Bidspirit auction | Americana Judaica - One of

Americana Judaica - One of the Earliest Books Published in America: B'akharith Hayamin - Single Edition Chicago, 1897 - B'akharith Hayamin . ”A dialogue between father and son, concerning ...Israel's hopes written upon the request of a prominent Christian minister by A. J. G. Lesser... Translated by H. Eliassof...” [See below].  A book about Kibutz Galuyot and Acharit Hayamim. Authored by the eldest rabbi of America and the first president of the Union of Rabbis of the USA and Canada, the Gaon Rabbi Avraham Jacob Gershon Lesser. The book was printed in Hebrew and English (second pagination) with a separate title page.  First and apparently only edition. The Press of Naftali Gonshar, Chicago, 1897. [1], 5 leaves, [1]; 3-61, XIII, [3] pp. With the rare title covers which are not in all copies. Some moth perforations and damage. Original binding, worn with moth damage. The binding is detached and with an incomplete spine. Several detached leaves. Small tears along the edges of sone leaves. Except for these. good overall condition.  The work is in the form of a dialogue between father and son concernign the opes of the Jewish people including their hope to resettle the Land of Israel. According to the title page, the author wrote the book upon the request of a Christian minister - apparently referring to the missionary William A. Blackstone.  In his (Hebrew and English) introduction, the author states that his Christian friend, whose name is not mentioned, returned from a visit to Eretz Yisrael feeling that the time has arrived to resettle the land. Therefore he intended to head to the capital to appeal to the President, so that he may place his proposal before world leaders to rebuild the Kingdom of Israel like in the time of Cyrus and to act for the gathering of the Jewish exiles. The Christian friend also promised to publish the book yet did not keep his promise.  See more: Ephraim Deinard, Keholat America, St. Louis, 1926, p. 19, no. 71, who believes that that the missionary is Blackstone. The man had apparently hoped to use the book for his purposes, yet failed.  The author Rabbi Avraham Jacob Gershon Lesser (1834-1925) the son of Rabbi Azriel Meir. The Rav of several Lithuanian towns. In 1882, he immigrated to the USA, serving as Av Beit Din of Chicago and Cinncinati. Was the first president of the Union of Rabbis of the USA and Canada with its foundation in 1903. Author of Ohel Moed and this book, B'akharith Hayamin.