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Three classic works written by medieval Jewish sages. The first two books are by R. Jonah ben Abraham Gerondi (Rabbenu Jonah). Both Sefer ha-Yirah and Iggeret ha-Teshuvah are infoluential ethical works that have been studied and cherished for almost a millennium by Jews. R. Jonah ben Abraham Gerondi (Rabbenu Jonah, c. 1200–1263) was born in Gerona, in Catalonia. He is accounted among the great sages of Spain. Rabbenu Jonah was a cousin of R. Moses ben Nahman (Nahmanides, Ramban, 1194–1270), and a student of the brothers R. Moses and Samuel ben Shneur Evreux and afterwards of R. Solomon ben Abraham of Montpellier (13th cent.). When the latter opposed and placed a ban on Maimonides’ Moreh Nevukhim Jonah was a signatory. He later regretted and reputedly publicly repented doing so after Maimonides’ books were burned in 1232 by the Dominicans. Jonah determined to settle in Erez Israel, but was delayed en route in Barcelona where he gave discourses for three years. He again set out for the Holy Land, but in Toledo the community induced him to stay and instruct them. Rabbenu Jonah founded a yeshivah there and died before he could resume his journey. Among Rabbenu Rabbenu Jonah’s students are R. Solomon ben Abraham Adret (Rashba, c. 1235-c. 1310), R. Solomon ben Eli of Sarai, and R. Hillel ben Samuel of Verona (c. 1220-95).
The final work is the classic Sefer ha-Yashar attributed to Rabbenu Tam (R. Jacob ben Meir). Rabbenu Tam was the most prominent of French tosafists; born at Ramerupt, on the Seine, in 1100; died at Troyes June 9, 1171. His mother, Jochebed, was a daughter of Rashi. Rabbenu Tam received his education from his father, from Joseph Ṭob 'Elem (Bonfils) II., and from his eldest brother, Samuel ben Meïr (RaSHBaM). After his father's death Jacob conducted a Talmudic academy in Ramerupt. On May 8, 1147, on the second day of the Feast of Weeks, French crusaders broke into his home, robbed him of everything except his books, dragged him into a field, insulted him on account of his religion, and decided to kill him. They inflicted five wounds upon his head, in order, as they said, to take revenge upon the most prominent man in Israel for the five blows which the Jews had dealt to Jesus. At that moment a prince of high rank happened to pass, and Jacob called upon him for protection, promising him a horse worth five marks in return. The prince thereupon bade the crusaders give the rabbi into his keeping, promising that he would either persuade him to be baptized or place him in their power again on the following day.
Printing in Shanghai occurred primarily during World War II and immediately after (1940–46), when remnants of Lithuanian yeshivot (Mir, Slobodka), as well as Lubavitch Ḥasidim, found refuge in Shanghai and printed – mostly photostatically – rabbinic, ethical, and ḥasidic works in limited editions for their own use. To the 80 items enumerated by Z. Harkavy (in Ha-Sefer, no. 9, 1961, 52–3; Hashlamot le-Mafte'aḥ ha-Mafteḥot (by S. Shunami, 1966), 3–4) have to be added – at least – the above work by J.J. Sulaiman and S. Elberg's Akedat Treblinka (Yid., 1946). Hebrew newspapers were printed in Shanghai as early as 1904.
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