David Lida. Sepher Sod Hashem [Mohel’s compendium]. 36 printed leaves, followed by 16 manuscript pages tipped in at end recording the performance of 144 circumcisions. Written in a clear, cursive Ashkenazic hand. Circumcisions dated from 1888-1911.

The majority of the circumcisions recorded here were performed in the Hungarian town of Monor, approximately 20 miles south-east of Budapest. Other locations noted are Pest, Vaszad, Kokudz (Kokutch) and others. In most entries both the father’s first name and family name are written, however the name of the father of a few newborns is designated as “Avraham Avinu,” after which the mother’s name is given. Presumably this was in a situation when the child was born out of wedlock, the father’s name unmentioned due to the shameful circumstances (see entries nos. 31, 88 and 126). Although the Mohel does not explicitly sign his name, the circumcisions were in fact performed by the Rabbi of Monor, Yechiel Michel Katz. This can be ascertained from entry number 19, that records the circumcision of his own son; number 35, the son of his brother-in-law, the Rabbi of Kolatcha, Moshe Schwelb; and numbers 143-144, the circumcisions of his grandchildren.