Edict from His Majesty Friedrich Wilhelm King of Prussia, Sovereign Prince of Oranien zu Magdeburg, concerning the Hebrew prayer “Aleinu le-Shabeach.”)
AUCTION 38 |
Thursday, November 29th,
2007 at 1:00
Fine Judaica: Printed Books, Manuscripts, Autograph Letters & Graphic Art
Lot 109
(GERMANY)
Edict from His Majesty Friedrich Wilhelm King of Prussia, Sovereign Prince of Oranien zu Magdeburg, concerning the Hebrew prayer “Aleinu le-Shabeach.”)
Berlin: J. Blaspil January 15th, 1716
Est: $2,000 - $3,000
PRICE REALIZED $3,200
The Aleinu le-Shabeach prayer has been censored since the Middle Ages due to the apparent insult to Christianity. It was alleged that the numerical value (316) of the Hebrew word Va-rik (“and emptiness”) is the same as that of "Yeshu." The edict also denounce the custom of spitting and jumping when reciting the phrase, adding insult to injury.
Displays the extraordinary level of interference the secular authorities brought to bear in seeking to control the lives of Jews.