First Edition of the First English Translation of the Jewish Prayerbook.
This publication is a significant milestone in English Judaica as it presents the first comprehensive translation of Jewish prayers into English. It includes detailed explanations of Anglo-Jewish customs and ceremonies, and its prayer format is designed to assist those unfamiliar with Hebrew in following synagogue services. According to the Encyclopedia Judaica, "The work sheds light on the life and customs of London Jewry in the 18th century." The transliterated Hebrew offers insights into the pronunciation used by Anglo-Jews of that era. The author extensively discusses community superstitions related to the evil eye and spirits.
Abraham Mears, writing under the pseudonym "Gamaliel ben Pedahzur, Gent," hailed from one of the oldest Ashkenazi families in England. His translation marks the first complete English rendition of the Jewish liturgy. Cecil Roth in The Great Synagogue notes that the introductory description of Jewish rites and ceremonies "is of considerable interest, providing a graphic, detailed, and occasionally amusing depiction of Jewish life in London" (73-75). The subsequent English translation of a Jewish prayerbook began publication in 1760 in New York by Isaac Pinto.
Provenance
Robert Eglesfield Library, Queen's College, Oxford; their engraved bookplate with ink deaccession stamp.
Pagination: xiv, 96, 291, [7] pages.