Acknowledgements
This volume would not have seen the light of day had it not been for the patronage I was granted by several institutions. The manuscript was discovered and described within the framework of the research project entitled A catalogue of Karaim manuscripts and printed sources (project no. 2011/03/D/HS2/00618) financed by the Polish National Science Centre. The transcription, the English translation, the glossary, and the major part of the apparatus was created within the framework of the research project entitled The oldest known Western Karaim Bible Translation. A critical edition of a Torah from 1720 (project no. 2015/17/B/HS2/01498) financed by the Polish National Science Centre in the years 2016–2019. The latter project also allowed me to compare this source with mss. JSul.III.01 and BSMS 288. Finally, this project has received funding from the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme within the framework of the project entitled (Re)constructing a Bible. A new approach to unedited Biblical manuscripts as sources for the early history of the Karaim language (grant agreement № 802645) scheduled for the years 2019–2014. The research conducted within the framework of the latter project led to the discovery of more Biblical manuscripts and made it possible to compare the text of ADub.III.73 with those sources. It also made possible to revise the English translation on the basis of the content of the Hebrew Torah, and benefit from a series of consultations with experts.
I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to Marek Piela (Kraków) for his assistance in Hebraistic matters. I also wish to express my thanks to Mateusz Urban (Kraków) for helping me improve the English translation of the Torah and to Jason Lowther (Kraków) for proofreading the introductory part of the book. Of course, any errors remaining are my own responsibility.
Without any hesitation I should also acknowledge my debt to Adam Dubiński (Warsaw), and Anna Sulimowicz-Keruth (Warsaw) who selflessly provided me with unlimited access to the manuscripts in their possession. I will never forget the days (and nights) spent searching through their bookshelves.
Finally, I am eternally grateful to my beloved wife for her patience and understanding during the long years it has taken me to turn this book into reality. Without her support this volume would remain today no more than a pipe dream of mine.
Kraków, A.D. 2021