Der Jude, eine Wochenschrift [“The Jew, a Weekly.”] Published by Gottfried Selig

(GERMANY).

Christian Friedrich Rumpf

Leipzig

1768-1772

German interspersed with Hebrew. Eight of nine volumes (lacking vol. I). Device on title. Headpieces, initials, tailpieces. Graphics of Jewish ceremonial art (e.g. Vol. II, between pp. 52-53)

Freimann, p. 16

The editor of Der Jude, Gottfried Selig (1722-95), was a convert to Christianity who sought reconciliation between Christians and Jews. To which end, this periodical appeared containing much information about Jewish rites and customs. The assumption being, equipped with deeper insight into Jewish life, a greater sense of understanding would arise within society as a whole. Nonetheless, oftentimes the text contains historical errors amidst a somewhat tendentious presentation. * Final volume of this set bound with: Friedrich Albert Augusti. Frommer Proselyten Trost und Aufmunterung zur Glauben-Bestaendigkeit ["Pious Proselytes": biographies of Jewish converts to Christianity]. pp.144. [Cf. Freimann, pp. 416, 421]. Erfurt, 1755. F.A. August (Joshua ben Abraham Hirschel) was a rabbi who converted to Christianity. See E. Carlebach, Divided Souls: Converts from Judaism in Germany (2001) p. 291. Carlebach was evidently unaware of the present text, for she writes: "According to Augusti's son, this work was prepared for publication but never actually published" (Carlebach, p. 267 n. 133)