Laza of Frankfurt

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LAZA OF FRANKFURT

LAZA OF FRANKFURT (fl. late 17th–early-18th century), learned woman and translator of religious writings. Laza was the wife of *Jacob ben Mordecai of Schwerin. In 1692, she rendered her husband's work, Tikkun Shalosh Mishmarot ("Prayers for the Three Night Watches"), from Hebrew into Yiddish, adding her own Yiddish introduction. Around 1709 Laza wrote, with Sara Oppenheim, a scroll of Esther. This was probably a Yiddish translation of the biblical text to be read to women who did not know Hebrew.

bibliography:

M. Kayserling, Die juedischen Frauen in der Geschichte, Literatur und Kunst (1991), 178; E. Taitz, S. Henry, and C. Tallan, "Laza of Frankfurt," in: The JPS Guide to Jewish Women, 600 b.c.e.–1900 c.e. (2003), 142–43.

[Cheryl Tallan (2nd ed.)]