Biblia Hebraica
Book - Seu Biblia Hebraica ...The first Hebrew Bible printed in America with vocalized and cantillated text. "This is the first edition of the Hebrew Bible with points printed in America" (Rosenbach). It is considered "a fine piece of printing as well as a careful edition of the text" (Matityahu Tsevat, "A Retrospective of Isaac Leeser's Biblical Work," Essays in American Jewish History [Cincinnati: American Jewish Archives, 1958], 297-99). The volume contains a preface by Leeser in Latin. It was published 1849 Philadelphia Publisher Joannis W. Moore and Joannis Wiley. This copy is browned, few owners' marks. Later boards, rubbed. Thick 8vo. Goldman 9. Worldcat lists 6 copies in the USA and one in the British Library. After the ‘lean’ years which followed the Revolutionary War, in the early decades of the nineteenth century America was in the throes of a great religious revival. As part of its intellectual aspect, the study of the Hebrew language was renewed… Grammars, lexicons, and chrestomathies were published, as well as books on the Bible and the Holy Land. The Jewish community was wary of these activities because the same scholars and divines were also involved in missionary activity. The appearance of a work in the Hebrew language which bore approbation from both leading Christian clergymen and leading Jews marked the beginning of friendlier intellectual discourse” (Karp, Judaic Treasures of the Library of Congress, 291-292). The first American Bible published in Hebrew was produced in Philadelphia in 1814, based on the second edition of the Athias Bible and without vowel marks. This book was printed thirty five years later and was the first edition to contain vocalized and cantillated text (Rosenbach).
Associated People/Businesses
- Leeser, Isaac
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Subjects
Physical Location
BS715 1849