Babylonian Talmud - complete set. Munich-Heidelberg, [1948]. “Published by Union of Rabbis in American region of Ashkenaz”.
After WW II, surviving Jews congregated in displaced persons camps, leading to the need for Gemarot and holy books to be used by refugees. From 1946 the “Union of Rabbis” in Germany, with the assistance of the American army and JDC began a campaign of printing the Talmud for survivors. At first only several tractates were printed in various formats. In 1948, the presented edition - a complete edition of the Talmud - was printed for the first time. Each volume contains two title pages. First title page was designed specifically to commemorate the printing of the Talmud on the scorched soil of Germany; on the upper part an illustration of a Jewish town with the caption “From slavery to redemption and from darkness to great light”; on the lower part of the title page, illustration of barbed wire fences and labor camp, with the caption: “Labor camp in Ashkenaz during Nazi era”. “They had almost consumed me upon earth; but I forsook not thy precepts”. 19 volumes. 39 cm. Very good condition, original bindings, complete. Several ownership inscriptions. Minor damages to some of the bindings.