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Judaica and Hasidic Books and Manuscripts

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Rare 1913 Warsaw Edition: Rambam's Refuat HaNefesh U'Refuat HaGuf (Hebrew & Yiddish) רפואת הנפש ורפואת הגוף

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Start price: £100

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Description

A fascinating early 20th-century bilingual edition of Maimonides’ classic medical and ethical teachings, designed for the Eastern European masses.

  • The Work & Author: Authored by the legendary medieval scholar and physician, Maimonides (הרמב"ם). The work, Refuat HaNefesh U’Refuat HaGuf (רפואת הנפש ורפואת הגוף), details the Rambam’s fundamental halachic and practical guidelines for maintaining physical health, diet, and spiritual well-being.
  • Publishing Details: Printed in Warsaw (ווארשא) in 1913 (תרע"ג) by the bookseller Aharon Tzeilingold. Uniquely, this edition features the original Hebrew (Loshon Kodesh) on the top half of the page alongside an accessible Yiddish (Ivri-Teitch) translation on the bottom half.
  • Notable Connection: The translation and publication effort was spearheaded by the famous Rabbi Yudel Rosenberg of Lodz (ר’ יודל ראזענבערג), a highly colorful and prominent historical figure known for his prolific writings, translations, and fascinating literary legacy. This edition stands as a beautiful testament to the historical effort to make the Rambam’s elite medical wisdom accessible to the broader Yiddish-speaking public. The front endpaper also bears intriguing historical handwritten provenance marks, including an English/Latin signature from "Joseph Goldberg, Budapest."

Condition report:

Status: Complete vintage text block with characteristic age-related wear.


Physical Dimensions: Octavo format, typical for early 20th-century scholarly editions.

Details: The text block is complete and structurally sound, showing expected toning and minor shelf wear consistent with its age. The binding is a sturdy, dark-toned textured cover with gold lettering on the spine, displaying minor surface rubbing. The interior pages are clean and fully legible, with the original title page present and intact.