Or 17083

One sheet with numerology on the Hebrew word for 'truth', emet / אמת. Two sheets with allusions and incantations. It is probable that all were scribed by the hand of Hakham Ezra Reuben Dangoor.

Or 17083 (1): Numerology (gematria / גימטריה):

The three Hebrew consonants alef-mem-taṿ / אמת spell emet = ‘truth’. The meaning of this word is reflected in the equivalence of the alphanumeric values of its constituent consonants, using a complex mathematical procedure. Partially surviving at the bottom of the page is what seems to be the source of this numerological calculation: [….]lafiyon, section on Gematria / ___לפיון ענף גימטריאון.

Or 17083 (2): Allusions and Incantations:

Folio 1r:

The Hebrew letters that spell shema‘ / שמ”ע, which is the beginning of the cardinal declaration of divine unity (Deuteronomy 6:4), form the acrostic of ‘Shadai (= the Almighty) is the King of the world’ / שדי מלך עולם.

The Hebrew letters that spell Shavu‘ot / שבעות, the ‘Feast of Weeks’, the name of the festival in which the giving of the Torah is celebrated, form the acrostic of ‘On the sixth of Siṿan he (Moses) ascended and brought down the Torah’ / ששה בסיון עלה והוריד תורה.

Incantation and meditation on divine names to be saved from robbers or any evildoers, whether on sea or on dry land.

Incantation and meditation on divine names to be saved from enemies.

Procedure for resurrecting flies(?).

Incantation and invocation of Elijah the Prophet, at the Havdalah / הבדלה service (separating between the holiness of the Sabbath and the mundaneness of the weekdays), for the opening of one’s heart and memory in the study of Torah.

Also, on the day of the beginning of each month – as for months that have two such days, then on the second of them – one should read the section beginning ‘He called to Moses’ (Leviticus 1:1) in reverse order 72(?) times.

Another charm for memory, to be written on parchment on the first day of the month of Nisan, and hung upon one’s right arm.

Also: write the listed names on a myrtle leaf; then, using a little wine, immediately dissolve the names; and then drink.

To be remembered and guarded ‘to keep and fulfil all the words of the Torah in love’, on the day of the beginning of the month one should recite thrice the eight verses beginning with Psalm 119:97, ‘How have I loved Thine Torah!’, having certain names in mind.

Folio 1v:

Was Maimonides’ lifespan from Nisan 4895 – Tevet 4965 Anno Mundi (= March 1135 – December 1204 CE), in which case he entered his 70th year; or was it from Nisan 4893 Anno Mundi (= March 1133 CE), in which case he entered his 72nd year, alluded to in the verse ‘Behold, I am coming to you in the “thick (Hebrew: ‘av / עב)” of the cloud’ (Exodus 19:9): the Hebrew word for ‘thick’ is spelled ‘Ayin-B / עב, the alphanumeric equivalent of 72.

The Hebrew letters that spell Hanukah / חנוכה, which is known as the Festival of Lights, form the acrostic for ‘Eight lamps, and the law follows the House of Hillel’ / ח’ נרות והלכה כבית הלל; and the Hebrew letters that spell Messiah / משיח form the acrostic for ‘We kindle on the eight days of Hanukah’ / מדליקין שמונה ימי חנוכה.

Regimen of fasts, immersions, and incantations for a scribe (of Torah scrolls [and tefillin, mezuzah scrolls, and other books of scripture]?), which will enable him to write without exertion.

Folio 2:

Various messages found in the acrostic formed by the Hebrew letters that spell ‘atsel / עצל = ‘a slothful / lazy person’.

To construct the desert Tabernacle and its appurtenances, in Exodus 25:1-9 the Israelites were asked to donate various materials of varying preciousness. Pithy assessments of various types of people are found in the Hebrew letters that spell the first six donated items of varying preciousness: gold, silver, copper (or: bronze; brass), wool dyed turquoise, wool dyed purple, and wool dyed crimson / zahav, kesef, neḥoshet, tekhelet, argaman, and tola‘at-shani / זהב, כסף, נחשת, תכלת, ארגמן, תולעת שני.

Homily invoking divine mercy in the merit of the fulfilment of various applications of the commandment of circumcision.

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