Instruction in the Mosaic Religion: Translated from the German of J. Johlson, Teacher of an Israelitish School at Frankford on the Maine. By Isaac Leeser, Reader of the Portuguese Jewish Congregation in Philadelphia.

Philadelphia: Adam Walde, 1830. LEESER, Isaac. . JOHLSON, Joseph [author]. Instruction in the Mosaic Religion. Translated from the German of J. Johlson, Teacher of an Israelitish School at Frankford on the Maine. By Isaac Leeser, Reader of the Portuguese Jewish Congregation in Philadelphia. Philadelphia: Adam Walde, 5590 [1830].

First American edition and first edition in English. Octavo (8 1/4 x 5 1/8 inches; 210 x 131 mm). viii, 139, [1, blank] pp.

Full contemporary sheep. Red morocco spine label. Marbled endpapers. Page 35 with a large closed tear, professionally repaired with no loss of text. Internally very clean. Overall a very good copy.

"Leeser brought with him to Philadelphia his translation of J. Johlson's Instruction in the Mosaic Religion. He had it published there in 1830, appropriately dedicated to his uncle Zalman Rehine. The book is a catechism published in Germany and translated and adapted by Leeser for "the instruction of the younger ... of Israelites of both sexes, who have previously acquired some knowledge of the fundamental part ... of their religion." Leeser undertook its publication because there was a great scarcity of elementary textbooks for Jewish children. It is significant that this Instruction in the Mosaic Religion, Leeser's first issued work, is a textbook of religious instruction for the young, for though Leeser attained distinction as an author, translator, editor, and a national leader of the American Jewish community, he considered himself, first and foremost, an educator." (The Jewish Virtual Library)

"Leeser's career as a translator also began in Philadelphia in 1830 with the publication of his rendering from German of J. Johlson's Instruction in the Mosaic Religion. Leeser, as part of his ongoing efforts to contribute to the development of Jewish education and culture in America, translated a number of important works into English from German, Spanish, French and Hebrew. " (Penn Libraries).

Rosenbach 321.

HBS 67190.

$3,000.