Nechemiah Mizrachi. (Ed). Derech HaYashar LehaYeladim [dictionary, with ethics for children, in poetic verse]. With Judeo-Persian (Parsi) translation.

(BUKHARIA).

I. Bak

Jerusalem

1862

FIRST EDITION. Woodcut of Jerusalem’s Temple Mount on title-page.

Halevy 63.

This Judeo-Persian children’s book represents the first printed text for the Bukharian Jews, published in Jerusalem at the dawn of their Aliyah to the Land of Israel. It is exceptionally rare, no copy in JNUL nor JTSA. Halevy records it based on a single copy found in the Library of Machon Ben Zvi, Jerusalem. Apparently, upon publication, copies were sent to Dagistan and Persia and no copies remained in Israel or the West. Unknown to Yaari who lists the first Jewish book in Parsi as printed more than two decades later, in 1883. See Yaari, Siphrei Yehudei Bukhara, in: Kiryat Sepher Vol. XVIII pp. 378-93.