This Haggadah, which features a German Translation by Wolf Heidenheim, was printed in Roedelheim, Germany. There is no exact indication when it was printed.
Heidenheim’s translations were printed for the first time in Roedelheim, in Hebrew characters in 1822. (Yaari, No. 447) and in German letters in 1839 (Yaari, No. 590). Heidenheim’s translations were printed not only in Roedelheim but also in printing shops in other cities. In 1798 he and his partner Baruch Baschwitz were granted a permit to establish a printing press in Roedelheim.
Heidenheim, who was a great Talmudist, Hebrew Grammarian and Masoratic scholar, was born in Heidenheim in 1757. He studied at the Yeshiva of Fuerth with Rabbi Joseph Steinhardy and Rabbi Hirsch Janov. He was also a student of Rabbi Nathan Adler in Frankfurt. He resided for some time in Offenbach, where he published his first book “Moznaim”, Abraham Ibn Ezra’s treatise on grammar, with comments and notes of his own. He printed several prayer books, including “Sefat Emet” and “Safah Berurah”, which were widely recognized and used. Extraordinary successful was his set of Machazorim, which featured a German translation of the Piyutim, accompanied by a Hebrew commentary and an essay about the Piyutim and their authors.
Heidenheim acquired beautiful type for his printing press. He took special care to print the correct readings of prayers and Piyutim. For this purpose he researched old books and manuscripts. Heidenheim’s explanations of the Piyutim were praised by the leading rabbis of his time. He also wrote on The Torah, including “Humash Moda Labina” which featured Rashi’s commentary with explanations; authored “Mishpetei HaTaamim” on biblical accents. He published Rabbi Shimon Bar Zemach Duran’s commentary of the Haggadah, which the author named Afikoman, printed “Seder Yemei Hapurim” and other volumes.
At his death he left a variety of books in manuscripts, including a commentary of Maimonides “Millot HaHigayon”. He died in the year 1832. The new owners of printing press (Lehrberger & Company) followed in his ways, providing German Jewry with beautiful editions of holy book until the closure of the enterprise by the Nazis.
This new edition of a rare and interesting Haggadah, is presented by the Diskin Orphan Home of Israel to its numerous friends as a token of appreciation for their continued support. We are all indebted to Rabbi Munish Weintraub, its director, who was instrumental in the preparation of this facsimile edition of the Haggadah.