Esther Scroll – Many Highlighted Holy Names

Esther Scroll – Many Highlighted Holy Names
Esther Scroll on parchment. Handsome scribal writing (Ashkenazi, Ha'ari Chassidic), [Early 20th century]. Many places in this scroll have enlarged letters for acronyms composed of the beginning and ending letters of words, with Holy names. The name of G-d is not mentioned throughout the Esther scroll but those who study the scriptures on the level of remez find the name of G-d and other Holy Names hinted by acronyms and initials. The custom to highlight the Names in the Megillah is a wide-spread Chassidic-Kabalistic custom; however the Vilna Gaon's opinion is that letters which are not enlarged according to the Mesorah (tradition) should not be enlarged. This scroll is exceptional having highlighted letters of more than 25 Holy Names and Kabbalistic remazim. Usually Megillot with highlighted Names have only 3-5 highlighted Names. Height of parchment: approximately 58 cm. 42 lines per column. Good-fair condition, creases to parchment and cracked letters, spotting and minor tears.