(Anonymous). [Poetry]

(HASKALAH).

Brody

1838

Manuscript in Hebrew with occasional footnotes in Judeo-German, written on tinted paper. From the library of Haim Liberman.

The anonymous Maskilic poet commences his manuscript with a paean to the city of Brody: “Righteous city… full of understanding and charity… it’s people and scholars… a gift from me, a stranger… For I was not a native of Brody nor did my mother bear there her labor pains… yet the city was as a mother to me with great benevolence… I thank it and it’s scholars and praise their grace… You and your older sister Berlin welcome, honor and raise scholars.” Written in a florid style, the initial poems focus on Biblical themes and the footnotes make reference to Elijah Levita and Nethivoth Hashalom (i.e. Moses Mendelssohn). Among the titles of poems are ‘Chasdei Hashem’ (gratitude for recovery from illness, f. 32b); ‘Hatikva’ (not to be confused with Imber’s later ode, f.45b); ‘Shir He’arim’ (46a), etc.