Jewish Memory and Local History: A Commemorative Liturgy from Early Modern Prague

2008/12/01 by Rachel Greenblatt · 1 voice
Arts and Humanities · Social Sciences · #Historical and Linguistic Studies #Jewish and Middle Eastern Studies #Religious Studies and Spiritual Practices

paper · doi:10.1080/1462169x.2008.10512105

openalex publication_date 2008/12/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/29

Abstract

When the Jews of Prague had passed unharmed through the volatile events of the early stages of the Thirty Years' War, from May 1618 to November 1620, they instituted a local annual commemoration of their safe deliverance observed, in part, by the recitation of selibot [liturgical poems] composed for the occasion by Rabbi Yom Tov Lipmann Heller The observance and its liturgy not only expressed gratitude to God, but also sought to crystallise the community's pro-Habsburg political stance. Moreover, in choosing locally-based models for the liturgy's form, its author both reflected and helped shape his community's historically-based local consciousness.

Discussions

• so gladly! I'll take the opportunity for self-promotion. Here's a short version: Greenblatt, Rachel L. “Jewish Memory and Local History: A Commemorative Liturgy from Early Modern Prague.” Jewish Cu [bsky, 1 points, 1 comments]

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