Maḥzor
Moses Bili ben Judah
1614
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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Song for Simkhes Toyre
Our God is one. You are my God: Hallelujah!
Who created me, body and soul: Hallelujah!
You created Heaven and earth: Hallelujah!
We will praise You forever: Hallelujah!
You…
Seder nashim (Order of Women): On Welcoming the Sabbath
Near sunset one shall light a Shabbat candle and before saying the blessing it is necessary to say “I am not receiving Shabbat” even if one already lit it, until it is Shabbat.
And then…

Pre-Yom Kippur Customs
This woodcut from Libellus de Judaica confessione siue sabbato afflictionis (A Pamphlet Concerning the Jewish Faith or the Sabbath of Affliction), the second treatise of a zealous Christian convert…
A Supplication for the Day of Atonement
For Yom Kippur, with the help of God, may He be praised.
Another supplication [teḥinah]. I have founded it as the former ones, have established it, and upheld it.
I the young one, Meir, son of our…
Hymn for the First Meal
Prepare the feast
of perfect faith,
the delight of the Holy King.
Prepare the feast of the King.
This is the feast
of the Field of Holy Apples;
the Lesser Presence and Ancient Eminence
asse…
Hymn for the Second Meal
Prepare the feast
of perfect faith,
the delight of the Holy King.
Prepare the feast of the King.
This is the feast
of the Ancient Eminence;
the Lesser Presence and Field of Apples
assemble…
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Creator Bio
Moses Bili ben Judah
17th Century
Moses Bili ben Judah was a scribe active in Crete in the seventeenth century.
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Song for Simkhes Toyre
Our God is one. You are my God: Hallelujah!
Who created me, body and soul: Hallelujah!
You created Heaven and earth: Hallelujah!
We will praise You forever: Hallelujah!
You…
Seder nashim (Order of Women): On Welcoming the Sabbath
Near sunset one shall light a Shabbat candle and before saying the blessing it is necessary to say “I am not receiving Shabbat” even if one already lit it, until it is Shabbat.
And then…

Pre-Yom Kippur Customs
This woodcut from Libellus de Judaica confessione siue sabbato afflictionis (A Pamphlet Concerning the Jewish Faith or the Sabbath of Affliction), the second treatise of a zealous Christian convert…
A Supplication for the Day of Atonement
For Yom Kippur, with the help of God, may He be praised.
Another supplication [teḥinah]. I have founded it as the former ones, have established it, and upheld it.
I the young one, Meir, son of our…
Hymn for the First Meal
Prepare the feast
of perfect faith,
the delight of the Holy King.
Prepare the feast of the King.
This is the feast
of the Field of Holy Apples;
the Lesser Presence and Ancient Eminence
asse…
Hymn for the Second Meal
Prepare the feast
of perfect faith,
the delight of the Holy King.
Prepare the feast of the King.
This is the feast
of the Ancient Eminence;
the Lesser Presence and Field of Apples
assemble…