"Discourse", the first printed Yiddish periodical, published in defense of both the new and old Jewish communities of Amsterdam. Amsterdam, [1797-1798]. Yiddish. Two volumes.

Two volumes containing satirical-humorous pamphlets published in Amsterdam – one set issued by the new community Adath Jeshurun in opposition to the old community, and the other by the old community in response to the new one.

• "Diskohres fun di Alte Kehile" – periodical published by the new community of Amsterdam, refuting the old community. [Amsterdam: Yohanan Levi Rofe, 1797-1798]. 24 pamphlets.

The complete run of all 24 pamphlets published (lacking leaves in some places).

24 pamphlets (varying foliation, 4-8 leaves per pamphlet). Lacking first leaf of first pamphlet (with title), and leaves 2-3 of pamphlet no. 22. Blank leaves inserted between some pamphlets. 17.5 cm. Browning to some leaves. Fair condition. Stains, including dampstains. Wear. Tears and open tears to first leaves, affecting text, partially restored with tape (leaving dark marks). New binding.

• "Diskohres vegin di Naye Kehile in Amsterdam" – periodical issued by the old community of Amsterdam, refuting the new community. [Amsterdam: Proops, 1797-1798]. 12 pamphlets: 2, 4, 13-22. Lacking pamphlets 1, 3, 5, and the final pamphlet, no. 23.

A total of 16 pamphlets were published. The first five, titled "Diskohres vegin di Naye Kehile in Amsterdam", were numbered 1-5, followed by issues titled "Diskohres Dreytzente fer folig" through "Drei un Tzvantzigste fer folig" – pamphlet nos. 13-23, numbered at the end as 1-11, respectively.

The first leaf of pamphlet no. 2 features a fine woodcut illustration depicting a carriage with passengers drawn by a pair of horses.

12 pamphlets (varying foliation, 4-8 leaves per pamphlet). Lacking final leaf of pamphlet no. 22 (containing a printer's notice on one side). Pamphlets 14-15 bound upside-down and out of order. 19 cm. Fair-good condition. Stains, including large stains. Wear. Tears, including one leaf torn in center, restored with tape. Trimming affecting headers and text on several leaves. New binding.

Both volumes are prefaced with photographic reproductions of a decorative title page, followed by a historical summary describing the conflict between the new and old communities, the figures involved, the leaders and rabbis of both factions, the resolution of the dispute and their reunification in 1808, along with additional details. These pages are known only from a single copy preserved in the National Library of the Netherlands (and are likely the source of the present reproductions). It appears that these pages were prepared (in lithographic print) as an introduction to the bound pamphlets, approximately a decade after their original printing. These pages are not mentioned in Roest’s detailed description of the copy in the Rosenthaliana Library.

Following the French conquest of the Netherlands in 1795, a group of Jewish adherents of the Haskalah established a new congregation, Adath Jeshurun, advocating for aesthetic reforms in prayer and customs under the influence of the Sephardic community. A fierce controversy ensued between the old and new communities, marked by mutual accusations.

Throughout this dispute, both communities issued pamphlets attacking one another. These pamphlets were printed in Yiddish using Tz'enah Ur'enah type (interspersed with Hebrew names and phrases), and presented in the form of dialogues between fictional characters – a common literary device of the period. They also contain satirical and mocking "proclamations" and "regulations" that each faction attributed to the other.

"Diskohres" is considered the first Yiddish periodical. See: Jozeph Michman, "The 'Discourses' of the New and Old Communities in Amsterdam", in Michmanei Yosef, Jerusalem, 1994, pp. 135-143 (Hebrew).

Adri K. Offenberg, Emile G.L. Schrijver and F.J. Hoogewoud, Bibliotheca Rosenthaliana Treasures of Jewish Booklore, marking the 200th anniversary of the birth of Leeser Rosenthal, 1794-1994. Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press, 1994, pp. 86-87.

Roest, pp. 70-71.