Fragment of anonymous commentary to the Pentateuch, Genesis 43:34 (Miketz) - Exodus 14:10 (Beshalach).

(BIBLE).

France?

(Early 19th Century)

Hebrew. Petite cursive Aschkenazic script. Sepia ink on coarse paper. Side margins filled with comments in violet ink in another (presumably later) hand.

Primarily a super-commentary to Rashi in which the anonymous author displays a wide acquaintance with numerous sources. He also quotes from R. David Pardo's Maskil LeDavid and R. Shabthai Bass's Siphthei Chachamim - only to differ with their findings. Since the Long Commentary of the "Tur" by R. Jacob ben Asher, from which our Author quotes abundantly, did not appear in print until 1806 (in Zolkiew), this would be the earliest to which this manuscript can be dated. From the fact that the author utilizes the French word "rapport" for report, whereas in German (and Yiddish) the word would be "Bericht," one assumes the language of the author's surroundings to be—French. (See Commentary to Genesis 46:31, s.v. vayomer [Yoseph] el echav: "…Hoda'ah ha-nikra 'rapport' le-Pharaoh…"). There are scattered clues as to the author's identity: In the comment to Exodus 13:6 (s.v. shiv'ath yamim tochal matzoth u-va-yom ha-shevi'i chag la-Hashem) he mentions questions raised by his young son Judah and young stepson Naphtali. Further details concerning this manuscript available upon request.