MIDRASH HAMECHILTA

Daniel Bomberg

Venice

1545-1546

[Halachic Midrash to to the Book of Exodus]. Anonymous (Attributed to Rabbi Ishmael). Second edition. ff. 37 (1). [Vinograd, Venice 244; Haberman, Bomberg 180; Adams M-975]. * TUVIA BEN ELIEZER. Pesikta Zutarata - Midrash Lekach Tov [midrash]. FIRST EDITION. ff. 93 (1). [Vinograd, Venice, 269; Haberman, Bomberg 187; Adams T- 766].*SIFRA [Halachic Midrash to the Book of Leviticus]. Anonymous (Attributed to Rabbi Judah). Second edition. ff.59 (1). Title laid down. [Vinograd, Venice, 251; Haberman, Bomberg 178; Adams S-1089]. *SIFRI-Torath Kohanim [Halachic Midrash to the Books of Numbers and Deuteronomy]. Anonymous (Attributed to Rabbi Shimon). FIRST EDITION. ff. 63 (1). [Vinograd, Venice 285; Habermann, Bomberg 179; Adams S-1090]

The collections of Halachic Midrashim emanated from the third and fourth generations of Tannaim. The methodology of these collections, known as motivated Halachah gives the rules together with their basis, the interpretation of the Biblical verse, and are arranged as a commentary to the Books of the Pentateuch. R. Ishmael’s Mechilta was the first collection of such motivated Halachoth. R. Judah and R. Shimons’ collections were stimulated by their great mentor, R. Akiva. The Halachic Midrashim which we posses, emanated from later anonymous hands but undoubtedly contain the Tannaic collections as their nucleus. The Midrash Lekach Tov, dates towards the end of the eleventh Century and is a Midrash to the Pentateuch and some of the Scrolls. It draws on both Aggadic and Halachic sources, giving both interpretations. Only a part of the Lekach Tov was preserved, the final three Books of the Pentateuch and a short midrash on the Book of Ruth. See: M. Waxman, Vol. I pp. 66-69 & 149-150.