Magnificent Illustrated Manuscript
Mikrah & Gemara Society Ledger. Chicago, 1915
Large ledger containing the membership rules and names of the members of the Mikrah and Gemara Society established in Chicago in the year 1915.
This ledger, written in beautiful penmanship, features a colorful title page and is adorned with decorative birds and flowers. The introductions and membership rules are inscribed in l calligraphy. The ledgers introduction recounts that even after a wearying workday, a Jew still feels the need to give something to his soul and unwind from a day’s toil by learning Torah. It concludes that to achieve this objective, it is advisable to learn Torah in a group, and that this was the express purpose of establishing the Mikrah and Gemara Society.
The Mikrah and Gemara Society studied Tanach, Ein Yaakov, Pirkei Avos, halachah and a daf of Gemara every day, or as inscribed, “Every day, a blatt Gemara.” This was written prior to Harav Meir Shapiro of Lublin establishing the Daf Yomi.
The first ten members to join the Mikrah and Gemara Society paid for this privilege. The privilege to be listed first in the ledger "opening the notebook", was purchased by a woman and the verses of Eishes Chayil were written in calligraphy in her honor in the center of the page.
The introduction and membership rules were inscribed by the esteemed Dr. Eibeli Lane, a prominent Chicagoan physician.
Most significantly, this ledger is testimony to the vibrant Judaism that existed in Chicago over 100 years ago. The Ridbaz, who served as a congregational rabbi in Chicago during this era, expressed that “There are many true go-d fearing jews in the city of Chicago” (Shu"t Ridbaz Ch. 28).
An additional title page appearing on p. 260 states, “Ledger of the Tehillim, Chessed and Truth Society of Congregation Bnei Yosef, 1924.”
Chicago, 1915. 4228 cm Written on 43 out of 500 pages, Original half leather binding.
