Olath Yitzchak [Jewish Laws in the interrogatory ‘heichi timtza’ style].
Auction 94 |
Thursday, June 17th,
2021 at 11:00am
Rare & Excellent Hebrew Printed Books: From the Library of Arthur A. Marx
Lot 198
ISAAC BEN JOSHUA.
Olath Yitzchak [Jewish Laws in the interrogatory ‘heichi timtza’ style].
Prague: n.p. 1606
Est: $1,200 - $1,800
An unusual, novel collection of 843 riddles and problems covering all facets of Jewish law. The style of riddle is often cryptic and requires lateral thinking. Riddle no. 732, based on Ba’al Hatrumoth, asks: “If one has witnesses as to his actions, he loses - without witnesses, he wins.” Riddle no. 832, based on Reishith Chochmah, asks: “When should a scholar not be “tocho ke’baro” - his inside should not be as his outer appearance (two-faced).”
Arranged in order of Talmudic Tractates and later Codifiers, with an index of some one hundred subjects. Despite being printed over 400 years ago, the riddles are as challenging as ever.