Philipp Ernst Christfels – A Dispute in the Kingdom of the Dead between Rashi and Martin Luther about the Holy ...

Philipp Ernst Christfels – A Dispute in the Kingdom of the Dead between Rashi and Martin Luther about the Holy Scriptures – Schwabach, 1737 – Engraving
Gespräch in dem Reiche der Todten über die Bibel und Talmud zwischen Dr. Luther und Raschi [A Discussion in the Kingdom of the Dead about the Bible and the Talmud between Dr. Luther and Rashi], by Philipp Ernst Christfels. Schwabach: Johann Jacob Enderes, 1737. German and some Hebrew. Parts 1-2 (of 4).
A composition describing an imaginary dispute between Rashi and Martin Luther, meant to illustrate the superiority of Christianity over Judaism and refute the rabbinical interpretation of the Holy Scriptures. The engraving facing the title page depicts Rashi and Martin Luther arguing against the background of a full bookcase.
The author, Philipp Ernst Christfels (1671-1759), was born as Mordechai ben Moshe Shemaya to a Jewish family in the city of Neuhaus (Bavaria). In his youth he was sent to study at the yeshiva of Rabbi Avraham Broda (1650-1717) and after graduating, moved to Fürth and married the daughter of a Jewish inn owner. In Fürth he became the disciple of Avraham Rovigo (one of the leading Italian kabbalists in the 17th century), and at the same time, became acquainted with Christian clerics. In 1701, he decided to convert to Christianity, divorced his wife and was baptized. He published several theological compositions defaming Judaism.
[1] engraving, 14, 80 pp. 21.5 cm. Good condition. Minor stains. Worming throughout the book. Stamp on verso of the engraving (faded). New binding (with new endpapers).