Derusch Na’eh [talmudic novellea and discourse]

TZVI HIRSCH BEN JACOB OF OSTROG

Isaac ben Judah Judels Katz

Wilhelmsdorf

(1672)

FIRST EDITION. Title within typographical border

Vinograd, Wilhelmsdorf 31; Rosenfeld no. 39; NO COPY IN THE JNUL

This exceedingly rare Talmudic discourse on the issue of the “Benei Dan” (discussed in Tractate Bava Bathrah, folio 110), was written by a young Yeshivah student, describing himself as “yanik ve’chakim”- (young and diligent) and resident in Giesengum on the river Tauber. In the discourse, the author explores the issues arising from the incident of “Pesel Michah” regarding idolatry. He also discusses the question whether Jews had the halachic status of a Noahide or post-Sinaitic Jew prior to the Revelation at Sinai Some uncertainty has existed regarding the date of publication of this work. The consensus of bibliographers suggest 1680 as the year of printing, although Steinschneider notes a span of 1670-1730 and Rosenfeld ascribes the date as c.1684. Fortunately this very copy settles centuries of bibliographic confusion: A manuscript notation on f. (2) states: “I received this as a gift from the author on Friday, 2nd Elul