Menachem Mendel

From a post by Benjamin Richler at H-Judaic:

The Jerusalem Talmud, Tractate Bikkurim [chapt. i], Part 1. Published for
the first time with the emendations and commentary of Rabbi Eliyahu, the
Gaon of Vilna, from a manuscript written in his own hand, together with
additional emendations and comments found in the notes of his disciples.
Edited by Yedidya Halevi Fraenkel. Jerusalem 5767-2007.
255 + xxv pp. Glossy paper. 34 x 24 cm.
Over the past few decades the writings of the Vilna Gaon, Rabbi Elijah ben
Solomon (1720-1797) have been the subject of renewed interest on the part of
rabbinic and academic scholars, and efforts have been made to edit all his
unpublished works and to prepare new editions of his printed books.
The Maatikei Ha-Shemuah Institute of Jerusalem acquired the original and
only copy of the Jerusalem Talmud from which the Vilna Gaon, learned and in
which he wrote his handwritten commentaries.
The Yerushalmi Zeraim on which the Gaon wrote his commentaries consists of
over one thousand notes written in the margins by the Gaon himself. None of
the Gaon’s manuscripts were published during his lifetime, and this volume
in particular went missing for many years. There are very few manuscripts in
the Gaon’s own hand, because most of his teachings were transmitted orally
and written down by his disciples. Most of the manuscripts that did exist
are no longer extant.
This scholarly edition brings both the writing of the Gaon and his
disciples. It includes:

§ The Mishna with the commentaries of Maimonides, Rabbi Shimson of
Sens, Rabbi Asher b. Yehiel (the Rosh) and the Gaon’s commentary, Shenot
Eliyahu, with notes and comparisons.
§ The Jerusalem Talmud, Amsterdam 1710 edition, with the commentary by
Rabbi Eliyahu Fulda.

§ A consolidated version of Hagahot Ha-Gra based on all known sources,
with comparisons and analysis

§ Expanded notes and analysis of the Vilan Gaon’s lines of thought and
their sources

§ A complete colour photographic reproduction of the Vilna Gaon’s
handwritten notes, with enlargement and high-tech analysis for the sections
that are difficult to decipher.
A special section (pp. 22-31) is devoted to the identification of the Gaon’s
own handwriting and distinguishing the Gaon’s autograph glosses from those
of his disciples.

The texts in this volume are analyzed in meticulous detail. Each gloss by
the Gaon is reproduced in an enlarged photograph and in a separate window
the text is reconstructed to conform to the Gaon’s version.

The volume is written in Hebrew. An edition with introductory material in
English (xxv pp.) is also available.

For further information and images of the Hebrew and English introductions
and over 50 sample pages see http://www.maatikei-hashemua.org/ email
maatikeihashemuainstitute@hotmail.com or call +972-52-3812161.

Posted on July 8th, 2008 under New Books, Talmud • RSS 2.0 feed • You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed