The National Library of Israel has acquired an unusual manuscript from the Jewish community in India that offers a rare glimpse into the rites of India's Bene Israel community – from circumcision through burial.
The manuscript, which contains 94 pages of Urdu-language prayers and blessings, appears to have been written approximately 180 years ago.
All the prayers in the manuscript are transliterated into Hebrew script. A translation from Urdu into Hebrew appears beside each one. Some of the prayers in the book are unfamiliar.
According to a statement issued by the National Library, "The name of the scribe who wrote [the manuscript] in beautiful square letters, and even took the trouble to add vowel markings for every word, is unknown."
"But based on a ketubah [marriage contract] that appears in the book, it can be dated to 1838 and placed in the city of Panvel, near Mumbai," the statement continued.
Dr. Yoel Finkelman, curator of the library's Judaica collection, said, "This manuscript was used for ceremonies including weddings, circumcisions, and burials. It is a rare document of historical interest, and it sheds light on the Jewish community in India and its links to tradition, both similar to other Jewish communities and uniquely their own.
"This special book, which includes blessings related to purification rituals, has arrived at the National Library, which will give it a permanent home in Israel," Finkelman said.
