Thursday, February 22, 2007

Chassidishe textual criticism and emendation

This tendency of the Hasidim to encourage gladness and enjoyment is well illustrated by the view taken by R. Zebi Hirsch of Zhidachow (Zydaczow) (d. 1831) of the custom of the firstborn fasting on the eve of Pesah. According to him this is based on a mistake in the spelling in the treatise Sopherim, which should read הבכורות מתענגין בערב פסח (the firstborn should enjoy themselves on the eve of Pesah), instead of הבכורות מתענין בערב פסח as we have it in our texts.

Pg. 245 Ashkenazim and Sephardim: Their Relations, Differences and Problems as Reflected in the Rabbinical Responsa by HJ Zimmels.

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