[Meditational verses for the High Holidays]

University of Pennsylvania digitized manuscript

10 leaves : paper ; 150 x 105 mm; Collation: Paper, 10; 1², 2 detached leaves, 2² 3⁴; modern foliation in pencil, 1-10, center left recto.; Decoration: Round enclosures in text ink of ṿaṿ combinations (with different vocalizations) scattered within the text (f. 7v-8v).; Hebrew and Aramaic.; Layout: Written in 18 to 26 lines on unruled pages; the original paper sizes are not determinable due to the clear evidence of trimming at some edges (for example, the bottom part of f. 4r), with other leaves formatted for their current size (for example, f. 3v, 5v); the manuscript may have originated as separate leaves later joined as a miscellany.; Ms. gatherings.; No binding; fragile remnants of sewing. Heavy wear and darkening on the leaves and writing.; Origin: Written likely in northern Italy in the early 17th century by Abraham Yaḥya, or Yaḥiya; perhaps he was a relative of the prominent (and widespread) Yaḥiya family, with roots in 12th century Lisbon whose descendants at this period were prominent in Portugal, Spain, Italy, and Turkey. The dating of the manuscript is based on Yaḥya's friendship with a R. Natan Spira (f. 7r); likely a reference to R. Natan Note Spira of Kraków, a famed kabbalist and author of Megaleh ʻamuḳot, who lived 1585-1633. Also, the poem Yedid nefesh is attributed in this manuscript (f. 3r) to R. Eleazar Azikri (1533-1600), who printed it for the first time in 1600-1 in a volume he authored (Sefer ḥaredim, Venice: Daniel Zanetti, 1600-1601).; Related Work: Azikri, Eleazar ben Moses, 1533-1600. Yedid nefesh.; Related Work: Hai ben Sherira, 939-1038. Ḳets ha-pelaʼot.; Related Work: Jacob, of Orleans, -1189. Ḳabalot.; Related Work: Moses, ha-Darshan, active 11th century. Ḳabalot.; Related Work: Spira, Nathan Nata ben Solomon, approximately 1585-1633. Seder.; Script: Written in an Ashkenazic semicursive script, with highlights in square script, by multiple hands. The portion of text ascertaining the time of the arrival of the Messiah is written in a larger semicursive script, with a more Italian appearance and a lower slant, probably by another hand (f. 2r). One work is signed by the scribe after a small colophon (f. 6r). In the amulet text, the Tetragrammaton with tserufe shemot (formulaic tetragrammaton) is written in very large square script and three rows below, with the titles "śerafim - ḥayot - ofanim" at the ends, are written in vocalized smaller square script (f. 6v).; Table of contents: 880-04 1. f. 1r-1v: [Tefilah] le-mi she-ʻover li-fene ha-tevah be-R.H. ṿe-Y. ha-K. -- 2. f. 2r: Ḳabalah / me-R. Mosheh ha-Darshan -- 3. f. 2r: Heʻteḳ ... meḳubal yashan [ʻal zeman ḳets ha-pelaʼot] -- 4. f. 3r: Tefilah yafah le-omro be-khol yom uve-khol zeman ha-tefilah -- 5. f. 3v: [Tefilah] le-hasir maḥshavot raʻim be-ʻet ha-tefilah -- 6. f. 3r: Yedid nefesh -- 7. f. 3v: [ʻAśeret ha-dibrot] -- 8. f. 4r: [Tiḳune ha-Zohar 17] -- 9. f. 4v: Dinim ha-shayakhim le-R.H. ṿe-Y. ha-K. -- 10. f. 5r-6r: Diḳduḳ [...] le-havin ule-horot amarot ṭehorot -- 11. f. 6v: [Ḳameʻa] -- 12. f. 7r: [Seder] be-khitve / ḥaveri ha-R.N. Śpira -- 13. f. 7v-9r: Seder ha-yiḥud ha-gadol ha-mesugal leha-shanah -- 14. f. 9v: Tefilat ha-yam ʻal kol tsarah she-lo tavo.; Table of contents: 880-04 1. f. 1r-1v: [Tefilah] le-mi she-ʻover li-fene ha-tevah be-R.H. ṿe-Y. ha-K. -- 2. f. 2r: Ḳabalah / me-R. Mosheh ha-Darshan -- 3. f. 2r: Heʻteḳ ... meḳubal yashan [ʻal zeman ḳets ha-pelaʼot] -- 4. f. 3r: Tefilah yafah le-omro be-khol yom uve-khol zeman ha-tefilah -- 5. f. 3v: [Tefilah] le-hasir maḥshavot raʻim be-ʻet ha-tefilah -- 6. f. 3r: Yedid nefesh -- 7. f. 3v: [ʻAśeret ha-dibrot] -- 8. f. 4r: [Tiḳune ha-Zohar 17] -- 9. f. 4v: Dinim ha-shayakhim le-R.H. ṿe-Y.ha-K. -- 10. f. 5r-6r: Diḳduḳ [...] le-havin ule-horot amarot ṭehorot -- 11. f. 6v: [Ḳameʻa] -- 12. f. 7r: [Seder] be-khitve / ḥaveri ha-R.N. Śpira -- 13. f. 7v-9r: Seder ha-yiḥud ha-gadol ha-mesugal leha-shanah -- 14. f. 9v: Tefilat ha-yam ʻal kol tsarah she-lo tavo.; Title supplied by cataloger.