Prague Haggadah

Prague Haggadah

1526

Kohen, Gershom and Grunim

Beginning in 1512, Prague established itself as an important early site of Hebrew printing. In part, this was due to the Kohen family, a printing dynasty whose influential "square" Hebrew typography would shape Jewish printing for centuries. Shown here is a reproduction of the oldest-known complete printed and illustrated Haggadah, finished on December 30, 1526, by the brothers Gershom and Grunim Kohen. The Haggadah, or "telling," is among the most widely adapted and reprinted Jewish texts in history. It is used at the seder, the ritual- and story-filled festival meal of Passover.
Folio 3v, reproduced here, introduces the narration of the Exodus story known as "Magid." The translated text begins:
"This is the bread of poverty that our ancestors ate in the land of Egypt. Let all who are hungry come and eat! Let all who are needy come and partake of the Passover offering! Now, we are here next year, may we be in the land of Israel. Now, we are slaves next year, may we be free."

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This resource has no known copyright under the laws of the United States. For more information about rights or obtaining copies of this resource, please contact Special Collections, Archives and Special Collections Division, Western Libraries, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225-9103, USA (360-650-7534 heritage.resources@wwu.edu) and refer to the collection name and identifier. Any materials cited must be attributed to the As Far As Their Books Reach: Jewish Printing and the Global Jewish Diaspora, Special Collections, Archives and Special Collections Division, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.

Digital object made available by the Special Collections, Archives and Special Collections Division, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.

(New York : Shulsinger Brothers, 1964-67)

still image

Hebrew