Parchment manuscript, Memorbuch (memorial book) of the Ràppschwihr (Ribeauvillé, Alsace) community, [1731-1867].

Ashkenazic square and cursive scripts, on parchment leaves. Some initial words in red ink, and some decorated.

Illustrated title page. Written within the illustration: "Memorbuch, i.e. memorial for the souls of the righteous and pure… donated by the lofty chief, officer and community leader… R. Meir son of community leader R. Yekel Weil, to the synagogue here in Ràppschwihr in the year 1731".

On p. 19a, colophon of original manuscript (before the later additions): "Memorbuch is completed, 22nd Cheshvan 1731, by the scribe Meir, Torah scribe, prayer leader and official here in Ràppschwihr".

On verso of second leaf, inscription by the scribe "Meir Netter", dated 1853, stating that he went over the manuscript and retraced the letters.

Memorbuchs were commonly used in Ashkenazi communities to commemorate the deceased members of the community in the yizkor prayers on Shabbat. They included the text of the prayers recited between the Torah reading and musaf, with the addition of special lists memorializing the leading German Torah scholars and the many Jews martyred in the numerous massacres suffered in Ashkenazi lands over the generations, as well as lists memorializing the rabbis of the local community.

The present manuscript includes: Yizkor memorial service for early rabbis of Germany and France (leaf 2), yizkor for rabbis and residents of Ràppschwihr, in various hands, until the 1840s (leaves 3-4, 8-10, 19-20); yizkor for martyrs of communities and yeshivas killed and burned "for the unity of G-d's name" (leaves 5-7; contains names of many yeshiva deans); texts of prayers recited on the bimah, including prayers for the government (see below), blessings over the Megillah for Purim and order of blowing the shofar for Rosh Hashanah; high holiday prayer for the prayer leader and order of changing a name.

Many of the deceased are from the famous Weil family. Some of the deceased were martyred; for example, on p. 3b: "The martyr R. Refael son of Yitzchak HaLevi… who sacrificed his life to sanctify G-d's name and was burned alive and suffered harsh affliction and torture… burned in Metz, 25th Shevat 1670".

There existed a Jewish community in medieval Ràppschwihr (Ribeauvillé). The modern history of the Ràppschwihr community begins in the 17th century, and it was the residence of the provincial rabbi from the early 18th century. The rabbis who lived there, who are mentioned in the present manuscript, are: R. Yaakov son of R. Yitzchak HaKohen (d. 1722), R. Shmuel Zanvil Weil (mechutan of R. Yaakov Reischer, the Shevut Yaakov; served from 1711 until his passing in 1753), R. Meshulam Zissel Enosh of Frankfurt am Main (served from 1753 until his passing in 1787), R. Naftali son of R. Yishai (d. 1817), R. Shmuel Blum (d. 1820) and R. Eliezer Lipman Mayer (the first to approve of machine matzot, invented by his fellow townsman R. Itzik Singer in 1838; served from ca. 1820 until his passing in 1849). R. Shlomo Ze'ev (Wolf) Klein, Rabbi of Colmar and the Upper Rhine (d. 1868) is also mentioned.

The list of German and French rabbis includes: the Maharam of Rottenburg; Rabbeinu Peretz. Rabbeinu Gershon[!] Meor HaGolah; R. Shimon son of R. Yitzchak (R. Shimon HaGadol); Rashi; Rabbeinu Tam, Rashbam and Rivam; Maharil; R. Yisrael author of Terumat HaDeshen; Rabbeinu Chananel; Rivan; Ri HaZaken; R. Shimshon (Rash) of Sens and his brother the Ritzba; and others.

The prayer for the government in the original manuscript is HaNoten Teshuah LaMelachim (p. 13b; the names of the king and his family are deleted). Another version which was adopted in France was added later, beginning "Elohim Chaim Melech Olam" (on which see: HaMaayan, XXXII, pp. 54-55). This formula appears twice in the present manuscript (on p. 19b, with the title: "Prayer for our master the Emperor", and on p. 21a; the names in these prayers are also deleted).

Inscription on binding: "Martyrologe" (record of martyrs; French). The double leaf 10-11 was added at a later date, and is made from a different parchment.

[1], 21 leaves (parchment). 25.5 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains. Several tears. Original leather binding, damaged, partially detached.