(PINKAS).
<<(Pest-Ofen, Hungary).>> Gedenkbuch der Vorstorbenen… ‘Anshei ...

(PINKAS).
<<(Pest-Ofen, Hungary).>> Gedenkbuch der Vorstorbenen… ‘Anshei Avodah’.


Manuscript in Hebrew, Yiddish and Hungarian, written in square and cursive calligraphic hands on paper. This memorial book was utilized by the Dienstmänner-Selbsthilfeverein of Pest-Ofen. The society was established with money provided by benefactors Samuel and Karoline Hirschler. The first pages in this volume are ornately drawn in black, purple, and gold and are handwritten prayers for the dead. After this is an illustrated memorial page for Rabbi Dr. Binyamin Ze’ev (Wolf Alois) Meisel (1815-67), rabbi of Pest. Following several pages of lists of names, is a large section comprising individual pages honoring members by name. Each one of these is an artistic joy, with interesting borders, designs, and emblems, with many different colors used. The dates of these range from the 1890’s into the 1920’s. Some of them make lavish use of gold or silver and feature subtle watercolor illustrations of idyllic cemetery scenes (weeping willows are a favorite). One of the pages has a lion and lioness that is reminiscent in style to William Wallace Denslow. At the end of the volume are pages of later Yizkor listings, which resume after WWII. These are written with less style, but no less sincerity. The last is dated 1965.
pp. 64 (excluding blanks). Lower corners worn from use. Original gilt-titled velvet-lined boards, worn. Folio.
Budapest: 1874-


Pest and Ófen (Obuda) were two of the towns that united with Buda to form Budapest in 1873. Three years after the expulsion of the Jews from the region by Empress Maria Theresa in 1744, the Jews were readmitted and they formed one of the largest communities of Jews in Central Europe. By WWII there were 300,000 Jews in Budapest.