Fine binding for book of Psalms of Rabbi Moshe Segal Brandeis (Rabbi Moshe Charif). [Mainz], [1750].
Silver binding illuminated with foliage. On the front, there is a gold piece shaped as a shield, with the engraving "Moshe Segal Brandeis, Rabbi of [Mainz] community". There is an identical shield on the back, with the word "Psalms" and the date engraved on it in Hebrew. Inside the binding there is an empty book with thick paper, to preserve the cover's shape.
Rabbi Moshe Brandeis was one of the great rabbis of Germany-Ashkenaz in his time. He was born in Prague, to family descended from the Maharal, and studied under Rabbi Avraham Broda. 1717-1733 – Rabbi in Bumsle, and from 1733 through his passing in 1767, he served as Mainz's Rabbi. He was known throughout the world as one of the Torah giants of his time, and was particularly known for his great sharpness, which earned him the name "R' Moshe Charif" (=the sharp one). His books were published from manuscript by Machon Yerushalayim as Chidushei Rabbi Moshe Charif, Jerusalem 1987, with a preface about his life (see enclosed material).
Height: 10 cm, width: 7 cm. Very good condition. Scrathes on the gold shield. Cover is slightly detached from one of the hinges. Missing ornament. Slightly stained by time.