Avodat HaKodesh – Jerusalem, 1841 – First Book Printed in Jerusalem – Fine Copy

Avodat HaKodesh – Jerusalem, 1841 – First Book Printed in Jerusalem – Fine Copy

Avodat HaKodesh, laws, practices, segulot and tikunim, by R. Chaim Yosef David Azulai – the Chida. Jerusalem: R. Yisrael Bak, 1841. Two title pages, the first one with a woodcut border.

Fine copy.

The first book printed in Jerusalem.

The book begins with a foreword by the printer (leaves [2b]-[4]). This foreword is an important source documenting the history of Eretz Israel, the Galilee and Damascene Jewry. R. Yisrael Bak relates his experiences before reaching Jerusalem: his immigration to Eretz Israel and establishment of the printing press in the Galilee; the earthquake of 1837 which claimed the lives of thousands of Jews; the riots in Galilean towns in 1834-1838 by marauders who renewed their attacks on the earthquake survivors, plundering and destroying their remaining possessions. R. Yisrael relates his involvement in the 1840 Damascus affair, reporting that he urged Moses Montefiore to get involved by sending him letters to London from Alexandria, where he was residing at that time. He acclaims the Sephardi Torah scholars and investors who assisted him in reestablishing his printing press in Jerusalem.

At the end of his introduction, R. Yisrael Bak writes: "…In order to benefit the public, I resolved to first print the precious book called Avodat HaKodesh by the Chida… so that each person can find what he is looking for, and every Jew who carries it can study from it…".

The renowned printer R. Yisrael Bak (1797-1874), a disciple of the Chassidic masters Rebbe Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev and Rebbe Yisrael of Ruzhin. Born in Berditchev, he was involved in the printing profession already in his youth, and in 1815, he established the (second) printing press in Berditchev, where he printed some 26 books before immigrating to Eretz Israel. Reputedly, he designed the Slavita typeface. Following his immigration to Eretz Israel, ca. 1831, he settled in Safed, where he established a printing press which operated for a short while, until the great 1837 earthquake which completely destroyed the town. In 1840 he established a printing press in Jerusalem – the first printing press in Jerusalem to print Hebrew books and the only press in the city until the 1860s.

For more information about R. Yisrael Bak and his printing press in Safed and Jerusalem, see: Shoshana Halevy, Sifrei Yerushalayim HaRishonim, Jerusalem 1976, pp. 15-27; Meir Benayahu, R. Yisrael Bak's Printing Press in Safed and the Beginning of Printing in Jerusalem, Areshet, IV, Jerusalem 1966, pp. 271-295 (Hebrew).

[4], 111 leaves. Approx. 15 cm. Good condition. Stains. Small marginal tears to several leaves. Minute worming to first leaves, slightly affecting first title frame. Inner margins reinforced with paper in several places, some slightly covering text. New leather binding.

The first Hebrew book printed in Jerusalem. Sh. Halevy, no. 1.