Frankfurt Passover Haggadah

Jakob Michael May Segal (d. 1768) dedicated the elaborate Haggadah manuscript to his prosperous parents
It combines ancient traditions with the art of the 17th and 18th centuries to create a unique gem of Jewish book art
The rich illumination consists of 67 colorful miniatures and beautifully illuminated initial words and decorated letters

Frankfurt Passover Haggadah

Jewish Museum Frankfurt am Main (Frankfurt am Main, Germany)

Description

Frankfurt Passover Haggadah

Long after Gutenberg's printing press had become established, Jewish book illumination experienced a new heyday in German-speaking regions in the 18th century. It was an expression of the social advancement of many Jews during this period, but also of the unbroken tradition of the ancient profession of Torah scribes. In the Frankfurt Passover Haggadah of 1731, these two factors came together to create a particularly original and artistic example of early modern Jewish book art. Its literate and learned scribe and illuminator, Jakob Michael May Segal (d. 1768), illuminated the texts for the Seder with 67 colorful miniatures, some of which can be traced back to the influential Amsterdam Haggadah of 1695. In their beauty and opulence, however, they also reflect the spirit of the Rococo era. The fine calligraphy of the Hebrew-Aramaic Haggadah text, on the other hand, is characterized by great evenness and clarity. It is also accompanied by instructions, most of which are in Yiddish. The manuscript thus provides a wonderful insight into the religious life of wealthy Jews in 18th century Germany.

Codicology

Alternative Titles: Frankfurter Pessach-Haggadah
Type: Manuscript on parchment
Size / Format: 54 pages / 25.4 × 18.1 cm
Origin: Germany
Date: 1731
Epochs: Late Middle Ages Onwards
Style: Hebrew
Genre: Haggadot
Language: Hebrew
Script: Ashkenazic square script
Illustrations: 67 miniatures, illuminated initial words, and several decorated letters
Content: Bible texts, religious poems, songs and ritual regulations for the Passover
Artist / School: Jakob Michael May Segal (scribe and illuminator)
Previous Owners: Schalom Asch (1880–1957)
Ignatz Bubis

Available facsimile editions:

Detail Picture

Frankfurt Passover Haggadah

The Finding of Moses

The fateful story of the biblical figure Moses begins with the Egyptian pharaoh's order to drown all Israelite male babies in the Nile. Moses' mother manages to hide her newborn baby in a small chest among the dense reeds on the riverbank. There it is discovered by the Pharaoh's daughter, who actually wants to bathe in the river – here in a bright pink robe. She instructs her maid to retrieve the chest from the river, whereupon they discover the child inside. Moved by compassion, the Pharaoh's daughter has Moses breastfed by a wet nurse and eventually takes the child into her care. The background to the scene shows the sumptuous, royal palace complex where Moses will grow up.

Single Page

Frankfurt Passover Haggadah

Abraham Smashes the Idols

This beautifully illuminated page marks the beginning of the stories for the Seder. The text opens with the words, “In the beginning, our fathers were idolaters.” The miniature then shows Abraham smashing religious statues, the pieces of which are already scattered around him – probably images of the moon god Sin, who was worshipped in Abraham's hometown of Ur.

Both the text and the image emphasize that Abraham renounces this ancient cult, which must once have been his own, after recognizing Yahweh as his God. The physical destruction here represents above all the inner renunciation of the religious customs of his homeland and his upbringing.