Front Page Illustration: Historical Analysis in Essay by Prof. Gutmann The photograph on the front page of this issue reproduces the illus- tration of the famous Darmstadt Passover Hagada which is now be- ing reprinted in a limited edition of 600 copies. The Jewish News is indebted to Prof. Joseph Gutmann of Wayne State University for ar- rangements to reproduce this photo. Dr. Gutmann is the author of the chief explanatory essay in the Darmstadt Hagada which is be- ing reissued by the Axel Springer Verlag in Germany. An explana- tory note from the publishers states that "the Darmstadt Pesah Hagada was written by Israel ben Meir, a citizen of Heidelberg. "Although Israel ben Meir names Heidelberg as the place where he lived, it is very unlikely that he wrote The manuscript in this town on the river Neckar from which all Jews had been expelled in 1391. Stylistic and textual evidence sug- gests that the Darmstadt Hagada was probably produced in the sec- ond quarter of the 15th Century in the Upper Rhine region." Dr. Gutmann's extensive essay to appear in the reprinted Darms- tadt Hagada draws attention to many unusual factors in the his- tory of art as it relates to the Passover Hagada. An impressive evaluation of the Hagada and its significance is presented in this essay. Tracing the background of the Hagada, and the roles of the au- thors and illustrators, Dr. Gutmann states that this Hagada was in Jewish possession in the 17th and 18th centuries. He quotes Prof. Alexander Marx as having sug- gested that Israel ben Meir and the scribe of the First Cincinnati Hagada, Meir ben Joseph Jaffe, were father and son. Israel ben Meir of Brandes- burg also is alluded to as "an itinerant scribe and bookbinder who is mentioned in the proceed. ings of the Trent Ritual Murder Trial" and "as part of an un- broken family tradition of scribe- .., -illustrators in 15th Century rermany- Aewish art in the Middle Ages as well as the historical problems of the origin of the Hagada provide .itteresting material data in the ann • essa 37 - The 15th - Century Darmstadt ':Hagada is described as the oldest _ known Ashkenazic Hagada. The golden framed Hebrew letters are deScSbed extensively. Artistic skills and-::the'influence of artists of sev- eral nations are defined. HistOrically, Dr. Gutmann's es- say deals with - the Trent Ritual Murder Trial of 1475-76 and states that Israel ben' Meir was "baptized and known as Wolfgang" in the proceedings of the trial. The following valuable data re- garding the Darmstadt • Hagada and the art trends and the histori- cal is quoted from Dr. Gutmann's important essay: "At the time that the Darmstadt Hagada was made in the 15th Cen- tury, the plight of the Jews in the Rhine region was indeed grave. Driven from the hereditary lands of the Palatinate in 1391, Rupert H had given their synagogue in the capital city of Heidelberg to the University of Heidelberg as a chapel. From now on they were allowed to reside only in the free Imperial cities of the Rhine Pala- tinate, as these were only imperial pawnings and hence not part of the hereditary lands of the Pala- tinate. Even in these cities, how- ever, there seemed no letup in the agonizing and tortuous deteriora- tion of their status — a situation which had begun in 13th Century Germany and had reached new heights after the frightening Black Plague of 1349. Living in a totally insecure environment, they were subject to daily harrassment, per- secution and explusion and accused of such dastardly crimes as host stabbing, ritual murder and well poisoning. Gone were the days when German emperor, bishop and noble vied with one another to in- DR. JOSEPH GUTMANN THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS Friday, April 9, 1971-5 "The Darmstadt Hagada, though unique and enigmatic, is a splen- did witness of an age when Jew and Christian alike strove to have nobility saw that much of its his most sacred books illustrated— landed property was mortgaged to not for the sake of personal vanity Jewish money lenders; that it was or aggrandizment but for ad hopelessly in debt to him with lit- majorem Dei gloriam." tle hope of repayment, did it begin to viciously turn against the Jew. U for Silicone Products From the 13th Century on, no place Three Dow Corning a ntifoa m in medieval Germany served any products have now been sanctioned more as a secure haven to the Jew for use in the processing of kosher for any length of time. foods by the Kashruth Division of "Is it any wonder that images the Union of Orthodox Jewish Con- in 15th Century German Hagada gregations of America and now manuscripts show the Jewish leg- bear the U certification. This cer- end of Pharaoh bathing in the tification covers Dow Corning Anti- blood of Jewish children — a thin foam A Compound-food grade, Dow disguise to convey the brutality Corning Antifoam C Emulsion and and daily bloodletting they were Dow Corning Antifoam FG-10 subject to at the hands of Chris- Emulsion. tians. They yearned to be released from this painful existence and longed for salvation and redemp- tion, embodied in the traditionally expected arrival of the Messiah or Elijah, his messenger, at the Pass- over seder, and hence lovingly de- picted in 15th Century Hagada manuscripts from Germany. The new Israel Oscar GrusS Comprehensive High School, now in construction at Mar Batya, Mizrachi Women's Children's Vil- lage, will serve 1,000 students. My Wife Gives Me Orders! My kids give me orders and my mother-in-law gives me orders. For the best in ad- vertising why don't you give me your order? Call Murry Koblin Adv. 5 4 8 - 5 6 0 0 "The luxurious miniatures in vite Jews and bring them under the Darmstadt Hagada give no their jurisdiction. Gone were the hint of Jewish life at that time. days when they were given special In fact, the lavish garments of privileges, embodied in charters the figures contradict the very granting tax exemptions, mobility, I ordinances, such as those from protection of life and property, the Cologne in 1404, forbidding Jews choicest spots for settlement in the such extravagance. towns. Tdlerated as a pariah class, "The miniatures are not typical reduced to servile status (servi either iconographically or stylistic- camerae), living in daily jeopardy ally of 15th Century are in Hebrew of losing life and property, the manuscripts. Rather, they reflect story of the 15th Century German the elegant International Gothic Jewry is one of constant expulsions style so popular in courtly circles. and persecutions from one German It must be noted that Christian principality or imperial city to guild restrictions made it virtually another. impossible for a talented Jew to "Few could remember the vital learn miniature painting and the role Jews had played in building hostile, unstable conditions of the the feudal economy of medieval German environment produced Germany. Encouraged first under few Hebrew manuscripts whose the Carolingians to engage in in- miniature rise above the level of ternational trade by bringing the folk art. The magnificent square exotic spices from the Islamic ,Hebrew script does reveal, .how- East to the upper classes, they ever, the heights reached by a held this privileged role until professional Jewish scribe. Nor ousted by such emerging Italian should it be forgotten that more city states as Venice. Still. they stable conditions in 15th Century had a prominent role to play. The northern Italy and 14th Century feudal rulers needed the money Spain produced some splendid il- and skill of the Jews and encour- luminated Hebrew manuscripts. aged Jewish settlement in the These manuscripts belie the com- Rhone and Rhine valleys in the mon myth—a favorite of 19th and 11th and 12th centuries in order 20th Century racial theorists—that that they help build up as seden- the Jew is racially doomed to aes- tary merchants the urban and inter thetic blindness and hence bereft urban . commerce in the burgeoning of artistic talent or appreciation. towns.. They held this position until they were gradually displaced by classes of Christian merchants and the organization of Christian guilds. Their final vital function in the feudal economy of medieval Germany was as large-scale money lenders to help finance, among Excitingly romantic gown other projects, the architectural for your prom date...Pe- glories of the 12th and 13th cen- tite and Junior sizes. Reasonably priced 525 turies — the cathedrals — and to •to 539. gratify the insatiable appetite for luxury goods of baron and bishop alike. The Jew was at first highly regarded and respected as a money 154 So. Woodward nr. 15 Mile Rd. lender. Only when the Christian Birmingham, Mich. MI 2 4150 NEED it ik PROM r GOWN? 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