Masechta Nedarim [Vows]. With commentary by Rashi.

(TALMUD, BABYLONIAN).

(Isaac Prostitz)

Cracow

(1618)

Complete, as issued, without title page.

Vinograd, Cracow 348 (cites collation of ff. 75 - erroneous); Rabinovicz, pp. 84-5; JNUL copy incomplete

The third printing of the Talmud in Cracow, commenced in 1616 and completed in 1620. Printed for the use of students in the various houses of learning “in order that they should be able to acquire [the books] easily and without great expence.” The edition was small, printed on low grade paper with type of comparable quality. Its most distinguishing feature, is that it is printed with the commentary of Rashi alone without the Tosaphoth to benefit the novice young Talmudist. Rabinovicz notes that none of the Tractates from this Talmud edition was printed with a title page and the arrangement of the text of does not follow the standard Venetian foliation. Printed at a time of great hardship for Polish Jewry, this edition is a testament to an overriding desire for scholarly pursuit, despite grinding poverty and persecution. See: M. Heller, Printing the Talmud (1992) pp. 381-396 and R.N.N. Rabinovicz, Ma’amar al Hadpasat Hatalmud (1952) pp. 84-5.