Merkevet HaMishneh on the Rambam by Rabbi Shlomo (Solomon) of Chelm, Frankfort on the Oder, 1751.

This book, from my antique Hebrew books collection, consists of Novellae on the Talmud and the Mishneh Torah of the Rambam (Maimonides) by Rabbi Shlomo ben Moshe of Chelm (1717-1781). This is the first edition of the first part.

Rabbi Shlomo was born at Zamoscz, government of Lublin and died at Salonica in 1778. He was successively rabbi of Chelm, Zamoscz (a district rabbinate), and Lemberg. He apparently came under the influence of a circle of talmudists who pursued secular studies, since, according to his own testimony, he acquired an extensive knowledge of algebra, engineering, astronomy, philosophy, grammar and logic.

When Rabbi Shlomo published this book, in 1751, it immediately established his reputation.  This volume has some interesting haskomos (approbations).

In 1777 he left Lemberg with the intention of going to the Holy Land. After visiting his family in Samoscz, he began his journey toward Palestine. Passing through Lemberg, he gave his Haskomoh (approbation) there, on Sept. 16, 1778, to Elijah of Belgorai’s “Har ha-Karmel.” Then he continued to Salonica, intending to superintend the issue of the second edition of his “Merkebet ha-Mishneh”; but he died shortly after his arrival. Besides being an authority in rabbinics, on which subject he published several works, he was distinguished as a grammarian and mathematician.

Rabbi Shlomo was the author of the following works: This book, “Merkevet haMishneh” (Frankfort-on-the-Oder, 1751); “Shulchan Atze Shiṭṭim,” novellæ on Shabbat (Berlin, 1762); “Sha’are Ne’imah,” a treatise on the accents of the prophetical books, edited by Solomon Dubno (Frankfort-on-the-Oder, 1775).

Merkebet ha-Mishneh comprises novellæ on the four divisions of Maimonides’ “Yad”; a pamphlet, entitled “Berakot be-Ḥeshbon,” on Talmudic arithmetic and geometry; and “Tzintzenet haMan,” on the Haggadah of the Talmud. A second, revised edition of this book, in three parts, including a defense of Maimonides against the strictures of Abraham ben David, was published at Salonica in 1777-78. Many of Rabbi Shlomo’s responsa are to be found in responsa collections of other rabbis.