Bidspirit auction | Megillah on Parchment – Tangier,

Megillah on Parchment – Tangier, Morocco –19th Century. Rare and Important Historical Scroll – The Story of the Salvation of Moroccan Jewry: Purim Sebastiano. - Scroll on Parchment – Tangier, Morocco – Mid-19th Century Rare and Important Historical Scroll – The Story of the Salvation of Moroccan Jewry Ink on parchment. Fine square script on two joined parchment sheets, rolled on its original carved wooden roller. This unique scroll includes two liturgical texts (”megillot”) read annually during the two ”Minor Purim” festivals observed by the Jewish community of Tangier and other Moroccan cities. The first is ”Purim de las Bombas” – commemorating the miraculous deliverance of the Jews of Tangier during the French naval bombardment of 1849 (5609). The Jewish quarter was spared despite heavy shelling of the city. The rabbis of Tangier established an annual commemoration on the 21st of Av, including the public reading of this scroll, styled after the Scroll of Esther. Excerpt: “In those days, the kings conspired... the king of France, with great might, stood to challenge our master, our king... and behold, a mighty sound – stones of iron known as bombas rained down… we cried out to the God of our fathers...” The second is ”Purim Sebastiano” – marking the defeat of King Sebastian of Portugal at the Battle of the Three Kings in 1578 (5338), which prevented forced conversions of Moroccan Jews had he succeeded in his conquest. The decisive Moroccan victory led to long-term improvements in the status of Jews in Morocco. The day was commemorated annually on the second day of Rosh Chodesh Elul. According to tradition, two crypto-Jewish soldiers from the Portuguese army warned the Jewish community of the king’s intentions to forcibly baptize all Jews upon conquest. “He vowed in the house of his god of wood and stone that if he conquered the lands of the west, all those called Israel would be baptized or put to the sword… But a great miracle was done…” These “Minor Purims” were celebrated with public readings, festive meals, and thanksgiving hymns. The scroll preserves the full text of both miraculous episodes in rich historical and poetic style. Extremely rare – very few such scrolls are known to exist today. Condition: Excellent. Clear ink on well-preserved parchment. Original wooden roller intact. Tangier, Morocco, second half of the 19th century.