The Fraudulent Yerushalmi: Talmud Yerushalmi for Seder Kodshim - the Fraud that Shook the Torah World

The Fraudulent Yerushalmi: Talmud Yerushalmi for Seder Kodshim - the Fraud that Shook the Torah World

"New!! Published for the first time from an ancient manuscript ..."

(Freidlander's propaganda about three printings of this Yerushalmi Kodshim)

Two volumes - four tractates from Talmud Yerushalmi with the Cheshek Shlomo commentary by the fraudster Shlomo Yehudah Algazi - known as Friedlander, with the addition of glosses and novellae by the Maharsha"m of Brezhan and the renowned scholar R' Shlomo Buber. Seini Worhol, 1906-1909. First print of this renowned fraud. These are all the fraudulent volumes.

Talmud Yerushalmi on Seder Kodshim was lost during the period of the Rishonim and was never brought to print. Shlomo Friedlander arose at the beginning of the 20th century (also adopting a false name for himself presenting himself as a scion of the Sephardic Algazi family) and using his tremendous talent, copied all of the words from Yerushalmi Kodshim brought in sifrei haRishonim, along with other content of the Yerushalmi from other sedarim, and proclaimed publicly that he found an antique manuscript of the lost Yerushalmi.

This act of fraud was accepted at first among a majority of rabbis and scholars,   such as the Maharsha"m Schaff, who wrote glosses to the sefer that were published in all its parts. On the other hand, there were some sharp eyes, such as the author of Kli Chemdah, Rabbi Dov Aryeh Ritter, av beit din of Rotterdam; the Rogochver and the author of Ohr Somayach, who publicly exposed the fraud. The Yerushalmi controversy lasted several years, during which sefarim were published on both sides (most of the publications in favor of the veracity of the Yerushalmi were written by Friedlander himself, using various pseudonyms). After the fraud was absolutely verified, most copies were hidden away.

A total of two volumes were printed, with four tractates: Zevachim, Erchin, Chulin and Bechorot. The second volume was printed before the first. Each volume has a lengthy introduction 'proving' the sefer's veracity. The introduction to the second volume is mainly concerned with defending the work against those who revealed and publicized that it was a fraud.

Part I: Zevachim, Erchin. 1909. [8], 100 leaf, Title page for each tractate. With a main title page. 34.5 cm.

Part II: Chulin, Bechorot. 1906. [9], 78; [1], 47 leaf, Title page for each tractate. Lacking the main title page. 34.5 cm.

Overall moderate condition. Detached leaves, some with tears and wear. Perforations with blemishes in the text in some dozens of leaves. Brittle paper.