Manuscript – large anthology of approximately [250] different hymns and poems by dozens of different songwriters, including some from prominent Syrian families. The vast majority of the manuscript was written by one writer. Individual sections were written by other writers. Block script with several words in cursive. The opening word of each poem is written in framed letters. [Syria, 19th century.]
The songwriters whose hymns are presented here include: Rabbi Ya’akov b”r Sa’adiah Amar, Rabbi Meir Ezra, Yisrael b”r Moshe, Rabbi Yosef Romano, Rabbi Yitzchak HaLevi, Rabbi Yosef Sasson, Rabbi Ya’akov Mish’an, Rabbi David Farchi and Rabbi David b”r Ya’akov Pardo.
Most of the poems are characterized by an acrostic of the writer’s names: Yosef David, Yisrael, Avraham, Chalfon, Yeudah, Mordechai, Chaim, Shmuel, Eliyahu, Shlomo, Yedidyah, Ezra, Yitzchak, Yom Tov, Michael, Nissim, Elazar, Meir, Netanel, Tzalach, David, Avtalyon and Pinchas.
Including a detailed index of the various “Makamim”: Makam Tzava, Makam Shiga, Makam Bayat, Makam Dhawai, Makam Husseini, Makam Mahour, Makam Ajam, and others.
The content of the songs has not been examined at all. There may be songs that are not very familiar, and possibly others that are completely unknown.
Various lists by additional writers appear among the leaves of the book, some from various Egyptian cities:
Page [29] bears a short list in Arabic in Hebrew letters, mentioning “HeChacham Binyamin Ya’akov Palagi.”
Page [33] is a draft of a letter to S. Shimon, mentioning Rabbi Yitzchak Amsalem and Avraham el Tzaban
Page [40] is a draft of a ketubah from 1867, for the bridegroom Yitzchak b”r Avraham Yisrael and his fiancée, the bride Simchah b”r Michael Miamano, residents of the city Banha El Assal, one of the oldest Jewish communities in Egypt.
Page [42] is a partial draft of a ketubah from 1872, for the bridegroom Yitzchak ben Menachem Aharon Sa’adiah and his fiancée, the bride Tovah Temma daughter of Nissim Sharish, residents of the city Port Said.
Signature on page [125]: “I, the writer Binyamin” (not the primary writer of the manuscript, just of the passage on this page.)
many signatures of R’ Eliyahu Biton.
[125] written pages. Lacking several leaves. 22 cm.
Fine condition. Light stains. Light worming perforations in the margins. Glued reinforcement in the inner margins. New binding.