(AMERICAN JUDAICA).

J.F. Trow

New York

1837

Roy, W. L. A Complete Hebrew and English Critical and Pronouncing Dictionary… Containing all the Words in the Holy Bible… Together with Their Derivation Literal and Etymological Meaning… and Illustrated by Numerous Citations from the Targums, Talmud and Cognate Dialects.

Rosenbach 417 (locating only 2 copies).

THE FIRST HEBREW-ENGLISH DICTIONARY PUBLISHED IN AMERICA. Includes THE FIRST RABBINIC APPROBATION PUBLISHED IN AMERICA. Recommendations include one from the “Rabbi of the City of Jerusalem,” Enoch Zundel: “Mr. William L. Roy is one of the most critical Hebrew scholars I have met since I left the Holy Land - Gesenius not excepted. The Specimen of his Hebrew Dictionary in manuscript I have carefully examined; and, although I differ with the author in opinion as to Masheach, yet, in justice to him, I cannot but say, it is the best specimen of the kind I have seen. It evidently manifests a very extensive knowledge of the Hebrew language. I have no doubt the Lexicon will be a great acquisition to American literature.” In 1833, Jerusalem’s Rabbi Enoch Zundel traveled to America carrying a letter from the Elders of the City addressed to Mordecai Manuel Noah beseeching aid for his impoverished brethren living in the Holy Land. It was the author of this dictionary William Roy, who translated the letter from Hebrew into English and thus, Roy and Zundel became acquainted. See A. J. Karp, From the Ends of the Earth: Judaic Treasure from the Library of Congress (1991) pp. 295-96 (illustrated).