Tachlal -Yemenite prayer book, with local custom

Although the scribe describes himself in the colophon as "Ketan Hasophrim, Tzair Hamitboninim, " the smallest of the scribes and the youngest of the reflections (onlookers), he was indeed well known . He was of the prominent Mishta family - as was the celebrated Yemenite liturgist and Kabbalist Shalom Shabazi. This prayer book reflects the liturgy and customs of the Sharab section of Yemen in the 17th century. This Province was autonomous and not under the jurisdiction of the Beth Din in Isaana. The manuscript contains the text of prayers and liturgy, laws and customs for weekdays and Sabbath, festivals and high Holy Days, marriage etc. as well as Bible readings with instructions in Hebrew and Judeo- Arabic. It is aptly called the "Tachlal" as it contains all encompassing laws and customs of daily life. Although Y. Razhaby surveyed the various types of Yemenite Machzorim belonging to the Jewish Theological Seminary, he does not cite this type of "Tachlal" from the Sharab section and written by the Mishta family. (See Alei Sefer Vol. IX (1981) "Reflections on the development of the Yemen Machzor" pp.99-114). Also included in this lot is the printed version Tachlal Mishta Shabazi (1986). It is a shortened version of this Tachlal with variances. It contains ancient customs that differ from contemporary usage - even among Yemenite Jews. For example, it cites the custom of Rabbi Saadia Gaon to make "kiddushin" (betrothal) at the marriage ceremony with the silver goblet used for blessings and a coin deposited therein, as opposed to the common practice of using a ring for that purpose