Oxford University Chabad Society presents an exhibition of
HIGH HOLIDAY MACHZOR PRAYER BOOK MANUSCRIPTS
From the Bodleian Library
At the Slager Jewish student centre, 61 George Street, Oxford, OX1 2BQ
This exhibition of rare manuscript images presents an overview of the development of the Machzor prayer book used on the holiest days in the Jewish calendar - Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year) and Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) over a thousand year period. For more info or to view the exhibition, contact [email protected]. Open daily - Mon-Thurs, 12-5pm.
MACHZORIM IMAGES ON DISPLAY:
Maḥzor for the Days of Awe and Tabernacles, Western Ashkenazi rite
MS. Bodley Or. 167
Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford
Date: 1275 - 1325
Fol. 1a Hamelech (The King) – illuminated
Maḥzor for the entire year, Western Ashkenazi rite
MS. Marshall Or. 7
Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford
Date: 1334
Fol. 146b Adirei Ayuma (Shacharit Rosh Hashanah) – Rabbi Elazar Kalir
Maḥzor for the Days of Awe and Tabernacles, Sephardi rite
MS. Canonici Or. 100
Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford
Date: 1301 - 1500
Fol. 19b Shofar with notes
Maḥzor for the Days of Awe and Tabernacles, Western Ashkenazi rite
MS. Bodley Or. 167
Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford
Date: 1275 - 1325
Fol. 51a Kol Nidrei, Ya’aleh piyut – five verses
Maḥzor for the High Holidays (Rosh ha-Shanah and Yom Kipur), Western Ashkenazi rite (Tripartite Maḥzor, volume 3)
MS. Michael 619
Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford
Date: 1320 - 1330
Description: Volume 3 of a 3-volume prayer book. Volumes 1 and 2 are Library of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Kaufmann Collection MS A384 and British Library MS Add. 22413.
Fol. 100b Kol Nidrei (illuminated)
Maḥzor for the High Holidays (Rosh ha-Shanah and Yom Kipur), Western Ashkenazi rite (Tripartite Maḥzor, volume 3)
MS. Michael 619
Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford
Date: 1320 - 1330
Description: Volume 3 of a 3-volume prayer book. Volumes 1 and 2 are Library of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Kaufmann Collection MS A384 and British Library MS Add. 22413.
Fol. 101a Kol Nidrei…
Maḥzor for Yom Kipur, Western Ashkenazi rite
MS. Bodley Or. 501
Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford
Date: 1326 - 1375
Fol. 1a Kol Nidrei (illuminated)
Maḥzor for the Days of Awe, Western Ashkenazi rite
MS. Canon. Or. 141
Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford
Date: 1375 - 1425
Fol. 77a Kol Nidrei – B’yeshiva shel ma’alah in the margin, instituted by German Rabbi Meir of Rothenburg (1215-1293)
Maḥzor in Yiddish for the Days of Awe, Yotserot, Ashkenazi rite
MS. Canonici Or. 47
Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford
Date: 1526 - 1575
Language: Yiddish
Kil Nidrei
Maḥzor for Yom Kipur, Sephardi rite (Aragon)
MS. Bodley Or. 5
Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford
Date: 1301 - 1400
Fol. 4b Kol Nidrei - annulment of vows for past year according to Sephardic custom
Maḥzor for the entire year, Italian rite, with additional texts (Torah) in the margins
MS. Canonici Or. 18
Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford
Date: 1450 - 1500
Fol. 182a Kol Nedarim - in Hebrew
Maḥzor for the Days of Awe, rite of Catalonia
MS. Oppenheim Add. 8° 1
Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford
Date: 1300 - 1500
Fol. 70b – Tefilat Yom Kippur (no Kol Nidrei)
Maḥzor for the High Holidays (Rosh ha-Shanah and Yom Kipur), Western Ashkenazi rite (Tripartite Maḥzor, volume 3)
MS. Michael 619
Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford
Date: 1320 - 1330
Description: Volume 3 of a 3-volume prayer book. Volumes 1 and 2 are Library of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Kaufmann Collection MS A384 and British Library MS Add. 22413.
Fol. 105b Ya’aleh piyut – four verses
Maḥzor for Yom Kipur, Western Ashkenazi rite
MS. Bodley Or. 501
Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford
Date: 1326 - 1375
Fol. 2a Ya’aleh piyut – three verses
Maḥzor for the Days of Awe, Western Ashkenazi rite
MS. Canon. Or. 141
Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford
Date: 1375 - 1425
Fol. 83b Ya’aleh piyut – three verses with variation
Maḥzor for the entire year, Western Ashkenazi rite
MS. Canonici Or. 140
Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford
Date: 1270 - 1280
Description: Continuation of MS. Canonici Or. 139.
Fol. 48b Amnon kein (margin) – composed Rabbi Yom Tov of York - killed in the massacre of 1190
Maḥzor for the entire year, Western Ashkenazi rite
MS. Canonici Or. 140
Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford
Date: 1270 - 1280
Description: Continuation of MS. Canonici Or. 139.
Fol. 49a Amnom ashameinu atzmu m’saper; Ki hinei k’chomer (margin) - unknown author
Mishneh Torah (Sefer ha-Madaʻ. Sefer Ahavah)
Maimonides, Moses [author]
MS. Huntington 80
Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford
Date: 1181 - 1204
Description:Corrected with the original, as confirmed by Maimonides in an autograph. Poems in honour of Maimonides at the beginning by Joseph ben Simon, Ḥasdai Ḥalabi, Yitsḥaḳ ben Aldanan, Judah ben Solomon Harizi and an anonymous writer; one at the end by Ḥananʼel ben Karʼatha.
Fol. 181b Al chataim with corrections in margin
Maḥzor for the Days of Awe and Sukkot, Western Ashkenazi rite
MS. Marshall Or. 42
Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford
Date: 1376 - 1400
Fol. 141a Al Yisroel Emunaso (Shacharit Yom Kippur)
Maḥzor for the Days of Awe and Tabernacles, Western Ashkenazi rite
MS. Canonici Or. 95
Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford
Date: 1326 - 1375
Fol. 226a censored piyut (Shacharit Yom Kippur) - Adabra Tachnunim K’rash V’evkeh
Author: Rabbi Kalonymous Ben Yehudah.
Acrostic, followed by name of the author.
Maḥzor for the High Holidays (Italian rite)
MS. Huntington 484
Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford
Date: 1440 - 1460
Fol. 72a Unesaneh Tokef piyut
Maḥzor for the entire year, Western Ashkenazi rite
MS. Reggio 2
Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford
Date: 1291 - 1325
Description: Second volume of a two-volume set. Second volume contains Yom Kipur, Sukot and Śimḥat Torah. First volume (MS. Reggio 1) contains Four Special Sabbaths, Passover, Shavuot, and Rosh ha-Shanah.
Fol. 127b Oleinu (Ein od acher)
Maḥzor for Yom Kipur, Western Ashkenazi rite
MS. Bodley Or. 501
Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford
Date: 1326 - 1375
Fol. 195b Hayom T’amtzeinu (End of Musaf)
Maḥzor for Yom Kipur, Western Ashkenazi rite
MS. Bodley Or. 501
Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford
Date: 1326 - 1375
Fol. 240a P’sach lanu sha’ar (Ne’ilah closing prayer)
Sefer Mitsṿot Ḳaṭan (The Small Book of Commandments)
Isaac ben Joseph, of Corbeil [author]
MS. Marsh 574
Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford
Date: 1320 - 1330
Description:Contains marginal texts: Samson ben Zadok, Tashbets (ff. 2r-77r). Jacob of Marvège, Sheʾelot u-teshuvot min ha-shamayim (ff. 77r-87v). Meir ben Baruch of Rothenburg, Berakhot Maharam (ff. 88r-101r). Pesuḳe nidah (ff. 101v-109v).
Fol. 28a – Laws of Shofar
Etz Chaim – Laws of Yom Kippur
English compendium of Jewish law
University of Liepzig Library
Rabbi Jacob ben Judah Chazan of London
Date: written in 1287
Display: The custom to wave a chicken round one’s head on the day before Yom Kippur - dating back to the Gaonic period.
Sefer ha-Batim (Responsa)
Rabbi Solomon ben Abraham Adret (1235-1310 - Barcelona)
MS. Oppenheim Add. fol. 48
Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford
Date: 1476 - 1500
Description: Volume 1 of a 2-volume set. For volume 2, see MS. Oppenheim Add. fol. 49.
Fol. 38a Responsa