Rare Haggadah Scripts on View at Seminary

An exhibition of manuscripts and printed editions of the Haggadah (story of Passover) and objects used at the Seder Service in the Jewish home is now on view at the Museum of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America.

The illuminated manuscripts illustrate the familiar stories of the Old Testament, especially the exodus from Egypt, and other scenes. These manuscripts which come from Spain, Italy, France Provence, Germany, Holland, Austria, Yemen (Arabia) and the Iraq, show the miniature art and ornamentations used by the Jews from the 13th to the 18th century.

From the collection of about 1,200 different editions of the Haggadah in the Library of the Seminary—the largest collection of its kind ever brought together—a small number has been exhibited. It includes the first Haggadah ever printed (1486), of which only one other copy is known; the unique fragment of the earliest illustrated Haggadah, circa 1515; the unique copy on vellum of the beautifully illustrated Haggadah, Prague 1526, formerly considered the earliest, as well as those of Mantua, 1560 and 1568, etc.; the first Haggadah printed with a commentary, Constantinople, 1504, and others printed on vellum—all excessively rare.

Among the objects used in the Jewish home in connection with the reading of the Haggadah there are on view a number of Passover plates made of pewter and brass, and one very unusual faience plate, 18¾ inches in diameter, which dates back to the 13th century Spain; silver wine cups and wine glasses engraved with scenes from life, made in the 17th century.