Zichron Moshe, supercommentary to Rashi on the Torah and the Five Megillot, with halachic rulings on various topics, by R. Moshe son of R. Zevulun Eliezer Halperin of Brisk. [Lublin], 1611. First edition. With approbations by R. Mordechai Yoffe author of the Levushim, the Maharsha and the Sema.
This composition, which for the main part is a supercommentary to Rashi on the Torah, also contains many rulings. Some were printed as selections at the end of the book, and some within the book. This book is most famous for the alphabetical list of names of men and women as they should be inscribed in a get (divorce document), which is recorded in Parashat Ki Tetze. In Parashat Mishpatim, the text of the ketubah is explained at length. In Parashat Lech Lecha, the author elaborates on the laws of Maaser Kesafim (giving a tithe of one's income to charity), and he attributes the wealth of German Jewry to their meticulousness is observing this commandment - "their wealth is preserved, and they bequeath it to their sons and grandsons" - as opposed to the residents of Poland and Lithuania, who for the most part do not retain their wealth. He relates of his childhood memories in Germany, before he moved to Poland and Lithuania: "I, Moshe… witnessed in my childhood how my father was meticulous with the commandment of Maaser, and so I noticed was the practice of most German Jews. And then I came to these countries, and I saw that most people do not observe this commandment properly… I thought that perhaps that is the reason why most German Jews retain their wealth and bequeath it to their descendants, while only the minority in these countries merit this… therefore I wrote these words to arouse and enthuse the hearts of the Jewish people…" (p. 7a onwards).
The author, R. Moshe son of R. Zevulun Eliezer Halperin (b. before 1555-d.1613-1633), was a disciple of the Maharshal and the Rema. Some suggest that R. Moshe was the father-in-law or brother-in-law of the Maharsha (Elef Margaliot, p. 123). He originated from Germany, moved to Poland, and lived in Posen between 1585-1605. He later settled in Brisk, and around 1608, immigrated to Eretz Israel.
Early Ashkenazic signature on the title page: "Yehuda Leib Broch". On the endpaper, ownership inscription with an interesting note by R. Meshulam Gross Rabbi of Lundenburg, Moravia (d. before 1911): "In this book, you will find a good and correct thing, and that is the 'List of names of men and women in alphabetical order, as they should be spelled in a get', leaf 46 of Parashat Ki Tetze, and some of it was quoted in the book Nachalat Shiva section 46. Meshulam Gross Rabbi".
[1], 3-27, 27-60 leaves. 17.5 cm. Fair condition. Dampstains. Marginal wear and minor tears to title page, not affecting text, repaired with paper. Tears to two final leaves, with loss to text, repaired with paper. Adhesive tape to margins of several leaves. Worming. Old, damaged binding. Leather spine, peeling.
The bibliographer and biographer Meir Wunder writes of the extreme scarcity of this book: "The book Zichron Moshe, Lublin 1611, is extremely scarce… a complete copy is extant in Oxford, and the copy in the British Museum is lacking at the end" (Elef Margaliot, Jerusalem 1993, p. 123).