Lashon Zahav . Novellae on the Talmud and the weekly Torah readings by Rabbi David Tevele HaKohen Schiff, rabbi of London and England. Two sections. Offenbach, [1822]. First edition. Handwritten scholarly glosses.
Specifications: [3], 32: [1], 44 leaves, about 34 cm. Additional title page for the second section.
Background: Rabbi David Tevele HaKohen Schiff was a disciple of the author of Pnei Yehoshua , the rabbi of Frankfurt. He served as dayan in Frankfurt, and from 1765 served as chief rabbi in London. He was a prominent Torah scholar and rabbi of his generation and was very active in promoting Torah and Torah awareness. He held halachic correspondence with the author of Noda B’Yehuda , and with his colleague Rabbi Natan Maas of Frankfurt who counseled with him in their prolific correspondence. The book was printed soon after the author’s passing, by his nephew, Rabbi Gavriel Adler who included an introduction with the author’s biography. Rabbi Adler also added Kanfei Nesharim with novellae by his relatives, rabbis of the Adler family.
Unique Features: The leaves of the book bear a number of handwritten, lengthy scholarly glosses. It seems that their writer was a proficient Torah scholar, possibly a famous rabbi, who disagreed with the author. He used sharp language, such as “erroneous”and “this should be erased because it cannot be.”
Condition: Fine-very fine. Aging stains. New, simple binding.