Godines, Benjamin Senior (Ed.) Me’ah Berachoth / Orden de Bendiciones.

(LITURGY).

Albertus Magnus

Amsterdam

1687

Text in Hebrew and Spanish face à face. Editor’s introduction in Portuguese. Engraved frontispiece by the Jewish artist Benjamin Godines depicting Man’s Five Senses by way of the performance of five ceremonial acts.

Vinograd, Amsterdam 550; Fuks, Amsterdam 606.

A most striking volume of collected prayers and instructions issued for Marrano refugees. Included in the Me’ah Berachoth are: A Passover Hagadah; an index of blessings for the entire year including relevant laws and commentary according to Sephardic rite; a perpetual liturgical calendar; a recipe for Charoseth; instructions for constructing a Mikveh; prayers for the sick, last rites, and prayers for martyrs burned at the stake by the Inquisition. Of uncommon interest are the ceremonies celebrating the birth of a daughter “Zeved HaBath” (Fadas de la Hija) and circumcision ceremony for proselytes and servants.