Minchah Bilulah [homilies to the Pentateuch]

RAPA, ABRAHAM MENACHEM BEN JACOB HAKOHEN OF PORTO.

Francesco delle Donne

Verona

1594

FIRST EDITION. Title with woodcut device within typographical border, initial word of each of the Five Books within elaborate historiated frame, five sectional tail-pieces. Rapaport Family escutcheon on f.207r.

Vinograd, Verona 3; Adams A-27

Whilst a young man, the author was apprenticed as a proof-reader at the House of Bragadin in Venice. There he witnessed the violent Burning of the Talmud pursuant to the Papal Bull of 1553. On f.203r of the present work, Rapaport records the tragic event and notes his decision to commemorate the anniversary of the Auto-da-Fe as a personal fast-day for the rest of his life. See A. Yaari, Sereiphath Hatalmud B’Italia in: Mechkarei Sepher (1958) pp. 198-233 Final blank page with manuscript notation by Abraham Eger, attesting the book to have belonged to his father, Akiva Eger of Posen