Illustrated manuscript, Sefer HaZahav of the synagogue and Gemach in the Green Market 7, Łódź. [Łódź, 1927; later inscriptions from 1930s, until ca. 1934]. Yiddish.
Large format. Neat calligraphy (and Ashkenazic cursive script), on thick, high-quality paper, with colorful illustrations and decorations, and many portraits.
Documents the history of the synagogue and Gemach of Zielony Market (Green Market), Łódź, from its founding in 1910 until the mid-1930s.
Detailed inscriptions of founders, rabbis, tzedakah collectors, administrators and other officials, with many rich and colorful illustrations and decorations. Tens of portraits of leaders and administrators, with their signatures and brief biographies. Those depicted include the rabbi of the society and synagogue, R. Shmuel Knopf, posek in the Green Market neighborhood and member of the Council of Rabbis of Łódź, with his portrait, signature and biography.
Statutes of society on leaves [13-15], with fine, illustrated title page, and signatures of heads and administrators of the society.
Leaves added later, ca. 1927-1933, include illustrated charts with portraits and biographies of new administrators, protocols of meetings in 1931 and 1933, memorials for deceased society members, eulogies for R. Meir Shapiro, Rabbi of Lublin (d. 7th Cheshvan 1933, with his portrait), Lord Arthur James Balfour, d. 1930 (with a copying of the Balfour Declaration in Yiddish), a memorial for those murdered in Germany soon after Hitler's rise to power, in Adar-Nisan 1933, a description of the 1929 riots in Eretz Israel (with a chart printed by the Jewish National Fund, with a list of those murdered), and more.
On last page, poem signed by Graf Kali [pen name of Yiddish poet and author Leib Berman, 1887-1944, taught Hebrew writing and calligraphy, published his poems and prose in contemporary newspapers], dated "Łódź, 15th Av 1932".
New leather binding, with some of original binding pasted to it – two fabric-coated boards, with gilt decorations. Brass letters mounted on front board, entitled: "Seder HaZahav", with the name of the society in gilt letters below. On back board, Polish name of society, printed mirrored.
[35] leaves (some blank; 42 pages written and illustrated). Some leaves bound out of order. 41 cm. Fair-good condition. Stains, including dampstains and dark stains. Creases and wear. Tears, some repaired with paper and tape. Several portraits lacking. New binding, with original boards, somewhat worn.
