Terumat HaDeshen – First Edition – Venice, 1519 – Printed by Daniel Bomberg

Terumat HaDeshen – First Edition – Venice, 1519 – Printed by Daniel Bomberg

Terumat HaDeshen, responsa section, by R. Yisrael Isserlein. Venice: Daniel Bomberg, [1519]. First edition.

Terumat HaDeshen was authored by R. Yisrael Isserlein son of R. Petachiah Ashkenazi (Maharai), a leading Ashkenazi rabbi in the transition period between the rishonim and acharonim. The book, which he edited, comprises 354 halachic responsa (the numerical value of Deshen), and was considered a classic of Ashkenazi halachic ruling already during his lifetime. It later served as an important source on the practices of Ashkenazi Jews, repeatedly quoted by the Rama in his glosses on the Shulchan Aruch.

Interestingly, a few generations later, some poskim wrote that R. Yisrael authored not only the answers but also the questions, meaning that the answers were not given to practical questions addressed to him (a fact which significant for halachic ruling; see Shach, Yoreh Deah 196:20; Taz, Yoreh Deah 328:2; Responsa Shaar Efraim 42). Several scholars have qualified this claim, at least regarding some responsa which have parallels in his Pesakim UKetavim and in his disciples' works.

Terumat HaDeshen is usually printed along with Pesakim UKetavim, which does not appear in the present copy (Pesakim UKetavim, compiled by an anonymous disciple of R. Yisrael, contains mainly responsa but also many of his teacher's rulings and customs which the editor heard or witnessed). In later editions, the two works became parts of a single book entitled Terumat HaDeshen.

On title page – ownership inscription in Sephardic script, with calligraphic decoration: "'May my teaching drip like rain', David Parchi". Another inscription by the same writer on the importance of Terumat HaDeshen. Above this inscription is another signature: "Avraham Ninio".

Other inscriptions on several leaves. Handwritten references on margins of some leaves.

[132] leaves. 25 cm. Most leaves in good-fair condition. Stains, including dampstains, and traces of former dampness with light mold stains. Marginal tears to several leaves, including tears to title page, repaired with paper to both sides. Worming in a few places, slightly affecting text. Margins of one leaf trimmed. On title page, stamp deleted by scraping. Old binding.