Bidspirit auction | Three Rare Yiddish Books Printed

Three Rare Yiddish Books Printed in Amsterdam Bound Together – 1723–1724 - An attractive sammelband comprising three early Yiddish books printed in Amsterdam during the first quarter of the eighteenth century. Works of this kind were intended for the broader Jewish public and formed an important part of the cultural and spiritual life of Ashkenazic Jewry. Written in accessible Yiddish, they combine ethics, history, tales of righteous figures, and accounts relating to the Jewish people and the Temple, making traditional knowledge available to readers who were not accustomed to studying Hebrew rabbinic literature. 1. Ma'asei Hashem u-Ma'asei Nissim Amsterdam, 1723. A collection of narratives and legends based on the Zohar (Ma'asei Hashem), together with historical accounts and wondrous events (Ma'asei Nissim). Among its contents are stories concerning the greatness of the Ari of Safed, notable events in Jewish communities, the destruction of the community of Worms, and additional episodes drawn from the historical and popular memory of Ashkenazic Jewry. [1], 72 leaves. 2. Beit Yisrael u-Veit HaBechirah By Rabbi Alexander Sender Oetthausen. Amsterdam, 1724. A popular Yiddish work discussing the virtues of the Jewish people, the Tribes of Israel, the Holy Temple, and the order of its service. The book was written to convey essential concepts of Jewish history and thought to readers who lacked a traditional Hebrew education. [2], 64 leaves. 3. Simchat HaNefesh Amsterdam, printed by Solomon Proops, 1723. A Yiddish ethical work containing moral teachings, parables, and edifying stories. One of the popular books produced for the general Jewish public in Ashkenazic communities, it was intended to strengthen religious devotion and cultivate virtuous character traits. An early edition of this well-known work. 88 leaves. Presented here is an impressive volume bringing together three early Amsterdam editions printed in one of the most important centers of Hebrew and Yiddish printing in Europe. Yiddish books of this nature were generally used extensively in everyday life, and complete surviving copies are uncommon; volumes preserved together in an early binding are particularly scarce. Condition: Very good. Binding: Attractive old half-vellum binding.