Teki'ath Shophar [Rite of Blowing the Ram's Horn]

(LITURGY).

1797

Hebrew manuscript written in fine calligraphic square and rabbinic Hebrew scripts of various sizes on vellum. Composed by Tzvi Hirsch, Sopher Stam of Kanisa (Nagy-Kanisza, Hungary). Commissioned by Isaac ben Issachar Baer of Lackenbach (one of the “Sheva Kehilloth”)

A most attractively penned manuscript. In the Kabbalistic view, the ritual act of blowing the shophar constitutes a dramatic struggle between the forces of good and the Satanic forces of evil. The scribe records that he took the kavanoth (mystical intentions) of blowing the shophar from the book Amtachath Binyamin (see ff.1r. and 7r.-8v.). The reference would be to the mystical compilation of "seguloth" and prayers by R. Benjamin Beinish Hakohen (Wilhermsdorf, 1716). Preceding the ritual blowing of the shophar, the scribe has seen fit to include the Haphtaroth for both days of Rosh Hashanah. The square Hebrew characters of the Haphtaroth are provided with the vowel points and cantillation marks (trope). As for the actual Teki'ath Shophar, wrapping around the text (in square Hebrew characters) is a running kabbalistic commentary in cursive Rashi script