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Lowell Ḥevra kaddisha pinkas and meeting records, 1897?-1959.
פנקס חברה קדישא (לאעלל, מאסס.)
Library at the Katz Center - Archives Room CAJS Rar Ms 568
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- Format:
- Book
- Manuscript
- Author/Creator:
- Ḥevra kaddisha (Lowell, Massachusetts), issuing body.
- Language:
- English
- Hebrew
- Yiddish
- Subjects (All):
- Ḥevra kaddisha--Massachusetts--Lowell.
- Ḥevra kaddisha.
- Dead--Religious aspects.
- Dead.
- Burial laws (Jewish law).
- Yahrzeit.
- By-laws.
- Genre:
- codices (bound manuscripts)
- calligraphy (visual works)
- charters
- ledgers (account books)
- pen and ink drawings
- Penn Provenance:
- Sold by Jacob Djmal, 2021.
- Inscribed and stamped by "Chaim Goldmann, á Saffed (Palestine), via Beyrouth, - Syrien" (front flyleaf; his "לזכרון" on this manuscript and on the Chevrah Agudas Achim charter, bylaws, and records ledger indicate he was the calligrapher and drafted the charter text); Goldmann (Slavuta, Ukraine 1852-Safed 1920?), a rabbinical emissary who stayed in the United States circa 1900-7, later principal of the Yeshiva of Jacob David ben Zeʼev Willowski in Safed; possibly a relative of the Goldman brothers of Lowell.
- Physical Description:
- 1 item (123 leaves) : paper ; 315 x 190 mm + 3 notes.
- Place of Publication:
- 1897?-1959.
- תרנ"ז?-תשי"ט.
- Language Note:
- In Yiddish (entries); calligraphic charter and bylaws mostly in Hebrew; some words in English.
- Biography/History:
- The Lowell Ḥevra kaddisha was a Lowell religious organization for the handling of the dead in the traditional and halakhic fashion, and additionally mentioning names on Yahrzeit and the reading of the names on the assigned day; the organization probably handled funds for donation to the poor and to Jewish charities as well; the founder of the Ḥevra kaddisha was likely Elias Wolfson (1859?-1928), Lowell rabbi and mohel.
- Summary:
- This is the manuscript pinkas written for the Ḥevra kaddisha of Lowell, Massachusetts, introduced with a calligraphic charter and declaration (f. 2r-3v); the text states that voting members in Lowell had agreed to form a traditional Ḥevra kaddisha like those (historical institutions) to be found in Europe; this includes assistance for those who could not pay for burial and those who did not donate to the Ḥevra kaddisha in the past (the title of the charter, פשר דבר, suggests that the arrangement was the result of debate and resolution; an instance of a recipient of service for free is on f.4v; "קיין ברודער און קיין געלט"). Bylaws of the Ḥevra kaddisha partially missing (f. 3r); these include the traditional day of fast and Psalms recitation for members in the memory of the deceased. A Yahrzeit list, using the Hebrew months, follows the final meeting minutes (f. 49v-57v). Receipts from additional charities are pasted in the manuscript: Shaarei Chessed Gemiluth Chassadim Free Loan Society, Jerusalem (pasted to f. 1v), Jewish Morning Journal, New York (dated 1941; pasted to f. 3v), and Esras Torah (signed by Chaim Isaac Bloch). Calligraphic charter and bylaws written in a Sephardic semicursive script, with highlights written in a square script in red and silver inks; title highlights in gilt ink (f. 1r); bound in linen on boards with faux-leather and gilt elements and black threading.
- Notes:
- Additional notes left in manuscript: Meeting notes (Yiddish and English), dated 27 September 1899, on the decision to purchase a plot of land on Howard and Railroad Streets for the construction of a synagogue; an additional note (pasted) of meeting minutes, dated 10 January 1915 (on different paper than that of the manuscript).
- Local Notes:
- Acquired for the Penn Libraries with assistance from the Margolies Judaica Fund.
- Acquired for the Penn Libraries with assistance from the Barney and Eleanor Frommer Memorial Fund.
- Acquired for the Penn Libraries with assistance from the Busch Endowed Judaica Fund.
- Cited as:
- UPenn CAJS Rar Ms 568.
- OCLC:
- 1335710975
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