Sharkansky, A.M. Di Amerikanishe Hagadah ["The American Hagadah": parodical Hagadah]

AUCTION 42 | Thursday, December 18th, 2008 at 1:00
Fine Judaica: Hebrew Printed Books, Manuscripts, Graphic & Ceremonial Art

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Lot 38
(AMERICAN JUDAICA)

Sharkansky, A.M. Di Amerikanishe Hagadah ["The American Hagadah": parodical Hagadah]

pp. 32. Minor repairs. Recent boards with wrappers laid to size. 4to

New York: 1927

Est: $300 - $500
“In the loosely connected skits, called by him The American Haggadah, (the Author) succeeded, perhaps unconsciously, in catching the spirit of restlessness which hovers over the turbulent existence of the Jews in New York City” (Davidson, Parody in Jewish Literature, p. 109). As an example of the new immigrant’s disillusionment with the American experience, Davidson cites from Sharkansky’s parody of Psalm 116: “He’emanti ki adaber…I thought if I would speak English, I would find my salvation. But the fact is, Kol ha-adam kozev; it is a world of bluff and swindle (p.16).” ibid., p. 98.