R’ Eliezer son of R’ Ya’akov of London in 1840”. The manuscript contains: Seder Brit Milah, blessings and prayers, at the beginning is a section of the Zohar; Birkat HaMazon, with additions for a Brit Milah; Seder Pidyon HaBen. Vowelized square writing, with instructions and laws in small unvowelized letters. Enlarged titles and opening letters painted with golden ink. Illustrated ornaments in several places. At the beginning and end of the manuscript are several empty leaves to be used for recording circumcisions but actually no inscriptions of any circumcisions were entered [written on some leaves are names of males, in alphabetical order, with Yiddish appellations]. Original leather binding, with gilt adornments and embossment of owner’s name: S. Moses. On the verso of the binding is an ex-libris of Samuel Moses. This manuscript belonged to Samuel Moses (1807-1873), born in England, and worked there as a mohel. He moved to Tasmania (an island opposite the shores of South-East Australia), and was appointed a Justice of the peace and became one of the most prominent Jews there. Simultaneously, he continued his work as a mohel and was active in reinforcing Judaism in other communities of Australian colonies. See enclosed material. Added to the last leaf is another manuscript of Shir HaMa’a lot Beshuv…, and the Mi SheBerach prayer for those who pledge charity after a circumcision. [21] leaves, [9] empty parchment leaves. 14 cm. Good condition. Stains. Wine stains to several leaves. Several loose leaves. Contemporary binding.

Manuscript, plea for women upon Blessing the New Month. Calligraphic square script and cursive Ashkenazi script. Pekela (Netherlands), [1783]. Yiddish-Deitsch. Title page with writer’s colophon: “This plea is recited by women before Blessing the New Month – I have written and given it as a gift to the important woman Tzippor daughter of Shmuel, wife of R’ Biema bar Naftali Segal of the Pekela community, today, Wednesday, Erev Tisha B’Av… Moshe bar Yitzchak”. 5 leaves, approximately 16 cm. Fair condition, stains, wear and tears, with paper restorations + ex-libris of Ya’akov Naftali Hertz Levi - “Versteigerung N. H. Van Biema”. Provenance: Appeared in the N. H. Van-Biema collection, auctioned in Amsterdam 1905 - manuscript collection of the Dutch collector Ya’akov Naftali Hertz Levi, a descendent of the abovementioned woman, Tzippor, wife of Rabbi Binyamin Beima son of Rabbi Naftali Yitzchak Segal.

Handwritten paper scroll, Megillat Purei HaKela’im – about the miracle of salvation of the Prague community in 1621. [Without note of place. C. 19th century]. Vowelized square writing; black, red and green ink, on a long paper scroll. In this scroll is the story of the deliverance of the “Purim Firhang”, celebrated during several generations among the descendants of the Prague beadle, Rabbi Chanoch son of R’ Moshe Altschuler. The story is recounted at length in the scroll by Rabbi Chanoch son of R’ Moshe: In the month of Tevet (1621/2), silk rolls were stolen from the home of Duke Liechtenstein, at the time he was in Vienna. Following the Duke’s orders, it was announced in the Prague synagogue that anyone who had any information about the theft should inform the heads of the community. Immediately after the announcement, R’ Yosef Tine approached the beadle Rabbi Chanoch son of R’ Moshe and told him that he had purchased the silk fabric from two army personnel. After consultation, the head of the community, R’ Ya’akov Te’omim was sent to return the stolen goods. However, the city governor who was known to be of an explosive nature, demanded that the person who purchased the fabric should appear before him; if not, the community head will be sentenced to death. On the morrow, R’ Ya’akov arrived together with the beadle R’ Chanoch to attempt to calm him so he would waive his demand but the governor fumed and commanded to throw R’ Chanoch into prison and announced that he will be hung the next day. R’ Yosef Tine who purchased the silk was brought before the city governor. R’ Chanoch was released but R’ Yosef was imprisoned in his stead and was sentenced to death by hanging with two dogs by his side. After much exertion and lobbying, a ransom of ten thousand gold pieces was negotiated and R’ Yosef was released from prison at twilight of Erev Shabbat. To commemorate the salvation of the beadle and of R’ Yosef, the festival of the family deliverance called Purim Firhang was instated. In the scroll, the year 1623 is recorded although calculating the days and months mentioned in the scroll, the correct year should be 1621. This scroll was first printed in the Jubilee Yearbook by Zvi Gratz, Breslau, 1888, pp. 48-52. Paper scroll. Length: 204 cm. Height: 23 cm. Fair condition. Stains and wear. Dampness and ink stains. Tears to the beginning of the scroll and in other places (at times with damage to text), with restorations. Housed in a new box.

Passover Haggadah – Ma’aleh Beit Chorin, “According to Ashkenazi and Sephardi tradition”, with the Alshich commentary, Gevurot Hashem by the Maharal, and Ollelot Efraim by Rabbi Shalom Efraim of Luntschitz [author of Kli Yakar]. Amsterdam, [1781]. Printed by Proops. First edition of the haggadah by this name. Copper-etched half-title page. Copper-etched illustrations according to the 1795 Amsterdam edition. At the end of the haggadah is a large [folded] leaf with a map of Eretz Israel. [2] 52 leaves + folding map. 24.5 cm. Good condition. Stains. Some leaves have many dark stains from wine and food. New elaborate binding. Ya’ari 199; Otzar HaHaggadot 300.