The Jews of Corfu: Between the Adriatic and the Ionian

The motif of Samson seems to be very present within the Corfu prayer books.  In a  special collection of prayers for the Shalosh Regalim, the Pilgrim Festivals, according to the Corfiot rite, we see Mano'ah and his wife, the parents of Samson, bringing a sacrifice. Another prayer book of the Corfu rite (which includes excerpts from Pirke Avot) shows Samson, perhaps with a mirror.

This manuscript contains liturgical poetry recited on Sukkot (hoshanot), the Festival of Booths, according to the rite of the Jewish community in Corfu. The name of the owner, Sabato, appears in parchment binding with gold engraving on the cover. This manuscript has been fully digitized and is available online here.

This lovely prayerbook contains liturgical poems - not for a holiday, but for the time between Passover and Shavu'ot, which are linked together through a 49 day counting period. The manuscript contains poems in Judeo-Greek and Judeo-Spanish in addition to Hebrew, and is illustrated with various Biblical scenes.  Also included is a poem by Eli'ezer Mordo, one of the primary players in the debate over the singing of the Shema. The entire manuscript has been digitized and is available here.