Brant Shpigel [ethics]. Translated into Yiddish by Pinchas Heilpron

ALTSCHUL, MOSES CHANOCH.

(Johannes Wust)

Frankfurt a/Main

1706

Sixth edition. Text in Yiddish only, printed in Wayber-taytsch type. Title within type-ornament borders. The Mayer Sulzberger copy

Vinograd, Frankfurt a/Main 201 (noting the JNUL copy to be incomplete); cf. Mehlman 1389 (illustrated)

The first original comprehensive book of ethics in Yiddish. It was first printed in Basle in 1602 and was based on Altschul’s Hebrew tract Ma’areh Hasorefeth (1577). “Brant Shpigel was part of the cycle of Yiddish didactic works appearing in the late 16th and early 17th century addressed primarily to women who could not read Hebrew. Altschul’s volume emphasized women’s duties and ideal moral behavior.” EJ, II col. 783. The work became particularly popular among German Jews, instructing them how to train children, treat servants, etc. All editions are uncommon