Publishers cloth. 8vo. VI, 244 pages. 24 cm. First separate edition. With essays on the writings of Shabbetai Donnolo, Nathan Ben Yehiel, Immanuel of Rome, Elias del Medigo, Azariah de Rossi, David Nieto, Samuel David Luzzatto, Philoxene Luzzatto; biographical sketches of Samuel Alatri, Isaac Artom, Allesandro Malvano, etc. By Sabato Morais; edited by Julius H. Greenstone; with a foreword by Henry S. Morais. Includes "A critical and hermeneutical introduction to the Pentateuch, " by S. D. Luzzatto: p. [93]-152. The author, Sabato Morais was an “American rabbi; born at Leghorn, Italy, April 13, 1823; died at Philadelphia Nov. 11, 1897. The Morais family came originally from Portugal, being probably among the large number of Jews who fled thence from the Inquisition. At the time of Sabato's birth Italy was in the thick of her great struggle for freedom … he formed a close friendship with Joseph Mazzini; and that patriot's struggle for Italian freedom was warmly seconded by Morais. … In 1850, owing to the withdrawal of Isaac Leeser, the pulpit of the Mickve Israel congregation at Philadelphia, Pa. , became vacant, and Morais was an applicant for the post. He arrived in Philadelphia on March 17, 1851, and was elected April 13 following, the synagogue services in the interval being conducted by him. … When, in 1867, Maimonides College was established in Philadelphia, Morais was made professor of the Bible and of Biblical literature; and he held the chair during the six years that the college existed. For a number of years thereafter he felt the urgent need of an institution for the training of Jewish ministers on historical and traditional lines; and the declarations of the Pittsburg Conference in 1885 urged him to immediate action. After a considerable agitation of the subject he succeeded, in conjunction with a few others, in establishing (Jan. , 1886) the Jewish Theological Seminary at New York. He was at once made president of the faculty and professor of Bible, holding both posts until his death. Unquestionably the establishment of the seminary constitutes Morais' most lasting influence upon Judaism in America. The directors of that body have fittingly recognized his memory by naming the chair of Biblical literature and exegesis ‘the Sabato Morais professorship. ’ In 1887 the University of Pennsylvania conferred upon him the honorary degree of doctor of laws, he being the first Jew so honored by that institution. ” (1906 Jewish Encyclopedia) Subjects: Hebrew literature - Italy. Jews - Italy - Biography. Bible. O. T. Pentateuch - Criticism, interpretation, etc. With the signature of previous owner (Ravid) on endpage. Very fresh and clean. Great condition. (BIBLIOG-33-50A)