Treasures of the Area Studies Collections: Reconsidering Primary Sources and Collections
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by Isaac Leib Peretz
Paris, 1948
Illustrated by Arthur Kolnick
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On vellum.
Scribe: Baruch ben Shemariah, Brest-Litovsk, 1794.
The entire biblical book of the Song of Songs is worked into an ornamental design using large Hebrew block letters and the minute letters called micrography. the word shir (song) is in the center. Though not a ketubah (marriage contract), this magnificently executed document may well have been written in honor of a marriage.
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On vellum
Inventory of the Torah scrolls in the synagogue of the city of Fano, northern Italy, 18th century. Includes the name of the donor and a description of the mantle with which the Torah was covered. A Torah scroll used in the synagogue is written entirely by hand by a trained scribe. It is, therefore, very costly. The mantles are made of the finest fabrics and are often embroidered with golden thread making them quite costly as well. The scrolls listed on this inventory must have been donated by the synagogue's most affluent members. Among the donors are several from the Finzi family made famous by the novel and movie, The Garden of the Finzi-Continis, by Giorgio Bassani.
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Bridegroom: Nathan ben Solomon Rignani
Bride: Stella bat Menahem Modigliani
The geometric ornamental borders on this ketubah differ from the more traditional floral designs found on most Italian ketubot of this period. The Hebrew writing along the border is from the Book of Ruth followed by a series of blessings evoking the patriarchs and matriarchs, and Mordecai and Esther (surprisingly, since the two were not husband and wife). The micrography on the lower rounded edge is of the seven blessings recited at the Jewish wedding ceremony.
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