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 woodcut 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. The author was the progenitor of the famous priestly, Rabbincal Rapaport dynasty. The coat of arms depicts a pair of priestly hands raised in blessing and a black raven which refers to the German word "rappe" - raven, seemingly, the German family name. The author refers to himself at the end of his introduction as "benei ha-orvim" - of the children of the ravens.