Esther scroll with decorative pointed horseshoe arches. Morocco, [probably Meknes or its environs], 19th century.
Ink and paint (sepia) on vellum; leather; turned wood; metal.
Esther scroll inscribed in Sephardi script in sepia on 3 sheets (of various widths) of thin, bright–colored, high–quality vellum, sewn one to the other. The scroll contains a total of 28 columns, including 26 columns of text – each consisting of 21 rows – and two additional columns of text, specifically an opening column, with an excerpt from a “piyut” by Rabbi Abraham Ibn Ezra, and a final column, containing the blessing “harav et riveinu” recited after the conclusion of the reading of the Esther scroll.
Each column of text is enclosed within a decorative frame in the shape of a pointed horseshoe arch, and the arches are separated one from the other by an elegant pattern of flowers and leaves in light brown sepia. Use of this ink pigment characterizes other well–known manuscripts originating from Meknes and its environs.
Sewn onto the leading edge of the first vellum sheet is a long, narrow strip of leather meant for tying up and securing the scroll. The scroll is wound around a turned wooden handle adorned with three metal rings, a feature which characterizes Moroccan Torah scroll handles (“atzei hayyim”).

Approx. 11.5X198 cm. Wooden handle: 24.5 cm. Overall good condition. Open tears to beginning of first vellum sheet and end of last (affecting text of final blessing “harav et riveinu, ” but with no damage to body text of Esther scroll). Stains, mostly to beginning and end. Notation in ink on back of first vellum sheet. Scroll detached from handle. Minor fracture to end of wooden handle.

See also: Center for Jewish Art, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Item No. 39606.
Provenance: The Gross Family Collection, Tel Aviv, No. 081.012.012.

Parchment scroll, account of a miraculous rescue from fire in 1758. [Ferrara, Italy, after 1758].
Square Italian script, vocalized. The scroll contains the account of the miracle, and is presumably intended for being read publicly on the anniversary of the event, in thanksgiving for the rescue.
The event described in the scroll took place in Ferrara on Shabbat Parashat Veyetze [9th Kislev] 1758, when a fire broke out in the home of the writer, while he and his wife were in bed. They were both miraculously rescued from the fire, together with their neighbor.

Parchment scroll (4 sewn membranes). 11 cm (9 lines per column). Good–fair condition. Stains. Creases. Tears in several places (slightly affecting text).

Provenance: The Gross Family Collection, Tel Aviv, 082.012.007.

Manuscript, segulot, amulets and remedies. [Italy, ca. 16th–17th centuries].
Cursive Italian script, by several writers. Anthology of segulot, remedies, amulets (some with Angelic script) and dream questions. Includes segulot for protection while travelling, for love, for easy birth, for success, to be invisible, and more.
Compiled from various sources.

[39] leaves. 14.5 cm. Fair–good condition. Stains, including dampstains (one leaf with significant stains). Worming, affecting text in several places. Tears, slightly affecting text. One detached leaf. Old binding, with worming and defects.

Provenance: The Gross Family Collection, Tel Aviv, IT.011.009.

Manuscript, Keter Malchut, selichot for the Ten Days of Repentance, following the Sephardi rite. [Rome, 18th/19th century].
Square Italian script, vocalized. Fine decorated title page, containing only the Hebrew letter aleph. Heading at the top of each page: "Keter Malchut".
The manuscript comprises various piyyutim and selichot for the Ten Days of Repentance, including Yashen al Tirdam by R. Yehuda HaLevi and the Keter Malchut piyyut by R. Shlomo ibn Gabirol ([9]b–[23]b).
At the end of the manuscript, inscription in semi–cursive Italian script – instruction to recite a memorial prayer at the end of the selichot for Yitzchak Berachya Baraffaelle, a prominent wealthy Jew in Rome.

[30] leaves. 21.5 cm. Thick paper. Good condition. Stains. Worming, slightly affecting title page border. Gilt edges. New binding.

Provenance: The Gross Family Collection, Tel Aviv, IT.011.014.