Pescarol Esther scroll

This is the earliest Esther scroll (megilah) in the collection, and it is one of the three known megilot made by the copyist and illustrator Moses ben Abraham Pescarol. Digitisation makes it easy to study the intricate details without having to unroll the almost 5m long scroll. We can also compare the scroll to others by Moses ben Abraham Pescarol held in the National Library of Israel, Jerusalem and in the Jay and Jeanie Schottenstein Family Collection of Judaica, Columbus, Ohio. 


Esther scroll

Ferrara (Italy), 1618
Hebrew MS 22
First three text columns from the Esther Scroll, Hebrew MS 22.

Colophons by Moses ben Abraham Pescarol (in the lower register)

Colophon from the Esther Scroll, Hebrew MS 22

Colophon

Hebrew MS 22

Colophon from the The National Library of Israel's Esther Scroll.

Colophon

From the collection of the National Library of Israel; מונגש באמצעות פרויקט כתיב, הספרייה הלאומית

Colophon from the Pescarol Megillah, showing the hanging of Haman's sons.

Colophon

Reproduced courtesy of the Jay and Jeanie Schottenstein Family Collection of Judaica

The Ten Sons of Haman listed in two columns

Colophon from Hebrew MS 22 showing Ahasuerus, having left the banquet, in the palace garden with his guards.

Ten Sons

Hebrew MS 22

Colophon from the The National Library of Israel's Esther Scroll.

Ten Sons

From the collection of the National Library of Israel; מונגש באמצעות פרויקט כתיב, הספרייה הלאומית

Colophon from the Pescarol Megillah.

Ten Sons

Reproduced courtesy of the Jay and Jeanie Schottenstein Family Collection of Judaica

The beheading of Queen Vashti (scene above the text)

Crop from the Esther Scroll, Hebrew MS 22, showing the beheading of Vashti because of her refusal to obey the king’s orders.

The beheading of Queen Vashti

Hebrew MS 22

Colophon from the National Library of Israel's Estehr Scroll, showing the beheading of Queen Vashti

The beheading of Queen Vashti

From the collection of the National Library of Israel; מונגש באמצעות פרויקט כתיב, הספרייה הלאומית

Colophon from the Pescarol Megillah, showing the beheading of Queen Vashti

The beheading of Queen Vashti

Reproduced courtesy of the Jay and Jeanie Schottenstein Family Collection of Judaica