Haggadah with commentaries (some of them kabbalist!) and customs attributed to the Maharal of Prague, titled "Leshon Limudim Ve’Divrei Negidim". Edited by Rabbi Yehuda Yudel Rosenberg who was known for his forgeries in all that was related to the Maharal of Prague and who was the fabricator of the legend about the Golem of Prague. The customs are various and strange and Rosenberg added his scholarly comments regarding some of them.
The editor recalls: "I have published it for the first time according to a manuscript (by Rabbi Yitzchak ben Shimshon Katz) … which is found in the library of the Metz community and which I have come upon". He continues with a detailed description of his efforts to copy the rare manuscript. However, if the truth be known, this was actually a forgery of Reb Yehuda Yudel Rosenberg and the library of Metz never was and never existed. For further reading: A. Benedict, "Haggadat Maharal o Aggadat Mahral", Moriya 14, issue 3-4, 1985, pp. 102-113.
One of the strange customs about which Rosenberg writes – seemingly according to the manuscript and in name of the Maharal- is the custom to drink a "fifth cup" of wine at the end of the Seder! "I am hereby ready to observe the commandment of fifth cup … for the tidings of salvation…" Subsequent to this fake "custom", the blessing of the "fifth cup" was later printed in one of the important Haggadot that were published.
Indeed, some of the Haggadah is not a forgery but was taken from the Maharal’s book ‘Gvurot Hashem’ .
Undoubtedly, this is a unique Haggadah! And if the story had not been sad it would have been entertaining.
Ya’ari 1682; Otzar Ha’Haggadot 2299.
Ownership inscription of R. Chaim Zev Kapelushnik.
Rabbi Yehuda Yudel Rosenberg (ca. 1860-1935), known as a child prodigy, Dayan of Tarla, Lodz and Warsaw and Rabbi in Montreal (Canada). Author of Yados Nedarim
Fair condition, wine stains, light worming at end, old binding partly damaged.
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Lot #413