The People in the Books: Hebraica and Judaica Manuscripts from Columbia University Libraries

Congregants > Prayer in medieval Germany

Maḥzor.
Manuscript in Hebrew on parchment.
14th century.
MS X893 M273
Rare Book and Manuscript Library

Many congregations in medieval Germany had a large-sized prayer book to be used by the shaliaḥ tsibur, the prayer leader, which included the special prayers for all holidays and other occasions.  To emphasize important prayers, certain pages in the maḥzor were written with grand calligraphy.  The maḥzor is open to the prayer of Kol Nidre, the opening prayer on the High Holiday of Yom Kippur.  The comments in the margin may have been made by one of the prayer leaders of the congregation in reference to a particular custom or prayer.

Mahzor: 116v-117r

 

Rare Book & Manuscript Library / Butler Library, 6th Fl. East / 535 West 114th St. / New York, NY 10027 / (212) 854-5153 / rbml@libraries.cul.columia.edu