Abudraham [commentary to the prayers].

ABUDRAHAM, DAVID BEN JOSEPH.

Eliezer (Toledano)

Lisbon

1489

FIRST EDITION. On ff. 23r. -24v. diagrams of the Temple altar in Jerusalem. On ff. 134r., 137, 139v. -140r. calendric tables of “Moladoth.” On f. 118r. portions of Aleinu prayer censored but readable.

Vinograd, Lisbon 4; Goff 36; Goldstein 92; Offenberg 1; Steinschneider, p. 859, no. 4784, 1 "Expl. Perfectum Rarissimum"; Thes. B19; Wineman Cat. 57. Not in Cambridge University.

THE SECOND BOOK PRINTED IN LISBON. A Wide-Margined Copy. David ben Joseph Abudraham of Seville wrote this liturgical commentary in 1340. He was motivated to write the work in response to contemporary liturgical confusion: "The lengthy exile and intensive persecution have led to a variety of customs in different kingdoms so that most ordinary folk, when they offer their prayers to God, are ignorant about their meaning and have no understanding of the sense and structure of liturgical practices.” Abudraham’s work accordingly not only provides clear rules, but devotes much space to the reasons behind many customs, as well as commenting on the text of the prayers and piyutim. The work offers commentary to all daily, Sabbath, monthly, Festival and fast-day prayers, also provides guidance on lectionaries, the calendar, as well as an extensive treatise upon the various benedictions. See S. C. Reif, Judaism and Hebrew Prayer (1993), pp. 204-5. The work comprises an invaluable encyclopaedia concerning the ritual customs of Spain, France, Provence and Germany.