Leaf from a Pentateuch, Blessings for the Reading of the Megillah of Esther
Italy, late 14th – early 15th century. MS 114
A Pentateuch, also known as the Torah, is a Jewish texts that consists of the five Books of Moses — Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. Sometimes included in the Pentateuch is the Megillah, the Hebrew word for scroll, which includes the Five Books of the Jewish Scriptures: the Song of Solomon, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, and Esther. The Book of Esther, which this leaf is from, is read during the festival of Purim, a celebration in commemoration of the deliverance of the Jews from the Haman. It follows this account of the persecution of the Jews by the Haman, and Esther risks her life to save the Jews.
In this leaf, there are three blessings that are meant to be read before reading the Megillah on Purim. It reads:
"Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us concerning the reading of the Megillah.”
“Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who performed miracles for our forefathers in those days, at this time."
“Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has granted us life, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this occasion.”
The top of the text is the blessing read after the Megillah in addition to a poem. It reads:
“Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who pleads our cause, judges our suit and avenges our wrong, who renders retribution to all that hate our soul, and on our behalf deals out punishment to our adversaries. Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who on behalf of your people Yisra’el deals out punishment to their adversaries.”
“Accursed be Human who sought to destroy me; blessed be Mordekhai the Jew; accursed be Zeresh, the wife of him that terrified me; blessed be Esther my protectress, and may Harbonah also be remembered for good.”
Bibliography
Leaf from a manuscript Pentateuch containing blessings for the reading of the Megillah of Esther. University of Oregon Libraries. Special Collections and University Archives. MS 114. https://alliance-primo.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/f/hnf7s8/CP71334697790001451
Louis Jacobs, “Purim,” in A Concise Companion to the Jewish Religion (Oxford University Press, 2003), http://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780192800886.001.0001/acref-9780192800886-e-542
Louis Jacobs, “Pentateuch,” in A Concise Companion to the Jewish Religion (Oxford University Press, 2003), http://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780192800886.001.0001/acref-9780192800886-e-512
John Ayto, “Megillah,” in The Oxford Dictionary of Idioms (Oxford University Press, 2020), http://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780198845621.001.0001/acref-9780198845621-e-1540