Masecheth Avoth BeTargum Leshon Paras [Ethics of the Fathers with Judeo-Persian translation]

(PERSIA)

J.N. Levy and Partners

Jerusalem

1902

Verso of tile-page woodcut engraving of the Cave of Machpelah. Hebrew fully vocalized followed by unvocalized Judeo-Persian translation, both in square characters. Partially uncut. copy.

Friedberg, M-4135

This Judeo-Persian translation of the Mishnaic Tractate Avoth was brought out by three brothers, "Israel, Nathanel and Benjamin Shauloff…men of Bukhara and residents of Jerusalem" (title-page). Friedberg credits Shimon Haham with the actual translation to Judeo-Persian. In the mid-19th century Bukharan Jews began to settle in Eretz Israel. In terms of their customs and unique pronunciation of Hebrew, the Bukharan Jews resemble their co-religionists from Persia. They also share the Jewish vernacular that has come to be known as Judeo-Persian.