Shailoth Uteshuvoth [responsa]

RARE ABORTED FIRST PRINTING OF THE RESPONSA OF ASHER BEN YECHIEL (RO”SH). Both Vinograd and Mehlman note a fragment of Asher ben Yechiel’s responsa collection printed in 1517 simultaniously with the first complete edition. There are typographical variances with the complete edition; specifically Mehlman notes the page headers, chapter headings and the words “she’alah,” “she’eloth” and “teshuvah” which here appear in a smaller, Rabbinic typeface. The only other recorded copy is that of Dr. Israel Mehlman. That copy similarly lacks f.6. It is possible this leaf was never printed. The consensus of scholarship suggests that this was indeed the first printing of the 1517 complete edition but aborted midway. SeeY. Meisels, Nesiphuth Le’dephus Ha’ivri Be’kushta U’be’riva di Trento, Alei Sepher, I (Sivan 1975), p. 97, no. 5 citing Y. Mehlman; Ha’dephus Ha’ivri Be’kushta Me’eth avraham Ya’ari, Kiryath Sepher, Vol. 43 (1967-8) p. 578, no. 56. Following the Responsa of Solomon ben Abraham ibn Adreth “the Rashb”a,” (Rome 1469; 2nd ed. Const. 1516) the responsa of Asher ben Yechiel is only the second responsa work published. The responsa are divided into one hundred and eight groups called Kelalim, with reponsa in each dealing with one subject. The responsa reflect the social and spiritual condition of Jewish life in Central and Southern Spain. For a discussion of these conditions as apparent from this work, see M. Waxman, Vol. II pp.167-9