The Law of God (Pentateuch) (Five Volumes)

Isaac Leeser

Philadelphia : Printed by C. Sherman, for the editor, 5605, 1845

[First Jewish Translation of the Pentateuch into English: The Standard American Jewish Bible during the 19th Century] 5 volume set; 20 cm. Bound in contemporary tooled calf.  Good bindings and covers.  Minor shelf wear, rubbing, but sound.  Marbled end sheets.  Added title page in Hebrew.  Text is printed in Hebrew and English on facing pages.  Clean, unmarked pages.  (p. 22 in Leviticus is creased).  Early inscription from 1881 to "Mosley from Brother Abraham, 1881, Cincinnati." v.2 lacks the blank end pages. Contents: v.1. The book of Genesis.; v. 2. The book of Exodus.; v. 3. The book of Leviticus.; v. 4. The book of Numbers.; v.5. Deuteronomy. 

Leeser's was the first English translation of the Torah by a Jewish translator.  Prior to its publications, English Jews used the King James translation.  Isaac Lesser (1806-1868) was a Jewish-American newspaper editor (The Occident), religious leader (Congregation Mikveh Israel, in Philadelpha), publisher and scholar.  Born in Germany, Leeser studied Latin, German and Hebrew under the chief rabbi of Munster.  Leeser helped found the Jewish press of America.  His work laid the foundations for Modern Orthodox and Conservative Judaism.  Leeser doubted that "the precious word of God ever appeared among us in a more beautiful form than the volumes in which I am now engaged." Leeser avoided reliance on earlier English translations, though he made some use of German translations, and noted that "the arrangement is strictly Jewish. My intention was to furnish a book for the service of the Synagogue, both German and Portuguese." References: Goldman 7; Hills 1273; Rosenbach 569.