Jewish Betrothal Ceremony

Paul Christian Kirchner

1724

Image

Print engraving with groups of people in room talking, with open door to another room in background. — This illustration depicting a Jewish betrothal ceremony appeared in the book *Jüdisches Ceremoniel* (*Jewish Ceremonial Customs*), by Paul Christian Kirchner, a Jewish convert to Christianity. The first edition of his book, published in Erfurt, Germany, in 1717, had no illustrations and was critical of Judaism. In 1724, a new edition of the book was published in Nuremberg, Germany. It was edited by Christian Hebraist Sebastian Jugendres (1685–1765), who softened Kirchner’s criticism of Judaism. It included twenty-eight copperplate engravings, which were made in the workshop of Johann Georg Puschner (1680–1749) and his son, also named Johann Georg.

Credits

Paul Christian Kirchner, “Die Ehe–Verlöbnuß,” from Jüdisches Ceremoniel (Nürnberg: Peter Conrad Monath, 1724), p. 173. Special Collections Research Center, University of Chicago Library.

Published in: The Posen Library of Jewish Culture and Civilization, vol. 5.

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Creator Bio

Paul Christian Kirchner converted to Christianity in 1709. He is the author of Jüdisches Ceremoniel (Jewish Ceremonial Customs), published in Erfurt, Germany, in 1717, which took a critical stance on Judaism but which was later republished by Sebastian Jugendres with more neutral text.