Was the world's first printed Hebrew Book published by a woman?

 

As the High Holidays approach, the National Library of Israel is displaying a 550-year-old printed Selichot prayer book that is believed to have been printed by a woman in Italy.

The first printed Hebrew books, produced at the end of the 15^th century, were mostly study tests, but one daring printer decided to move forward and print prayer books, as well. His name was Rabbi Meshulam Kuzi, and he founded a small printing business in the Italian town Piove di Sacco.

Kuzi printed his texts in stunning "Ashkenazi letters" and intended to publish many books, but his business published only two – a book on Jewish law and commandments, and the Selichot prayers, in an Ashkenazi version.

According to the National Library of Israel, "This Selichot prayer book is effectively the first Hebrew prayer book ever printed, around 1475."

Another interesting aspect of the book is the role women played in its production. Curator of the National Library's Judaica collection. Dr. Yoel Finkelman, explains that Rabbi Meshulam's wife is believed to have been active in publishing the work.

"We know that Rabbi Meshulam passed away before it was published, and his widow, Devorah, completed the work," Finkelman notes.

"Because the precise date of the publication of the Selichot prayer is unclear, it's very possible that Devorah might have finished the work on it … It's clear that Devorah was familiar with the printing process, and it's likely that she helped her husband while he was alive," Finkelman says.

The pages of this copy of the book include evidence it was used by at least two other Ashkenazi women, who made notes about their husbands. On the first page appears a sentence signed "Mrs. Esther, daughter of Rabbi Asher," which was apparently written not long after the book was published.

"The owner of a book must write his name on it, so no one can come and make claim to it, saying 'It is mine," Mrs. Esther wrote.

Another woman wrote her name on one of the last pages, a few hundred years later.

"We know nothing about these two women, but it appears that saying Selichot before Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur was of particular importance to them. As we can see, the Christian censor worked to erase sentences that debated with Christianity or mocked it, but in the margins we can see the work of cantors and worshippers who added the missing words," Finkelman says.