Jacob

1873 · 43384 — Eydtkuhnen now Chernyshevskoye Russia: Bi-defus A. Ts. Katsineleboigen ve-Sh. Rabinovits 1873. First edition. Attractive modern binding. 8vo 27 pages 18 cm. Text in Hebrew. Title translates as “Sayings of Jacob: Disputations Concerning Morals to be Conformed and Amended.†<br> “Ya‘akov Reifmann was born in Lagow Poland. He spent his childhood in nearby Opatów where he acquired a basic religious education but subsequently spent most of his life—including the days of his extensive and highly diversified scholastic achievements—in Szczebrzeszyn near Zamosc where he relocated after marrying. There he was introduced to classic Jewish philosophical literature and was profoundly influenced by Maimonides.<br> Reifmann’s projects and studies published in various pamphlets and in contemporary newspapers and periodicals Ha-Melits Ha-Magid Ha-Tsefirah Keneset Yisra’el Ha-Sha'ar Isaac Marcus Jost’s Tsiyon and others dealt with an extensive range of subjects including ancient Jewish literature Talmud and Midrash biblical criticism the Apocrypha Jewish philosophy and history. He wrote all of his studies in Hebrew and some were subsequently translated into German and published in German periodicals which also issued reviews of his work gaining him recognition in the West.<br> Reifmann regarded the rabbis of Late Antiquity as the first biblical critics. He also studied Aramaic translations of the Bible offering different textual revisions based on comparisons of the Targums. Relying on ancient Jewish literature as well as—in all probability—the writings of contemporary German critics whom he never mentioned he suggested different times of writing for some of the books of the Bible and raised somewhat new ideas regarding their composition. However as was the case with most of his contemporary hokhmat Yisra’el scholars who practiced biblical criticism he usually avoided dealing with the composition of the Pentateuch except in the context of his dealings with the teachings of Avraham ibn Ezra one of the most prominent figures of Jewish philosophy particularly for maskilim. Although he sought to avoid disputes and controversy Reifmann was nevertheless committed to scientific truth and his conclusions about sacred Jewish writings were often conceived within Jewish traditional society as well as among moderate maskilim as radical views that undermined the foundations of Jewish faith.<br> In addition to his research Reifmann played an important social role by maintaining ties to fellow maskilim including Shelomoh Yehudah Rapoport Abraham Geiger Jost Yitsak Shemu’el Reggio Shemu’el David Luzzatto and Salomon Buber with whom he corresponded on subjects relating to his research. He also led a circle of young maskilim from Zamosc who met regularly at his home in Szczebrzeszyn. Through these meetings Reifmann became one of the most prominent figures in Zamosc maskilic circles. A pamphlet containing various conversations of this circle titled Mo‘ade ‘erev was published in Vilna in 1863.†YIVO Encyclopedia <br> SUBJECTS: Jewish ethics. OCLC: 49017026.<br> Some toning and occasional pencil markings to margins nice wide margins attractive modern binding Very Good Condition. YID-48-86-XBL-’eggvcc. Eydtkuhnen [now Chernyshevskoye, Russia]: Bi-defus A. Ts. Katsineleboigen ve-Sh. Rabinovits unknown