Posted: 9/14/2014 7:30:00 AM
Author: Akiva Novick
Source: This article first appeared on the Ynetnews website on Sept. 14, 2014.
Oldest known prayer book en route to Israel
The 1,200-year-old siddur written in archaic Hebrew with Babylonian vowels will be on display for one month at a Jerusalem museum.
by Akiva Novick
Ahead of High Holy Days (the period from Rosh Hashanah until Yom Kippur), the oldest Jewish prayer book ever found will be on display for public viewing at the Bible Lands Museum in Jerusalem.
The 1,200-year-old prayer book is the oldest in existence today, dated from the ninth century. The book of prayers will be on display for a month at "The Book of Books" exhibition, courtesy of the Green Collection.
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The manuscript, which consists of some 50 pages, is written on parchment in archaic Hebrew with Babylonian vowels and is in its original binding.
According to estimates, the prayer book was written during the time of the Geonim of Babylonia. The book is divided into three chapters, including parts of the daily morning prayer, Jewish liturgical poems and the Haggadah book.
"We are very excited for the arrival of the prayer book to the museum," said Amanda Weiss, Director at Bible Lands Museum Jerusalem.
"This is a real treasure for the Jewish people, evidence of the community and cultural life 1,200 years ago, and we are honored to have it on display at The Book of Books exhibition."
