Or LeNetivah, "Introduction to the Netivot HaShalom composition, containing the Five Books of the Torah, with Tikun Sofrim and Ashkenazi (German) translation, and an explanation printed in Berlin", [by Moshe (Moses) Mendelssohn]. Berlin, [1782]. First edition.
This book is the introduction to Mendelssohn's famous work, the Bi'ur on the Torah. It was first printed as a book in itself simultaneously with the printing of the Five Books of the Torah with the Bi'ur (printed in separate booklets in 1780-1783).
The edition of Mendelssohn's Chumashim was named Netivot HaShalom. The text of the Chumash in this edition was printed without Targum Onkelos and Rashi, accompanied by a German translation of the verses in Hebrew lettering, according to the simple meaning of the Scriptures. Under this translation, the Bi'ur and Tikun Sofrim were printed in Hebrew. In the Bi'ur, the author explains his preference of this particular German translation and gives a brief summary of the opinions of various commentators regarding the simple meaning of the Scriptures, firstly Ibn Ezra and the Rashbam. Tikun Sofrim is a separate work, an encyclopedic composition citing and summarizing the Mesorah of all the verses with halachic decisions. The Ashkenazi Targum was written by Mendelssohn, whereas the Bi'ur was authored in conjunction with various scholars, such as R. Shlomo Dubno, R. Naphtali Herz (Hartwig) Wessely, and others. Tikun Sofrim on Bereshit and Shemot was written by R. Shlomo Dubno and R. Shalom of Mezeritch wrote the Tikun Sofrim on the rest of the Chumashim.
This book was printed by Mendelssohn in the winter of 1783, in a limited edition of only 300 copies, containing the introduction, titled Or LeNetiva, which Mendelssohn wrote for his Chumash Netivot Shalom. This introduction comprehensively covers the basis of the Holy Tongue and its grammar, the Assyrian (Ashuri) script, the history of the Targum and the factors which motivated him to publish his revolutionary Chumashim. Likewise, he explains the purpose of the three commentaries he wrote and the basis for each of these commentaries. At the end he writes: "These will be included in the introduction to the work… and in the future, I will print the introduction in large print, the same as the Chumash, after I conclude the fifth book and the buyer can attach it to any of the books he wishes. I am now printing it in small print, to satisfy my disciples who often ask me about it… I have only printed about three hundred books… Berlin, Rosh Chodesh Kislev 1783…". Indeed, later, a pamphlet with the introduction was printed in a large format matching the size of the Chumashim and bound with one of them.
The philosopher Moshe (Moses) Mendelssohn (1729-1786), predecessor of the German-Jewish Enlightenment movement, roused fierce opposition among G-d fearing Jewish communities.
Many Jewish leaders opposed his Chumashim, including R. Refael HaCohen of Hamburg, author of the Hafla'ah, disciple of the Chatam Sofer and his disciple R. Akiva Yosef Schlesinger, author of Lev Ha'Ivri, joined by Chassidic leaders headed by the author of Bnei Yissaschar in his work Ma'ayan Ganim. In the famous sermon which he delivered in his city of Frankfurt am Main, the author of the Hafla'ah attacked the Bi'ur and its author with sharp critism: "…A public despicable act has been carried out and nobody is protesting, a new commentary on our holy Torah, fabricated in their hearts, foolish, nonsensical thoughts… I have seen this and am alarmed and trembling… has such a crime been committed that one man sinking in impurity… could say accept my opinion and my commentary on the Torah, and he casts aside all the teachings of our Sages, the Talmud and the Midrashim and the Torah commentators which are more pleasant than gold… In Vilna they were burnt in public… they should merit their portion before the Holy King in their zealousness on behalf of G-d…".
Nonetheless, more moderate opinions were heard as well regarding Mendelssohn and his Chumashim with the Bi'ur. These Chumashim were common in the homes of Orthodox Jews, especially in Lithuania and in Germany and there were even Torah scholars who were fond of these Chumashim and cited the Bi'ur in their books. For example, R. Yosef Zundel of Salant owned the Chumashim with the Bi'ur and in one place, erased lines to which he opposed (Peretz Sandlar, HaBi'ur LaTorah shel Moshe Mendelssohn, note on p. 216). The enthusiastic approbations of R. Zvi Hirsh Rabbi of Berlin and of his son R. Shaul appear in the beginning of Chumash Shemot of the Bi'ur. Likewise, Elazar Fleckeles, leading disciple of the Nodah B'Yehuda, cites these Chumashim dozens of times and he calls Mendelssohn "the famous sage". Mendelssohn's commentary is also often cited in the book HaKtav V'HaKabbalah as well as by R. Shmuel Strashun (the Rashash) in his notations on the Talmud and on Midrash Raba and by R. Yosef Zecharya Stern, in his book of responsa Zecher Yehosef. Many Orthodox German rabbis would use and cite these books, although they did not explicitly note the source. R. Moshe Meisels, a prominent disciple of the Ba'al Hatanya writes his endorsement of Mendelssohn and his books (printed in the Yeshurun anthology, 9, p. 739): "…Pleasant are the teachings of Moshe in his translation, a great man among giants, his stature exceeds all titles…". R. Avraham Eliyahu Kaplan recounts that his grandfather would sit and study the weekly parsha from the Chumash with the Bi'ur and upon someone expressing their wonder at this practice; he would explain that the main problem with the Chumashim with the Bi'ur is the introduction to the book and not the Bi'ur itself (B'Ikvot HaYirah, pp. 139-140).
Interestingly, complete sections of this introduction are cited in the book Toldot Adam (Dyhernfurth, 1801), the biography of R. Zelmele of Vilna, by the Magid R. Yechezkel Feivel of Vilna. These passages are a verbatim copy from this introduction without noting their source.
Signatures and ownership inscriptions ["Chaim…", "Petachya Mordechai…", "Meir Lipman"' in Cyrillic and Latin letters]. Stamp on p. [14a]: "Library of the late R. Matitya Strashun". Erasure and revision in an early handwriting on p. [40a].
[47] leaves. 15.5 cm. Good condition. Stains. Erasures in black ink on the title page and on the last leaf. Original binding with its original leather spine, with defects (the back board is partially unravelled, with leaves from Mishnah with the Etz Chaim commentary pasted in it).