Dyhernfurth: Talmud Editions

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chapter 16 Dyhernfurth: Talmud Editions

Two editions of the Talmud were printed in Dyhernfurth, the first from 1800 through 1804 and the second from 1816 through 1824. As noted in Chapter 15, “Dyhernfurth: Early Tractates,” the Dyhernfurth press was operated by the May family. Jehiel Michael May, the founder of this family press, died on 14 Tevet, 5555 (January 5, 1795) in Breslau.1 Management of the press, however, had been transferred to Zalman of Breslau in about 1783 because May was occu- pied with his book business in Breslau. After his death, the press first was run by his widow Rachel and afterward by his sons Michael Simon, Aron, and Joseph, and later by Joseph alone. These various May family members published a sig- nificant number of Hebrew books. The Thesaurus of the Hebrew Book attributes 68 titles to Jehiel Michael, 65 to Rachel, and 130 to Joseph May. However, these numbers include individual enumerations of tractates printed as part of the two Talmud editions. In addition, a small number of titles were printed by Jehiel Michael’s sons elsewhere. Four titles are also attributed to Zalman of Breslau, although that number appears to be understat- ed.2 Also, a small number of titles are attributed to David ben Aryeh Leib Sklower, Joseph May’s son-in-law, whose figure 16.1 name appears on the second Talmud as the director of the press. The books published at this time were numerous and 1801, saw the publication of Eruvin, Hagigah, Mo’ed Katan, varied and included halakhic titles; ethical works; liturgi- Yoma, Sukkah, Ta’anit, Shekalim, Megillah, and Avodah cal books; popular works, many of these in or with Yiddish Zarah. In 1802, tractates Bava Batra, Sanhedrin, Makkot, translation; and calendars. Examples of these titles include Shevu’ot, Horayot, Eduyyot, Hullin, Bekhorot, Arakhin, R. Jedaiah ha-Penini Bedersi’s Behinat ha-Olam and Temurah, Niddah, Seder Tohorot, and Seder Zera’im were Kuntres shel Minhag Posen; R. Isaac ben Eliakim of Posen’s published. In 1803, the press published the tractates Lev Tov; R. Elijah ben Abraham Solomon ha-Kohen’s Shevet Berakhot, Ketubbot, Gittin, Nedarim, Nazir, Sotah, Keritot, Mussar (Yiddish and Hebrew editions); Ze’ena u-Re’ena and Me’ilah. Finally, in 1804, the Talmud was completed (1796); Midrash Shemu’el; R. Isaac Aboab’s Menorat ha- with tractates Yevamot and Kiddushin. Me’or; R. Moses ben Hayyim Alshekh’s Torat Moshe (1798); Three forms of a similar pressmark appear on the and, among the titles printed in 1799, R. Solomon Zalman’s title pages of the tractates in the two editions of the Kohelet Shelomo, Shevet Mussar, Shulhan Arukh O. H., and Dyhernfurth Talmud. The seal of the city of Dyhernfurth, Josippon with She’arit Yisrael, the latter with several illus- used by Jehiel Michael May as his printer’s mark, initially trations appearing repeatedly within the text. continued to be used by May’s widow and his sons; how- The Dyhernfurth Talmud was not printed in the order ever, they eventually substituted their own pressmark, of the tractates. Rather, printing began in 1800 with seven consisting of a memorial monument with, at the apex, a tractates, Shabbat, Pesahim, Betzah, Rosh Ha-Shanah, Bava crowned eagle holding a scepter. In the center of the mon- Kamma, Bava Metzia, and Zevahim. The following year, ument are the letters GM (Gebrüder May). At the bottom, in the 1800–1804 Talmud, is the phrase “the brothers May, 1 Friedberg, Hebrew Typography … Deyhernfurt, 70. royal privilege, book printers.” Yaari informs that the eagle 2 Vinograd, Thesaurus of the Hebrew Book, vol. 1, 450, 454. represents the monarchy and that this emblem can be

Figure 16.2a Figure 16.2b found not only in tractates of this Talmud but also in the Printed in [the holy community] first volume of the Mishneh Torah printed in 1809.3 [of] Dyhernfurth The text of the tractate title pages, printed in red and At the press of the partners, the widow Rachel May black, begins in a conventional manner, noting that it is and her sons כי המשפט לאל־ printed with Rashi, Tosafot, and so forth, as in the follow- In the year “for the judgment is God’s (Deuteronomy 1:17) ”(1802 = 562) קים הוא :ing example from the tractate Sanhedrin

Tractate Sanhedrin This Talmud was, according to the title page, “as printed With the commentary of Rashi … previously in [Frankfurt] on the Main and in Amsterdam.” folio by folio exact, as printed previously, lack- Dates appear in biblical chronograms, related to the trac- ing nothing from all the valuable corrections, as tate subject matter. The chronograms are the same as for printed previously in [Frankfurt] on the Main and in several but not all of the tractates in the Frankfurt on the Amsterdam. Edited from the works on the Talmud Main Talmud except that where the same chronogram is from R. Joseph Samuel, av bet din and rosh mesivta employed, the emphasized letters are modified to reflect of the above community [Amsterdam]. “All things the dates of this edition. Several examples of similar come alike to all” (Ecclesiastes 9:2) with the excel- and dissimilar chronograms appear in the following list. lence and pattern mentioned there, “none of these They can be compared to the ones in the Frankfurt on shall fail” (Isaiah 34:16). the Main Talmud (see Chapter 7, “Frankfurt on the Main: Furthermore, we have added much of interest, 1720–1722”). “matters are good and right” (cf. 2 Samuel 15:3)…. And edited with excellence by those distinguished in Sotah: “but is clean; then she shall be free, and shall Numbers) ”(1803 = 563) ונקתה ונזרה זרע Torah “girded with strength” (1 Samuel 2:4) to place conceive seed their souls in their hands with much exertion “great, 5:28). mighty, and numerous” (Deuteronomy 26:5). As the Avodah Zarah: “You shall have no other gods before ”(1801 = 561) לא יהיה לך אלהים אהרים על פני eyes of one who sees “they look and delight over it” me (cf. Psalms 22:18). (Exodus 20:3; Deuteronomy 5:7). קדש לי כל Specifically, we have added the annotations and Bekhorot: “Sanctify to me all the firstborn .(Exodus 13:2) ”(1802 = 562) בכור corrections of the gaon, the eminent, for “a name and a praise” (Zephaniah 3:20), “wonder of the gen- Arakhin: “And all your estimations shall be accord- וכל ערכך יהיה בשקל eration” (Hullin 103b) R. Isaiah Berlin, who was av ing to the shekel of the sanctuary .(Leviticus 27:25) ”(562 = 472) הקדש ,bet din in Breslau and the surrounding countryside ולא יכרת כל בשר which we found in a manuscript by his Talmud and Keritot: “Nor shall all flesh be cut off transcribed letter by letter for the public benefit. (563 = 1803)” (Genesis 9:11). Also halufei gersot are printed, all on their place. … Not all chronograms are calculated correctly. For example, Seder Zera’im is dated with the verse “Sow to yourselves זרעו לכם לצדקה קצרו לפי Yaari, Printers’ Marks, 101, 176–77nn170–71. in righteousness, reap in mercy 3