Obj. ID: 48983
Sacred and Ritual Objects  Purim poster "Ish Yehudi haya B'Shushan", Sanandaj, circa 1900

The following description was prepared by William Gross:

There are relatively few decorative manuscript objects made for the celebration of the Purim holiday other than the decorated Esther scroll. One such object, however, is the "Tnu Shira" blessing sheet for recitation prior to the reading of the Esther story. This series of blessings is known as "Tnu Shira" (Sing a Song) after the title of the first liturgical poem on the page. The unusual and colorful combination of the blessings in the form of a Shivit with the 67th Psalm in the form of a Menorah is unique to the Jews in the Persian sphere. The style of ornamentation and the orange and green palette are typical of the manuscripts created in the Kurdish area of Iran and to some degree in Iraq as well. There are three examples of this page in the Gross Family Collection.

"Ish Yehudi haya B'Shushan" – Illustrated poster for Purim. [Persian Kudistan, end of 19th century or beginning of 20th century]. Ink and paint on paper.

Colored frame illustrated with flowers, leaves and vases. Inside the frame is the text: "Ish Yehudi haya b'Shushan…". In the center of the leaf is the piyut Tenu Shira V'Zimra written inside two columns. Kurdistan Jews used to sing this piyut before reading the Megilla. The Megilla blessings are written at the end of the piyut.

A similar poster is described by the bibliography and researcher Menashe Refael Lehman in the Sinai journal (Issue 98, 1986, pp. 74-75): "The piyut Yedidim Barchu was unknown until today. It can be found in various places written on a vellum poster painted in glorious colors with verses from the megillah to be said on Purim. I have recently purchased a poster from an Arab merchant in the Old City of Jerusalem". This is a more exact version than the version publicized by Lehmann.