"History of the Rites of the Jews" by Rabbi Yehuda Aryeh of Modena. Three editions in Dutch translation:
1. Kerk-zeeden en de gewoonten die huiden in gebruik zijn onder de Jooden. Amsterdam: Timotheus ten Hoorn, 1683. First Dutch edition.
[31] leaves, 96; 99-200 pages, [4] leaves; 201, [6] pages + [1] frontispiece + [4] engraved plates (folded).
2. Kerk-zeeden en de gewoonten die huiden in gebruik zyn onder de Jooden.
Amsterdam: Daniel van den Dalen, 1693.
[31] leaves, 98; 101-200 pages, [4] leaves; 203, [4] pages + [1] frontispiece + [4] engraved plates (folded).
3. Kerk-zeeden en de gewoonten die huiden in gebruik zyn onder de Jooden.
Amsterdam: Andries van Damme, 1725.
[31] leaves, 198 pages, [4] leaves; 203, [4] pages + [1] frontispiece + [4] engraved plates (folded).
Three books. Approx. 15.5-16 cm. Good condition. Stains and minor blemishes. Minor worming and marginal tears to some leaves. Two vellum and one leather bindings (contemporary), blemished and worn.
"History of the Rites of the Jews" was first published in 1637. It was written in Italian by Rabbi Yehuda Aryeh of Modena at the request of the English Ambassador in Venice, on behalf of James I, King of England. Having gained success, the book was translated into several languages (including French, English and Hebrew) and used for years as an important source of information about the daily customs of the Jewish people. The first Dutch edition, translated by Abraham Godart, was published in 1683, and was bound together with an essay by Le sieur de Simonville (pen name of French priest Richard Simon) – a comparison between Jewish and Christian customs. The present editions are supplemented with engravings depicting the Jewish wedding ceremony, divorce, Halizah and circumcision.
The author, Rabbi Yehuda Aryeh of Modena (1571–1648), a Rabbi in Venice, teacher and Chazan, grammarian and poet, an impressive speaker and great orator. Composed several books, among which "Sur MeRa" (1596), Tzemach Tzadik (1600), the biographical work Chayei Yehuda (1602), and many more.
Provenance: The Gross Family Collection, Tel Aviv, NHB.347, NHB.348, and NHB.349.
