(Maharsha’ch). Kos HaYeshu’oth [Talmudic novellae].

KOHEN, SHMUEL

Johannes Kellner

Frankfurt a/Main

1711

First Edition. Title within architectural arch. A fine wide-margined copy.

Vinograd, Frankfurt a/M 268.

R. Shmuel Schotten Kohen (1644-1719) was the head of the Yeshiva in Frankfurt and served as rabbi of the Landgraviate of Hesse Darmstadt. He is particularly known for his responsa, Shu”t Maharshach. In the introduction, the author describes in great detail how copies of this work were saved during from the printing press during the great fire in Frankfurt in 1711. (The chief rabbi of Frankfurt, R. Naphtali Katz was arrested for allegedly propagating the fire through mystical incantations). Although the title page states that this work is only the first installment of the Maharshach’s novellae, covering much of Seder Nezikin, his other notes were indeed never published.