Tract. Rosh Hashana of the New Edition of the Babylonian Talmud.
Auction 91 |
Thursday, November 12th,
2020 at 1:00pm
Fine Judaica: Printed Books, Manuscripts, Graphic & Ceremonial Arts Featuring an Extensive Collection of Rabbinic Autograph Letters.
Lot 137
(AMERICAN-JUDAICA).
Tract. Rosh Hashana of the New Edition of the Babylonian Talmud.
Philadelphia: Charles Sessler 1895
Est: $1,000 - $1,500
<<THE FIRST PUBLISHED TRANSLATION OF THE TALMUD INTO ENGLISH.>>
See Yeshiva University Museum Catalogue, Printing the Talmud, From Bomberg to Schottenstein (2005) ‘The Talmud in Translation’ pp. 121-41: “The first attempt to translate the Talmud into English was undertaken by Rodkinson in 1896.”
This sample of Rodkinson’s English translation of the Talmud predates the full edition. Rodkinson sent these samples to critics to solicit their comments, especially on his methodology of abridging the Talmud as outlined in the lengthy introduction here.
Grandson of R. Aaron of Staroselye (one of the closest students of the Alter Rebbe), Michael Rodkinson (Frumkin) grew up in a Chabad home in Russia before he moved to Germany and then America, following a far more Maskillic path and lifestyle. As a polemicist, Rodkinson attracted many detractors. He changed his family name in order to avoid arrest for financial extortion.