Prague

SEFER BENE AHUVAH: BE'URIM 'AL RAMBAM. BENE AHUWA : UIBER DIE ISRAELITISCHEN GESETZE IN EHESACHEN, IN BEZUG AUF DIE AUSSPRÜCHE DES GROSSEN MAIMONIDES ÜBER DIESEM GEGENSTANDE IN SEINEM GROSSEN WERKE IAD HACHSAKA. 3 VOLUMES IN 1 [COMPLETE AS ISSUED]

1819 — 1st edition. 4to, period boards, [4] 82, [1], 25 leaves [aproximately 224 pages]. In Hebrew, with some German on title page. Vinograd: Prague, 1165. StCB: 5867, 3; Jewish Museum 179. Contents:helek 1. Hilkhot ishut, perek 1-10; helek 2. Hilkhot ishut, perek 11-25; helek 3. Hilkhot gerushin. Hilkhot yibum va-halitsah. She'elot u-teshuvot. Maftehot. Novellae to Maimonides of the laws pertaining to women (i.e. divorce, relationships, and marriage) by Rabbi Jonathan ben Nathan Nata Eybeschutz (1690/95–1764), the talmudist kabbalist, and child prodigy. In his youth, after the death of his father, he studied in Prossnitz under Rabbi Meir Eisenstadt and Rabbi Eliezer ha-Levi Ettinger, his uncle, and in Vienna under Rabbi Samson Wertheimer. He married the daughter of Rabbi Isaac Spira, the av bet din of Bunzlau. After traveling for some time he settled in Prague in 1715, and in time became head of the yeshivah and a famous preacher. After the death of Rabbi David Oppenheim (1736), he was appointed dayan of Prague. Elected rabbi of Metz in 1741, he subsequently became rabbi of the "Three Communities," Altona, Hamburg, and Wandsbek in 1750. Both in Metz and in Altona he had many disciples and was considered a great preacher. His position in the Three Communities, however, was undermined when a dispute broke out concerning his suspected leanings toward Shabbateanism. This controversy accompanied Rabbi Eybeschuetz throughout his life, and the quarrel had repercussions in every community from Holland to Poland. His main opponent was Rabbi Jacob Emden, also a famous talmudist and a potential rival in the candidature to the rabbinate of the Three Communities. The quarrel developed into a great public dispute which divided the rabbis of the day. While most of the German rabbis opposed Rabbi Eybeschuetz, his support came from the rabbis of Poland and Moravia. A fruitless attempt at mediation was made by Rabbi Ezekiel Landau, rabbi of Prague. Most of Rabbi Eybeschuetz' own community was loyal to him and confidently accepted his refutation of the charges made by his opponent, but dissension reached such a pitch that both sides appealed to the authorities in Hamburg and the government of Denmark for a judicial ruling. The king favored Rabbi Eybeschuetz and ordered new elections, which resulted in his reappointment. After his reelection as rabbi of the Three Communities, some rabbis of Frankfort, Amsterdam, and Metz challenged him to appear before them to reply to the suspicions raised against him. Rabbi Eybeschuetz refused, and when the matter was brought before the Council of the Four Lands in 1753, the council issued a ruling in his favor. In 1760 the debate was rekindled when some Shabbatean elements were discovered among the students of Rabbi Eybeschuetz' yeshiva. At the same time, his youngest son, Wolf, presented himself as a Shabbatean prophet, with the result that the yeshiva was closed. (See Bibliography of the Hebrew Book 1470-1960 #000109183; EJ; M. A. Perlmutter, R. Yehonatan Eybeschuetz ve-Yahaso la-Shabbeta'ut (1947); Mifal ha-Bibliografyah ha-Ivrit, Hoveret le-Dugmah (1964), 13–24). SUBJECT(S): Marriage (Jewish law) Divorce (Jewish law) Husband and wife (Jewish law) Incest -- Religious aspects -- Judaism. Maimonides, Moses, 1135-1204. Mishneh Torah -- Commentaries. OCLC: 19167576. OCLC lists 17 copies worldwide. Some wear, usual light age and damp staining, wide margins, stamps. Binding starting, About Very Good Condition.(RAB-66-17-BLRKKQQ-'emn)