Siddur Tefillat Yisrael, Sephardi-rite, with laws, piyyutim and supplications. Jerusalem: R. Yisrael Bak, 1842. The first siddur to be printed in Jerusalem.
The title page lauds the superiority and sanctity of the book, which was printed in Jerusalem in absolute holiness.
Many approbations from Sephardi Torah scholars of Jerusalem, Safed, Tiberias and Hebron, and from Ashkenazi Torah scholars of Jerusalem. The "approbation" by the Jerusalemite rabbis printed on the verso of the title page is an authorization from the end of 1840 granting R. Yisrael Bak the exclusive rights to print books in Jerusalem. Additional approbation from the rabbis of Jerusalem (dated Iyar 1842) on leaf 3.
In his introduction, the printer describes the ordeals he underwent in Safed, culminating with the great earthquake which compelled him to relocate to Jerusalem.
The famous printer R. Yisrael Bak (1797-1874) was a disciple of leaders of the Chassidic movement, Rebbe Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev and R. Yisrael of Ruzhin. He operated a printing press in Berditchev, and later in Safed. After the earthquake of 1837, he established a printing press in Jerusalem - the first printing press in Jerusalem to print Hebrew books and the only press in the city until the 1860s.
Signature on title page: "Yaakov de Pinto".
152 leaves. Approx. 15 cm. Most leaves in good condition. Many stains, large stains and wear to some leaves. Several tears. Several leaves with many creases (one leaf partially detached). Old binding, with damaged leather spine.