Die Kuranten
The Dienstagische Kurant was the earliest known Yiddish language periodical.
The Dienstagische Kurant was the earliest known Yiddish language periodical.
Year
It was a semi-weekly founded in Amsterdam in August 9, 1686.
It was a semi-weekly founded in Amsterdam in August 9, 1686.
Content
It covered local news and news from other Jewish communities, including those as far away as India.
It covered local news and news from other Jewish communities, including those as far away as India.
Appeared
The Kuranten appeared twice a week, on Tuesdays and Fridays, except for the period between December 6, 1686 and February 14, 1687, during which they were published only on Fridays.
The Kuranten appeared twice a week, on Tuesdays and Fridays, except for the period between December 6, 1686 and February 14, 1687, during which they were published only on Fridays.
Publisher
The first publisher of the Kuranten was the Ashkenazi printer Uri Faybesh Halevi. Halevi was one of the leading Jewish printers and publishers not only in Amsterdam but also throughout the world, Amsterdam being the centre of Hebrew and Yiddish book printing during those years.
The first publisher of the Kuranten was the Ashkenazi printer Uri Faybesh Halevi. Halevi was one of the leading Jewish printers and publishers not only in Amsterdam but also throughout the world, Amsterdam being the centre of Hebrew and Yiddish book printing during those years.
Ceased
Uri Faybesh Halevi ceased publication of the paper on June 6, 1687, possibly due to financial reasons.
Uri Faybesh Halevi ceased publication of the paper on June 6, 1687, possibly due to financial reasons.
Renamed
De Castro Tartas made some changes in the lay-out – the heading was enlarged, the Amsterdam city arms were added, and the name was changed from Kuranten to Kurant – the style remained the same.
De Castro Tartas made some changes in the lay-out – the heading was enlarged, the Amsterdam city arms were added, and the name was changed from Kuranten to Kurant – the style remained the same.
Announced
Although De Castro Tartas initially maintained publication on Tuesdays and Fridays, on August 5, 1687 it was announced that up until 1 Nisan (March) the paper would only appear on Fridays, “because the Tuesday edition sells poorly.”
Although De Castro Tartas initially maintained publication on Tuesdays and Fridays, on August 5, 1687 it was announced that up until 1 Nisan (March) the paper would only appear on Fridays, “because the Tuesday edition sells poorly.”
In General
The Kuranten did not copy all reports. Due to the limited space at their disposal, together with the fact that they used a larger typeface, the editors were forced into a strict selection – not simply by shortening the reports but also in their choice of subjects. They included, for instance, all reports about wars, first and foremost the war in the Balkans between the Habsburg and the Ottoman Empires; like the Dutch newspapers, the Kuranten sympathized with the Habsburg side.
The Kuranten did not copy all reports. Due to the limited space at their disposal, together with the fact that they used a larger typeface, the editors were forced into a strict selection – not simply by shortening the reports but also in their choice of subjects. They included, for instance, all reports about wars, first and foremost the war in the Balkans between the Habsburg and the Ottoman Empires; like the Dutch newspapers, the Kuranten sympathized with the Habsburg side.
Perished
After 100 printed issues the last issue dating December 5, 1687.
After 100 printed issues the last issue dating December 5, 1687.
Reason to Perish
The Kuranten thus primarily printed international news, given from a Dutch perspective but adapted for Jewish readers seeking to take part in the “real world” for whom language was otherwise a barrier. The adaptation was chiefly restricted to excluding non-Jewish elements or subjects considered uninteresting to Jews. No attempt was made to carry news from other sources about Jewish subjects. News about Jewish community life in Amsterdam is completely absent. This feature may be explained by the fact that since the community was small, the Amsterdam Jews probably did not require a paper to know what was going on; the important events found their way into the popular Yiddish chronicles.
The Kuranten thus primarily printed international news, given from a Dutch perspective but adapted for Jewish readers seeking to take part in the “real world” for whom language was otherwise a barrier. The adaptation was chiefly restricted to excluding non-Jewish elements or subjects considered uninteresting to Jews. No attempt was made to carry news from other sources about Jewish subjects. News about Jewish community life in Amsterdam is completely absent. This feature may be explained by the fact that since the community was small, the Amsterdam Jews probably did not require a paper to know what was going on; the important events found their way into the popular Yiddish chronicles.
References
Wikipedia, Hilde Pach, Verb For Men, Google Books, and much more.
Wikipedia, Hilde Pach, Verb For Men, Google Books, and much more.
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