Reader’s Desk

Woodcut illustration of six standing figures, three of whom are wearing masks and holding instruments, with Yiddish text above and below.

Illustrations from Sefer minhagim (Book of Customs)

These woodcuts appeared in Sefer minhagim (Book of Customs), a very popular Yiddish book published by Giovanni di Gara, the leading publisher of Jewish books in Venice from 1564 to 1609. It was the…

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Two-panel drawing, the top of many people in interior room, some seated on right side under canopy, and the bottom of many people outside with a central figure with veil.

Kiddushin and Wedding Ceremony

Between 1723 and 1737, illustrator Bernard Picart partnered with the Dutch bookseller, editor, and publisher Jean-Frédéric Bernard on Cérémonies et coutumes religieuses de tous les peuples du monde (R…

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Facing-page of printed Hebrew text on right side and illustration on left side of Hebrew text surrounded by four full-length figures, decorative border, and two animal-human hybrids on the bottom of page on either side of shield with lion.

Haggadah from Prague, 1526

This Haggadah from Prague, printed by Gershom and Grunim Katz with illustrations that are thought to be by Ḥayyim ben David Shaḥor, is one of the earliest Haggadahs ever printed. It was the first…

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