CATALOG 124:
30 SPECIAL TITLES IN
JEWISH STUDIES
Dear Friends,
As the summer draws to a
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We encourage you to also
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You’ll also find interesting and unusual titles in related and
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--Dan
1. Steiner,
Lilly. DAS BUCH RUTH. With five large full-page etchings by
Steiner. ONE
OF 60 NUMBERED COPIES SIGNED BY THE ARTIST. The present copy being noted as “Number
I,” the most desireable number in any numbered edition. Vienna, Haybach Verlag: 1923. Original half-vellum over patterned boards, Tall folio. Lilly Steiner (1884–1961) an important
Viennese Jewish artist who showed her work at the Hagenbund, was married to the industrialist Hugo Steiner.
She was a part of the Viennese Modern Movement, and her portrait was painted by
Egon Schiele and her home
designed by Adolf Loos. The Jewish Women’s
Archive (http://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/austria-jewish-women-artists)
notes that “Jewish women artists were…alert to their surroundings
and reacted directly to the rising antisemitism and,
eventually, Nazism. Lilly Steiner’s response to Austrian political events
is epitomized in her Composition Baroque (1938). She painted a vision of the
approaching catastrophe as an apocalyptic landscape. In the foreground, a woman
clings to the earth, her head raised and her hands folded as if she were in mourning
over the country she is about to lose. This sense of loss is illustrated in the
tumultuous clouds and the massive, menacing hills that
both separate the woman from the two distant cities, Salzburg, on the left, and
Vienna, on the right, and absorb them. The tragic mood is further concentrated
in the exploding vase in the very center of the picture, whose bursting flowers
seem to turn into flying heads, while the vase suggests a bomb aimed at the
earth. It is here that the power of destruction is most strongly
felt….Steiner’s Composition Baroque obviously alludes to the Anschluß, proclaimed in 1938. With the arrival of the
Germans in Austria, antisemitism entered all spheres
of Jewish life and experience, and the antisemitism
of the Austrian population was given full rein.” Portfolio a bit scuffed
otherwise Very Good, etchings in fine condition, a beautiful copy. $3500.00
2. (Chagall,
Marc). Venturi, Lionello.
MARC CHAGALL. One Of 1500 Numered
Copies. 64 black-and-white plates + 2 additional color plates. New York, for
Pierre Matisse Editions: 1945. Original boards, dust-jacket. 4to.
Very Good Condition in Very Good Dust Jacket. A nice
piece. $200.00
3. THE
PRATO HAGGADAH . New York, Jewish Theological
Seminary, 2006 (ca. 1300) . Leather
Full leather, 14 x 21 cm, 160 pp + commentary.
The Prato Haggadah (Spain, ca.1300) is an unfinished
illuminated manuscript of 85 leaves, written on fine calf parchment. Folios
1–53 are written in a square Sephardic script and folios 54–68 are
written in a square Italo-Ashkenazic script, using a
different ink. The illumination of 30 pages is virtually complete. 58 are
unfinished, with preparatory drawings and possibly some gesso and color, 50
have text only and the remaining pages are blank. Many of the pages have
illuminated initial word panels, comparable to illuminated initials in
Christian or secular manuscripts. Throughout, illustrations accompany the text,
such as the depiction of the four sons, and illustrations of matza and maror (bitter herbs).
Preparatory drawings depicting the story of Noah and the flood appear at the
end of the manuscript. Margins are replete with fanciful drawings of hybrid
creatures, imaginary birds, drolleries and climbing vines. The codex is
especially fascinating because it demonstrates the making of a manuscript in
the Middle Ages, enabling us to view its illumination after the text was
written: the preparatory drawings, the laying down of gesso in order to cushion
the gold leaf, the application of gold and silver leaf, and ultimately the application
of pigments. The skill of the artist is of a very high order, both in the
preparatory drawings and in the completed pages, whose brilliant colors look as
fresh today as when they were applied. Printed and bound as an exact replica of
the highest quality of the 13th Century illuminated manuscript in appropriate
leather boards and parchment-like leaves. Limited edition of
250 copies. A treasure to behold. (ID: 27559) $4700.00
4. (Bauhaus
Photographic take on Jewish Vilna) EIN GHETTO IM OSTEN – WILNA. First
Edition . Hardback Zurich and Leipzig: Orell Fussli, (1931) . Slim crown octavo, original half orange cloth, orange
& black photographic boards. First edition of Vorobeichic's pre-WWII photo-essay on Lithuanian Jews, with
64 black-and-white photographic images and photocollages.
Lithuanian-born photographer Moshé Raviv-Vorobeichic trained at the Bauhaus in the 1920s and
after studying at the École de Photo Ciné in Paris,
"returned to visit his family and photographed life in the Jewish
community of Vilnius. The result was Ein Ghetto im Osten, Wilna...
His use of the book format as a progression of pictures to be leafed through is
unique with regard to the reportage style that was just carving a niche for
itself at the time" (Open Book, 18) . "Pushing the envelope of the
documentary form... Vorobeichic also introduced
cinematic cutting and montaging techniques... A poignancy has been added in
hindsight: it was made at the beginning of a desperately traumatic time for
European Jewry" (Parr & Badger, 130) . With
preface by poet Zalman Chnéour
in both Hebrew and German. Makes for a wonderful book, not only for it's powerful Vishniac-style
photos and intense design but also as an excellent example of Western Jewish
fascination/replusion at the Ostjude
as exotic. Scarce. Light wear to cover, with corners a
bit rounded. See a video of the images in the book at www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZDv_PJX8X4
Otherwise Very Good Condition. (bib-18-11B) (ID: 26468) $500.00
5. MENORAH:
ILLUSTRIERTE MONATSSCHRIFT FÜR DIE JÜDISCHE
FAMILIE. COMPLETE FOR FIRST 3 VOLUMES. Vienna: Menorah, 1923-1925. Cloth Large Folio Size. In German. Illustrated in color. Vol I (1-6),
Vol 2 (1-12) & Vol 3
(1-12) complete for first 3 years. Full publication ran 10 volumes, through
1932. Important Weimar German Jewish art journal, with
articles and illustrations on all the major Jewish artists of the day. Much beautiful contemporary Jewish art. "Die neue Monatschrift
"Menorah" ist berufen,
einem wirklichen Bedürfnis weiter Kreise entgegenzukommen und gleichzeitig ein bisher unklar empfundenes
Verlangen Vieler zum bewußten Bedürfnis zu gestalten.Zahlreich sind bereits die jüdischen Tagesblätter und Zeitschriften,
die alle eine begrenzte, sei es politische oder
religiöse Tendenz verfolgen. Diese Zeitschrift jedoch stellt sich umfassendere
Aufgaben und steckt sich ein weiteres
Ziel: Sie will in erster Reihe jene
Bestrebungen fördern,
die geeignet sind, Brücken zu schlagen zwischen den verschiedenen, oft auseinanderstrebenden
Gruppen des Judentums und
will auf kultureller Grundlage
die notwendige Einheit herbeiführen.Die geistigen
und künstlerischen Traditionen
wollen wir liebevoll pflegen, den Blick in Epochen zurücklenken, in welchen es noch ein
wurzelstarkes, bodenechtes,
von keiner Problematik angekränkeltes Judentum gab.
Mithelfen wollen wir, und das ist
unser großes Ideal, eine einheitliche jüdische Kulturatmosphäre
zu schaffen.Die
"Menorah" dient keiner
Partei, sie will zu Juden jeder
Richtung sprechen, soweit sie Fragen
der Politik behandelt nur referieren und in versöhnlichem Sinne berichten, durch Wort und Bild belehren,
erziehen und auch in gutem Sinne unterhalten.
Sie will den Blick der Leser auf die alten künstlerischen Überlieferungen
im jüdischen Schaffen lenken, die zu Unrecht nur
bei den wenigsten Beachtung finden, von neuen jüdischen Künstlern vermelden und ein übersichtliches Bild des zeitgenössischen literarischen Schaffens bieten. Sie wird
keine politische, sondern Kulturpropaganda treiben.Diese Zeitschrift ist der jüdischen
Familie gewidmet, die stets
Bollwerk und Rückhalt
des Judentums war. Sie will
auch den Interessen der jüdischen Frauen entgegenkommen
und sie an ihre Aufgaben gemahnen, die in der Tat
bedeutende sind.
Die jüdische Jugend wird stets geistige Anregungen aller Art finden und in ihrem Streben nach körperlicher
Ertüchtigung gefördert
werden. Dem würdigen Inhalt soll sich
ein entsprechendes Äußere gesellen, das auch dem verfeinerten
Geschmack gerecht wird.Es ist
eine schöne, große Aufgabe, die wir uns gestellt
haben. Uns zu ihrer Verwirklichung
zu verhelfen, laden wir hiermit die jüdische Öffentlichkeit
ein, in deren Hände wir vertrauensvoll dieses erste Heft unserer "Menorah" legen."
SUBJECT (S) : Jews – Europe – intellectual life –
periodicals; Jews – Germany – history – 1800-1933 –
periodicals; Jews – Austria – history – periodicals; Europe
– civilizations – Jewish influence – periodicals. OCLC lists
3 institutions with copies (Columbia, Gratz College, UPenn,) . Vertical mailing crease
down center of all issues, as usually found, attractively bound in modern
boards, 3 volumes in 2. 3x3 inch square cut from 1 page, otherwise Very Good
Condition, unusual complete set. (art-11-18) (ID: 20343)
$500.00
6. ZEITSCHRIFT
DES DEUTSCHEN PALÄSTINA-VEREINS. Vols 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, AND 13. Deutscher Verein
zur Erforschung Palästinas, Leipzig, O. Harrassowitz
[etc.], 1878-1890. Cloth, 8vo. In German. Illustrated with multiple fold
out maps. English translation: “JOURNAL OF PALESTINE-GERMAN SOCIETY”.Periodical published between 1878 and 1945,
for a run of 67 volumes. SUBJECT(S): Palestine -- Antiquities -- Periodicals. Ex-library with bookplates on inside front cover. Dampstain and
some warping to covers. Pages tanned, also with some dampstain,
but not affecting text. Maps intact. Good –
condition. (SPEC-27-32) $400.00
7. Ansbacher, Jonas. HINEH BA-OHEL.
HINNË WOAUHEL: VORSCHRIFTEN FÜR DEN JÜDISCHEN HAUSHALT. Hamburg:
J. Petrover, 1938. Paper wrappers.
8vo. 36 pages. In German.
Scarce Nazi-era imprint (1938! ) , a lateHolocaust-era Jewish publication from Germany.
SUBJECT(S) : Fasts and feast – Judaism –
handbooks, manuals, etc. ; Jews – dietary laws – handbooks,
manuals, etc. OCLC lists two copies worldwide (Yeshive
Univ, Bar-Llan Univ) . Very good condition; small
tear on bottom left of front cover. (MX-4-18) (ID: 18390) $100.00
8. (Bound
Collection on 19th Century German Antisemitism)
Delitzsch, Franz, 1813-1890. SCHACHMATT DEN
BLUTLÜGNERN ROHLING & JUSTUS . Erlangen : A. Deichert,, 1883 .
Hardback 3/4 leather, 8vo,43 pages. In
German. SUBJECT(S): Blood accusation. Antisemitism
-- Germany --History -- 19th century. Bloedbeschuldiging. Jodendom. Named Person: Rohling, August, 1839-1931. Geographic: Tiszaeszlár
(Hungary). Franz was a "German Protestant theologian, Bible and Judaica scholar. Inspired by Julius Fuerst
to devote himself to the study of Judaism, he was appointed professor of
theology at the university of his native Leipzig in
1844. Later he taught at Rostock (1846), Erlangen (1850), and again in Leipzig
(1867). Though Delitzsch was a devoted Christian and
the most significant figure of the Lutheran "Mission to the Jews,"
believing in the supremacy of the New Testament over the Old, he maintained an
extraordinary understanding of, and affection for, Judaism… The
obituaries published in Jewish journals after his death reflect the ambivalence
toward Delitzsch's work: scholars like D. Kaufmann
expressed their deep admiration for his scholarly achievements but did not hide
their resentment over not being accepted as academic equals and his denigration
of contemporary Jewish identity." (Breuer and Wiese, EJ, 2007) BOUND WITH: Strack, Hermann Leberecht, 1848-1922. DER BLUTABERGLAUBE IN DER
MENSCHHEIT, BLUTMORDE UND BLUTRITUS : ZUGLEICH EINE
ANTWORT AUF DIE HERAUSFORDERUNG DES "OSSERVATORE CATTOLICO" München : C.H. Beck, 1892. 155 pages.
In German. Series: Schriften
des Institutum Judaicum in Berlin ;; Nr. 14; SUBJECT(S): Blood -- Religious aspects.
Blood -- Mythology. Blood -- Folklore. Superstition.
Jews -- Medicine. Blood accusation. Bloed. Bijgeloof.
Riten.
Note(s): Includes bibliographical references. Eisler,
M. DIE JUDENFRAGE IN DEUTSCHLAND, New York: Verlag
des Verfassers, 1880. 94 pages.;
Linden, Gustav von. DER SIEG DES JUDENTHUMS ÜBER DAS GERMANENTHUM
: EINE WIDERLEGUNG DER S. MARR'SCHEN POLEMIK IN HISTORISCHER UND
ALLGEMEINER BEZIEHUNG. ZUGLEICH EINE MAHNUNG AN DAS
DEUTSCHE VOLK UND AN DIE DEUTSCHEN FÜRSTEN. Leipzig :
Gustav Horner, 1879. 41 pages. In
German. SUBJECT(S): Jews -- Germany. Named Person:
Marr, Wilhelm, b. 1819. OCLC lists 5 copies (Cornell, Univ. Chicago, Bayerische Staatsbibliotek -
Germany, Nat. Library of Israel. Pages sunned and brittle.;
Fiedler, P. J. DIE ANTISEMITENBEWEGUNG IN DEUTSCHLAND IN IHREN URSACHEN UND
FOLGEN: EIN VORTRAG, GEHALTEN IN DER BEZIRKSLEHRERVERSAMMLUNG ZU DARMSTADT AM
17. JANUAR 1891. Darmstadt :
H. Schmitt, 1891. 26 pages. In German SUBJECT(S): Antisemitism -- Germany. Germany -- Ethnic relations. Leather on spine worn but intact, reads: Miscellanea, 8. Bookplate
and stamp on inside cover, writing in pencil on flyleaf. Some pages tanned and brittle with small chips to edges.
Good condition. Rear hinge repaired. (BIB-18-4x) (ID: 24349) $500.00
9. (A Talmud dedicated to Erasing Antisemitism—and also dedicated to the Czar!)
Pinner, E. M (Ephraim Moses) ; compiler and
translator. TALMUD BABLI: BABYLONISCHER TALMUD. TRACTAT BERACHOTH
SEGENSPRÜCHE [ONLY, NO MORE PUBLISHED] . Berlin,
[Gedruckt Bei I. Lewent], 1842 . Hardback
Inscription: Signed, Inscribed Or Annotated Cloth. Folio.
[362] pages. 45 cm. Parallel text in
German and Hebrew. Translation of the “Berachoth”
tractate of the Babylonian Talmud compiled and translated by E. M. Pinner. With a dedication to Tsar Nicholas I of Russia, noteworthy in part
because of Nicholas’ anti-Semitic beliefs. "The deeds of Czar
Nicholas I caused the Jews of his empire to call him "Haman II. ' Nicholas's thirty-year reign represented one of the
darkest eras in Russian Jewish history” (Jewish Virtual Library) . Labeled as “Erster
Band” (Volume One) ; as later volumes were never
issued, this volume represents the complete work. Includes
parallel translation and commentary. Improvements from previous editions
include: new readings and parallel passages in all parts of the tracts and
commentaries, vocalization of the Mishnah, the Mishnah and Gemara
punctuation, Rashi and Tosepoth,
etymology, and transfer of foreign words, and statements by the Meharschal Meharscha, R. Ash with
an explanation of the Halakha and the variant
readings. (Mit deutscher Uebersetzung und den Commentaren Raschi und Tosepoth nebst den verschiedenen Verbesserungen aller früheren Ausgaben. Hinzugefügt sind: Neue Lesarten und Parallelstellen in allen Theilen dieses Tractates und der Commentare,
Vokalisation der Mischnah, Interpunktion der Mischnah und Gemara, Raschi und Tosepoth, Etymologie und Uebertragung der fremden Wörter, Erklärungen des
Meharschal und Meharscha,
R. Ascher mit Erläuterung der Halachah und
den abweichenden Lesarten)
. Pinner was a German Talmudist and archeologist; born in Pinne
about 1800; died in Berlin 1880. His first work, bearing the pretentious title
of "Kizzur Talmud Yerushalmi
we-Talmud Babli" = "Compendium of the
Jerusalem Talmud and of the Babylonian Talmud" (Berlin, 1831) , contained specimens of translation of both Talmuds and an attempted biography of the tanna Simeon b. Yohai. It was
published as the forerunner of his proposed translation of the Talmud; and his
travels through Germany, France, England, Italy, Turkey, and Russia were
probably undertaken for the purpose of furthering that plan. Pinner went from
Constantinople to St. Petersburg in 1837, and secured the permission of Emperor
Nicholas I. To dedicate the translation to him. It was
to have been completed in twenty-eight folio volumes; but only one appeared,
the tractate Berakot, which was published five years
later (Berlin, 1842) . This is a splendidly printed
book, dedicated to the emperor, who also heads the list of subscribers. The
latter includes the names of the kings of Prussia, Holland, Belgium, and
Denmark, and of about twenty-five dukes, princes, archbishops, and bishops. The
volume contains approbations from several rabbis, none of whom lived in Russia,
in which country only representatives of Haskalah,
like Abraham Stern, Isaac Baer Levinsohn, Jacob Tugendhold of Warsaw, and Abraham b. Joseph Sack of Vilna,
favored the undertaking. Their approval was given in signed eulogies, which
follow the approbations of the non-Russian rabbis. Three years after the
appearance of the tractate Berakot, Pinner, who had
apparently remained in Russia in the hope of being able to continue the
publication of the translation, gave to the world his famous "Prospectus
der Odessaer Gesellschaft für Geschichte und Altherthum
Gehörenden Aeltesten Hebraäischen und Rabbinischen
Manuscripte" (Odessa, 1845) ,
which for the first time brought to the attention of the world the
archeological discoveries (mostly spurious) of Abraham Firkovich.
The publication of facsimiles, on which Simhah Pinsker and other investigators founded their theories on
"nikkud" (punctuation) ,
was, according to Geiger ("Wiss. Zeit. Jüd.
Theol. " vi. 109) ,
Pinner's only service to science. In the introduction to this volume he wrote:
"Nowadays many Jews are unable to study Talmud in the original; those who
know it can't teach it…. Up to now no one has undertaken to translate the
Talmud into the vernacular, and there are even some who have distorted the
Talmud and accused the rabbis of saying things they never would have said.
Therefore, I have taken upon myself to translate the Talmud into German. " That is, there are two reasons: 1. To open the Talmud
to Jews and 2. To counter hostile non-Jewish mis-impressions about the Talmud. What of the Czar's
support? According to Adam Mintz, he supported the
translation for two reasons: 1. At the time he was trying
to Russify Russia's Jews via cultural and religious
restrictions on the Jews. This included the discouragement of the use of
Yiddish and the encouragement of the use of European languages, like German,
which was close to Yiddish and therefore a practical replacement. And, 2. As a real antisemite,
Nicholas commissioned a report to understand what's wrong with the Jews. The
report issued found that the Talmud was the cause of the refusal of the Jews to
assimilate into Russian society. Nicholas felt that exposing the Talmud would
ameliorate this problem, and to do so would require translating it into
European languages, and he was prepared to pay handsomely for such
translations. Thus, Pinner planned to use Czar Nicholas and Czar Nicholas
planned to use Pinner. Nicholas purchased 100 volumes of Pinner's translation,
and so when it was printed, it was dedicated to him! In addition to Nicholas,
there were about a thousand subscribers, including Kings Frederick Wilhelm IV
of Prussia, Wilhelm I of Holland, Leopold of Belgium and Frederick IV of
Denmark. At the beginning of the volume were 18 haskamot
from both traditional rabbis and maskilim. The volume
itself was evidently aesthetically pleasing. It included the traditional layout
with German translation on the facing pages. In addition, punctuation was
supplied for Rashi and Tosafos.
At the bottom of each page he included a translation and etymology of selected
difficult words. When Pinner tried to acquire a haskamah
from the Chasam Sofer, the
latter was incredulous on the grounds that a vernacular translation is
basically impossible given that the plain understanding of Rashi
alone is subject to many disagreements, so how could anyone think they could
manage such a translation? Pinner assured him that he didn't mean that he would
do the whole thing himself, rather he would have a team and he would be the
editor. One of the rabbis who would serve as translators was R. Nathan Adler
(then rabbi of Hanover; later Chief Rabbi of Great Britain) .
Pinner claimed that he had lined up R. Adler to translate Eruvin
and Yevamos. The Chasam Sofer accepted this, and wrote a haskamah.
As it turned out, Pinner had been playing loose with the truth. Pinner used R.
Adler's name to receive this haskamah, and then used
the Chasam Sofer's haskamah to get more. Apparently R. Adler denied any
involvement at all. When the Chasam Sofer found out, he retracted his haskamah.
Not only that, when it became known that Pinner continued to use the haskamah, Chasam Sofer issues a kol koreh asking rabbis to ban the printing, buying and reading
of the work. Shadal too did not offer a haskamah on similar grounds (his letter on the matter was
printed in Keren Hemed 2
(1836) pp. 174-182. In addition to highlighting certain errors he felt Pinner
had made he questioned whether one man could indeed translate the entire
Talmud, noting that even Rashi could not complete his
commentary on the Talmud. Interestingly enough, another objection to the work
arose in some quarters, best exemplified by a letter written to the Chasam Sofer by a Dutch rabbi, Tzvi Hirsch Lehrin. In it he
noted that if there had been so much opposition to Mendelssohn's Bible, which
was only a translation into German with Hebrew letters, how much more so must
there be something faulty with a Talmud translated into German with German
letters! In addition, argued R. Lehrer, although Pinner might have been
motivated le-shem shamayim,
to defend the honor of the Talmud before detractors, the opposite would occur
once its contents were accessible: opponents would use it to denigrate the
Sages, noting that a classic denigration of Talmudic Judaism by wayward Jews is
the case of the egg laid on a holiday, deemed irrelevant. How much more so
would non-Jewish opponents of the Talmud use this translation against it!
Interesting as well is that this was not the Chasam Sofer's objection. Ultimately the Czar discovered his true
motive and support was withdrawn, which was why only Berakhot
ever appeared. OCLC lists 26 copies worldwide. Rebound in beautiful quarter-leather
boards with gilt lettering on spine. Hebrew title with closed
tear, repaired with tape by previous owner; no loss of paper. Internal
pages slightly foxedat edges, but all text is bright
and clear; binding is tight. Very good condition. Important. (SPEC-29-18) (ID: 27639) $500.00
10. (With
Handwritten Note from Important Hebrew Poet) Lamdan,
Yitshaq (Isaac) MASADA: PO’EMA
. Tel-Aviv: Hedim, 1927 .
First Edition . Hardback Hardcover, 8vo, 86 pages. 1st edition. In Hebrew. OCLC lists
8 copies of the first edition worldwide (Danish Union Cat, JTSA, UC-Berkeley,
UCLA, Northwestern, HUC, Brandeis, Texas-Austin) . Lamdan (1899-1954) was a “Hebrew poet and editor.
Born in Mlinov, Ukraine, Lamdan
received a traditional and secular education. During World War I he was cut off
from his family and wandered through southern Russia with his brother, who was
later killed in a pogrom. These grim experiences made Lamdan
rally to the Communist cause and he volunteered for the Red Army at the
outbreak of the Russian Revolution. Disillusionment, however, soon set in
because as a Jew he could not feel at home in the revolutionary movement. He
left the army and returned to Mlinov, which had been
annexed to Poland. There he became a teacher at the local Hebrew school and
published his first poem in Ha-Shilo’ah.
Immigrating to Erez Israel in 1920, he spent his
first years as a halutz, building roads and working
on farms. His poetry, now imbued with a ? Alutz spirit that grew out of his experience, was published
in various literary journals in Erez Israel and aroused
great interest since it reflected the hopes and despair of the Third Aliyah and also the struggles and inner conflicts of the individual ? Alutz. He later gave up physical labor and devoted himself
exclusively to literary work, from 1934 until his death publishing and editing
his own literary monthly Gilyonot. He was a member of
the central committee of the Hebrew Writers Association for many years. Lamdan’s magnum opus, Massadah
[this work], an epic poem in blank verse of six cantos, comprising 35 poems,
established his reputation. The poem reflects the spirit of the young pioneers
of the 1920s who had left behind them not only the memory of the brutal
senseless murders of defenseless Jews, but also their shattered illusions about
the possibility of establishing a free, revolutionary society in Eastern
Europe. Massadah, the last fortress which continued
to hold out against the Romans even after the fall of Jerusalem in 70 C. E. ,
in Lamdan’s poem symbolizes Erez
Israel, the last stronghold of the destroyed Eastern European Jewish
communities. The voice throughout the poem is the “I” of the poet
who embodies both the horror experienced by his generation and its vision for a
new future. In the first canto the poet, standing in the midst of the ruins of
his home, at the height of the Russian Revolution, receives a message about Massadah: “face of the adverse fate of
generations” the sons of Massadah have thrust
out their “breasts in revolt and roared ‘Enough! ’” He
sets out for the Promised Land in order to join them. His path to Massadah is obstructed by three friends who symbolize the
various anti-Zionist or Diaspora-oriented ideologies and who try to turn him
back. By an overwhelming act of will, the speaker frees himself from his
friends and scales the barriers blocking access to Israel's stronghold. The
second canto is a series of short poems in which the different Jewish refugees
who came to Massadah describe their tragic
experiences. Cantos three, four, and five are movements from joyful hope to
despair. Night, “in which the air is heavy with blood,
” transforms into a time for kindling fires, dancing, and the
renewal of faith. Night thus becomes a symbol of strength and hope while day is
a time of despair and disillusionment. The fortress itself weeps for her
listless sons. The ecstasy of the early movement is passed, the verve of
pioneering among the weaker is spent and they fall to the wayside. Fewer and
fewer of those imbued with the spirit of freedom throng to Massadah,
and peddlers, longing to engage in commerce, increase. Not only the fires but
also the “flames of revolt” brought to Massadah
as “holy Sabbath candles in the twilight of the worlds" flicker
faintly, yet they are not extinguished. There are always those who stand guard
over Massadah watching "every cloud rising
somewhere over the horizon. ” In the sixth canto
the poet turns to these sturdy souls, calling out to them that their sacrifice
is not in vain and that all roads trodden by the Jewish people lead to Massadah, none lead away. The
poet’s “I” of the first canto, with its clear biographical
references, later merges into the collective consciousness of the Jewish
people, but even in Canto I it is not intrinsically individual. A symbolic poem
of moods and situations, rather than heroes and plot, Massadah
is rich in expressionistic images and rings with the cadence of biblical
rhetoric” (Katznelson in EJ, 2007) . Long note from author tapped inside front cover. Wear to
binding. Yellowing to edges of pages. Good condition.
(Heb-22-9) (ID: 26944) $750.00
11. (Famously
Evil Antisemitic Children’s Book) Bauer,
Elvira TRAU KEINEM FUCHS AUF GRÜNER HEID UND KEINEM JUD BEI SEINEM EID!
EIN BILDERBUCH FÜR GROSS UND KLEIN . Nürnberg, Stürmer-Verlag,
1936 . Hardback Rebound in later cloth with original
covers mounted on boards. Oblong Large 8vo. [42] pages.
In German (Sütterlinschrift) .
Title translates to English as, “Do Not Trust a Fox by Field or Pond, Nor
a Jew on His Bond! A Picture Book for Young and Old.
” This children’s book with extremely derogatory text and imagery
regarding Jews was issued to all nursery schools. It is replete with colorful
pictures, which in turn serve to characterize the Jews as evil and sub-human.
Section titles include: “The Father of the Jews is the Devil, ”
“The Eternal Jew”, “Jewish Name, ” “Jud is Jew,
” “The Cattle Jew, ” “The Sabbath, ” “The
Jewish Law, ” “The Maid, ” and ''The Jewish Doctor. ”
Julius Streicher, head of Nazi propaganda, is even depicted
on page 30. See images and translation of text at www.calvin.edu/academic/cas/gpa/fuchs.htm
SUBJECT(S) :
Antisemitism -- Germany -- Juvenile literature. Jews
-- Caricatures and cartoons. Jews -- Germany -- Juvenile
literature. Judaism -- Controversial literature.
Nazi propaganda -- Pictorial works. Nationaal-socialisme. Rebound in linen (to match original cloth) with the
original covers mounted on front and rear boards. Original covers are lightly
worn; internal pages are clean and bright. Very good
condition. (HOLO2-75-16) (ID: 27649) $1675.00
12. (First
Edition of Bible with the Chizkuni Commentary) HAPHTAROTH
AND MEGILOTH PENTATEUCH . Venice, Giovanni Di Gara, 1567-68 . First Edition . Hardback Small folio, 6-278, 218-318 With targum and commentaries of Rashi, Baal HaTurim and Chizkuni. First Edition of Bible with the
Chizkuni commentary. Scholarly marginal
notations in various Ashkenazic hands, family history
of previous owner on f. 318b listing birth of children dated 1657. Lacking opening five leaves. Few leaves mispaginated,
some staining, paper repairs occasionally affecting text. Later
boards. Sm. Folio. A Highly scarce edition. First publication of Chizkuni together
with the Biblical text. Heavy wear to 19th Century boards with some
binding repairs, but solid; high quality 16th century rag paper has held up
very well (Spec-12-2) (ID: 25530) $2000.00
13. (First
Edition with Super-Commentary Iturei Bikurim by Baruch Ben Elkanah of Fürth) Jacob Ben Asher. (The Ba’al HaTurim).
PIRUSH HATORAH [commentary
to Pentateuch]. With super-commentary Iturei
Bikurim by Baruch Ben Elkanah
of Fürth. 1st edition
of commentary. Fürth, Chaim
ben Tzevi Hirsch: 1752. 4to, Boards. (2), 3, 1-29,
28-87 leaves. [Vinograd,
Fürth 224]. Historiated title. On rear blank, Hebrew inscriptions of former owners from the
Lithuanian community of Pumpian. With halachic novellae
of latter owner covering the blank.
Iturei Bikurim
remains one of the few supercommentaries to the Ba’al HaTurim. The author,
R. Baruch served as the Chazan of the community of Wittelshofen in the District of Ansbach.
Foxed and stained. Bound in very basic but solid heavily
repaired binding. $300.00
14. Herlitz, Georg; and Bruno Kirschner,
Eds. JÜDISCHES LEXIKON: EIN ENZYKLOPÄDISCHES HANDBUCH DES
JÜDISCHEN WISSENS IN VIER BÄNDEN. 4 VOLUMES IN 5 VOLUMES (COMPLETE) . Berlin, Jüdischer Verlag, 1927-1930 . First Edition . Cloth 4to; ca
7000+ pages; Shunami # 4. "Mit über 2000 Illustrationen, Beilagen, Karten und Tabellen....Unter mitarbeit von über 230 jüdischen Gelehrten und Schriftstellern und
unter redaktioneller Mithilfe von Ismar Elbogen " [and others]. A marvelous
resource. Very Good Condition in Original cloth with
attractive spines. A nice set (183). Illustr:
Illustrated by Loaded with Photos, Maps,etc
(ID: 21429) $500.00
15. Noah,
Mordecai. TRAVELS IN ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, AND THE BARBARY
STATES IN THE YEARS 1813-14 AND 15. First Edition .
Hardback Kirk and Mercein; London: John Miller New
York, 1819. First edition. 8vo, vi,
[2], 431, [1], xlvii pages. Lacks engraved frontis
portrait and 3 of 4 engraved plates. Bound in attractive
modern cloth with spine label. Noah (1785-1851) was a lawyer,
playwright, and journalist. He was born in Philadelphia of Portuguese-Jewish
ancestry. "In 1813 [he] was appointed consul to Tunis, with a special
mission to Algers. He was instructed to negotiate for
the release of some Americans held as prisoners by the Algerine
pirates. On May 23, 1813, he sailed from Charleston, but his vessel being
captured by the British, he was taken to England and detained two months. In
October he arrived in Cadiz, where he contracted with Richard R. Keene, an
American who had become a Spanish subject, to effect
the release of the twelve Americans … After being detained in France and
Spain for more than a year, Noah finally arrived in Tunis. On July 30, 1815, he
received a letter from James Monroe, secretary of state, revoking his
commission and hinting at irregularities in his accounts. Monroe's treatment of
Noah was never satisfactorily explained, though his association with Keene, who
had been accused of treason, was doubtless detrimental … In January 1817,
however, Noah received a letter from the Department of State which vindicated
his conduct and returned several thousand dollars due him in the enterprise
which resulted in the release of the American captives" (DAB) . Rosenbach 205;
American Travellers Abroad, N17. Faint institutional blind stamp to
title page, which shows heavy wear. Remainder of book is good with usual
foxing. Final 2 leaves of appendix in facsimile only. An affordable copy of this very important work at one-third the
normal price. (spec-1-21) (ID: 19875) $500.00
16. Moses Ben Maimon
THE REASONS OF THE LAWS OF MOSES. London, James Nichols, 1827 .
First Edition . Hardback 4to, 451
pages. First edition. From
the “More Nevochim” of Maimonidies. With notes,
dissertations and a life of the author by James Townley.
First appearance in English of Maimonidies’
Guide to the Perplexed. The translator, James Townley
presents here the “Ta’amei HaMitzvoth” (rationales of the commandments) in the
third part of Maimonides’ Moreh Nevuchim. Engraved frontispiece of
phylacteries and mezuzah. An uncut copy. Light
stains, contemporary boards, worn, spine repaired. (Spec-12-5) (ID: 25533) $500.00
17. Shnatikh, Elhanan HELEK RISHON MI-SEFER ARBA YESODOT:
YIKHLOL 2 YESODOT HA-RISHONOT MEHA-ARBA VE-ELU HEN YESOD HA-YIRAH, YESOD
HA-AHAVAH, YESOD HA-AVODAH VI-YESOD HA-BERAKHAH: GAM YIKHLOL SEDER HAGADAH SHEL
PESAH . Ofibah: Bi-Defus Zvi Hirsh Spitz Me-Presburg, 1788 . Hardback Hardcover,
8vo, 82 pages, 22 cm. In Hebrew. SUBJECT(S) : Descriptor: Hagadah --
Commentaries. Seder -- Liturgy -- Texts. Judaism -- Liturgy -- Texts. Title Subject: Haggadah. Yaari no. 218. OCLC lists one copy worldwide (JTS) . Rebound. Bumped page corners and
edges. Staining to pages. Good condition. Paid 200. (Spec-27-9) (ID: 27067) $500.00
18. Leeser,
Isaac. “HISTORY OF THE JEWS AND THEIR RELIGION” .
Hardback In: Cyclopaedia of Religious Denominations. Containing Authentic Accounts of the Different Creeds and Systems
Prevailing Throughout the World. Written by Members of
the Respective Bodies. repaired Glasgow, Bell
and Bain: (1853). Third edition. Leeser's
contribution is 8 pages. In this overview of Judaism, the "Pastor of the
Hebrew Portuguese Congregation, Philadelphia," Rev. Isaac Leeser, takes the reader back to the times of Abraham and
Moses, presents Maimonides' Thirteen Articles of Faith, and quotes Mendelssohn's
"Jerusalem" concerning the significance of the commandments and
ceremonies. Very light stains, few stamps on title page..
Original boards,spine
repaired. Good+ Condition. (k-amr-2-1)
(ID: 21587) $800.00
19. Rand,
Ayn THE FOUNTAINHEAD . Hardback New York Bobbs Merrill 1943.
Cloth, 8vo, 754 pages. Later
printing of the first edition, with no printings stated but with all the other
first edition points. In the second state dustjacket. Red cloth lettered in gilt on the front
panel and spine . The dustjacket
features a $3.00 price at the base of the front flat and a photo of the author
along with three reviews of the book at the rear. All points are present: Page
9: The "9" looks like an "o" at the bottom. Page 321, Line
5: "referred" is spelled "refrred".
Page 381, Line 4: The "G" in "G. W. "
is slightly smaller. Page 480, Line 2: "Dominique" is spelled "Domininque". Rand was born Alisa Zinov'yevna
Rosenbaum in 1905, into a middle-class family living in Saint Petersburg,
Russia, the eldest of three daughters (Alisa, Natasha, and Nora) . Her parents
were, Zinovy Zacharovich
Rosenbaum and Anna Borisovna Rosenbaum, agnostic and
largely non-observant Jews. Her father was a chemist and a successful
pharmaceutical entrepreneur who earned the privilege of living outside the
Jewish Pale of Settlement. (Wikipedia, 2010) . This
book was Rand's first major literary success which became a huge seller,
matching the later popularity of Atlas Shrugged. Made into a Hollywood film in
1949, with Gary Cooper and Patricia Neal in the lead roles, it has become an
enduring piece of literature, more popular now than when published in 1943. On
the surface, it is a story of one man, Howard Roark, and his struggles as an
architect in the face of a successful rival, Peter Keating, and a newspaper
columnist, Ellsworth Toohey. But the book addresses a
number of universal themes: the strength of the individual, the tug between
good and evil, the threat of fascism. Light use wear to cloth. Inside hinges
are starting, but no markings, completely clean inside. Jacket has sunned spine
and wear, especially at crown of spine, but is attractive. Overall
Good Condition in Good Jacket. (spec-14-21) (ID:
26471) $800.00
20. Frankel,
Z. , Ed. ZEITSCHRIFT FÜR DIE RELIGIÖSEN
INTERESSEN DES JUDENTHUMS. Complete in 3 volumes .
First Edition . Hardback Berlin: M. Simion, 1844-45. Cloth ; 8vo. 363,
488, 488 pages. Marbled boards. In
German. Complete in 3 volumes. Only edition. Monthly review and a platform for Frankel's opinions on Reform.
Among other innovations he believed that the messianic belief, which expressed
the "pious wish for the independence of the Jewish people" was of
importance for the survival and development of Judaism, and that it brought a
new spirit and vigor into the life of German Jews, even though "they
already had a fatherland which they would not leave. "
Dr. Zacharias Frankel (1801-1875) , was born in
Prague. After receiving a talmudic education under Bezalel Ronsburg, he studied
philosophy, natural sciences, and philology in Budapest (1825-30) . In 1831 the Austrian government appointed him district
rabbi (Kreisrabbiner) of Leitmeritz
(Litomerice) , and he
settled in Teplitz (Teplice) where he was elected local
rabbi. He was the first Bohemian rabbi with a secular academic education and
one of the first to preach in German. In 1836 he was called by the Saxon
government to Dresden to act as chief rabbi. The publication of his study on
the Jewish oath (see below) led to its abolition in several German states. He
declined a call to Berlin in 1843, mainly because the Prussian government would
not meet his stipulations (complete legal recognition of the Jewish faith-until
then merely "tolerated; " denial of support
to missionary activities among the Jews, etc. ) . In 1854, after having
actively advocated its establishment, Frankel became director of the newly
founded Juedisch-Theologisches Seminar at Breslau,
where he remained until his death. SUBJECT(S) :
Judaism -- Periodicals. OCLC lists 15 copies worldwide. Boards detached; backstrips missing. Light age staining.
Good condition. Scarce and important. (gero-1) (ID: 15634) $750.00
21. [The First Work of Responsa published in America by an American Rabbi. ] Fried, Joseph Elijah; Karo, Joseph Ben Ephraim. SEFER OHEL YOSEF. OHEL
JOSEPH: SHEELOT U-TESHUVOT `AL SHULHAN `ARUKH ... New York: A. H. Rosenberg,
1903. Quarter cloth. 4to. 80 pages.
In Hebrew. Friedberg, Aleph-770;
Goldman, Hebrew Printing in America 590. Contains many contributions
from R. Yitzchak Elchanan of Kovno
and the “Alter of Kelm,
” R. Simcha Zissel
Ziv. The responsa depict
the economic, social and religious conditions of the Jews of New York at the
beginning of the 20th century. Addresses issues such as whether to allow Kohanim who were lax in their religious observance to
recite the priestly blessings; the status of bread baked on the Sabbath in a
bakery with Jewish employees; travel by ferry on the Sabbath; constructing a Sukah on a fire escape, etc. SUBJECT (S)
: Responsa – 1800-1900. OCLC lists 4
copies worldwide (Jewish Theological Seminary of America, New York Public
Library, Stanford Univ, Univ
of Texas-Austin) . Original binding, repaired, corners
and some spots of edges of covers worn, good condition. (AMR-18-9) . Very important work. A damaged
copy recently sold at auction for over $1500.00. (ID: 18913) $750.00
22. Taylor,
John, 1694-1761. Buxtorf, Johann, ;
1599-1664. THE HEBREW CONCORDANCE, ADAPTED TO THE ENGLISH BIBLE; DISPOSED AFTER
THE MANNER OF BUXTORF. IN TWO VOLUMES. London, Printed
By J. Waugh And W. Fenner, 1754-1757
. Hardback 3/4 leather with marble paper covered boards, large folio, 16
inches. 2595 pages. Title pages printed in red and
black. In English and Hebrew. Second volume includes
index and an "easy guide for reading Hebrew". SUBJECT (S) : Bible. O. T. -- Concordances, Hebrew. Johannes Buxtorf II, (1599-1664) , was a "Hebraist, the son of
Johannes Buxtorf I, succeeded his father in the chair
of Bible and Hebrew studies at the University of Basle and edited some of his
unpublished works. In common with his father, he held the view that the
Masoretic Text is the genuine version of the Bible (De Literarum
Hebraicarum Genuina antiquitate, 1643) and that the Hebrew square script
preceded the Samaritan. The vocalization of Hebrew, he maintained, originated
at least as early as the time of Ezra. These issues were the subject of his
fierce controversies with another Hebraist, Ludovicus
Capelus, with each defending his viewpoint in a
series of scholarly studies. Buxtorf 's view was formally adopted by the Swiss Church in 1675. Buxtorf translated Maimonides ' Guide of the Perplexed
(1629) , Judah Halevi 's Kuzari (1666) , and part of Isaac Abrabanel
's commentaries to the Bible into Latin. The numerous Jewish scholars in many
lands with whom he was in contact included Manasseh Ben Israel
. His collection of letters is preserved at the university libraries of
Basle and Zurich. " (Chaim
Rabin, EJ, 2007) Includes an 1876 letter of a previous owner, found in one of
the volumes, which reads: "Dear Dr. Wainwright, I am very sorry that I
find at the last moment it will not be possible for me to have the pleasure of
presiding at your lecture tonight. I am called away to fill a very important
duty at the other end of London. I am sure neither you or
any of the audience will attribute my absence to any lack of interest in the
Protestant cause. There never was a moment when I was more opposed to Rome and
its shabby imitation ritualism. Yours very faithfully, Henry
L. Borguer. " Slight
wear to leather on spine, very good condition. (BIB-17-11) (ID: 24344) $750.00
23. Yehezkiel, 1667?-1749.
SH. U-T. KENESET YEHEZKEL . Altona : [Aaron B. Elijah
Cohen & Ephraim B. Hayyim Hekscher],
1732 . First Edition . Hardback Hardcover, folio, 260 pages, 31
cm. In Hebrew. 1st edition.
SUBJECT(S) : Responsa --
1600-1800. Hebrew imprints -- Germany -- Altona. Title within ornamental border. Verso of title-page includes
a diagram and a poem. OCLC lists 14 copies worldwide. Back cover missing. Wear
to binding. Repair to spine. Bumped corners and edges.
Yellowing of pages. (Heb-37-7) (ID: 27629) $750.00
24. JEWISH IMMIGRATION ARCHIVE Huge
file of approximately 110 letters plus few telegrams; almost all dated 1918
(few are multi-page) . All concern Jewish immigration
of that frenetic era. All letters are the original (typed) carbon file copies
made at the time (1918) intended for retention in the offices where originated
(or circulation to affiliated parties) . Majority are
on typical yellow copy paper of the era (some of which are chipped and frayed
on blank margins) , but all typing is completely
intact. A multitude of Jewish immigrant situations and problems are dealt with.
Many are from the "Hebrew Sheltering and Immigrant Aid Society of
America" in N. Y. Others from "Joint Distribution Committee of
American Funds for Jewish War Sufferers; " the
"Jewish Colonization Association; " "Council of Jewish Women;
" also various depts. Of U. S. Government.
Letters addressed to great variety of recipients associated and concerned with
Jewish immigration matters. Represents a huge file of basic
research information for the student and scholar. Entire
collection of 110 or more. (k-amr-1-5) (ID: 22426)
$1000.00
25. YUGNT-VEKER.
ORGAN GEVIDMET DI INTERESN FUN DER ARBAYTER-YUGNT. 83
ISSUES FROM 1927-37, INCLUDING COMPLETE RUNS OF 1927 & 1928. Hardback Varsha [i. E. Warsaw]: Di Welt,
1927-37. Paper Wrappers or Cloth, 4to (tabloid format) ,
16 pages each issue. Partially Bound in Cloth. Many with photos or Socialist Realism illustrations on cover.
This Yiddish Socialist bi-monthly newspaper for Young people ran from Dec. 1,
1922 until sometime in 1948, in various formats at different times. In addition
to these issues from 1922-1937 out of Warsaw, the journal was later published
instead in Lodz and Paris, and was edited, in succession, by L. Hechtman, J. Mendelsohn, J. Gutgold,
& L. Blit. Issues present here are: 1927 [1(38) -
24(60) ]; 1928[1(61) - 24(84) ]; 1929 [ 2(86) -5(89) , 7(91) -10(94) , 12(96) ,
13(97) , 16(100) , 18(102) , 19(103) , 21(105) , 22(106) , 25(109) ]; 1930
[2(111) -14(123) , 20(129) ]; 1934 [21(232) ]; 1931[7 (141) , 16(15) , 17(151)
]; 1937[6 (299) ]. SUBJECT(S) : Jewish socialists --
Poland -- Periodicals. Jewish youth -- Poland -- Periodicals.
Jews -- Poland -- Periodicals. OCLC lists only 1
holding (NYPL) . Bound volume (1927-1928) has heavily
worn boards. All are printed on newsprint, so paper is brown, sometimes fragile,
sometimes not, generally not split at the binding but sometimes so. In any
case, all wear is at the extreme margins, with, remarkably, no text loss
whatsoever. (Y-28) (ID: 16289) $1500.00
26. YUGNT-VEKER.
ORGAN FUN YUGNT-BUND "TSUKUNFT" IN POYLN. NEW SERIES. COMPLETE RUN OF THE POST-LIBERATION INCARNATION
RUNNING NRS. 1-16; & 1949 (PARIS) NRS. 1 & 2 . Hardback Varsha [i. E. Warsaw]
& Paris: Tsukunft, 1946-49. Paper Wrappers, 4to
(tabloid format) , 24 pages each issue. Many issues
include photos or illustrations on cover. This Yiddish Socialist bi-monthly
newspaper for Young people ran from Dec. 1, 1922 until sometime in 1949, in
various formats at different times. Very interesting vision of a postwar world
of Jewish Socialism by the surviving rememnant in
Poland, clearly expressing the Bund position of Dokeit
("thereness") ,
remaining to build Jewish life within a socialist framework with other
nationalities, rather than Zionism; this even on Polish soil in the immediate
of the aftermath of the Shoah. SUBJECT(S) : Jewish socialists -- Poland -- Periodicals. Jewish youth -- Poland -- Periodicals. Jews
-- Poland -- Periodicals. OCLC lists only 1 holding (NYPL) . Newsprint, so paper is brown, but for the most part very
solid. What wear there is is at the extreme margins,
with, no text loss (Y-28A) (ID: 16286) $500.00
27. Klatzkin, Dr. Jakob & Ismar Elbogen, editors
ENCYCLOPAEDIA JUDAICA: DAS JUDENTUM IN GESCHICHTE UND GEGENWART VOL 1-10
(COMPLETE) . Berlin, Eschkol,
1928-1934 . First Edition . Leather Large 4to; ca 6000 pages; Shunami # 5. A wonderful reference set issued
serially and cut short by the rise of Hitler. No further volumes were produced
after vol. 10 in 1934, Volumes 1-9 are beautiful, Very Good+ Condition, in the
scarce original dust jackets. Volume, 10, the scarcest of the volumes, as fewer
were produced than 1-9, has been rebound, with the original backstrip
mounted on the spine and with an attractive reproduction dust jacket. A very
attractive set, far better than usually found.. Illustr: Illustrated by Many Color Plates. Vols 1 & 2 shown at left. (ID: 18841) $1750.00
28. Foah, Shmuel SEFER IM HAFTAROTH
KOL HASHANA K’FI MINHAG KOL….PARSHA V’PARSHA…BSEFER
HAZEH (COMPLETE IN 5 VOLUMES) . Pisa [Piza] : Bi-Defus
Gad Ben Shemuel Foah, 1795
. Hardback Hardcover, 12mo, 17 cm. 76, 74, 49, 64, 64 leaves. 5 volumes of the
Torah, bound in 5 attractive matching late 18th Century bindings. In Hebrew. Other Titles: Bible. Pentateuch.
Ex-library. OCLC lists only one copy worldwide (JTSA) . Some light wear to coves. Internal
hinge repair. Staining to some pages. Otherwise, Very Good condition. (Hasid-6-13) (ID: 27587) $575.00
29. Felsenthal, B[ernhard]. KRITIK
DES CHRISTLICHEN MISSIONSWESENS, IN BESONDERE DER JUDENMISSION [“Critique
of Christian missionaries.”]. Chicago, Illinois Staats-Zeitung:
1869. 1st edition. Original printed
wrappers, 8vo, 26 pages 8vo. [Singerman 2126].
Bernhard Felsenthal (1822-1908) was a prominent
American Reform rabbi. Born in Bavaria and ordained in America by David Einhorn, he served the Zion-Gemeinde
of Chicago from its formation in 1864 until his retirement in 1887. In later
years, Felsenthal became disenchanted with the course
taken by Reform, stating that it was preparing a “beautiful death”
for Judaism. See EJ, Vol. VI, cols.1221-22. Worn but good
condition. $300.00
30. [16th
Century Antisemitic Bestseller] Anton Margaritha. DER GANTZ JÜDISCH GLAUB [“The Whole
Jewish Belief”]. Frankfurt a/ Main, n.p.
1544. 2nd edition. Brown Morocco Binding, Large 8vo, 128
leaves. Woodcut vignette on title with three further woodcut
illustrations. Sporadic use of Hebrew. [Adams
M-574; Freimann, p. 148]. An apostate and anti-Jewish
writer (his name is a corruptionof the family surname
Margolis), Margaritha was born c.1490 and converted
to Catholicism in 1522. This libellous tract in which
the author ridicules Jewish religious practice and beliefs had a great
influence upon Martin Luther who quoted it often in his own writings. Margaritha accuses Jews of lacking charity and piety, of
harboring sentiments hostile to Christians, and finally, of treason. What gave Margaritha especial “credibility” was the fact
that he was no ordinary Jew but the son of Samuel Margolis, Chief Rabbi of the
City of Regensburg, the Empire’s most distinguished Jewish community. Elisheva Carlebach has dealt
extensively with this work which she describes as a “sixteenth-century
bestseller.” See Carlebach, Divided Souls
(2001) pp. 55-6, 63-64, 179-182; see also EJ, Vol. XI, cols. 958-9. A beautiful
copy, Very Good Condition, the almost 500 year old paper has held up very well.
In a very attractive 19th Century brown morocco binding. $1000.00