Petach Einayim [addenda to Shevirath Luchoth Ha’even]

EMDEN, JACOB

By the Author

(Altona

1757)

FIRST EDITION. Printed without a title page

Vinograd, Altona 61; Mehlman 1712; Raphael, Areshet vol. III, p. 261

Excessively rare response to Ezekiel Landau's (the Noda BeYehudah) criticisms of Jacob Emden’s scathing Akitzath Akrav. Anxious not to have the Jewish communites splintered by the dispute between Emden and Jonathan Eybescheutz, the Noda BeYehudah pronounced a ban on all books published by either participant in the protracted polemic. Thereafter, Eybeschuetz and his supporters aided the local authorites in searching Emden’s home for copies of this work and many copies were incinerated, some by the very people to whom they had been entrusted, Very few copies survived. See M. Carmilly-Weinberger, Censorship and Freedom of Expression in Jewish History (1977) pp. 88-9. For an account of the search, see Jacob Emden, Megillath Sepher, pp.191-202