The Form of Prayers for The New Year. According to the custom of the German and Polish Jews.
London, David Levi, 1794
Set of festival prayers by one of the pioneers of Hebrew printing in London. The volumes are divided according to the five most important holidays in the Jewish calendar: Vol. I. New Year (Rosh HaShanah); Vol. II. & III. Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur); Vol. IV. Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot); Vol. V. Feast of Passover (Pesach); Vol. VI. Feast of Pentecost (Shavuot).
David Levi (1740-1801), was an erudite Whitechapel cobbler and one of the most remarkable characters of 18th-century English Jewry. He was born in London and after failing to make a living as a shoemaker, went to the opposite extreme and became a hatter, meanwhile continuing his studies at the Great Synagogue of London. In 1783 he produced a succinct account of the 'Rites and Ceremonies of the Jews, in which their religious principles and tenets are explained'. From that date onwards, he was constantly engaged in literary work, in the intervals of trying to earn his livelihood. He produced grammars, dictionaries, apologetics, pamphlets and polemics. For years on end he was a one-man Anti-Defamation Committee, always prepared to fight with his quill whenever the good name of Jews or Judaism was impugned. In addition, he produced a series of liturgical and other translations, considered to be superior to A. Alexander's. Alexander, who was a well-known and established rival London-Jewish publisher, saw in Levi an imitator.
First edition; 6 vols, small 4to (24 x 15.5 cm); parallel text in English and Hebrew, age-toning with the very occasional spot otherwise very clean; contemporary tree calf, morocco labels to spines, spines richly gilt, with personalised green lettering pieces to all spines, reading 'S. Samuel 1804', a trifle rubbed at extremities, a very handsome set.
ESTC T147179; Vinograd, London 137.
David Levi (1740-1801), was an erudite Whitechapel cobbler and one of the most remarkable characters of 18th-century English Jewry. He was born in London and after failing to make a living as a shoemaker, went to the opposite extreme and became a hatter, meanwhile continuing his studies at the Great Synagogue of London. In 1783 he produced a succinct account of the 'Rites and Ceremonies of the Jews, in which their religious principles and tenets are explained'. From that date onwards, he was constantly engaged in literary work, in the intervals of trying to earn his livelihood. He produced grammars, dictionaries, apologetics, pamphlets and polemics. For years on end he was a one-man Anti-Defamation Committee, always prepared to fight with his quill whenever the good name of Jews or Judaism was impugned. In addition, he produced a series of liturgical and other translations, considered to be superior to A. Alexander's. Alexander, who was a well-known and established rival London-Jewish publisher, saw in Levi an imitator.
First edition; 6 vols, small 4to (24 x 15.5 cm); parallel text in English and Hebrew, age-toning with the very occasional spot otherwise very clean; contemporary tree calf, morocco labels to spines, spines richly gilt, with personalised green lettering pieces to all spines, reading 'S. Samuel 1804', a trifle rubbed at extremities, a very handsome set.
ESTC T147179; Vinograd, London 137.
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