Tephilloth. Containing the Forms of Prayers Which are Publicly Read in the Synagogues, and Used in All Families.

(LITURGY).

W. Tooke

London

1770

FIRST EDITION. Translated by B. Meyers and A. Alexander. Hebrew and English on facing pages. Two title-pages. 10-page list of subscribers and with 2 leaves at end (translators’ preface in English) missing in many copies. Formerly in the collection of the Valmadonna Trust.

Vinograd, London 60; Roth, London 16.

THE FIRST HEBREW-ENGLISH PRAYER BOOK PRINTED IN ENGLAND. In the preface, the co-translators Meyers and Alexander belittle the earlier attempt at an English translation of the Hebrew liturgy: "It is true, such a thing has been attempted under the title of Liturgia Judaica, but the manner in which it was effected plainly demonstrates, that Gamaliel Ben Pedahzur, either knew nothing of the Hebrew tongue, or that his intention was to throw a ridicule upon the whole Jewish community." The reference is to the Prayer Book published in 1738 by the apostate Abraham Mears under the pseudonym "Gamaliel Ben Pedahzur." See C. Roth, Gamaliel Ben Pedahzur and his Prayer Book, in: JHSE, Miscellanies II (1935) pp. 1-8. Also see Lot 91.