Sefer Shimush, sharp polemical work against the Sabbatean and Frankist sects, by R. Yaakov Emden. [Altona: R. Yaakov Emden, 1758]. Only edition. On title page (in boldface): "Printed in Amsterdam".

Sefer Shimush is a polemical work against the Sabbatean movement, and particularly the Frankist sect, as stated on the title page: "It is a weapon to be used by every Jew faithful to G-d, to go out armed for war with answers to rebut the accursed and despicable fools and heretics, the Sabbatean sect…".

The name of the book, Shimush, is an acronym for the three parts of the book: Part I, Shot LaSus, containing writings and testimonies from leading Polish rabbis describing the actions of the Frankists in Podolia in 1755; Part II, Meteg LaChamor, containing a response by R. Yaakov Emden to R. Yehonatan Eibeshitz regarding his discourse at the end of Olam Rabba VeZuta, along with Resen Mateh and Pitka DiNefal MeRakia; Part III, Shevet LeGev Kesilim, containing responses to claims of the Frankist sect ("the sect of Shabtai Tzvi") delivered to Bishop Mikołaj Dembowski, in a debate held in Kamianets-Podilskyi in 1757. This part is supplemented by Shevet Musar, containing a description of the breakup of the sect, as well as various letters received by R. Yaakov Emden.

The last two leaves of the book contain six special woodcut illustrations (captioned) relating to the Frankist sect, the support of the Christian authorities for them, and the punishment of the priests. One illustration contains a "despicable and obscene image of the Sabbatean sectarians" (human and animal figures conjoined in one body). Another illustration depicts priests burning a Torah scroll, and several other illustrations depict priests dying painful deaths as punishment (another illustration depicts priests converting to Judaism as a result).

On p. 89a, short gloss handwritten by R. Yaakov Emden (trimmed).

On p. 4b, deletions of a few lines in ink.

Stamp of Jews' College library on title page.