Rare: manuscript of a siddur for the whole year, in 2 volumes. Habban, Yemen. End of the 19th century

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Yemenite manuscript, a siddur for the whole year—complete! Following the nusach of the Jews of Habban, which is similar to that of the Baladim but in this manuscript there are some additions that accord with the Shami tradition. This manuscript has unique additions following the Habbani tradition, such as “Hashem Shamati Shma’acha Yarati” in the Shacharit prayer. The niqqud also features differences from the Baladi nusach, and the order of prayers, such as starting with Baruch She’amar and then saying zemirot, and Mehulal appears at the end of the zemirot before Yishtabach. There is also a difference in the Refa’einu blessing and in a few other places.

The manuscript is that of a village scribe and is not an expert; the style matches Habban, and the colophon (p. 182b) notes: “The scribe … Yehi ben Mussa known Ashar…completed on Thursday and the 5th of Sivan of 1899”.

2 volumes in the original leather bindings, made by hand, matches the period. Part 1: 228 leaves. From leaf 184 onward the handwriting changes. Part 2: 214 leaves. Total of around 670 handwritten pages. Binding and leaves are detached, stains and defects, overall good condition.

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