1 item ([1] leaf) ; 44 x 33 cm.

Hebrew

In Hebrew and Aramaic.

Purchased from Bery Gross on the Roland Book Fund in Judaic Studies, 2012.

Manuscript, ink on paper. The shiviti includes the traditional elements: Psalm 16:8, "I have set (shiviti) the Lord always before me" at the top and Psalm 67 written in the form of the seven-branched candelabrum in the center of the plaque. The middle candelabrum is surrounded by what appear to be olive branches topped by clusters of grapes or possibly pine cones. There are two slightly smaller candelabra on either side. The one on the right is formed by Psalm 121 and the one on the left is formed by a prayer which begins with the words: "Ana be-khoaḥ gedulat yeminkha," attributed to Rabbi Neḥ̣unya ben ha-Ḳanah. The shiviti has a few kabbalistic elements including the names of the ten sefirot written in an arch above a crown at the top of the shiviti, and permutations of the divine name. On the bottom is an Aramaic passage from the Zohar (Blessed is the name...) which is also in the liturgy of the Torah service. The border of the document consists of biblical quotations relating to the candelabrum of the tabernacle as described in the Hebrew Bible. There is no date or place given, but according to the vendor it is from late 19th century Iraq. The paper has a brown tinge. There is slight damage to the text on the lower left-hand side.

Archives or Manuscripts / Images

December 05, 2012

Shiviti plaque, [Hebrew MSS suppl call number]. General Collection, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University.

Shiviti plaque, [Hebrew MSS suppl call number]. General Collection, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University.

Shiviti - Iraq - 19th century.