Me'Am Lo'Ez. El Gran Comentario Biblico Sefardi. Tomo XIII: Me'AM Lo'Ez Ester, de Rafael Hiya Pontremoli
Madrid: Editorial Gred, 1974. Softcover. Ex-libris. Large 8vo. 490pp. 49pp. Original paper wrappers with black and red lettering to cover and spine. Translation of the great Sephardic Bible commentary "Me'Am Lo'Ez" ["from a foreign people"], written by Rabbi Ya'acov Culi (d. 1739). It is remarkable for two reasons:
1) The use of Ladino [Judeo-Spanish]. 'Me'Am Lo'Ez' is one of the most important religious works ever written in Ladino. 2) Culi's attempt to include all of the available Jewish material in his Bible commentary. This includes folk tales and materials from Genizot [repositories for religious items considered obsolete]. In this sense, "Me'Am Lo'Ez" can be considered one of the most important works of the genre of "cinus" [assembly, or inclusion] rather than just "parshanut" [interpretation]. It tried to include and summarize all of the preceding works on the Bible. Thus, it is by many considered an encyclopedia of Bible interpretations. (The interpreters Kuli mainly relies on in "Me'Am Lo'Ez" are: Rashi, Nachmanides [RaMbaN], Rabbenu Bahya and R' Yizhaq Abarvanel.)
The name of the work comes from 'the Biblical] Jacob's speech to the Jewish people [Exodus, 19:3]. It is short for 'Beth Ya'acov Me'Am Lo'ez' [The House of Jacob who understand a foreign language (which came to signify the language of Ladino for R' Culi)]
This specific book is the 8th volume of the series covering the whole "Me'Am Lo'Ez": It focuses on the "Megillat Esther" [a.k.a. the Purim story]. The "Megillat Esther" is part of the "Ketuvim" or Hagiography, the last part of Tanakh [Torah, Nevi'im, Ketuvim or: Five Books of Moses, Prophets, Hageography]. It is, hence, one of the 24 Books of the hebrew Bible.
Translated into modern Spanish by Prof. Pascual Pascual Recuero, who also wrote the introduction. Recuero was Professor of Hebrew Language and Literature at the University of Granada [at the time the book was published]. 1" tear to bottom of spine (alongside rear wrapper). Some rubbing, scuffing and staining to wrappers and spine. Ex-libris stamp to back of title page. Some pages unopened. In Spanish. In good condition. g. Item #15062
Price: $75.00