Rare Edition: Sefer Ois Emes, Important Clarifications for the Nusach of Midrashim and Tefillas
Prague, 1624
Sefer Ois Emes – Annotations and corrections of versions for Mechilta, Sifra, Sifrei, Midrash Rabbah, Tanchuma, Midrash Shmuel, Tehillim and Mishlei, Yalkut Shimoni, and annotations on the Siddur, by Rabbi Meir ben Ben Benisti (Benveniste).
This is the first sefer that dealt with correcting Midrashic texts, and in many places, these corrections were incorporated into the regular text.
A rare edition. Over a hundred years ago, the bibliographer and sefarim dealer Ephraim Deinard wrote about its rarity:
"The second edition, Prague 1624, is more valuable than the first." (The first is Salonika Press, 1565.)
One of the famous annotations on the siddur that originates in Ois Emes is the recitation of ‘Yehi Ratzon sh’etargilenu besorasecha vedabkeinu bemitzvoseicha’ – ‘May it be Your will that You accustom us to Your Torah and attach us to Your commandments’ in plural form specifically, and not in singular form as in the early version (accustom me, attach me). Rabbi Shabsai Sofer and the ‘Magen Avraham’ rule according to the Ois Emes. (Siman 46, Clause 4)
Prague, 1624. Second edition.
Page Count:: 90 leaves. Leaf 2 is bound twice.
Size: 31 cm.
Condition: Good-fair condition; small tears and adhesions on the first and last pages. Stains and signs of use. A few letters are missing. Beautiful leather binding with embossments.
Includes stamps of the wealthy Rabbi Moshe Chalfin of Berlin, a prominent sefarim collector.
