Title

Description

This type of pinkas is called a Memorbücher (i.e., memory books) in German. Its content is quite similar to Memorbücher of other Ashkenazic communities.

It begins with the names of the early Ashkenazic Sages, including Rabenu Gershon [c. 960-1040], Rashi [1040-1105], etc. [Images 3-4]

The names of Padua’s deceased rabbis, officials, and prominent members of the community, including the renowned Rabbi Yehudah Mintz [c. 1405-1508], his son Rabbi Avraham Mintz, Rabbi Meir Katzenellenbogen (1473-1565), Rabbi Shmuel Yehudah Katzenellenbogen [1591-1597], and others. Included is the following: “And the soul of the holy kabbalist, Morenu (Our Teacher), Rabbi Mosheh Ḥayim Luzzatto [1707-1746] who had the great merit of granting the public many works expounding the mysteries of the Torah, and who taught many students. He prayed heartily before G-d on the Holy days for the benefit of the Holy Community [of Padua].…” [The last line clearly indicates that he led the services during the High Holy days.] [Images 4-6,9]

A copy of a letter under the heading “Yehudah Dukes [Duckesz] of Pressburg [written] in Vienna” dealing with various Jewish historical matters. [Images 7-8]

This section is entitled “Copy from the Pinkas Hazkarat Neshamot. [i.e., Memorbuch],” which indicates that either it was recopied in a more orderly manner from earlier pages in this pinkas (ledger), or it was copied from older pinkas. The following is also written: “Since the names were scattered … and so that we not err on the Shabatot on which we recite them as customary, we have copied them in the proper order….” Two people are mentioned, one being the honorable Ḥayim son of Meshulam for donating Torah scrolls and their holy vessels [e.g., Torah crowns, finials] of silver and gold; fine Torah covers; holy books written on parchment; oil; a silver washing basin; beautiful gold-plated (both inside and out) Kiddush cups; utensils for milah ; a parokhet to cover the ark; 300 ducats of annual interest from the funds he has donated to marry off and support poor brides; 50 ducats from the annual interest to repair the cemeteries; 100 ducats toward the upkeep of the [synagogue] building; and donations to other charities as written in his own Sefer Zikaron (memory book) in his own handwriting, .…” [Image 13]

Some of the names written on images 3-9 were rewritten here in more orderly manner, with the addition of the names of the wives of Padua’s rabbis. [Images 16-26]

A Yizkor prayer for the martyred communities of France, Catalonia, Seville, Barcelona, Alsace, England, Denmark, Moselle, Rhine, Swabia, Franconia (Franken), Bromberg, Bayern, Steinmark, Moravia, Saxony, Austria, Hungary, Poland, Austria, among other places. [Image 13-16]

The Av ha-Raḥaman Prayer. [In many synagogues, this prayer is recited every Shabat.] [Image 27]

“Yizkor … the souls of the sages and the martyrs of the land of the holy communities of our brethren in the land of Poland….” This is probably a Yizkor prayer for those killed in the Khmelnytsky pogroms of 1648. [Image 21]

“Yizkor … the honorary magnate Samuel Oppenheim [1630-1703] of Vienna for his donation of 150 ducats… towards the construction of the ark in this synagogue….” [Image 25]

A product of a cooperative agreement between the Russian National Library and Touro University’s Project Zikaron in 2019. This pinkas is part of the Günzburg Manuscript Collection at the Russian National Library in Moscow. This overview was prepared by Rabbi Yitzchok Stroh of Brooklyn, New York, in 2020.

Category

Year of Publication/Creation

18th Century or Early 19th Century

Language(s)

Hebrew

Geographic Places

• Padova (Padua), Italy (read online)