Kaplan, Jacob ben Shlomo Hakohen and Lewisohn, Solomon. Eretz Kedumim...Geliloth Eretz Israel [geography of Land of Israel]

(ISRAEL, LAND OF)

Menachem Man ben Baruch [Romm] and Simcha Zimel ben Menachem Nachum

Vilna

1839

Second Edition. Two parts in one volume; two titles. Additional title in German. Letter of Tsarist censor W. Tugenhold in German. At conclusion Vol. I, printed blue wrapper. With colored lithograph foldout map of Holy Land divided into Twelve Tribes of Israel. Scattered learned marginalia

Vinograd, Vilna 431 (Part Two only); Laor 394; Vinograd, Vilna Gaon 238

This work deals with the various locales of the Holy Land in alphabetical order, drawing on Biblical and Talmudic, as well as non-Jewish sources. The book bears a letter of endorsement from Mordechai Aaron Ginzburg, a religious maskil (enlightened Jew). According to Ginzburg, Kaplan merely revised the work of Lewisohn (Vienna, 1819; see Vinograd, Vienna 500), adding entries Lewisohn neglected. On prefatory pages 31-38, Kaplan reproduces the commentary of the Vilna Gaon ("Shenoth Eliyahu") to the Mishnah, Shevi'ith 9:2, adding German translation of the Mishnah and notes to the Gaon's commentary. Kaplan writes that the Gaon's commentary was written by his students, and even their words were tampered with. Furthermore, he accuses Jost of making liberal use of the Gaon's commentary in his German translation of the Mishnah (1832-1834), without properly crediting his source (p. 37)