Description: Description: 1766. 2nd edition of this classic work. Condition: As can be seen it has many stains, including covers. Not in good shape, tattered and ragged paper with parts of paper missing especially at the back of book. But I don't think any of the words are missing. Rare in any condition. Hartwig Wessely or Naphtali Herz Wessely (or Wesel), Hebrew: נפתלי הירץ וויזעל, was a very interesting and variegated personality as will be explained below. Born in 1725 in Hamburg, he was an 18th-century German Jewish Hebraist and educationalist. Wessely passed his childhood at Copenhagen, where his father was purveyor to the king. In addition to rabbinical studies under Jonathan Eybeschütz, he studied modern languages and secular subjects such as the Natural Sciences. As the representative of the banker Feitel, he later visited Amsterdam, where he published (1765–66) his Lebanon, or Gan Na'ul, a philological investigation of Hebrew roots and synonyms. Although prolix in style, and lacking scientific method, this work established his reputation. After his marriage at Copenhagen, he represented Feitel at Berlin, and there became associated with M. Mendelssohn. Wessely encouraged the latter in his labors by publishing Alim li-Terufah, a work advocating the 'Biur' and the translation of the Bible into German. To this work Wessely himself contributed a commentary on Leviticus (Berlin, 1782), having published, two years previously, a Hebrew edition of the Book of Wisdom, together with a commentary. He died in Hamburg on February 28, 1805. Wessely was an advocate of the educational and social reforms outlined in Emperor Joseph II's Toleranzedict (Patent of toleration). He even risked his reputation for piety by publishing a manifesto in eight chapters, entitled Divrei Shalom ve-Emet (Words of Peace and Truth), in which he emphasized the necessity for secular instruction, as well as for other reforms, even from the points of view of the Mosaic law and the Talmud. This work has been translated into French as 'Instructions Salutaires Addressées aux Communautés Juives de l'Empire de Joseph II'. (Paris, 1792), into Italian by Elia Morpurgo (Goerz, 1793), and into German by David Friedländer under the title 'Worte der Wahrheit und des Friedens' (Berlin, 1798). By thus espousing the cause of reform, as well as by his support of M. Mendelssohn, Wessely incurred the displeasure of the rabbinical authorities of Germany and Poland, who threatened him with excommunication. His enemies, however, were finally pacified through the energetic intervention of the Italian rabbis, as well as by Wessely's pamphlets Mekor Ḥen, in which he gave evidence of his sincere piety. In 1788 Wessely published in Berlin his ethical treatise Sefer ha-Middot (The Book of Virtues), a work of Musar literature. He also published several odes; elegies, and other poems; but his masterwork is his Shire Tif'eret (5 vols.; i.-iv., Berlin, 1782–1802; v., Prague, 1829), describing in rhetorical style the exodus from Egypt. This work, through which he earned the admiration of his contemporaries, was translated into German (by G. F. Hufnagel and Spalding; 1789–1805), and partly into French (by Michel Berr; Paris, 1815). His commentaries on the Bible were published by the society Meḳiẓe Nirdamim (Lyck, 1868–75) under the title Imre Shefer. Wessely influenced his contemporaries in various directions. As a scholar he contributed, profound philological research, to the reconstruction of the language of the Bible, notwithstanding his refusal to admit certain shades of meaning in synonyms. As a poet he possessed perfection of style. Inarguably, he was one of the most eminent personalities to exert influence on the dissemination of modern Hebrew. Because of his energetic commitment to the cause of Jewish emancipation, and the controversial and novel writing in this area, Wessely is regarded as one of the seminal leaders of the Jewish Enlightenment. Smart-phone users, click top right menu of phone, select 'request desktop site'. After the item reloads in desktop view, tap on main picture, it will open in spectacular viewing quality with zoom, enabling you to actually read the words on the pages and see tiny details. Tap side arrows to see next picture. We accept all payment methods which are shown on this site as capable of accepting, including Paypal, payments via personal check or MO can be arranged via messaging me, website permitting. This listing has pictures of the actual book or books being sold, no stock-photos or photos of similar items, I took a complete set of new pictures especially for this listing and I have carefully described the condition of this specific item that you are looking at. Thank You.
Price: 600 USD
Location: Phillipsburg, New Jersey
End Time: 2025-01-26T18:28:23.000Z
Shipping Cost: 12 USD
Product Images
Item Specifics
Restocking Fee: No
Return shipping will be paid by: Buyer
All returns accepted: Returns Accepted
Item must be returned within: 14 Days
Refund will be given as: Money Back
Modified Item: No
Country/Region of Manufacture: Netherlands
Binding: Hardcover
