Bidspirit auction | First translation and publication of

First translation and publication of the Bilbe by an American Jew. The Law Of God. Philadelphia 1845. - First publication and translation of the Bible by an American Jew. Fine copy. Printed in 1845, this edition of the Pentateuch in five volumes, entitled The Law of God, included a vocalized Hebrew text of each of the Five Books together with an English translation and notes, as well as the Haphtaros. This monumental project by Rev Isaac Leeser began in 1838 and took seven years to complete. Among the factors involved in his decision to begin systematically working on a translation was the opening of a Hebrew school in March 1838, in Philadelphia, which was desperately in need of appropriate study material. Students were compelled to use the King James Bible for want of a Jewish alternative. Religiously objectionable passages in other texts provided by Protestant organizations were either pasted over or torn out. Rev Leeser, who was involved in the school, felt compelled to find more suitable texts for the students. His impetus was the desire to provide the Jews of America with an English text of the Bible that was produced by one of their own and was not tainted by conversionist motivations. Although Rev Leeser had virtually no rabbinic contemporaries in America with whom to confer, he nonetheless persevered in the task of preparing many important Hebrew texts for publication. This was in addition to the many other rabbinic duties he undertook in his noble mission to disseminate Torah true Judaism in unfamiliar and often hostile surroundings. This printing is remarkable, as historians estimate the entire Jewish population in the United States at less than 15,000 souls. Vinograd Philadelphia 16. Goldman 7. Sherman press. 10, 174, 168, 153, 149, 135 pages. 19.3 cm. Excellent condition. Gilt edged pages. Original boards (one lacking) detached. Lacking spines. Opening bid $3500