Auction 83 - Part I - Rare and Important Items
"Discourse on the State of the Jews of Venice, " an Essay in Defense of the Jews by Rabbi Simone Luzzatto – First Edition – Venice, 1638 – With Chapters dealing with the Contribution of Jewish Merchants to Economic Development, a Brief Discussion on the Subject of "The Jewish Character, " a Detailed Account of the Dispersion of the Jewish People throughout the Lands of the World, and More
Opening: $1,000
Estimate: $2,000 - $3,000
Sold for: $2,750
Including buyer's premium
Discorso circa il stato de gl'hebrei et in particolar dimoranti nell'inclita città di Venetia – "Discourse on the State of the Jews, and in particular those dwelling in the illustrious city of Venice, " by Simone Luzzatto. Venice: Gioanne Calleoni, 1638. First edition. Italian.
First edition of the "Discourse on the state of the Jews of Venice, " the highly influential book written by Simone (Simcha) Luzzatto (1582-1663), published roughly a hundred and fifty years after the Expulsion from Spain (1492) and approximately seventy years after the expulsion of Jews from the Papal States. Luzzatto's book represented an attempt to convince the rulers of Venice that the Jews were bringing prosperity to the Republic of Venice, and did not in any way pose a threat to its Christian character.
The book consists of eighteen short chapters ("considerations"), written in the flowery style characteristic of 17th-century baroque Europe, and presents a comprehensive overview. This is one of the most important of extant testimonies regarding the Jews of Venice in this period of history, dealing with the customs and character of the typical Jewish subject; the Jewish faith and its universalist foundations; the proficiency of Jews in trade and the Jewish contribution to the economic development of large cities; an analysis of the deficiencies of the Jewish character; and, in addition, a detailed account of the dispersion of the Jewish people throughout the lands of the world, from Persia in the east to the Atlantic coast in the west – the first published account of its kind since the time of Benjamin of Tudela (1130-1173 CE). Some of the chapters of the work – whose intended readership is Christian scholars and rulers – include surprisingly unconventional and uniquely curious "defense arguments." For instance, in the fifth consideration ("Of the Deference and Promptness of the Jews in Obeying"), Luzzatto describes – as a positive attribute – the ease with which edicts and taxes can be imposed on the Jew: " The Jews, however, were always willing to obey public commands with swift compliance, for they are dispersed and scattered all over the world and deprived of any source of protection, so that when particular taxes were imposed on them, they never dared to utter or formulate so much as a simple complaint." In the eighteenth chapter, Luzzatto attempts to underline the similarities between Jewish and Catholic views regarding the afterlife: " And even though their authors do not frequently mention the word 'purgatory, ' they divide the fate of the separated soul into three parts: beatitude, finite temporal punishment, and the eternal." In addition, the eleventh chapter – one of the most beautifully written segments of the book – features a lengthy and poetic testimony regarding the character, weaknesses, and strengths of the Jews as a people: " Nonetheless, should someone still wish to investigate the universal habits [they share], one could say that they are a Nation of a fainthearted, cowardly, and half-hearted spirit, incapable in their present situation of any political government... Their errors and offences are almost always more spineless and wretched than atrocious... The internal image of our soul is composed of a mosaic that appears to form a single idea. Upon approaching it, however, one sees that it is made up of various fragments of cheap and precious stones put together."
The English quotes above are taken from Simone Luzzatto, "Discourse on the State of the Jews." Bilingual edition edited, translated, and commented by Giuseppe Veltri and Anna Lissa. Berlin/Boston: De Gruyter, 2019. For more information, see Dante Lattes, "Ma'amar al Yehudei Venezia." Jerusalem: Mossad Bialik, 1950. Introductions by Riccardo Benjamin Bachi and Moses Avigdor Shulvass.
92 ff., approx. 20 cm. Includes a listing of errata absent from most other copies. Good condition. Creases and stains. Open tears and worming to several leaves (with damage to text on final leaf), some professionally restored. Handwritten notations and marks to title page and a number of additional leaves. New vellum binding, with ribbon ties and gilt lettering to spine. Bookplate to front inside binding.
First edition of the "Discourse on the state of the Jews of Venice, " the highly influential book written by Simone (Simcha) Luzzatto (1582-1663), published roughly a hundred and fifty years after the Expulsion from Spain (1492) and approximately seventy years after the expulsion of Jews from the Papal States. Luzzatto's book represented an attempt to convince the rulers of Venice that the Jews were bringing prosperity to the Republic of Venice, and did not in any way pose a threat to its Christian character.
The book consists of eighteen short chapters ("considerations"), written in the flowery style characteristic of 17th-century baroque Europe, and presents a comprehensive overview. This is one of the most important of extant testimonies regarding the Jews of Venice in this period of history, dealing with the customs and character of the typical Jewish subject; the Jewish faith and its universalist foundations; the proficiency of Jews in trade and the Jewish contribution to the economic development of large cities; an analysis of the deficiencies of the Jewish character; and, in addition, a detailed account of the dispersion of the Jewish people throughout the lands of the world, from Persia in the east to the Atlantic coast in the west – the first published account of its kind since the time of Benjamin of Tudela (1130-1173 CE). Some of the chapters of the work – whose intended readership is Christian scholars and rulers – include surprisingly unconventional and uniquely curious "defense arguments." For instance, in the fifth consideration ("Of the Deference and Promptness of the Jews in Obeying"), Luzzatto describes – as a positive attribute – the ease with which edicts and taxes can be imposed on the Jew: " The Jews, however, were always willing to obey public commands with swift compliance, for they are dispersed and scattered all over the world and deprived of any source of protection, so that when particular taxes were imposed on them, they never dared to utter or formulate so much as a simple complaint." In the eighteenth chapter, Luzzatto attempts to underline the similarities between Jewish and Catholic views regarding the afterlife: " And even though their authors do not frequently mention the word 'purgatory, ' they divide the fate of the separated soul into three parts: beatitude, finite temporal punishment, and the eternal." In addition, the eleventh chapter – one of the most beautifully written segments of the book – features a lengthy and poetic testimony regarding the character, weaknesses, and strengths of the Jews as a people: " Nonetheless, should someone still wish to investigate the universal habits [they share], one could say that they are a Nation of a fainthearted, cowardly, and half-hearted spirit, incapable in their present situation of any political government... Their errors and offences are almost always more spineless and wretched than atrocious... The internal image of our soul is composed of a mosaic that appears to form a single idea. Upon approaching it, however, one sees that it is made up of various fragments of cheap and precious stones put together."
The English quotes above are taken from Simone Luzzatto, "Discourse on the State of the Jews." Bilingual edition edited, translated, and commented by Giuseppe Veltri and Anna Lissa. Berlin/Boston: De Gruyter, 2019. For more information, see Dante Lattes, "Ma'amar al Yehudei Venezia." Jerusalem: Mossad Bialik, 1950. Introductions by Riccardo Benjamin Bachi and Moses Avigdor Shulvass.
92 ff., approx. 20 cm. Includes a listing of errata absent from most other copies. Good condition. Creases and stains. Open tears and worming to several leaves (with damage to text on final leaf), some professionally restored. Handwritten notations and marks to title page and a number of additional leaves. New vellum binding, with ribbon ties and gilt lettering to spine. Bookplate to front inside binding.
Italian Jewry – Books and Documents
Italian Jewry – Books and Documents