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In Hebrew. 108 pages. 7.5 x 5 inches. Browned, stained. 3 pinhead size worm holes through all the pages. New dark brown leather binding. Singerman JUDAICA AMERICANA v. 1, page 306, #1653: Falk, Joshua. Copies: AJHS, DLC, NN, OCH. Vinograd v. 2, page 480, #53: 8vo. in Benjacob. Deinard Kohelet America. # 4. 8vo. THE FIRST SCHOLARLY BOOK IN HEBREW PRINTED IN AMERICA. (The People and The Book, New York Public Library, 1954, #69.) See: Bernard Drachman, "Neo Hebraic Literature in America", in Appendix to JTS Association, Proceedings, New York 1900 page 64. The typesetter, in the colophon, gives thanks that he was able to assist in the production of this book, the firs of its kind in America; asher hu reshit b'medinat America. The author was one of the early Russian Jewish preachers in America. Commentary on the Mishnah treatise, Chapters of the Fathers). Naphtali ben Samuel of Thron (Prussia) for the Jewish Messenger Office. The first Hebrew book printed in New York. The author emigrated from Kornik to the United States in 1854 and became rabbi at Newburgh and later Poughkeepsie. The colophon reads: "I give thanks that it was my good fortune to be the typesetter of this scholarly book, the first of its kind in America. Blessed be the God of Israel who surely will not deny us the Redeemer." Philosophical Commentary to the Ethics of the Fathers]. A novel and beautiful typography. Vinograd, New York 53; Deinard, Koheleth America 4; Singerman 1653; Goldman, Hebrew Printing in America, 688]. The author, Joshua Falk, was aware of the revolutionary aspect of issuing work of Jewish scholarship - in Hebrew - in the New World. His preface urges people to buy this book I order to prove that Jewish works of this nature do indeed have an audience in America; consequently, more such rabbinic texts will be printed in this country. The typesetter, Naphtali ben Cathriel Samuel of Thorn (Prussia), also recognized the book's importance, viz. the colophon: "I give thanks that it was my good fortune to be the typesetter of this scholarly book, the first of its kind in America." The author bases much of his work on classic philosophical investigations culled from Maimonides' Guide of the Perplexed, Halevi's Kuzari, Arama's Akeidath Yitzhachak, Albo's Ikarim and Aldabi's Shevilei Emnunah. Joshua Falk (1799-1864) a natifve of Poland, arrived in America in 1858 and served briefly as Rabbi in Newburgh and Poughkeepsie, New York. He died in the year of the book's publication whilst visiting his daughter in Keokuk, Iowa. See A. J. Karp, From the Ends of the Earth: Judaic Treasures from the Library of Congress (1991) pages 316-317 (illustrated) First original Hebrew work written by a Jew in the United States to be published in America. The typesetter, Naptali ben Katriel Shmuel of Thorn (Prussia), added a colophon expressing his gratitude that it was his good fortune to set in type the first Hebrew book written and published in America (other than the bible and prayerbook).The author, Joshua Falk, was born in Poland in 1799, arrived in America in 1858, and died during the year of publication while on a visit to his daughter in Iowa. During his two-year stay in America he served as a rabbi in Newburgh and Poughkeepsie, New York. Singerman 1653 cites 4 institutional copies, OCLA locates three additional copies.
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