Obj. ID: 48988 Purim poster "Ish Yehudi haya B'Shushan", Sanandaj, 1864
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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 paletter are typical of the manuscripts created in the Kurdish area of Iran and to some degree in Iraq as well. There are another 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 bibliographer 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.