Pinkas Chevra Kadisha (burial society register). Halas (Kiskunhalas, Hungary), 1833.
Large volume in original leather binding. The manuscript opens with a colorful, illustrated title page, stating: "This Pinkas belongs to the members of the Chevra Kadisha and Gemilut Chasadim (benevolence) society of Halas, 1833". The title page illustration depicts a funeral: figures accompanying pallbearers carrying a stretcher; the head of the society greets them at the cemetery gates, raising a sign stating "HaTzur…" (verses recited by the members of the Chevra Kadisha at the funeral).
Additional title page on p. [2], also decorated in color. The title page contains an introduction in Yiddish, explaining why a second Pinkas was created. The introduction from the previous Pinkas, dated 15th Shevat 1827, was copied on the following page, including 16 signatures copied from the original Pinkas. The next page contains an index of the 29 regulations of the society, followed by the regulations in Yiddish and Hebrew (on facing pages). Additional regulations were subsequently added (in later script; some of these regulations are dated 1866), numbered 30-40.
The next section of the Pinkas contains a register of the members of the society. The name of each member is written on a separate page, in red ink. In some cases, the date of passing and the place of burial is noted. P. 123a: "Index of people who joined the Chevra Kadisha". Map of the cemetery on p. 125a, followed by a list of those buried (leaf 126), including the location of their gravesite.
Kiskunhalas is a city in southern Hungary (some 55 km from Szeged). Jews settled there already in the early 18th century, however the community was only established in the 1820s, and officially recognized in 1857. During the schism of Hungarian Jewry (1869), the community defined itself as Orthodox, though many members of the community later moved over to the Neolog faction. In 1856-1886, the rabbi was R. Eliezer Sussman Sofer of Pressburg (author of Yalkut Eliezer and Sefer HaMikneh), who established a large yeshiva there, generously supported by the members of the community. R. Sussman-Sofer later went to serve as rabbi of Paks, and was succeeded by R. Binyamin Ze'ev Krausz, a disciple of the Ketav Sofer (according to Spitzer, Kehillot Hungaria, Jerusalem 2009, p. 381).
[6], 133 leaves (leaves 41-122, 127-133 blank). 38 cm. Thick, bluish paper. Good-fair condition. Stains, including dampstains. Marginal tears and tiny open tears, not affecting text. Red edges. Old leather binding, with blemishes. Lettered on spine: "Di Gebrüderschaft" [The Brotherhood].
Provenance: The Gross Family Collection, Tel Aviv, CZ.011.008; HU.011.004.
