[Roman Torah scroll].
[ספר תורה מנהג רומא].

Format:

Book

Manuscript

Contributor:

Dropsie College for Hebrew and Cognate Learning, former owner.

Standardized Title:

Bible. Pentateuch. Hebrew. Manuscript.

תנ"ך. חמישה חומשי תורה. ספר תורה.

Language:

Hebrew

Subjects (All):

Bible. Pentateuch--Hebrew.

Bible.

Torah scrolls--16th century--Specimens.

Torah scrolls.

Jews--Italy--Rome--16th century--History--Sources.

Jews.

Manuscripts, Hebrew--Italy--Rome--16th century--Specimens.

Manuscripts, Hebrew.

Genre:

scrolls (information artifacts)

Manuscripts, Renaissance.

Manuscripts, European.

Penn Provenance:

Formerly owned by the Dropsie College for Hebrew and Cognate Learning.

Owned likely in Germany, late 18th century; one script indication written to correct a smudged word ("אף", referring to Deuteronomy II:11; membrane 35).

Physical Description:

1 roll (38 membranes) : parchment.

Place of Publication:

[Rome?], [1500?-1599?].

[רומא?], [1500?-1599?].

Language Note:

Hebrew.

Summary:

Roman Torah scroll, complete, and likely written by a single scribe; this scribe adhered to the individual columns which require beginning with certain letters (ב'י'ה'ש'מ'ו', a widespread custom for the verses בראשית -- יהודה -- הבאים -- שמר ושמרת (specific to this custom, as most use this letter requirement with other verses; this verse is Deuteronomy XII:28; the Roman tradition is cited in Jedidiah Solomon ben Abraham Norzi (1560-1626), who saw Roman Torah scrolls and recorded this custom (see his Minḥat shai, Leviticus XVI:8, subheading שני השעירים גורלות) -- מוצא שפתיך תשמר -- והעידה בם.

Notes:

Ms. roll.

Title supplied by cataloger.

Support: Two wooden rollers, likely late 18th-early 19th century. Membranes sewn traditionally, using sinew and three leather strips; membrane 1 sewn to roller with red wax cord.

Origin: Written in Italy, likely Rome (following Roman custom, distinct from Italian custom) during the 16th century.

Layout: Written in columns mostly of 51 lines (variated; certain columns with fewer lines, and the fewest is one of 44 lines); each column justified vertically and horizontally; columns blind-ruled in spaces between, and some above text (including a ruling preceding the first column); most membranes written in 4 columns (some in the Book of Numbers written with five columns), and each individual book begins on the third column (Genesis on membrane 1; Exodus, membrane 11; Leviticus, membrane 21; Numbers, membrane 26) with the exception of Deuteronomy, which begins on the fourth column of membrane 34. Song of the Sea (Exodus XV:1-18) written in the traditional three-column integrated layout; Song of Moses written in the traditional double opposing columns (membrane 37), and both songs are preceded and end with open lines (פתוחות, in this custom; letters on the preceding line compressed (membrane 37)).

Script: Written in an Italian square ritual script; tagin (ritual letter crowns) in pairs of three on letters שעטנזגצ, single crowns on letters יובדהחק.

Cited as:

Roman Torah scroll (UPenn CAJS Rar Ms 297). Library at the Herbert D. Katz Center for Advanced Judaic Studies, University of Pennsylvania.

OCLC:

1429227857

Access Restriction:

Access to this item is subject to staff review.