Physical Description

Detail Description

Two part elucidation of R. Moses Isserles’ (Rema) Torat ha-Hattat and of the Shulhan Arukh, Hilkhot Niddah and R. Shabbetai ben Meir ha-Kohen’s (Shakh, 1621-62) Kunteres ha-Sefekot by R. Jacob ben Joseph Reischer (Jacob Backofen; c. 1670–1733). Minhat Ya’akov, R. Reischer’s first published work, is in two parts, each with its own title page. The attractive title page, which has the printer’s mirror image monogram pressmark, of Minhat Ya’akov states that it is a comprehensive practical commentary to the Torat ha-Hattat (on Issur ve-Hetter (dietary laws)) of the Rema, which now lies neglected because of its brevity and the complexity of its subject matter. It also deals with the laws of niddah, sefek sefeka, and includes responsa, for, “sin lies at the door, crouching between two burdens” (cf. Genesis 4:7, 49:14), resolving difficulties and addressing questions from earlier and later sources. There are introductions for Torat ha-Hattat and from R. Reicher, Next are approbations from R. Samuel Heilman, R. Isaac Zeckel Ethausen, and R. Nathaniel Ashkenazi Weil, an introductory paragraph from R. Reischer’s father-in=law, verse from his father, and a lsit of abbreviations. The text of Minhat Ya’akov is comprised of Torat ha-Hattat in square letters and Minhat Ya;akov in rabbinic letters. It is followed by Torat ha-Shelamim is on Yoreh De’ah Hilkhot Niddah (nos. 183-96) and Kunteres ha-Sefekot.

R. Reischer was born in Prague to a distinguished rabbinic family, and studied there under R. Aaron Simeon Spira and then under Spira’s son R. Benjamin Wolf, marrying the latter’s daughter. He served as dayyan in Prague and afterwards in Rzeszow, Galicia. The name Reischer derives from the fact that his family came from that location, rather than, as is erroneously believed, because he officiated in the rabbinate of that city. R. Reischer also served as av bet din and rosh yeshivah in Ansbach, in Worms, and from 1718, held those positions in Metz. He was also the author of Hok Ya’akov / Solet le-Minhah ve-Shemen le-Minhah (Dessau, 1696), the former on Hilkhot Pesah, the latter an addenda to this work; Shevut Ya’kov, responsa (I Halle, 1710, with the novellae Pe’er Ya’akov; II Offenbach, 1711, with a discourse on migo and sefek sefeka; and III Metz, 1789, with a response to criticism of his earlier works); and Iyyun Ya’akov (Wilhelmsdorf, 1729), on the Ein Ya’akov (Wilhelmsdorf, 1729).

Hebrew Description:

.. גם הוספנו מהדורא בתרא (ספר סולת למנחה ושמן למנחה) ... (חלק א-ב).

על-פי דפוס פיורדא תקכ"ג. ההסכמות נשמטו.

References