Dissertatio de Fragilitate Humana ex Lapsu Adami ["Dissertation on the Fragility of Man from the Fall of Adam."]

MENASSEH BEN ISRAEL.    

Printed by the Author

Amsterdam

1642

FIRST EDITION. Two parts in one volume. Latin interspersed with Hebrew.

Silva Rosa, no. 37; Coppenhagen 310; Freimann/|5. 338.

As per many theological works by Amsterdam scholar and Hebrew printer Menasseh ben Israel (1604-57), Dissertatio de Fragilitate Humana was directed primarily to a Gentile audience. Dedicated to Gerbrandt Anslo, a Christian Hebraist who was a pupil of Menasseh, this study focuses upon the issue of predestination. In opposition to the Christian doctrine of Original Sin, Menasseh was a staunch proponent of the traditional Jewish teaching that Man is born into the world pure and innocent. Menasseh's works are noted for their wide erudition and their numerous references to both the Rabbinic and Classic literature. Thus, on pp. 11-13 here we have a Catalogue of Latin and Greek authors, followed on pp. 14-16 by a Catalogue of Hebrew authors. In the same year of 1642, a Spanish-language edition of this work appeared: “De la Fragilidad Humana.” See C. Roth, A Life of Menasseh ben Israel (1945) p. 96; J.H. Coppenhagen, Menasseh ben Israel: A Bibliography (1990) p. 67, no. 310; JE Vol VIII p 284; EJ Vol. XI, col. 855. Rare. WordCat records only two copies worldwide.