Sepher Shimush

EMDEN, JACOB.

at the Author’s Press

Amsterdam (i.e. Altona

c.1758-62

FIRST EDITION. Six woodcuts on final leaves

Vinograd, Altona 62; Raphael, Aresheth III, p. 257 no. 13 (illustrated)

NOTORIOUSLY RARE TEXT. A CLASSIC OF EMDEN’S FAMOUSLY UNIQUE VITRIOLE. Entitled "Shimush" to serve as a guide, "a weapon for every Jew... to utilize in order to respond to the followers of Sabbatianism" (title-page). The title of the book is an acronym of the first letters of its’ three parts: SHot LeSus" ("a whip for a horse,") Metheg LeChamor ("a bit for a donkey,") USHevet LeKesilim ("a rod for morons.") The final two leaves of this highly controversial text display six extraordinary woodcut illustrations ridiculing the heretical Frankist Movement, the ecclesiastical authorities who attempted to assist them, and the subsequent Heavenly punishments that befell them (drowning, epilepsy) – which in turn, resulted in the loss of faith by two clerics and their desire to convert to Judaism. This strident work was instantaneously banned upon publication and almost all copies were incinerated by order of the Council of Four Lands. See the lengthy article by G. Scholem in EJ Vol. VII cols. 55-72; Carmilly-Weinberger, Censorship and Freedom pp. 86-92