Sivuv Rabbi Petachya – Midrash Yonah. Prague 1595. First edition

Sivuv Rabbi Petachya – Midrash Yonah. Prague 1595. First edition

Fundamental Sefer for the researching of Eretz Yisrael and Its Holy sites.
The story of the traveler Rabbi Petachya of Regensburg's journey to Europe, Asia and Eretz Yisrael. Rabbi Petachya was one of the most well-known travelers; to this day, his descriptions, stories and notes serve as a reliable source for the study of contemporary Eastern Jews. His book also serves as a source for the study of the geography of Eretz Yisrael in his time. His description of the holy places and cities of Eretz Yisrael is used by varied scholars studying Eretz Yisrael.

Written at the beginning of the Sivuv: "These are the things told by the Rav Rabbi Petachya… and Rabbi Petachya asked when will the Messiah come… but Rabbi Yehuda Chassid refused to write". It seems that Rabbi Yehuda Chassid wrote passages said by Rabbi Petachya and an anonymous writer compiled them. [See: Y.D. Eisenstein, Otzar Massa'ot, Newark, 1927, pp. 46-56; Sivuv Rabbi Petachya, Eliezer Halevi Greenhut edition, Jerusalem 1905, p. 40, note 45].

Rabbi Petachya of Regensburg: the brother of Rabbi Yitzchak Halavan, one of Baalei Hatosafot. Lived in the 12th century. In ca. 1175, he traveled from Prague to Poland and Kyiv and then continued south to Crimea and Asia Minor, Armenia, Georgia, Kurdistan and Babylon. From there, via Syria, he reached Eretz Yisrael, traversing it to study all its sites and holy places. Apparently, he was in Jerusalem during the Crusades and before the Arabic Occupation in 1187.
Midrash Yonah: from leaf 7b, Midrash Yonah. This is the first edition of the Midrash on Sefer Yonah [see: Y.D. Eisenstein, Otzar Midrashim, section I, Newark 1915, pp. 217-222].

Prague, [1595]. The Press of Gershom ben Yosef Bezalel Katz. First edition.
[10] leaves. 15 cm. Very good condition. Fine copy in a new half-leather and fabric binding.