Bidspirit auction | Controversy of Performing the Peri’ah

Controversy of Performing the Peri’ah with a Scalpel – Charvot Tzurim, Exceptionally Rare Only Edition, Dessau 1804 – Author’s copy with handwritten additions. - Divrei Asher, first part, entitled Charvot Tzurim, concerning the performance of the mitzvah of circumcision and peri’ah in its proper manner. With verified proofs, i demonstrate … that it is not appropriate to tear the soft inner membrane beneath with the thumbnails, as had been the custom until then. Rather, it should be cut with a small scalpel (in German: Lanzett), in order to remove all impediments and to reduce the suffering of the infants. Written by me, Asher son of Naftali, known as Anschel b”m Hertz Oppenheim z”l of Dessau. Sole Edition. Dessau, printer’s name not given, 1804. Printed in a very small quantity and extremely rare! It has appeared only once in a public auction, and is recorded in the Bibliography Project only based on the copy in the British Library. On the endpapers, the author added in his own handwriting explanations of his position, signing: “Ko divrei ha-mechaber Anschel Oppenheim”. On the title page are illustrations of the instruments the author recommends using for circumcision, and on the verso of the title page an explanation of these illustrations. [2], 38 pp. 17.3 cm.