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Only edition of this highly regarded super-commentary on Targum Onlelos by Simon Baruch ben Alexander Sender Schefftel. There are Hebrew and German title pages, the former informing that the book was brought to press by Perez (Joseph) ben Baruch Asher Perles. It is followed by a German title page, an introduction by Perles and then the text in a single column in square letters. This commentary, which contains many valuable critical and exegetical notes, is considered one of the most important reference works on the Targum Onḳelos.
Simon Baruch ben Alexander Sender Schefftel was a German Hebraist (1813-1885). Born in Breslau he settled, in 1848, as a merchant, at Posen. After his retirement from business, in 1871, he prepared his Hebrew commentary on the Targum Onḳelos, which was published posthumously by his son-in-law Joseph Perles.
Onkelos is the name of a famous convert to Judaism in Tannaic times (c.35-120 CE). He is considered to be the author of the famous Targum Onkelos (c.110 CE). It is reported that Onkelos, son of Kalonymus, was the nephew of the emperor, Titus. Onkelos was thinking about becoming a ger, a convert to Judaism. So he went and, with the aid of a necromancer, raised his uncle Titus from the dead and asked him, "Who is held in the highest regard in the Other World?" Titus answered, "Israel." "What then," Onkelos asked, "would you say about my joining them?" Said Titus: 'Their observances are so numerous that it is impossible to endure them. Instead, go and attack the Jews in your world, and you will become master over them, as it is written, 'Her adversaries are now masters' (Lamentations 1:5); whoever harasses Israel becomes a master of men." Next Onkelos went and, with the aid of a necromancer, raised Balaam from the dead. He also asked him, "Who is held in the highest regard in the Other World?" Balaam answered, "Israel." "What then," Onkelos asked, "do you say about my joining them?" Balaam said: 'Thou shalt not seek their peace nor their prosperity all thy days forever." Deuteronomy 23:7.
Then Onkelos went and, with the aid of a necromancer, raised Jesus from the dead. He asked him, "Who is held in the highest regard in the Other World?" Jesus said, "Israel." "What do you say about my joining them?" Jesus said, "Seek their welfare, seek not their harm. Whoever touches them touches the apple of God's eye. Observe the difference in behavior between the sinners in Israel and the prophets among the nations of the world." Talmud, Gittin 55b-57a (uncensored version).
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מלאכת שמשון ברוך (בן ה"ר אלכסנדר סענדר) שעפטעל ז"ל. הובאו לבית הדפוס ע"י פרץ בן ... מהו' ברוך אשר פערלעס, רב דק"ק מינכען, חתן המחבר ז"ל. (הגהתיו וסדרתיו דוב בער פרוס).
Added t.p.: Biure Onkelos, Scholien zum Targum Onkelos, von Simon Baruch Schefftel. Nach dem Tode des Verfassers herausgegeben von Dr. Joseph Perles, Rabbiner in Muenchen.
עמ' 1: הערת המ"ל. |
