Sukkot

Paul Christian Kirchner

1724

Image

Print of several tabernacles with people inside in the foreground and a bonfire in the background. — This illustration depicting different types of sukkahs on the holiday of Sukkot 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, “Das Lauberhütten fest,” from Jüdisches Ceremoniel (Nürnberg: Peter Conrad Monath, 1724), p. 125. Special Collections Research Center, University of Chicago Library.

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

Preparing for Passover

This illustration depicting Jews baking matzah and cleaning the house for Passover appeared in the book Jüdisches Ceremoniel (Jewish Ceremonial Customs), by Paul Christian Kirchner, a Jewish convert…

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Cloth embroidered with floral border, and four central panels, the top two with pitchers, vines, and flowers, and the bottom two with trees and ribbons with Hebrew text.

This intricately decorated textile, possibly used as a Torah cover, was produced in Prague around 1600. Four squares adorn its center, the top two containing vases ringed by flowers and vines and the…

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Ceramic oil lamp with seven spouts on a pedestal.

Seven-spouted Ceramic Oil Lamp

Its multiple (seven) spouts and pedestal make this lamp from the sanctuary area of Tel Dan unusual. Lamps like this could be as tall as 9 inches (23 cm) and as wide as 6.7 inches (17 cm) in diameter…

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Creator Bio

Paul Christian Kirchner

17th—18th Centuries

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.