An introduction to the Talmud by Ephraim Moses Pinner (ca. 1800-1880). It includes a Vorrede (foreword) by Johann Joachim Bellermann. The text is in German, and there are many places where the original text of the Talmud is displayed in a column next to the German translation of that text. The introduction includes many pages that are exclusively in Hebrew, and there is frequent use of Hebrew words and phrases elsewhere.

The author, Ephraim Moses ben Alexander Susskind Pinner (c.1800–1880) was a Talmudist. Born in Pinne (district of Poznan), Pinner studied Talmud under Rabbi Jacob of Lissa. In 1831 he compiled an abbreviated form of the Talmud, Kizzur Talmud Yerushalmi ve-Talmud Bavli. Pinner is best known for his ambitious scheme to translate into German the whole of the Talmud; he enlisted the moral support of some prominent rabbis, including Rabbi Moses Sofer (Schreiber) of Pressburg, who eventually withdrew his name. It appears that Pinner maintained that Rabbi Nathan Marcus Adler of Hanover (later of London) had undertaken to translate the difficult tractates Eruvin and Yevamot under this scheme, but Adler denied the existence of such an arrangement. In 1842 Berakhot was published in Hebrew with German translation. Czar Nicholas I lent his name to the project, together with other notables. The volume was dedicated to the czar, who had shown an unusual interest in the translation of the Talmud before Pinner's venture - and not with the best of intentions. No further volume appeared. Samuel David Luzzatto criticized the work somewhat adversely in Kerem Hemed (2 (1836), 174–82).

Johann Joachim Bellerman was a Christian Hebraist and professor of theology at Berlin University; born at Erfurt Sept. 23, 1754; died at Berlin Oct. 25, 1842. On graduating from the University of Göttingen Bellermann accepted a position as teacher at Reval, Russia, where he remained for four years. On his return to Erfurt in 1782, he became "Magister legens" in the gymnasium, and later assistant professor of theology and philosophy in the University of Erfurt. In 1804 he was appointed director of the Gymnasium zum Grauen Kloster at Berlin, and professor of theology at the university in that city. Bellermann was one of the earliest students of Hebrew epigraphy. Among his numerous writings on various subjects, the following works are of special interest to Jewish scholars: (1) "De Inscriptionibus Hebraicis Erfordiæ Repertis," printed in the Gymnasium Program, i.-iv., 1793-94; (2) "De Duodecim Lapidibus in Jordanis Laveo Erectis," 1795; (3) "De Ænigmatibus Hebraicis," Prog. i.-iv., 1796-1800; (4) "De Usu Palæographiæ Hebraicæ ad Explicanda Biblia Sacra, cum Tribus Tabulis Æri Incisis"; (5) "Ueber den Kunstvollen Plan im Buche Hiob," 1813; (6) "Versuch einer Metrik der Hebräer," 1813; (7) "Geschichtliche Nachrichten aus dem Alterthum über Essäer und Therapeuten," 1821; (8) "Die Urim und Thumim, die Aeltesten Gemmen; ein Beitrag zur Alterthumskunde," 1824.