chapter 17 Amsterdam: Seder Nashim with Commentaries

The Amsterdam edition of Seder Nashim from the , with the two-part commentary Penei Moshe and Mareh ha-Panim by R. Moses ben Simeon Margoliot (Margaliot, c. 1710–1781), was printed by a rel- atively small press, that of Jan Janson (Yohan Yanson, Yonson, d. 1757). Janson founded the press in 1752 with R. Judah Leib Susmanch as an employee (possibly as an associate).1 The press is credited with fifty titles from that date through 1777. Printing began with Jehiel Kohen’s Harozim, an octavo four-folio liturgical work celebrating the opening of a new on 9 Nissan, erev ha-Gadol 5512 (Friday, March 24, 1752).2 Janson’s next title in 1753 was Orot ha-Mitzvot— discourses, novellae, and the reasons for the command- ments—in the order of the weekly readings by Benjamin Rafael Dias Brandon (d. c. 1750). For example, on page 9b (), a statement that wine for and Havdalah, a result of skilled labor, is proof that the world, too, is not of an original essence but of a Creator. That year he also published Brandon’s Emek Binyamin, halakhic on queries from his friends; Milhemet ha-Hokhmah ve-ha-Osher in rhymed prose by R. Judah ben Isaac ibn Shabbetai (13th cent.); and Shulhan Arba’ah by R. Bahya ben Asher ben Hlava (13th cent.).3 The following year, 1754, saw the publication of sev- eral books by Janson on Talmudic methodology. Among them were Darkhei ha-Gemarah by R. Isaac ben Jacob Canpanton (Campanton, 1360–1463), Halikhot Olam by R. Jeshuah ben Joseph ha-Levi (15th cent.), and Hanhagot figure 17.1 ve-Limud ha-Talmidum by R. Meldola (1714–1818). In the same year, 1754, Janson published Seder Nashim from the Jerusalem Talmud with the commentaries Penei SEDER NASHIM Moshe and Mareh ha-Panim. The title page of this folio With the commentary PENEI MOSHE, a wondrous edition of the Jerusalem Talmud has a frame comprised of work, a great and splendid accomplishment, that florets arranged in a pattern unusual for Amsterdam but he achieved, produced, and brought to light, he is more typical of Constantinople imprints. The text of the the great and complete sage, R. Moses Margoliot title page states that it is the: ben Simeon who was av bet din and rosh mesivta in many communities in Zamut and “towards his face appeared brightness about him” (cf. Ezekiel 1:27) “And the appearance thereof was deeper than the skin” (cf. Leviticus 13:34) ( 84a). It is 1 Friedberg, Hebrew Typography … Amsterdam, 50. many additions () on the principle, “more to 2 The National Library of , Bibliography of the Hebrew Book, re- be desired are they than gold, even fine gold” (cf. cord no. 000140437; Vinograd, Thesaurus of the Hebrew Book, vol. 2, 451. Psalms 19:11) and “a precious jewel” (Proverbs 20:15), 3 “Brandon, Benjamin Rafael Dias,” JE, http://www.jewishencyclope that the rav, the author “made for them a statute dia.com/articles/3639-brandon-benjamin-raphael-dias. and an ordinance” (Exodus 15:25) to enter into the

© koninklijke brill nv, leiden, 2019 | doi:10.1163/9789004376731_019 248 chapter 17

depths of halakhah, to pilpul (casuistic and analyti- time this edition of the Jerusalem Talmud Seder Nashim cal) with acuity and great knowledge in the Talmud, with his commentary was published. For a period of time poskim (decisors), early and later sages. He entitled before 1754, Margoliot was in London. Subsequently he it MAREH HA-PANIM, for “he has a mighty arm” was in Livorno when his commentary to Seder was (Psalms 89:14) and builds a great fortress “Naioth published there (see below). Margoliot also served as in Ramah” (1 Samuel 20:19) and brings forth to light in several communities in the Samogitia region of much sweet things that are concealed, “refined sev- Lithuania. Reputedly, one of his students was R. Elijah enfold” (cf. Psalms 12:7), novellae and explanations of Vilna (, Gr”a), who was seven years old at on the words of the Rambam as you will find all well the time. It was also reported that after the publication of clarified with introductions from the rav, the author, this edition of Seder Nashim, Margoliot traveled to Vilna and at the end of this work are markers in indexes, where he met the Vilna Gaon, but this is questionable signs “like the engravings of a signet” (Exodus 28:21) because the gaon is not known to have seen Margoliot’s “each by its own standard with the ensign of their commentary.4 father’s house” (cf. Numbers 2:2). An example of Margoliot’s commitment and dedica- Opposite this a framework crown of gold about it tion to learning is that when almost seventy years old, of cross-references for the entire Talmud, , , on August 11, 1779, he registered as Moses Margelit at and Toseftot, also explanations of mishnayot for this the University of Frankfurt on the Oder as a student of seder the commentators proved as silver, refined as botany. His interest in botanical studies was motivated gold overlaid and enclosed as your eyes can clearly by his desire to acquire knowledge for his study of Seder see. Zera’im, which deals with agricultural laws.5 Margoliot Edited with great care by “a valiant man of many made extensive use of manuscripts in preparing his achievements” (2 Samuel 23:20), a Torah scholar commentary described in Mareh ha-Panim on Shevu’ot. and complete sage “his name is Wonderful (Pela)’” Concerning his comments, see Chapter 18, “Livorno: Seder ( 9:5) Nezikin with Commentaries.” He is the only person to and the completion of the work was on write a commentary on the entire Jerusalem Talmud, only Sunday, 13 Tishrei “And in all that mighty hand, half of which was published in his lifetime; the remainder and in all the great and awesome deeds which Moses was in manuscript form for almost a century. The entire –September, Jerusalem Talmud was first published in Zhitomir (1860 29 = 515) משה לעיני performed in the sight 1754) of all Israel (Deuteronomy 34:12) 67).6 Margoliot died in Brody, Galicia. In AMSTERDAM Margoliot begins his lengthy introduction by writing At the press of Jan Janson book printer that:

The title page is followed by two approbations from “‘their faces shall look one to another [the Babylonian R. Aryeh Leib ben Samuel, av bet din of Amsterdam; and Jerusalem ]… toward [the cover shall the first, brief and dated Sunday, 26 Kislev 512 (Tuesday, the] faces of the kerubim be, stretching out their December 3, 1752); the second, given later on 7 Tishrei wings on high,’ (cf. Exodus 25:20, 37:9) ‘and they shall 515 (Monday, September 12, 1755) and somewhat length- be coupled together’” (Exodus 25:24, 36:29) to explain ier, written after he has seen the completed work. Aryeh the “upon her own mound” (Jeremiah Leib prohibits republication of this Talmud without 30:18). “This is the Torah of the ” permission of the author for twenty years. The second (Leviticus 6:1). This obscures and this explains, this approbation is from R. Isaac Hayyim ibn Donaq di Brito, dated parashat 515 (1755) also with a prohibition 4  David, “Margoliot, Moses ben Simeon,” EJ, vol. 13. against unauthorized republication for twenty years. The 5 , A Commentary on the Palestinian Talmud: A Study approbations are followed by halufei gersot, Margoliot’s of the Halakah and in Palestine and , vol. 1 [Hebrew with English Introduction] (New York, 1941), lvii. Ginzberg introduction, errata, and the text with the accompanying also notes that for the same reason, the Vilna Gaon spent time commentaries. with farmers in Poland, a place where Jews could not register at This edition of the Jerusalem Talmud, as noted above, is university. distinguished by the dual commentaries Penei Moshe and 6 Heshey Zelcer, A Guide to the Jerusalem Talmud: The Compilation and Composition of the Jerusalem Talmud, the Cultural, Economic Mareh ha-Panim by R. Moses Margoliot, a Lithuanian rabbi and Political Conditions in the during Its Development, born in Kedziniai in the vicinity of Kovno, Lithuania. He the Scholars Who Studied It throughout the Generations, and A served for several years as a rabbi in Amsterdam, at which Synopsis of Their Research and Commentaries (Irvine, CA, 2002), 149.