Speaking of Faith® from American Public Media | Hanukkah, and a Rediscovery of Jewish Customs | Title Page from 1593 Venetian Edition of the "Book of Customs"


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Title Page of 1593 Venetian Edition of the Sefer Minhagim
The document discussed is a translation of the title page of the first illustrated edition of the 1593 Venetian edition of the Book of Customs. It's a textbook example of the power of marketing, using such phrases as "new and improved," "live like a good person," and "printed in the Big City."

1593 Venetian Edition (in Yiddish)

2004 American Edition (in English)

C U S T O M S
MUCH NICER THAN THE PREVIOUS VERSIONS
Everyone will enjoy reading it!

Contains all the customs in Ashkenaz for the entire year
     and includes customs for Italy, Poland, Bohemia, Moravia,
     and several more.

Laws explained well, so you will know
     how to live like a good person.

And it was not forgotten to include a CALENDAR for seventy
     years, counted precisely, containing the zodiac and the times
     for Rosh Hodesh, which were not included previously.

Image of woodcut encircled by text:
"This is God, our God
forever and ever, He
will be our guide"
– Psalms 48:14 –

Printed for the second time in the Big City of
V E N I C E
in the year 5353 /1593 at the house of Zuan di Gara