Community Magazine April 2014

30 COMMUNITY MAGAZINE of the vital importance of the text and the fact that no other copies exist. After the book has been restored, an archivist is instructed to input all the content found within the pages into a digitized database. The archivist scans and types the words, taking extreme care not to miss a single letter. Each and every manuscript is duplicated in picture and digitized format and stored on the museum’s massive manuscript database. The manuscript is then transcribed to modern Hebrew so it is accessible to the common reader. At this point, the museum’s brilliant historian, Professor Abraham Marcus, combs through the text’s wording to ascertain when and in what context it was written. With his astonishing knowledge of Syrian history, and by thoroughly researching the subject under discussion, Professor Marcus is able to place each manuscript into its historical context. Armed with his extensive knowledge, he accrues as much data as he can about the manuscript in order to verify its authenticity. By the time his work is complete, the manuscript has been transformed from an isolated text into a priceless piece of history, allowing the reader to understand when, where and why it was written and printed. Thereafter, says Rabbi Sultan, is when the museum’s most important work takes place – bringing these resurrected texts onto the modern-day bookshelf. The key component to this operation is the SHM's brilliant team of scholars. The SHM team's task is to study and practically memorize all manuscripts brought to the museum. Those who are familiar with the talented team of scholars say that there isn't a single written word within the museum that they do not know offhand. Their thorough knowledge of the manuscripts makes the SHM team the perfect candidates to consult when a difficult historical or factual quandary arises. The SHM team capably bears the enormous responsibility of producing an accurate, accessible final product, which may very well dictate the way certain concepts of Syrian Torah are studied in the future. One can never know the impact that previously unseen works can have on our community’s scholarly tradition. After what Rabbi Sultan describes as numerous sleepless nights and immense efforts, the museum has produced what they feel are masterpieces, five compilations of material culled from the museum’s manuscripts. Many more volumes are being planned. The production of five volumes in such a short period of time, considering the arduous process involved, is nothing short of astounding, and a clear testament to the value the museum affords these works. Tradition is all about transcending time, bridging past, present and future, and seeing ourselves as part of something far larger than our own limited setting. When one visits the Sephardic Heritage Museum, he does exactly that – he transcends 21 st century America and stands together with thousands upon thousands of Syrian Jews from yesteryear. But perhaps even more importantly, when one visits the museum he recognizes that throughout his life, in everything he does, he is part of something majestic and grand, a link in a glorious chain of Sephardic heritage which we are collectively bound to cherish, preserve, celebrate and pass on to our own children and grandchildren. Brit millah ledger; nearly every community name can be found within this book. The names Shalom, Mishaan, Shomer and Sutton, amongst others, are written in this page. Aleppo, circa 1860. Ketubah written in Aleppo, circa 1836. Proclamation of the Rabbis regarding the issue of Shabbat desecration. Signatures include Rabbi Sutton, Rabbi Suede, Rabbi Dayan and Rabbi Kassin. Сirca 1875. ...the Sephardic Heritage Museum is breathtaking in its enormity. Its mission...is to educate future generations about the generations that have passed.