Sefer Afros Tevel by Rabbi Avraham Belais
Including Rare Portrait of Author
London, 1850
A commentary on the Book of Koheles in Hebrew and English (side-by-side columns), by the renowned scholar Rabbi Avraham Belais of London, including a
rare portrait of the author at the age of eighty-seven.
At the beginning of the sefer there is a poem paying tribute to Sir Moses Montefiore, also a resident of London.
Rabbi Avraham Belais (1773-1853) was a remarkable scholar and was well-known to Jewish scholars of all communities and countries. Even European monarchs held him in high regard (as written on the title page). His sefarim were intended also for non-Jews, hence they were also printed with English translations. For several years he served as treasurer to the city’s governor, but in 1808, his fortune was reversed and he was forced to flee, penniless, to Eretz Yisrael. After some time, he left for Europe and settled in the Nice community in France. In approx. 1840, he was appointed rabbi of the Portuguese community in London.
He authored many sefarim in all realms of the Torah, including: Tevuos Yekev (Livorno 1820), Be’er Lechai Ro’i (Turin 1816), Yad Avshalom (Livorno 1829), Pesach HaBayis (Livorno 1846), Afros Tevel, the present sefer, Song for Baron Rothschild’s Wedding (Paris 1824) and more.
Beautiful original red binding, with gilt impressions and decorations, and embossed dedication: IN HONOR OF M.D. LINDO ESQ.
London, 1850. Singular edition, printed during the author’s lifetime.
Page Count: [1], 69, [1] leaves + portrait page (including original parchment leaf protecting the illustration).
Size: 27.2 cm.
Condition: Good, creases in first pages. Binding slightly worn; new spine.
Provenance: William Gross Collection, Tel Aviv.
