Selichoth [penitential prayers for the 21st of Kislev].

(LITURGY).

Schottland (today Stare Szkoty, Gdansk, Poland)

1824

Hebrew manuscript written on vellum in a square Ashkenazic hand. Prepared for the Chevra Kadisha of Schottlan.

This manuscript contains the special Selichoth recited by the Burial Society of Schottland. Many such societies observed a day annually to focus upon their service by way of prayer followed by a banquet. This was most often held on the 7th Adar (the traditional day of death of the Biblical Moses), or often on the 15th of Kislev. The custom in Schottland was to observe the 21st of Kislev. (See J.D. Eisenstein, Otzar Dinim U’Minhagim, s.v. Chevrah Kadisha). The names of the gabbaim Gershon and Yaakov Bari appear on the title page. Somewhat unusually in a manuscript such as this, the pages are numbered using Arabic numerals. Schottland (also known as Alt Schottland) was an historical area near Danzig, West Prussia. For a brief history of its Jewish community, see https://sztetl.org.pl/en/towns/g/34-gdansk/99-history/137289-history-of-community.