Pirkei Avoth. With commentary Lechem Shamayim by Jacob Emden and super-commentary by Lewin.

LEWIN, TZVI HIRSCH OF BERLIN.

Daniel Friedländer

Berlin

1834

FIRST EDITION. Engraved Frontispiece Portrait of Lewin on verso of title.

Vinograd, Berlin 580; Rubens 1773.

Lewin (b.1721), former Rabbi of London’s Great and Hambro synagogues (where he was known as Hart Lyon), rose in rabbinic eminence to occupy the position of Chief Rabbi of Berlin and provinces (“Oberlandisrabbiner”) from 1773 until his death in 1800. The present work is a surprisingly critical commentary by Lewin to his eminent uncle Jacob Emden’s explication on the Ethics of the Fathers. The engraved frontispiece was executed specifically for this volume appearing as it does, on the verso of the title-page. Regarding the unlikely friendship between Lewin and another luminary of Berlin, Moses Mendelssohn, see: A. Altmann, Moses Mendelssohn: A Biographical Study (1973) pp.379-81. Lewin’s son was Solomon Hirschel, Chief Rabbi of London.