Auction 40 Books, Manuscripts, Rabbinical Letters
Sep 3, 2014 (Your local time)
Israel
 8 Ramban St, Jerusalem.
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LOT 117:

Handwritten Leaf – The Piyut "Maoz Tzur" for Chanuka, with Yiddish Translation – Heidenheim (Germany), 18th Century

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$ 3,000
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Handwritten leaf, piyut "Maoz Tzur Yeshu'ati" for Chanuka, with Yiddish-Deitsch translation [ancient Yiddish]. [Heidenheim (Germany), 18th century].
The leaf is divided into two columns. In the right column are the words of the piyut and in the left column is the Yiddish translation.
The last stanza of this manuscript is different than the version common today. (See Hebrew description.) The version in this leaf is close [but not identical] to the version brought in the book Kitzur Shnei Luchot HaBrit, Amsterdam 1622.
The piyut does not exist in early siddurim and is very rare in manuscripts. We do not know of any other translation of the piyut into Ashkenaz (Yiddish).
This leaf was sent by post and on its reverse side is the address: Seßell Peretz Jüd, Heydenheim. Apparently, the leaf was used as an envelope for the letter. Possibly, the writer of the piyut and its translator was the aforementioned addressee.
Written on the reverse side of the leaf with the address [in contemporary handwriting]: "Manuscript of the scribe and lofty chazzan Rabbi Chanoch ben the Chassid R' Moshe author of the book Barnetspeigel – Prague 1630, died in 1633 at the age of 69". The source of this presumption is not clear although the handwriting seems later than 1633 and was apparently written in the 18th century.
Leaf, 33 cm. Good-fair condition. Spotting, wear and folding marks. Restored tears. Traces of tape.
Enclosed is the expert opinion of Prof. Shlomo Tzuker who specializes in Hebrew manuscripts.

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