Bidspirit auction | Tzena U’Rena – Amsterdam, 1722.

Tzena U’Rena – Amsterdam, 1722. Early Edition. Complete and Exceptional Copy - Tzena U’Rena (Bnot Zion), the celebrated Yiddish translation and commentary on the Five Books of Moses, the Five Scrolls, and the Haftarot, by Rabbi Yaakov ben Yitzchak Ashkenazi. Amsterdam, printed by Solomon Proops, 1722. A handsome early edition of one of the most influential and widely read books in Jewish history. For centuries, Tzena U’Rena occupied a unique place in Jewish life and served as the principal work for the study of the weekly Torah portion among broad segments of the Jewish population, especially Jewish women and Yiddish-speaking readers. The work contains explanations, Midrashic material, Talmudic legends, ethical teachings, and commentaries arranged according to the weekly Torah portions, the Five Scrolls, and the Haftarot, all presented in clear and accessible Yiddish. Through this work, the treasures of Torah and Midrash were transmitted to generations of Jews who were not accustomed to studying traditional Hebrew rabbinic literature. The Amsterdam editions of Tzena U’Rena are regarded among the most important and attractive editions of the work, having been produced in one of the foremost centers of Hebrew and Yiddish printing in Europe. The particular significance of the present copy lies in its remarkable completeness. At the beginning of the volume are printed the Sabbath morning and Musaf prayers, together with an additional section containing liturgical poems (Yotzrot) for special Sabbaths and laws relating to family purity. These supplementary sections are frequently lacking in surviving copies. Complete copies of Tzena U’Rena, especially those retaining all supplementary material and preserved in such fine condition, are exceedingly rare. [3], 14, 16, 343 leaves. 19.5 cm. A notably complete copy of a work rarely encountered in such preserved condition. Condition: Very good. Light age staining. Binding: Attractive antique leather binding.