Arbaʻah ṭurim
Jacob ben Asher, ca. 1269–1340
Arba’ah ṭurim (Four rows)
Piove di Sacco: Meshullam Cuzi and Sons, 1475
This extremely rare incunabula Arba’ah Turim (Four rows) by Rabbi Jacob ben Asher, printed in the small northern Italian town of Piove di Sacco, is the second dated Hebrew book ever produced. It also marks the first printed edition of this important code of Jewish law that organizes legal situations in a practical manner aimed for daily use. The expression “Arba’ah turim” refers to the four rows of the precious stones on the breastplate worn by the High Priest of the Israelis. The title of the fourth and concluding part of the work, “Hoshen Mishpat,” literally translates as “priestly breastplate” and addresses monetary matters, civil laws, etc. A page from “Hoshen Mishpat,'' presented here, elaborates on the topics of land-leasing, contracting, and hiring workers.
The town of Piove di Sacco in Padua province was the first in Italy to accept the Jews in the 14th century. The rabbi and physician Meshulam Cusi Rafa ben Moses Jacob, who lived in nearby Padua, established a small printing press in Piove di Sacco in 1475, but he passed away soon thereafter. His sons were imprisoned following a blood libel, a recurring false (anti-Semitic) accusation against Jews that they killed Christians and used the blood in religious ceremonies. It was left to their mother to complete the publication of this important work.
The New York Public Library believes that this item is in the public domain under the laws of the United States, but did not make a determination as to its copyright status under the copyright laws of other countries. This item may not be in the public domain under the laws of other countries.
