Manuscript: Illustrated Milah book on Parchment. Hamburg, 1740 [Scribe Yaakov ben Yehuda Leib of Berlin]
Illustrated manuscript containing sefer Sod Hashem and Sharvit HaZahav: Order of bris milah and the prayers and blessings recited before and after, along with a compilation of laws and customs, birchas hamazon as recited at a bris milah and the order of a pidyon haben.
Dated Hamburg, 1740. The laws and instructions are handwritten in Rashi script, while the blessings and prayers are written in square script.
Page 11 includes an illustration of the bris milah ceremony: A baby on the lap of the sandek with the mohel holding the knife in his hand.
Additional motifs and decorated letters are interspersed throughout the pages of the volume. The title page is illustrated with a border of two pillars and lions at the top.
Scribal writing and decorative parchment manuscripts gained popularity in 18th century Germany. One particular scribe who stood out at the time was Yaakov Yehuda Leib of Berlin- a resident of Hamburg, renowned for his artistic work. To this day, his manuscripts are housed by the great museums and libraries around the world.
The title page of the present manuscript states that it was written in Hamburg, 1740, while the name of the scribe is omitted. However, all fingers point to the handwork of Rabbi Yaakov Yehuda Leib, as the handwriting is identical to his in both the rounded and square lettering, and several of the illustrations are found in additional manuscripts created by him.
Additional examples of the artist’s work can be found in the Bibliotheca Rosenthaliana in Amsterdam, the British Museum, the Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati, and other important libraries and museums.
[26] Leaves | Parchment | 12 x 18 cm | Original leather binding, slightly worn
