The Aleppo Codex
The “Aleppo Codex” is the most ancient
manuscript of the complete Bible Book.
According to the Rambam (Rabbi
Moshe Ben Maimon), the Codex is also
the most authoritative and precise source
of both the biblical text as well as of the
vocalization system, intonations and
Masorah (traditional biblical text). The Codex
was written in Eretz Israel over a thousand
years ago by auther Shlomo Ben Boy’aya,
the last and most important member
of “Baalei Hamasorah” dynasty.
The manuscript changed numerous hands
before it reached the Halab Community.
In Halab it was carefully and admirably
safeguarded at “Elijah’s Cave” – located
in the big and Ancient Synagogue.
Following the riots in Halab in December 1947,
the Codex was damaged, but most of it was
salvaged by members of the Aleppo community,
who boldly hid it for 10 whole years until it was
smuggled outside the Syrian borders.
In January 1958, the manuscript was brought to
Israel and delivered to the Ben Zvi Institute as
a dedication. The Codex is presently exhibited
at the Book Temple in the Israel Museum in Jerusalem.
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