Gallery 4: The Jewish Town, 1648–1772
The Tsene-rene is one of the most popular YiddishYiddishthe historic Jewish vernacular of Ashkenazi Jews, a fusion of German dialects, Hebrew and Aramaic, and Judeo-Romance and Slavic languages. The beginnings of Yiddish are in the Rhineland in the Middle Ages. About 13 million people spoke Yiddish before the Second World War. books ever printed. The author translated and adapted the HebrewHebrewboth the Jewish sacred language of prayer and study (Yiddish: loshn-koydesh) and modern Hebrew (Hebrew: ivrit), which developed in the 19th century and became the official language of the State of Israel. Bible as well as commentaries on it. Women would read the Tsene-rene, often called a woman’s Bible, on the ShabbatShabbat(Yiddish: shabes) – day of rest, from sunset Friday until shortly after sunset Saturday, during which work is prohibited. and holidays. This original illustrated edition from the 18th century is in a sideboard together with original ritual objects: candlesticks for lighting candles on the eve of the Sabbath and holidays, a silver goblet for blessing wine, and an oil lamp for the holiday of Hanukkah.