Haifa, Israel – How much would you pay to celebrate Purim in style? If the answer is ‘a lot’, then you may be interested in a Scroll of Esther written in 17th-century Spain which is now up for sale online for the price of roughly $21,400.
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Sixty-year-old Didi Bentov of Haifa, an offspring of the distinguished Toledano family of Morocco, received the scroll, inscribed on parchment, as a gift from his grandfather as a child.
Bentov’s grandfather, Yedidya Toledano, was a respected rabbi in Morocco, and served as the presiding judge of the synagogue in his hometown.
The Toledano family is well known in the religious world. The family was expelled from Spain in 1492, moved to Greece and later became a major factor in the Jewish community in Morocco.
The scroll has been passed down in the family for hundreds of years, and has wondered from place to place with its owners.
“The scroll started its journey with us in Spain, from there it made its way to Thessaloniki, then to Morocco, and now to Israel. I believe that there is a time for everything, and this is why I have decided to sell it now,” Bentov said.
“I checked its value with professionals and I think the price I am asking is a very good price for such a unique item,” he added.
The scroll has been put on sale at the Israeli classified ads for the price of NIS 80,000 (roughly $21,400).
The item is expected to be purchased by Judaica collectors, but this does not rule out the chance that it may be bought by a private individual to be donated to a museum.
1492 was the 15th Century. Not the 17th Century. What am I missing here?
What a shame to his mishpucha. Why would he sell such a precious family Megillah? He should gift it to another member of his family or a Rav. It is sad that he may have debts to pay, but he should not sell off tashmishei kedushah that should stay in the family.
#2 : Who are YOU to tell someone you probably have never met and do not know how to run his life and his affairs?
For all your fine and pious talk I did not see you making any offers to help the vendor.
I would be very interested in buying it! How can I find out more about the sale?? Is it on auction? Which site?
Why is it special….just bec some one is selling it for that t price …botom line its a piece of paper…I wouldn’t pay a half cent
number 5 ur brilliant i wonder y ur the first to realize its just paper
# 5 your an absolute genious I think you should making the prices for the sotheby’s auction of antique artifacts yiou must be a really smart buisnessman!!!!!!!!
While I disagree with #5 ’s analysis, I don’t understand why one wouldn’t prefer to commission a top Sofer (and yarei Shamayim) to write a beautiful Megillah for him, for probably less than 1/10th of the cost of this “antique”.
Unlike, lihavdil, other antiques, Megillos all use the same parchment and lettering as those made 300, 500, or any other number of, years ago.
I don’t want to hurt your feeling while you bash # 5 but he is more right then you
No collector in his right mind would buy an old megilas like this for more then 2-3 hundred $ let alone of course an auction house would never take such an migilah on consignment besides of course if its aluminated with art
You can get those megilahs a dine a dozen and are sure not a collectors item like old books or manuscripts
Is #5 a frum Jew? “Just a piece of paper”?!!!!! A Megilla?!!! Rachamana Litzlan. Do people think before they write? I am offended just to read those words being used to describe a holy k’sav.
Nope I’m not
If I had the $21,400 I would but it.
Especially #10 , 1000% right! it is not just a piece of paper.
#5 have you applied to sotheby’s auction of antique artifacts for the director position there like #7 suggests?
On top of all that, what about “how many yiden have had the zechus to be mekayem the mitzvah of lishoah megilah with this megilah”????
It’s really sad that this person might have to sell, but who says it’s for financial reasons, and even if it is. He was given it and he has the right to sell it if he feels the need. #2 where did you offer help to this financially strapped individual?