Gupho shel Pesach, o Hagadath Pesach Letinokoth Yisrael [“The Essence of Passover; or, A Passover Hagadah for Jewish Children”]

AUCTION 47 | Thursday, December 10th, 2009 at 1:00
Fine Judaica: Hebrew Printed Books, Manuscripts, Graphic & Ceremonial Art

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Lot 124
(HAGADAH)

Gupho shel Pesach, o Hagadath Pesach Letinokoth Yisrael [“The Essence of Passover; or, A Passover Hagadah for Jewish Children”]

Judeo-German text in waybertaytsch letters pp. (2), 93, (1). Trace wormed. Disbound. 8vo Vinograd, Berlin 554; Yerushalmi, pl. 90 and pp. 72-3

Berlin: Trebitsch & Son 1830

Est: $600 - $900
PRICE REALIZED $700
Acording to Yerushalmi, few copies are extant of this unusual Hagadah edition - he knows only of the copies in Harvard and the British Museum. Unique in its style and content, this “Hagadah” is in fact a Christian missionary tract seeking the conversion of Jewish youth. Formatted as a dialogue between a Jewish father and his son seeking to explore the deeper meaning of the Paschal Lamb, the subtlety of language distinguishes this publication from others of its genre. “The technique is one of constantly raising doubts, rather than direct Christian preaching; of erosion, rather than frontal attack” (Yerushalmi, p. 73).