Masecheth Rosh Ha-Shanah min Talmud Bavli, Ha-Yashan Ve-Ha -Katzar.

(AMERICAN JUDAICA).

A. H. Rosenberg

New York

1895

Edited by Michael Rodkinson. With “sample sheets” of Tractates Shabbath and Kidushin.

Singerman 4929; This edition not in Goldman, although cf. his number 574 (later variant published in Philadelphia)

THE FIRST PUBLISHED SAMPLE TRANSLATIONS OF TALMUDIC TRACTATES IN ENGLISH. This sample of Rodkinson’ s abridged version evidently pre-dates the Philadelphia edition which contained a full translation and not just two leaves with the heading “Sample Sheets.” Rodkinson sent these samples to critics and solicited their comments, especially on his methodology of abridging the Talmud as outlined in his lengthy introduction. The addendum by the printer A. H. Rosenberg states that a sample of Tractate Kiddushin is attached for the readers’ perusal. Singerman's record (number 4929) is unclear, listing a New York copy without a date “[circa 1895]. various pagings.” This earlier sample edition is also unknown to Mintz, ‘The Talmud in Translation” in: Printing the Talmud, From Bomberg to Schottenstein, Yeshiva University Museum, 2005, pp. 121-41, who states “The first attempt to translate the Talmud into English was undertaken by Rodkinson in 1896.” Rodkinson was a Russian born polemicist and according to his detractors, a first class scoundrel, forger and extortionist. His original name was Frumkin which he changed to Rodkinson (son of Rodka-his mother), in order to evade arrest for fraudulent stock speculation.