Bidspirit auction | The Bible in Ashkenazic (Yiddish)

The Bible in Ashkenazic (Yiddish) – The “Blitz Bible.” Amsterdam, 1676–1679. The First Complete Translation of the Bible into Yiddish - “The Five Books of Moses in the Ashkenazic Language” – the complete Hebrew Bible, translated into Yiddish and annotated by Yekutiel ben Yitzchak Blitz. Amsterdam, printed by Uri Phoebus Halevi, 1676–1679. One of the most ambitious and significant literary enterprises in the history of Yiddish literature: the first complete translation of the Bible into Yiddish, commonly known as the “Blitz Bible” after its translator. The work was intended to make Scripture accessible to the broader Ashkenazic Jewish public, especially women and lay readers who were not fully proficient in Hebrew. For generations, Yiddish Bible translations served as one of the principal means through which European Jews studied the Bible and became familiar with its narratives. This edition stands as a landmark in the history of Jewish culture and Hebrew printing. The edition contains the entire Hebrew Bible together with the To'aliyot of Rabbi Levi ben Gershon (Ralbag/Gersonides) on the Torah and the Former Prophets. The work was issued in a grand format divided into five separately titled sections: the Torah, the Five Scrolls, the Former Prophets, the Latter Prophets, and the Writings, preceded by an additional illustrated and decorative general title page. At the beginning of the volume appear approbations from the rabbis of the Council of Four Lands, the rabbis of the Sephardic community of Amsterdam, and the rabbis of the Ashkenazic community of Amsterdam, demonstrating the importance attached to the project from the moment of its publication. Also included are the pages entitled “Haskamah un Privilegium, ” recording the special printing privilege granted by the King of Poland, printed in both Yiddish and Latin. This edition occupies a special place in the history of Hebrew printing because of the fierce controversy that accompanied its publication. During the 1670s, two competing Yiddish Bible translations were published simultaneously in Amsterdam: the present edition and the edition issued by Joseph Athias, translated by Joseph Witzenhausen. The rivalry between the two publishers escalated into a bitter legal and public dispute, with each side accusing the other of unfair competition and improperly obtained privileges. The lengthy litigation and enormous financial costs ultimately caused severe economic damage to both publishing houses. The affair is regarded as one of the most famous publishing battles in the history of the Hebrew book. The present copy bears an early ownership inscription: “Nathan son of the honored Rabbi Meir HaAdmir of Metz, ” dated 1727. The individual title pages bear different publication dates—1676, 1678, and 1679—while the approbations are dated between 1671 and 1677, reflecting the lengthy and complex production process behind this monumental publishing project. Presented here is one of the foundational works of Yiddish literature, an edition of the highest historical, cultural, and bibliographical importance, reflecting the efforts of Ashkenazic Jewry to make the treasures of the Bible accessible to every segment of the Jewish community. [7], 63, [1], 64–138, 140–249, [1], 18 leaves. 32 cm. An impressive copy. Condition: Very good. Minor age staining. Binding: Antique leather binding with minor wear to the spine.