Diskuhrs [Polemical pamphlets in Yiddish, issued weekly by the newly founded community Adath Yeshurun, or Neie Kehille]

According to J. Michman, Bibliotheca Rosenthaliana-Treasures of Jewish Booklore p. 87, "...these documents are far from accessible." These pamphlets in Yiddish were issued in the form of contentious debates between various protagonists representing the Neie Kehille (New Congregation) Adath Yeshurun and the Alte Kehille (Old Congregation). The New Congregation of Aschkenazic Jews first established itself in Amsterdam in 1796 by seceding from the Old Congregation. Along with instituting a number of changes in synagogue style, the New Congregation angered the Old Congregation by issuing regulations that excluded the jurisdiction of the Parnassim from the deeds and actions of members in civic life. The dispute between the old and new congregations was bitter, involving seething lampoons and even fist-fights. Both bigger and smaller congregations issued forms of these "Diskuhrs" pamphlets written in the style of travellers’ tales containing crude, but rather clever attacks on each other, representing a most unique literary stylistic device. The authors had a humorous, satirical style - with issue 21 containing mock-pseudo regulations (takanoth) of the Old Congregation in an insulting, biting manner. These pamphlets are important as a primary source for the study of the political, economic, religious and social upheaval of the period - especially as reflected in the Ashkenazic Jewish community in Amsterdam. See J. Shatzky, Der "Diskuhrs"...in J. Shatsky, (ed.), Jubilee Volume...Yiddish Press (1686-1936), New York, 1937, pp. 20-106; J. Michman De "Diskursen...", Studia Rosenthaliana, vol. 24 (1990), pp. 22-35.