Physical Description

52, [1] pp., octavo, 184:123 mm. usual light age staining, nice margins. A good copy bound in the original half cloth and marbled paper over boards, rubbed.

Apparently first Hebrew book printed in Casablanca.

Detail Description

Kizzur laws of on prayer, zizit, tephilin, Sefer Torah, Kri’at ha-Torah, bikur holim, huppah, and Shabbat. This is followed by a commentary on Pirkei Avot, ethical readings to be said daily, piyyutim for motzai Shabbat, and annulment of curses (hatorat kellalim). Hemed Bachurim is written in a combination of Hebrew and colloquial Moroccan Arabic.

The volume begins with approbations from R. Hayyim Joseph Ma’aman and R. Abraham Abi-Hasira and an introduction from R. Jacob Lacrif. It is published by the Magen David Zionist Society. An interesting feature of the book is that the text is printed with fonts from two different presses. The first part, through page 24, has fonts identical to those of the ben Hiyyon press in Tangier and was begun in1919, the date on the title page. The second part, to the end of the book, has the fonts of the press of Moses Amar and Shalom Albaz and was printed in 1922. The reason for the delay seems to have been a dispute with ben Hiyyon.

Hebrew Description

של חברת מגן דוד הציונית... קצורי דינים די תפילה, ומנחה, וספר תורה, וקריאת התורה, וצדקה, ונדרים ושבועות, ובקור חולים, ודיני נשואין, ומוסר... והתרת נדרים ... רפיוטים די תעמאלו עלה לחברה הנז', ופזמונים של מוצאי שבק' [שבת קודש]... יצא לאור בהשתדלותי... יעקב לכרייף...

References

Bnei Melekhim p. 53 no. 103; Bibliography of the Hebrew Book 1470-1960 #000144934