Bidspirit auction | Ma’aseh Nissim – The Blood

Ma’aseh Nissim – The Blood Libel of Ragusa. By Rabbi Aharon HaKohen. Venice, 1795. Exceptionally Rare Work - A rare and impressive book recounting the story of the blood libel in Ragusa (Dubrovnik) in the early 17th century, authored by the distinguished and saintly scholar, Rabbi Aharon HaKohen. The volume opens with a poetic introduction titled “Tekufo Shel Nes” (“The Power of the Miracle”), written by Rabbi Yaakov ben David Pardo, the Rabbi of Ragusa. The main text that follows is composed as a long, vocalized poem printed in large letters, describing the tragic events and the miracle that occurred to Yitzchak (Isaac) Jeshurun, a Jewish merchant accused in the infamous blood libel of the year 1622 [שפ”ג]. The book narrates how Jeshurun was imprisoned, cruelly tortured, and sentenced to twenty years of incarceration, yet was miraculously released after only three years when his innocence was revealed. Following the affair, the Jews of Ragusa were prohibited from living outside the ghetto for many years. This work is regarded as one of the most significant literary testimonies to the memory of the blood libels against Jews in Southern Europe, reflecting the deep faith and spiritual resilience of the community in the face of persecution. Bibliographic details: [3], 32, [11] pages. Size: 18 cm. Condition: Very good to good; light age stains. An exceptionally rare work of great historical, poetic, and documentary importance.