Me’or Einayim by Rabbi Azariah Min HaAdumim. First Edition, Mantua, 1574 – a book that was banned by the Beis ...

Me’or Einayim by Rabbi Azariah Min HaAdumim. First Edition, Mantua, 1574 – a book that was banned by the Beis Yosef.

A historiographic work by the Italian scholar Rabbi Azariah Min HaAdumim – Di Rossi (1512-1578). This book was banned by Italian rabbis immediately after its publication, as they found in it ideas that contradicted the spirit of Jewish tradition and disrespect for the Talmudic sages. The book was shown to the Beis Yosef, Rabbi Yosef Karo, and he decreed that the book be burned, but that decree was not executed. The Maharal of Prague sharply criticized this book, and parts of his composition Be'er HaGolah are known to be his responses to Me’or Einayim.

The book is divided into three parts:

Kol Elokim [on the earthquake in Ferarra in 1571],

Hadrat Zekenim [on the translation of the Torah into Greek],

Imrei Binah [essays and various homilies].

Size: 21 cm.

Pages: 184.

This copy does not contain the additional 10 leaves with corrections and table of chapters, found in some copies.

Condition: Very fine condition, some pages have small worming holes mainly on margins. Modern leather binding.