(Techinoth) [selected prayers and supplications for Sabbath Eve and Day, also month of Ellul]. Yiddish text

(WOMEN).

Germany/Poland

Early 18th century

Aschkenazi cursive Hebrew scripts. Brown ink on paper

A volume of devotional prayers (Techinoth) composed exclusively for women, drawing upon a well of particular feminine pathos and ardor. The text is of singular interest for the study of Yiddish. Surprisingly manuscripts stemming from Italy of this nature are more prevalent than from Central Europe, indeed Chava Weissler writes: “The Jewish Theological Seminary does not appear to own any manuscripts of (Techinoth).” See The Traditional Piety of Ashkenazic Women in: Jewish Spirituality, from the Sixteenth Century to the Present vol. II (1987) p.269 n.6