For centuries after the invention of printing in Europe, the use of handwritten books was still widespread. There were always individuals who preferred, particularly on festive occasions, to use a book written by a master scribe. This was particularly so with regard to the Haggadah, which is one of the few Hebrew religious books to be illuminated and illustrated.
Quite a number of handwritten and hand-illustrated Haggadoth have come down to us from the eighteenth century. We also know the names of several scribe-illustrators who were active during that period. One of these was Hayyim b. Asher Anshel, who apparently was quite prolific. He lived in Kittsee, one of the ״Seven Jewish Communities״ of Burgenland in Austria, which were noted even until modern times for their piety. The ״Sheva Kehilloth״ were destroyed in the spring of 1938 when, following the ״Anschluss,״ the Nazis expelled the Jews from Burgenland.
Several writers have published descriptions of Haggadoth written by the scribe of Kittsee. Professor Alexander Scheiber of Budapest published five studies about our scribe. He was able to discover some facts about his life and several of his creations which had not been known before. Hayyim b. Asher Anshel was a teacher in Kittsee. His salary apparently was not sufficient to support him, and for this reason, but also because of his artistic inclination, he engaged in the writing and illustrating of prayer books. Generally he only illustrated the title page; on the inside pages he merely illuminated the beginnings of various chapters. In some of his works, however, there are illustrations also on the text. According to Scheiber’s most recent study, which appeared in 1971, twenty-two works of the scribe, including 13 Haggadoth, were known. They were written between the years 1741 and 1782.
The Kittsee Haggadah, which is reproduced here, was discovered only two years ago. It was written by Hayyim b. Asher Anshel in 1782.
As with some of his other creations, Hayyim b. Asher Anshel did not sign his name on the Haggadah, but everything about this book indicates that this is his work.
The title page is adorned with colored pictures: Two eagles, the figures of Moses and Aaron, and two human faces. Similar illustrations appear also on the title pages of other works of our scribe.
In addition to the illustrations of the title page, there are smaller colored pictures adorning the beginnings of several sections. The script is extremely beautiful.
The Haggadah contains instructions in Judeo-German for the observance of the Seder as well as the Judeo-German versions of the hymns Adir Hu, Ehad Mi Yode’a and Had Gadya, as they appear in printed Ashkenazi Haggadoth of that time.
The Haggadah is written on paper. The original sheet following the title page is missing. It was replaced by another, inscribed by a later hand.
This is the thirteenth Haggadah published by the Orphan Hospital Ward of Israel. Its director Rabbi Munish I. Weintraub deserves our thanks for reproducing this manuscript Haggadah to grace the Seder table of the supporters of this worthy institution.
Tovia Preschel, 1975