Handwritten Parchment Page – Dedication of a Sefer Torah at the Culenborg Community – Culenborg, Holland, Iyar 1850

Detailed programme of the celebration of Hachnasat Sefer Torah to the synagogue of Culenborg, which took place on Rosh Chodesh Iyar 1850.
This page (written on parchment) was most likely written by Reb Leib Lepison, prayer leader, shochet and bodek in the Culenborg community during the years 1834-1882. The page was probably used by the manager or rabbi of the synagogue.
Page A:
Detailed program of the ceremony that took place on Sabbath, which opens with the following words: "after the men, women and children have gathered in the synagogue, two men will take the Sefer Torah out of the Torah ark … then the prayer leader shall say the verse 'Sarei Kodesh Ve'Gedolei Ha'Erech etc.' and the choir answers 'Ken Nezamera Shimcha La'ad etc'". This Piyut was most likely written by Rabbi Avraham Bleichroit. The full version of the Piyut appears at the bottom of the page.
There are also seven (numbered) unfamiliar rhymes, which were most likely written in honor of this event by the writer of the page before us, Rabbi Leib Lepison.
The rhymes are written in nice, square script.
The ceremony included interesting customs such as "before the Sefer Torah, girls will walk backwards throwing flowers from baskets until the end of the Hakafot".
The ceremony ends with a sermon, the saying of "Ha'Noten Yeshua", opening the Torah ark and the saying of a verse of Psalms.
The page also says that the prayer leader and the choir sing verses from Psalms 19. There is also a list of seven additional Psalms to be said during the ceremony. On some of them there is scribbling in pencil. Some were most likely added during the ceremony.
Page B:
The division of the portions of the Torah that are to be read during the ceremony. At the margins of the page, in small writing, appear the names of 24 members of the community (their names and their fathers' names) who will be called up to the reading of the Torah and a list of five additional people, who were given other honorary roles.
On the left side appears a unique "Mi She'Berach" blessing which was said in honor of the donors of the Sefer Torah.
Parchment page, decorated at its center (non-colorful, embossed decoration). 2 written pages.
Size: 31.5 cm.
Condition: Good. Few words are slightly erased. Stains and folding marks.
Impressive, special item!