Literature, 1750–1880

Jewish writing in the period spanning 1750–1880 reflects the profound changes that confronted Jews in modernity. Some writers self-consciously broke with traditional and religious models; others definitely embraced it.

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Jewish writing in the period spanning 1750–1880 reflects the profound changes that confronted Jews in modernity. Writing during this period includes many genres and styles, both formal and informal, literary and colloquial, across language, gender, class, and profession. Some writers self-consciously broke with traditional and religious models; others definitely embraced it.

The genre of life writing introduces readers to the writing of this period in two ways: first, it allows the reader a glimpse into individual lives as their writers presented them, a way to step into the world of the past as it was recollected by those who lived it. Second, writing about the self emerged as a literary form in this period. While not all life writing is self-consciously literary, each selection opens a small window into the contours of an individual Jewish life.

Similarly, travel writing introduces the notion that the mobility of Jews as individuals as well as in large numbers was a hallmark of this period. Unlike migration for the purpose of settling in a new place, travelers intended to return home with impressions and reports of the marvels they had seen abroad. Their writing allows us to reflect both on their own cultures and on the ones they visited, to see the world through their eyes.

A key concept in the sources from this period collected in the Posen Library is the rise of a Jewish-inflected culture that is not primarily religious. The expansion of belles lettres in many genres in Jewish and in vernacular languages, literature written for its aesthetic rather than primarily utilitarian value, is another new feature in Jewish culture of this period. In folktales, fiction, and poetry, Jews wrote in their local vernaculars, or in Jewish vernaculars; they revived Hebrew as a modern literary language. New forms of writing progressed from the first wooden and stumbling efforts to literary mastery that eventually allowed modern Jewish writers to renew Jewish culture and to secure their place in modern world literature.

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Last Will and Testament

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Realizing that life is not in the hands of man but is governed by the only living God Almighty in whom I believe and adore, whose Divine Mosaic Law I, His slave, follow and venerate with all my heart…

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Correspondence Re: Circumcision of Babies and Marranos

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New York, 28 May, 1753Mr. Aaron LopezDear Sir:I have received your esteemed letter, in which you so kindly inform me that our Lord has given you a son. For this I extend the due felicitations to you…

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Sefer yesh manḥilin (Those Who Bequeath)

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Behold, I am aged and my eyes are dim and my hands heavy and shaky, and at a time when my strength, enabling me to remain standing upon my watch, is ebbing away—with the yoke of the…

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Megilat sefer (The Scroll of the Book)

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I was the fourth [child] born and the first son, a tender darling to my father and my mother (cf. Prov. 4:3) after my mother had given birth to three daughters. My parents were worriers and trembled…

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Epitaph from the Tombstone of Rebecca Henriquez da Costa

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On the day of my abundant joy illness suddenly overcame me Birth pangs and rupture overwhelmed me I gave birth and died, like a blossom I turned away And the fruit of my womb was brought with me to…

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The Art of Boxing, Preface

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After the many marks of encouragement bestowed on me by a generous publick, I thought that I could not better evince my gratitude for such favours, than by disseminating to as wide an extent, and at…

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