Obj. ID: 50010
Hebrew Illuminated Manuscripts  Eulogy, Gelderland, 1901

The following description was prepared by William Gross:

While death and mourning are not generally considered a subject with a lot of graphic expression, within the Jewish tradition there are quite a few examples. Such things as memorial poems, burial plot receipts, Yahrzeit memorial plaques, etc. gave ample scope for artistic creativity. The customs surrounding this sad time of life gave birth to graphic design.

These pages record the dramatic passing of a Mohel, Ha-Rav Raphael b. Baruch Chaim Warmezer, who died while performing a Brit Milah. The four-month-old child being circumcised had been born to a Jewish mother who was raped by a Christian man. The Mohel had kindly invited them to celebrate the circumcision in his own home. Immediately following the metzizah, Mohel fainted, and did not recover. His wife and children were called in, whereby his wife instructed her children to refrain from crying out, saying that her husband had both lived and died fulfilling the holy mitzvah of circumcision. The Shema was recited, and the Mohel was wrapped in a Tallit.

The burial took place two days later, on Tuesday, 11 Iyyar at 11:00 am. A tearful eulogy was delivered by Rav Sinai Shiffer.

The account was recorded after the burial by his brother-in-law, Aryeh Leibisch Vaagenhauer, Av Bet Din u-Moreh Tzedek of Northern Gelderland, the Netherlands.