Haggadah Collections » Yudlov 2074 Haggadah Paris 1898 2

Yudlov 2074 Haggadah Paris 1898 2

Provenance Spotlight: The History of Librairie Lipschutz, Paris

The small blue sticker affixed to this Haggadah represents a tangible link to Librairie Lipschutz, one of twentieth-century Europe’s premier historic centers for Jewish literature, rare manuscripts, and academic Judaica.

Founding and Cultural Significance

Establishment: Founded and managed by the Lipschutz family, a prominent lineage of Jewish booksellers and publishers specializing in Hebraica, antique books, and historical Jewish documents.
The Location: The storefront was strategically operating at 4 Place de l’Odéon, situated directly in the historic literary and university quarter (the 6th arrondissement) of Paris. [1, 2]

World War II Seizure and Legacy

The Nazi Looting: In the opening months of the World War II German occupation of Paris (autumn 1940), the bookstore was systematically targeted under anti-Semitic “Aryanization” laws. [1]
The Plunder: The Einsatzstab Reichsleiter Rosenberg (ERR)—the specialized Nazi task force assigned to looting cultural property—completely emptied the bookstore. Thousands of priceless Hebrew books, historic Haggadot, and rare records were permanently confiscated and shipped to Germany. [1]
Historical Rarity: Because the vast majority of the inventory liquidated by the ERR was destroyed or scattered across Europe, surviving volumes bearing the physical “Librairie Lipschutz, 4 Place de l’Odéon, Paris” label serve as incredibly rare, verified survivors of the Holocaust’s systematic cultural destruction.

This specific 1898 Paris Haggadah carries not only its original religious purpose but also a profound secondary history as a silent witness to the resilience of Jewish heritage through the darkest periods of the 20th century.