Auction 72
Lot 128:
Masechet Berachot of the Bavli Talmud, "with an Ashkenazic translation and with Rashi’s commentary and Tosfot…" The translation includes a lengthy German introduction to the Talmud and the Rambam’s foreword to Seder Zera’im and Mevo HaTalmud by Rabbeinu Shmuel Hanaggid translated into German. The Masechet itself contains Hebrew and German on facing pages. All this by Ephraim Menashe Feiner; thus this Masechet is known as the Feiner Talmud.
This is the only volume of the tractates of the Shas that was published – single edition, Berlin 1842. Two title pages with red lettering, Hebrew and German, [8], 16 pp. 24 leaves., 64, 87 leaves.
A conspiracy that was exposed!
This edition of the Shas was a continued attempt by the Maskilim to change and alter the way Jewish texts were studied, starting with Mendelssohn’s commentary on the Tanach and continuing with this edition, Dr. Feiner’s attempt to reveal aspects of the Talmud without recourse to halacha. He ensnared many Gedolei Yisrael by going to distant places where he was unknown, spreading his message and misinforming them, resulting in some giving him approbations. Even the leader of those fighting the Haskala, the Chatam Sofer, wrote him an approbation, until it became known what the man’s true intentions were, and then the Chatam Sofer published a public letter urging Dr. Feiner to cease publishing the erroneous Talmud. The letter resulted in a new front against the translation, and the publication of this Shas ceased. The only volume printed is this one, Masechet Berachot, dedicated to Czar Nicholas the First of Russia, who ordered 100 copies. The list of subscribers appearing at the beginning of the book included princes, nobles, and leading European figures.
Large volume: 44 cm. New binding. Bright paper. Good overall condition.
The author and publisher Dr. Ephraim Moses Feiner, a Jewish Maskil in the 19th century, wrote widely on archaeology, Talmudic criticism, and the rights of the Jews in Europe. Before he became non-religious, he was a disciple of Rabbi Yaakov of Lisa.
Many foreign comments inside the volume and on the front flyleaf.
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