Éfés Dammim,

Isaac Baer Levinsohn (1788-1860, a.k.a. Ribal) was a Jewish scholar of Hebrew, satirist, writer and Haskalah movement leader. He has been called 'the Mendelssohn of Russia' and through his writing made an effort at improving the Jewish-Christian relations. Levinsohn was born into a wealthy family and his father was a merchant and a Talmudic scholar. Baer Levinshon was proclaimed a child prodigy after he composed a brilliant Kabbalistic essay at the age of nine.

Extremely knowledgeable in Rabbinic literature and the holy scripture, Levinsohn made his living by teaching Talmud and translating, he also wrote poetry, surrounding himself with other Jewish writers and thinkers and becoming part of the Haskalah movement.

From 1923 Levinsohn's health deteriorated and he became bedridden. Despite his illness, heavily influenced by the local ritual murder accusations against the Jewish community, he set out to write 'Efes Dammim' (translated as Zero Bloods) - a work in defence of the accused. The book is written in the form of a dialogue between the patriarch of the Greek Orthodox Church in Jerusalem and the Chief Rabbi, aiming 'to acquit the Jews before the eyes of Christians, and to save them from the false accusation of using Christian blood'.

First English edition; 8vo; leaves uncut, slightly toned, endpapers soiled; hinges cracked but holding; publisher's embossed blue cloth, gilt lettering to spine, boards slightly sunned, spine split at head and foot, corners slightly rubbed; xvi, 208, 16 pp.