155 - Fragment of a ceremonial liturgical sheet. Mid-19th century. A liturgical manuscript typical of the Samaritans of the Holy Land

Fragment of a ceremonial liturgical sheet. Mid-19th century. A liturgical manuscript typical of the Samaritans of the Holy Land Fragment of a ceremonial liturgical sheet. Mid-19th century. Illuminated manuscript on parchment (260 x 425 mm). Three columns of text within a border featuring polychrome leaf and fruit motifs, the text of the hymns and religious praises is in Samaritan script derived from the ancient Paleo-Hebrew alphabet, while the titles of the blessings are in standard square Hebrew (signs of wear and missing sections; a moisture stain in the upper right corner; a tear along the left margin.) The decorative elements are in the style typical of 19th-century Near Eastern art; within the upper cartouche is a dedication mentioning a community leader of the time named Yohanan Tzadok, identifying him as a prominent figure—likely the patron who commissioned this refined calligraphic work. Liturgical manuscript typical of the Samaritans of the Holy Land.