Auction 62
Lot 10:
Thick volume containing: "Chamisha Chumshei Torah and Nevi’im Rishonim and Acharonim and Ketuvim". High quality, precise printing on healthy paper "at the house of Menashe Ben Yisrael and proofread lovingly by him" – Amsterdam, 1635. On the title pages of sections II-IV: 1631. The Gregorian year was corrected by hand to 1636 whereas on the colophon: 1635. (See below about the proofreader Rabbi Menashe ben Yisrael of Amsterdam, who founded the first printery of the town).
[I]. Torah and Chamesh Megillot. [1], 128, [2]- table of Haftarot. 129-144 originally. In this copy, the first two title pages, in Hebrew and a foreign language, are missing.
[II]. Nevi’im Rishonim. Separate title page. [145]-254 leaves.
[III]. Nevi’im Acharonim. Separate title page. [255]-369 leaves.
[IV]. Ketuvim. 124 leaves.
In the National Library, the book appears in the Rare Book Collection. An impressive copy with wide margins. Original, worn leather binding, with impressed stylish decorations. The first two leaves are restored. Except for this, minor stains and some signs of use. Very good condition for such a rare book.
Appearing on the leaves of section I, handwritten comments – marking where to stop for Rishon, Sheni, etc. of Kri’at HaTorah. In addition, appearing on the leaves of Nevi’im are markings of the Haftarot according to Parshiyot HaShavu’a and markings in German-Yiddish dividing the verses according to the customs of the varied communities.
On section II, a successive pagination in Yiddish: "דע ספר חמש גיעהרט ליפמן בן כמר ליב המכונה ארי’ סגל ז"ל מק"ק העגינה?".
Chacham Menashe Ben Yisrael (1604-1658) a descendant of a family of conversos that rebecame Jews and immigrated from Portugal to Amsterdam, Holland. Was a Rav, darshan, founder of the first Hebrew printery in Amsterdam and a politician who is remembered mainly for his activity for the converso of Spain and Portugal.
In addition to his Torah greatness, he was proficient in science and fluent in many languages, which he used to present Judaism in a positive light. Thus, he was appreciated by many clergymen and scientists. Authored the books Nishmat Chaim, Mikveh Yisrael and several books in Spanish, one of them titled The Conciliator, a book whose purpose was to encourage the conversos and which was smuggled into Portugal to be read by its conversos.
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