Printed in 1601 in Venice, the Sefer haMinhagim (Book of Customs), now part of the collection of the National Library of Israel (NLI), is in Yiddish. Although not frequently used for rabbinical literature, Judeo-German was one of the most common languages among Italian Jews at the time, we read on the NLI blog. The Sefer haMinhagim was probably designed with an educational purpose, and based on the idea that its recipients might have some difficulty with reading, perhaps even at a young age. Proof of this is the many woodcuts which illustrate, sometimes even dramatising, the practical aspects of life and customs of the time. Particularly interesting is the first known documentation of the custom of cutting hair on Lag baOmer, a tradition that probably connects to the end of the period of mourning for the death of Rabbi Akiva’s disciples. Although some scholars believe they died during the Bar Kokhba revolt, tradition says they were stricken with disease, punished for their failure to treat each other with due respect.of Israel (NLI), is in Yiddish. Although not frequently used for rabbinical literature, Judeo-German was one of the most common languages among Italian Jews at the time, we read on the NLI blog. The Sefer haMinhagim was probably designed with an educational purpose, and based on the idea that its recipients might have some difficulty with reading, perhaps even at a young age. Proof of this is the many woodcuts which illustrate, sometimes even dramatising, the practical aspects of life and customs of the time. Particularly interesting is the first known documentation of the custom of cutting hair on Lag baOmer, a tradition that probably connects to the end of the period of mourning for the death of Rabbi Akiva’s disciples. Although some scholars believe they died during the Bar Kokhba revolt, tradition says that they were struck by an illness, punished for their failure to treat each other with due respect.
