MS 1041, Deuteronomy 20:14 to 23:14

MS 1041, Deuteronomy 20:14 to 23:14

This Torah scroll fragment originates from Algeria. Its writ describes many of the civil and ritual laws to be observed by the Hebrews when they came out of Egypt. We calculate its age to be approximately 300 years.
The scroll fragment contains three columns of text written on a deep brown gevil and is formatted to contain 50 lines of text per column. Damage is evident on the top right margin, as well as a rip on the right margin of the parchment sheet.
Written in a Spanish hand as practiced by the Sephardic exiles who took refuge in the Maghreb, the writing style incorporates long based "Shins" with a right facing middle tooth, the employment of the CHET of Rashi and stretched NUNS with letter YODS hovering over them. TAGIN are also placed on all SHA'ATNEZ GEZ letters. Likewise, this scroll evidences the use of the letter "HEI" on the writing of PEZUA DAKA. Other textual traditions write it with a letter ALEF at the end.

Howard B. Singer

Claimed Age: 500 years. More likely 300 years old.

.jpg

17" x 20"

Not to transcribe

scroll, Gevil parchment