Pirkei Avoth [Ethics of the Fathers]. With commentary Lechem Yehudah by Judah ben Samuel Lerma

(MISHNAH)

Cornelio Adel-Kind for Tobias Foa

Sabbionetta

1554

Second Edition. Title surrounded by intricate floral motif. Adolph Lewisohn book-label

Vinograd, Sabbionetta 21; Habermann, HaMadpiss Cornelio Adel-Kind, pl. 16 (facs. of title)

Rare Commentary to Mishnah Tractate Avoth. Judah Lerma's family originated in Spain. His commentary, philosophical in nature, draws on the classic works of the Spanish Jewish philosophers: Maimonides, Albo, Arama and Abrabanel. His Introduction is a litany of woe concerning the burning of the Talmud in Italy. Originally, Lerma printed his commentary in Venice in 1553. However by Papal decree, one Sabbath in the month of Mar-Cheshvan, that same year, all the copies of the Talmud, including Eyn Ya'akov, Alfas, and Mishnah, were publicly burned in Venice - and with them all 1500 copies of Lerma's book. Undaunted, Lerma set out to reconstruct his book from memory. Eventually the Author was able to obtain from a Gentile a single copy of Lechem Yehudah plucked from the pyre. Upon comparision, Lerma regarded his second version superior to the first