Collection ID: 0021 | Metadata type: TEI | TEI XML | Data

Title

Karaite codex

Other related names

• Gaster, Moses, 1856-1939, former owner (http://viaf.org/viaf/12428346)

Call number

Gaster Hebrew MS 1324
(Manchester, United Kingdom, University of Manchester, University of Manchester Library, Hebrew Manuscripts)

Alternate identifiers

• Former: Gaster 1324

Publisher

University of Manchester Library

Language

Hebrew; Judeo-Arabic

Origin

Place

Unknown

Summary

Karaite codex consisting of two incomplete parts written in several hands. The first part (1b-22b) is a Judeo-Arabic text on Esther, perhaps a retelling of the story of Esther. It is incomplete at its end. The second part (23a-82b) comprises Muqaddimat on a number of weekly Torah readings from Genesis, sometimes more than once on the same parashah. The Muqaddimat are transmitted anonymously. It appears none were written by the fifteenth-century Karaite scholar from Cairo Samuel ben Moses al-Maghribi. Muqaddimat ("Introductions" or "Prolegomena" in Arabic) are short homilies which introduce the weekly Torah reading (parashah). They usually also refer to the weekly reading from the Prophets (haftarah) and a specific Psalm. A few muqaddimat include some liturgical poetry. Severe water damage. Ink impressions on opposite pages. Irregular edges. Broken back board.

Notes

• Gaster Hebrew MS 1324/1: The Judeo-Arabic text on Esther is incomplete at its end
   
• Gaster Hebrew MS 1324/2: parashiyyot in 3 columns with eastern Arabic numerals
   

Extent

83; Gaster Hebrew MS 1324/1: 160 x 120 mm Gaster Hebrew MS 1324/2: 160 x 114 mm bound to 170 x 126 mm

Foliation

Modern pencil foliation in Arabic numerals at the top outer corner of side a of each folio; missing foliation on leave between folios 69 and 70

Support

Paper

Binding

Modern beige cloth binding; traces of English print on front board

Layout

Gaster Hebrew MS 1324/1: Long line with c. 18 written lines

Gaster Hebrew MS 1324/2: Long line with 15 written lines

Decoration

Folios 1b and 3a: Initial words in larger red characters.

Script

Gaster Hebrew MS 1324/1: Karaite square script

Folio 23a in different hand from the rest.

Gaster Hebrew MS 1324/2: Karaite semi-cursive script; several hands

Provenance

• Acquired by The John Rylands Library from the heirs of Moses Gaster in 1954.
   

Subjects topical

• Piyutim
• Karaites--Liturgy--Texts
• Karaite manuscripts
• Karaites
• Tales
• Jewish sermons, Judeo-Arabic

Keywords

• Jewish
• Karaite
• Biblical
• Piyutim
• Collection of Sermons

Licenses

• Text

  Images are ©2018 University of Manchester Library, Special Collections and licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License version 4.0 (CC-BY-4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode. For a description of the terms of use see the Creative Commons Deed https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.

  URL

  https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode

• Text

  Metadata is ©2018 University of Manchester Library, Special Collections and licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License version 4.0 (CC-BY-4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode. For a description of the terms of use see the Creative Commons Deed https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.

  URL

  https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode

Table of contents

• 1b — Gaster Hebrew MS 1324/1: Judeo-Arabic text on Esther [ff.1a-22b]; incipit: נבתדי אלאן ב?קצאת ?אמא אסתר
• 23a — Gaster Hebrew MS 1324/2: List of parashiyyot [f.23a]
• 23b — Gaster Hebrew MS 1324/2: Muqaddimat [ff.23b-82b]; subdivided into parashiyyot: Vayetse Yaʿaqov (Genesis 28:10-32:3) [ff.23b-32b]
• 33b — Gaster Hebrew MS 1324/2: Muqaddimat [ff.23b-82b]; subdivided into parashiyyot: another muqaddimah on the same parashah [ff.33b-37b]
• 38a — Gaster Hebrew MS 1324/2: Muqaddimat [ff.23b-82b]; subdivided into parashiyyot: the next part; as yet unidentified [ff.38a-44a]
• 44b — Gaster Hebrew MS 1324/2: Muqaddimat [ff.23b-82b]; subdivided into parashiyyot: Vayishlah (Genesis 32:4-36:43) [ff.44b-48b]
• 49a — Gaster Hebrew MS 1324/2: Muqaddimat [ff.23b-82b]; subdivided into parashiyyot: the next part; as yet unidentified [ff.49a-56b]
• 57a — Gaster Hebrew MS 1324/2: Muqaddimat [ff.23b-82b]; subdivided into parashiyyot: the next part; as yet unidentified [ff.57a-64b]
• 65a — Gaster Hebrew MS 1324/2: Muqaddimat [ff.23b-82b]; subdivided into parashiyyot: Hebrew text in different hand. Part of a liturgical poem? [f.65a]
• 65b — Gaster Hebrew MS 1324/2: Muqaddimat [ff.23b-82b]; subdivided into parashiyyot: Vayehi mikets (Genesis 41:1-44:17) [ff.65b-68b]; she catchword on folio 68b suggests this muqaddimah is incomplete or some folios in the manuscript are in the wrong order
• 69a — Gaster Hebrew MS 1324/2: Muqaddimat [ff.23b-82b]; subdivided into parashiyyot: Vayeshev Ya'akov (Genesis 37:1-40:23) [ff.69a-78b]; as yet unclear whether the text is complete and the folios are in the right order (cf. the catchword on folio 70b which does not match up with the word on the next page)
• 79a — Gaster Hebrew MS 1324/2: Muqaddimat [ff.23b-82b]; subdivided into parashiyyot: Vayigash (Genesis 44:18-47:27) [ff.79a-82b]; incomplete at the end

Decorations

• 1b — Initial words in larger red characters
• 3a — Initial words in larger red characters