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Entdecktes Judenthum, oder Gründlicher und wahrhaffter Bericht, welchergestalt die verstockte Juden die Hochheilige Dreyeinigkeit, Gott Vater, Sohn und Heiligen Geist erschrecklicher Weise lästern [Judaism Unmasked – a thorough and true report about the horrifying manner in which the stubborn Jews blaspheme the Holy Trinity…], by Johann Andreas Eisenmenger. [Berlin], 1711 (on the title page: Königsberg). Second edition. Two parts in one volume. German, Hebrew and some Arabic.
Johann Andreas Eisenmenger (1654-1704), a German orientalist and professor of Semitic languages, had a formative influence on modern antisemitism. Eisenmenger studied the Bible, the Talmud and rabbinical writings and met with Jewish scholars and rabbis, seeking evidence proving that Judaism was immoral and promoted hatred towards Christians. During his studies, for some 19 years, he professed to be interested in converting to Judaism; in 1694 he even printed the Hebrew Bible in Frankfurt and was granted the approbation of Rabbi David Gruenhut (R. Gruenhut wrote an introduction to the Bible, describing Eisenmenger as an "exalted scholar"). Entdecktes Judenthum – "Judaism Unmasked" – is an extensive study directed against Judaism, written in what seems to be a reliable scientific manner. It is considered to this day a classic of modern antisemitism and was dubbed "an encyclopedia of Jew hatred" by historian Simon Dubnow.
This is the second edition, printed clandestinely in violation of an injunction against the book, seven years after the author's death. In order to avoid prosecution, a false imprint was given, with the city of Königsberg, which was outside the jurisdiction of Emperor Joseph I, as place of printing.
[20], 1016, [1]; [3], 1111, [1] pp, 21 cm. Good condition. Stains and minor blemishes. Ownership inscriptions on front endpapers. Vellum-covered binding, worn and damaged.