Rare: Seder Me’ah Berachos - Orden de Bendiciones, Amsterdam 1687.

Rare: Seder Me’ah Berachos - Orden de Bendiciones, Amsterdam 1687.

A complete copy of Seder Meah Berachos, a bilingual prayer book containing hundreds of various blessings for different occasions, featuring the original Hebrew text, with each blessing translated into Spanish opposite the page. It was prepared for Marranos (Anusim) who arrived in Amsterdam with no knowledge of the Hebrew text. 

In his introduction, the publisher Benjamin Senior Godine relates that he had stumbled across this work, which was then extant in manuscript form only, in the private library of R. Isaac De Mattathias Aboab (1631-1707), and was compelled to publish it. One specific blessing of note is seen on pp. 300 - the blessing made by martyrs burned at the stake by the Inquisition - both in Hebrew and in Spanish. 

This work also includes the Passover Haggadah, and the various laws pertaining to the Holidays. Interestingly, the publishers also included “The thirteen Principles regarding Blessings” - a takeoff of Rambam’s Thirteen Principles of Faith - which are thirteen abridged points regarding various laws of blessings on food. Toward the end of the work, is a short list of Yahrtzeit’s for Torah leaders and Sages. With an additional striking, copper-engraved title page with six vignettes designed by the publisher Benjamin Godines. The vignettes, with both Hebrew and Spanish captions, represent Mitzvot requiring benedictions, such as blessings for the New Moon, Shofar, Bris Milah, Havdalah, and Birkas HaMazon - Grace after Meals. 

Published with the approbation of Amsterdam’s leading Rabbis, R. Yitzchak Abuhav, R. Yaakov Sasportas and R. Shlomo de Oliveria. 

In very good condition, with light stains on some leaves. An overall fresh copy bound in original hand-tooled wooden binding. This binding is unique to Hebrew books which were made in Amsterdam during the 17th century. Similar bindings can be seen on various others published then as well, such as Sefer Shnei Luchos HaBris, published in 1698. Remnants of clasps seen; clasps lacking.

**LACKING ONE LEAF (PP. 241-242) OF THE HEBREW TEXT, OTHERWISE COMPLETE** 

 

[11], 1, 303-304, [11], 7, [20] pp. Approx. 13.5cm. 

Vinograd, Amsterdam 536.