Selichot VeKinoth al HaGezeiroth Ra’oth... Shnath Ta”ch Veta”t [LAMENTATIONS FOR the MASSACRES OF 1648- 49]. Composed by R. Shabbetai Katz (author of the Shach). With an introduction and poems with acrostic of his name

(LITURGY)

I. Benveniste

Amsterdam

1651

FIRST EDITION

Vinograd Amsterdam 193; Fuks 229

RARE FIRST EDITION of one of the most important historical source documents concerning the infamous Chmielnicki massacres during which Jews were butchered and murdered with singular cruelty by Ukranian Cossacks following their rebellion against Polish rule. The lengthy introduction describes many details of the pogroms in many cities ; including names of notable Rabbis and leaders. The first large scale massacre in Nemirov, into which the Cossacks penetrated disguised as Polish soldiers is heartrendingly portrayed: “They murdered some 6,000 holy souls: Geonim, Rabbanim ...old and young, brides and grooms, men, women and children...they tore the Siphrei Torah ..soldiers and animals trampled upon them...” (f. 2a) The rhymed, poetical introduction was later re-named Megilath Aiphah and was appended to some Selichoth of the Lithuanian rite. A scholarly edition was published in Lodz, 1924