Yesod Olam, on establishing the months and leap years, and astronomy, by R. Yitzchak HaYisraeli. Berlin, [1777]. First edition, published by R. Baruch Schick of Shklow disciple of the Gaon of Vilna, from a manuscript found in the collection of R. Tzvi Hirsh Rabbi of Berlin.
Signature at the top of the title page: " Eli. Vilna". In his inscription on the flyleaf, the son of R. Aharon Chaim Zimmerman (1915-1995) relates to this signature and writes: "my father was in doubt whether the signature in this book… is of the Gaon of Vilna… and I do not know and I didn't ask on what he based [his doubt]" (the wording of the signature does not resemble the way the Gaon of Vilna usually signed, neither is the handwriting similar to established manuscripts of the Gaon of Vilna).
Another inscription in early handwriting: "I acquired this book with Maaser money, for… Jacob –?".
The author, R. Yitzchak son of Yosef HaYisraeli, a Spanish Torah scholar in Toledo in the 14th century, disciple of the Rosh. He wrote his work Yesod Olam upon the request of his teacher the Rosh, as stated on the title page. The book covers various branches of mathematics needed to understand the rules of the Hebrew calendar and astronomy.
The book was published by R. Baruch Schick of Berlin, based on a manuscript found in the collection of R. Tzvi Hirsh Levin Rabbi of Berlin and with his support (R. Tzvi Hirsh even wrote an approbation to the book). In his foreword, R. Baruch explains at length the importance of studying science and his aspiration to translate books from all disciplines into Hebrew. R. Baruch wrote similarly in his foreword to the Book of Euclid, which he published in The Hague in 1780, where he added that the Gaon of Vilna was the one who commanded him to translate as many scientific works as possible to Hebrew (see next item).
The list of subscribers, printed after the foreword by R. Baruch, includes "the renowned scholar Moshe Dessau" – Moses Mendelssohn. A poem in honor of the book and publisher, by Naftali (Hartwig) Wessely, was printed after the list of subscribers (in those times, Mendelssohn and his group were still regarded with moderation, and R. Tzvi Hirsh Levin entertained friendly ties with Mendelssohn. The battle of R. Tzvi Hirsh Levin against the Haskalah movement only began at a later point. See: Yisrael A. Shapiro, Diverging Views on the Question of Torah and Sciences in the School of the Gaon of Vilna, Badad, issue 13, 2003, pp. 12-15).
[1], 93, [7] leaves. Without [2] folded plates at end of book. 19 cm. Overall good condition. Stains and wear. Some tears and worming. Lower margins of some leaves trimmed close to text, affecting text. Handwritten inscriptions. New binding. Placed in an elegant matching slipcase.
Provenance: The Yeshayahu Vinograd Collection, Jerusalem.