American Jewish Liturgies. Collection of c. 200 printed volumes.

(AMERICAN JUDAICA)

V.p

1856-1927

Including Hebrew prayer-books, devotionals, memorials, hymnals, scores, children's prayers, etc. All published in America. Most volumes with Wachs number penciled.

“Liturgies mirror the philosophical, theological, sociological, and political realities of the communities that created them. As Jewish communities immigrated to the New World, they brought with them the language, structure, and content of their prayers. Early Sephardic immigrants created liturgy that reflected their traditions as well as their new colonial life. Later German immigrants of the mid-nineteenth century brought reforming trends from their native country. These different communities had different language needs, and prayerbooks began appearing with translations (English, German, Yiddish). The Hebrew text also varied.” See Sharona Wachs, American Jewish Liturgies (1997).