(Liturgy). Seder Hora’ah Ha’tephiloth [instructions on the prayer rites for the entire year]

AUCTION 16 | Tuesday, June 25th, 2002 at 1:00
Important Hebrew Printed Books and Manuscripts From the Library of the London Beth Din

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Lot 163
(KARAITICA)

(Liturgy). Seder Hora’ah Ha’tephiloth [instructions on the prayer rites for the entire year]

Pamphlet. Text in Hebrew ff. (2). Lightly browned, small holes at integral folds. Modern boards. Folio

Goslow (Eupatoria): n.p. 1883

Est: $1,500 - $2,000
Karaism had its beginings in the Eighth century breaking with Rabbinic tradition by rejecting the Talmud and declaring Biblical law as the sole basis of Judaism. Karaite liturgy has little similarity with its Rabbinic counterpart. There are two daily prayer services; in the morning and evening. On Sabbath and festivals, the Musaf prayer is added. For many centuries, the order of prayer had been chaotic and continually changing until the 13th Century Byzantine scholar, Aaron ben Joesph ha-Rofe made efforts to codify it. Originally, prayers refering to the Temple sacrifices formed the main basis of the Karaite rite. Prayers consist mainly of passages from the Bible, with an emphasis on Psalms along with liturgical poetry unknown to Rabbinic rites. The Shema prayer is included in the Karaite rite, but the Shemonah-Esrah is not known. This pamphlets outlines which prayers are to be added to the weekday liturgy, Sabbath, New Moon, the festivals and other notable day in the Jewish calendar. See JTS Catalogue, Scripture and Schism-Samaritan and Karaite Treasures from the Library of the Jewish Theological Seminary (2001), p.100 & EJ, X cols.780-1