Manuscript of Booklet of Songs Composed in Honor of Synagogue Dedication, by Rabbi Naftali Tzvi Hirsch Herzfeld – ...

Manuscript of Booklet of Songs Composed in Honor of Synagogue Dedication, by Rabbi Naftali Tzvi Hirsch Herzfeld – Bet Din Shavel, Rawitsch and Amsterdam.

This special manuscript is, to the best of our knowledge, the only source of two songs from the year 1844, penned by Rabbi Naftali Tzvi Hirsch Herzfeld – Av Beish Din Shavel, Rawitsch and Mara D’Asra of Amsterdam. HaRav Herzfeld lived between 1782 – 1846. He was a descendant of the Pnei Yehoshua and a grandson of the author of Merkovat Hamishna. He wrote the great work Imrei Shefer, which he left behind in manuscript form, which was in the possession of his nephew Rabbi Yissochor Berisch Bernstein Av Bet Din of The Hague.

This is his composition in honor of the dedication of a new synagogue.

In the first poem, the rhyme is ‘-nu’ and the acrostics spell out ‘Kahal Ootmarsum.

In the second poem, the rhyme changes every two verses, and the acrostics spell out ‘Naftali Tzvi Hirsch Chazak Ve’ametz.’

An additional title page before the main title page, has this interesting dedication:

An offering to my friend beloved as a brother, Yissachar – on the day of his journeying from this place, to serve his brothers in the Kehilla Kedosha Schmilda, inscribed here, in the Kehilla Kedosha of Ootmarsum, 1847. Signed Shlomo ben R’ Naftali. Most likely the son of the author of these son.

This item is an example of the poetic writing style of Dutch Jewry in the 19th century.

An additional poetic work written by HaRav Herzfeld in Hebrew opposite Dutch, was written to strengthen the mitzva of charity and helping others, and published approximately 5 years prior to this work.

Good Condition. Some wear and stains. New Binding.

Rare item.