“And to the Jews in their script and language” (Esther 8:9)

Opening of Yehoash's Yiddish megilah translation; calligraphy by Evelyn Yehoash Dworkin. Yeshiva University Libraries. Gift of Shaul Seidler-Feller.

The topics of writing and language are woven throughout the Book of Esther. King Ahashverosh sent his announcements and decrees in the “script and language” of each province and people to his subjects in the 127 states of his Persian kingdom. The first instance of a pronouncement of this type almost sounds like a Purim spoof – in response to Queen Vashti’s insubordination, Ahashverosh proclaimed that every man should be ruler of his home and speak his native language. This proclamation is not “written and sealed with the king’s ring,” unlike the life and death diktats later in the megilah. The order to annihilate the Jews was dispatched in the usual format, in the “script and language” of each nation and people, with the addition that the missive is sealed with the king’s ring ;  the decree overriding the death sentence of the Jews of Persia includes the king’s signet and adds a new element: “and to the Jews in their script and language.” Since the subject of language is paramount on Purim, and the Book of Esther may be read in any language, it is apropos that a unique Yiddish megilah exists, printed in the form of a scroll. The Yiddish translation is by the famed Yiddish poet Yehoash (Solomon Bloomgarden; 1872–1927), who translated the Bible into Yiddish. The calligraphy is by his daughter, Evelyn (Chava)  Yehoash Bloomgarden Dworkin, an artist.  The Yiddish attribution of the nature of Dworkin’s work, געכתיבהט , [ge-ksivht] indicates that the letters were written in block letters, rather than the current standard cursive letters. Dworkin designed the angular letters, “combining modern faux-archaic fonts to create a style reminiscent of ancient Hebrew script.” The megilah was published in 1936, by the Yehoash Publication Society and distributed by the Society as a gift, to encourage donations to  fund publication of Yehoash’s complete Bible translation in a bilingual (Hebrew – Yiddish) edition.  The Hebrew – Yiddish Bible was published in 1936 and was dubbed the “people’s Bible.” It was meant to be a popular, accessible edition; it has been reprinted many times. Although the Yiddish megilah is printed on paper, and thus not kosher for ritual use on Purim, the library’s copy has creases in it, as if it had been folded in the traditional manner.  Before the megilah is read in the synagogue on Purim, the scroll is folded to resemble a letter,  in recognition of the  igeret, the  letter,  which Esther and Mordecai sent to the Jews about commemorating Purim.   Perhaps this Yiddish megilah served as a “people’s megilah,” a way for someone to participate in the experience of using a scroll while enjoying the mellifluous modern Yiddish translation rendered in spare, handsome lettering, evocative of the spirit of centuries of Jewish history and languages.

End of Yehoash's Yiddish megilah translation; calligraphy by Evelyn Yehoash Dworkin.
Yeshiva University Libraries. Gift of Shaul Seidler-Feller.

Sources: Epstein, Shifra. “Yehoash’s Scroll: A Calligraphed Megiles Ester.” In geveb, March 2016: https://ingeveb.org/blog/yehoashs-scroll-a-calligraphed-megiles-ester. Purim : The Face and the Mask : Essays and Catalogue of an Exhibition at the Yeshiva University Museum February-June 1979. New York: Yeshiva University Museum, 1979 = 5739, p. 70 [item 95] “’Yehoyesh Farlag Gezelshaft’ greyt tsu folks-oysgabe fun der Tanakh iberzetzung,”  Forward.  September 24, 1936, p. 14.  Historical Jewish Press website – www.Jpress.org.il – founded by the National Library and Tel Aviv University, from the collections of the National Library of Israel and the New York Public Library. “A kinstlereshe tseykhnung fun gants Megiles Ester,” Forward. October 30, 1936, p. 12. Historical Jewish Press website – www.Jpress.org.il – founded by the National Library and Tel Aviv University, from the collections of the National Library of Israel and the New York Public Library. I would like to thank Dr. Chava Lapin for her help and insights. Posted by Shulamith Z. Berger