Illuminated Leaf for Hanging in the Succah - Germany, 1782

Single leaf, written and illustrated by Michael Baruch ben Yesha’aya Segal from the Talheim congregation, in the district of Heilbronn. Germany, August 1782.
Large leaf, with charming illuminations and illustrations in color, in a folkloristic style.
Inscription on top of the leaf: “BeSuccot teshvu Shiv’a Yamim” (Hebrew) in large letters, within an arch, and in its center the word “יהי” in decorated letters. Under the arch (between two massive columns on the right and left side) appears the Yehi Ratzon prayer said when entering the Succah for the first time on the holiday of Succot; under it appears a blessing read after the Birkat HaMazon during the holiday of Succot and under it the blessing read when exiting the Succah. A colophon under all the above: “made and finished…by Michael Baruch…” (Hebrew).
On top of the right column stands a figure, dressed in a blue coat and wrapped in a Talith, holding an Etrog in its right hand and Hadas, Lulav and Arava (the four species) in its left hand. Next to the figure’s mouth appears the verse “Hodu leHashem ki Tov”. On top of the left column appears the figure of King David on a royal chair with a large crown on his head. King David is dressed in yellow, playing the harp. Next to his mouth appears the verse “Heleluhu BeNevel UbeKinor”. Wrapped around the pair of Corinth columns are clusters of grapes. Illustrations of castles appear on the base of the columns; between them, in the center, is a delightful illustration of the spies, dressed in blue coats, carrying a cluster of grapes, with hats on their heads and sticks in their hands. The leaf is illuminated in fine colors of blue, red-pink, greenish and yellow.
In 1836, 300 Jews resided in the town of Niederwerrn, where Michael Baruch Segal resided (the total population was 775 residents at the time). As is implied in the colophon, Segal served as Shaliach Zibur in Talheim, a small congregation which developed in the last quarter of the 18th century, after many years during which only several Jews lived there in the western part of a castle called “The Jews Castle”. Talheim Jews founded an independent community, with institutes, in 1849, and established a synagogue (1857) and a private school which continued to exist until WW I. The congregation perished during the holocaust.
38X29.5 cm. Fair-good condition. Spotting and creases. Folding marks. Tears, mainly on folding marks (with minor damage to text). Brown paper strip pasted on borders of the reverse.
Objects – Judaica & Israeliana