Mor U’ketziah [novellae to R. Joseph Karo’s Orach Chaim]. Two parts bound in one volume.

EMDEN, JACOB.

By the Author

Altona

1761-68

FIRST EDITION. THE JACOB EMDEN COPY, WITH HIS EXTENSIVE AUTOGRAPH MARGINAL NOTES AND CORRECTIONS (see Part II, ff. 26a-b and 27a-b). Diagram of the Land of Israel (Part II, f. 97v)

Vinograd, Altona 68; Mehlman 805; Raphael no. 5-i (illustrated).

This copy belonged to the bibliophile Rabbi Menachem Mendel (Emanuel) Eckstein of Cleveland (1885-1946). With his signature, stamp and inscriptions (on the title of Part I and the blank leaf before Part II) stating that it contains R. Jacob Emden’s autograph notes. He also states that he owns another work with Emden’s signature. Most of Emden’s lengthier manuscript notes in this copy, plus a facsimile of two of the four pages were reproduced by E. Grossman as an addendum to the reprint of this work (New York, 1953). However the smaller corrections found in the manuscript here were not included. Grossman also added a note by Rabbi Hillel Lichtenstein of Krasna analyzing Emden’s novel approach in these notes concerning desecrating the Sabbath for the benefit of a nursing mother via the services of a gentile. In the introduction to the Mor U’ketziah, the author alludes to many personal details of his life and on f. 102 relates how a fire broke out in his home and destroyed portions of the original manuscript of the present work.