Synopsis
A Hebrew Chronicle from Prague, by one or possibly two anonymous writers in the years prior to 1615, reflects the determination of the Bohemian Jewish community to record the story of their travail in exile. The volume is composed of short entries focusing on the Jewish communities in Bohemia from 1389 to 1611. The earlier entries had their basis in written documents, which are cited in some cases by the chronicler. Events occurring closer to the time of the writing apparently were recorded from verbal accounts of the elders in the Jewish community. The author was neither a scholar nor a rabbi, for the Hebrew of the chronicle is crude and liberally sprinkled with expressions in the German vernacular. In his own words, the chronicler committed his materials to writing "to serve as a token of remembrance for us and our descendants forever." In 1978, research scholar Abraham David chanced upon the chronicle while examining the rare book collection of the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York. David realized the enormous importance of the work to scholars of Jewish historiography, Bohemian and Slavic history, and Jewish life in Eastern Europe. The medieval Hebrew text of the chronicle was published in a critical edition edited by David with a lengthy introduction and extensive historical notes written in modern Hebrew. This edition also included two hitherto unknown martyrologies.
Booknews
Originally published in Hebrew in 1984, this volume is composed of short entries focusing on the Jewish communities in Bohemia from 1389 to 1611. The text, authored by one or possibly two chroniclers, reflects the determination of the Bohemian Jewish community to record the story of their travail in exile. With an introduction and notes by editor David. Translated by Leon Weinberger and Dena Ordan. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)