Manuscript, Yom Kippur machzor, according to the rite of the communities of Carpentras and southern France. Venasque, France, 1653.

Large-format volume. Sephardic semi-cursive (Provençal) script, vocalized; handwritten by scribe R. Eliyahu Dalpuget.

Title page at beginning of manuscript: "Order of Yom Kippur according to the custom of the community of Carpentras".

The machzor contains piyyutim according to the customs of the communities of southern France, with the text of the main prayers. Marginal commentary to some piyyutim, in another hand.

Colophon at end of machzor (leaf 264): "…Order of Yom Kippur completed here in Venasque, by me… Eliyahu Dalpuget, today, 13th of Elul 1653…" (his signature appears twice more there).

The scribe, Eliyahu Dalpuget, copied many Carpentras-rite machzorim between 1645-1664, found in libraries around the world.

On leaf following colophon, the scribe copied a historical document dated 1596 relating to the recitation of piyyutim, containing a "communal agreement" of Carpentras not to recite piyyutim in the festival and high holiday Amidah prayer or in the blessings of the Shema, "but permission is granted to recite all piyyutim after the Amidah…". The reason given is that "it appeared to us, in consultation with our local Torah scholars and R. Avraham Tzahalon, a sage of Safed, that the early custom contradicted the law…". This decision was made in Adar II 1596, and it is signed by the community leaders as well as the emissary from Safed: "Avraham Tzahalon, Shmuel Dalpuget Barur, Yisrael de Monteux Barur, David Vidal, David Karmi, Crescas Bendig". The scribe of the present machzor confirms with his own signature: "Copied word for word by the undersigned, today, 13th Elul 1653… Eliyahu Dalpuget". Further down on the leaf, the scribe copies another, later decision, dated 1618: "The community agreed to recite Pitum HaKetoret twice daily, morning and afternoon, both on Shabbat, holidays, and the preceding days, as well as on weekdays, whereas it was previously the custom to recite it only on weekdays. And it was agreed to annul the previous custom in consultation with our local Torah scholars, R. Shaul Kaspi and R. Shlomo Ezovi, since they saw the virtue of Pitum HaKetoret in many places…". The agreement is signed by: "Moshe Leon Barur, Yosef de Monteux Barur, Yeshayah de Basilea, Yaakov de Lunel, Yechezkel de Digne, Yisrael d'Agde, Eliyahu Shmuel, Crescas Karmi, Yosef de Monteux, Shmuel Alfadari". This copying is also signed for confirmation by the scribe Eliyahu Dalpuget (on Yosef de Montel [de Monteux], see: Henri Gross, Gallia Judaica, Paris, 1897, p. 322; on R. Shlomo Ezovi, see: ibid., p. 611).

On back endpaper appears an inscription (in another hand) of names of community members and their place in the synagogue (the locations are given relative to the Torah ark).

Additional inscriptions on title page and colophon, including: "Immanuel de Meyrargues son of Yitzchak Chaim…", "I the writer Yitzchak Chaim de Meyrargues", "Yaakov de Roquemartine".

Censorship expuragtions to one leaf. On colophon leaf, signature of censor dated 1687.

[267] leaves. 27 cm. Fair-good condition. Stains, including large dampstains, with faded ink in several places. Few tears. Detached or loose gatherings. Original leather binding, with tears and damage.