Arnold Bogumil Ehrlich (1848-1919) was born in Wlodawa, Poland. In 1865 he became the Semitics librarian at the Berlin Royal Library. While there he helped Franz Delitzsch translate the N.T. into Hebrew and collaborated with him on a missionary newspaper, Saat auf Hoffnung. Ehrlich apostatized in Berlin, but he returned to the Jewish fold upon immigrating to New York in 1876. Ehrlich encountered great difficulties in making a living in America. He was, variously, an instructor for Temple Emanuel's preparatory school, artist, calligraphy instructor, employee of the United Hebrew Charities of New York, bibliographer and Hebrew teacher. Among his Hebrew students were Emma Lazarus, George Kohut and Stephen Wise, and his influence was felt by Mordecai Kaplan, Yehoash and many Jewish and Christian scholars. Ehrlich published a number of important works in the field of Bible studies, including Mikra ke-Peshto, a three volume work of exegesis in Hebrew. "He has been ranked with the leading Jewish biblical exegetes of the nineteenth century" and his Randglossen zur hebraischen Bibel (Leipzig, 1908-14) "have been hailed as being among the most significant contributions to biblical scholarship made in America" (Kabakoff [1984], 202). In addition to his activities as a Hebraist-he was a member of the Society of Lovers of the Hebrew Language. He died in Yonkers. The volume contains vocalized selections from the Talmud and Midrash. "My heart originally desired to add a translation and commentary in the language of this land, in order to benefit our youngsters; however, the heart is dependent on the pocket. . . . therefore my work leaves the print-shop without the addition of a translation" (p. [4]).