Menasseh ben Israel's Mission to Oliver Cromwell, Being a Reprint of the Pamphlets Published by Menasseh ben Israel to Promote the Re-admission of the Jews to England, 1649-1656, edited by Lucien Wolf. London: Macmilan & Co. for the Jewish Historical Society of England, 1901. English.
Anthology of compositions by Menashe Ben Israel (1604-1657), rabbi, preacher and statesman, born in France, founder of the first Hebrew printing press in Amsterdam. The compositions concern the Jewish question and the Jews and were written as part of Ben Israel's efforts to promote the Jewish right of return to England after their expulsion in 1290. Including the apologetic composition "Vindiciae Judaeorum". The book was edited by the historian and journalist Lucien Wolf, and is accompanied by three fine etchings - portraits of Ben Israel. Two of them made from etchings by Rembrandt.
In 1655 a convention was held in England, headed by Oliver Cromwell, to deal with the Jews' right to return to England. Menasseh Ben Israel was invited to England by Cromwell as a representative of the Jewish community to participate in the discussions. Ben Israel supported founding a Jewish community in England. As part of his efforts to influence the public opinion he composed the pamphlet "Vindiciae Judaeorum" - an apologetic composition dedicated to the British parliament, in which he refuted all arguments against Jews. LXXXVIII, 190, [1] pp + [3] etchings, 24.5 cm. Good condition. Stains. First leaves are detached. First title page is damaged. Ex-library copy.