Maḥzor

Moses Bili ben Judah

1614

Manuscript page with Hebrew text set in an arched building with two lions on the roof and floral motifs on bottom section.
This prayer book for the Rosh Hashanah festival from Crete is elaborately decorated inside with drawings of animals and people and has a colorful title page. Greek (Romaniote/Byzantine) Jews had lived on the island of Crete since the Second Temple period. They were later joined by Ashkenazic Jews and exiles from the Iberian Peninsula. The scribe, Moses Bili ben Judah, made this maḥzor (High Holiday prayer book) for himself. It has prayers according to the German, not Romaniote rite.

Credits

© The British Library Board, Harley 5794.

Published in: The Posen Library of Jewish Culture and Civilization, vol. 5.

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