Ma’adnei Melech V’Lechem Chamudoth [novellae to the Ro”sh, Rabbenu Asher ben Yechiel]

HELLER, YOM TOV LIPMANN

Moses ben Bezalel Katz

Prague

1628

First Edition. Title letters historiated

Vinograd, Prague 325

The dual purpose of this work was to provide legal decisions of law of relevance to all, as well as intricate pilpulistic arguments for the pleasure of the scholar -------------- FOR LATER USE (FOR FIRST EDITION Rare First Edition of Yom Tov Lipmann Heller’s Ma’adanei Melech R. Yom Tov Lipmann Heller (1579-1654) was born in Wallerstein, Bavaria. The most profound influences on his intellectual life were his paternal grandfather R. Moses Wallerstein and R. Judah Löw (Mahara”l) of Prague. In his introduction, the author explains his method of compiling works. First, he penned “Tzurath ha-Bayith” to elucidate the form of the future Temple as laid out in the prophecy of Ezekiel. Next he labored on his commentary to the Mishnah, “Tosaphoth Yom Tov.” And last, he conceived the present commentary to the legal decisions of Rabbenu Asher, “Ma’adanei Melech.” All this was done in conformity with the advice given by the Midrash to first study Bible, followed by Mishnah, and finally Talmud. The author entitled his commentary “Ma’adanei Melech” based on Jacob’s blessing to the tribe of Asher, “As for Asher, his bread shall be fat, and he shall yield royal dainties” (Genesis 49:20). The title was deemed appropriate because Rabbenu Asher provides both the “bread of Torah” and the “delicacies of the king.” However, the author’s detractors deviously misconstrued the meaning of the title as an insult to the reigning monarch and a portent of revolution. Indeed Heller was imprisoned shortly thereafter, whereupon he judiciously altered the title to the more innocuous “Maadanei Yom Tov.” The introduction to Nezikin (published in the Vilna edition of the Talmud, Tractate Bava Kama), Part IV of Ma’adanei Yom Tov, differs substantially from the introduction to Tractate Berachoth, taken from the later 1628 edition (Part I of Ma’adanei Yom Tov). According to EJ, parts II and III of Ma’adanei Yom Tov, on the orders of Mo’ed and Nashim, remain in manuscript. See EJ, Vol. VIII, cols. 311-314