Kitzur Shulchan Aruch by Rabbi Shlomo Ganzfried, with Ir David, by Rabbi David Feldman, Leipzig, 1924.

Rabbi David Feldman (he sometimes spelled it Feldmann) was born in Tolno in the Ukraine.  He received semicha (his rabbinical diploma)  from Rabbi Yechiel Michel Epstein (known, after his book, as the Aruch HaShulchan), and Rabbi Shalom Mordechai Schwadron.  Rabbi Feldman was appointed Rabbi of the Ahavath Torah Synagogue of the Brodde Community in Leipzig in 1910. There he was involved in the upkeep of the Kashrus and Mikvah as well as the founding of a Yeshiva.

In 1924 and 1926 he published this version of the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch, which had been written in the previous century by Rabbi Shlomo Ganzfried.  It is a hefty volume that includes Rabbi Feldman’s own commentary, Ir David (the City of David) with diagrams, tables and explanations.  The diagrams – how to tie Tzitzis, tephilin etc. are very striking and clear. 

It was reviewed extensively in the London Jewish Chronicle on June 8th, 1923, which included the enthusiastic endorsement of the Chief Rabbi, Dr. Hertz: “The edition of the Digest of Jewish Ritual Laws… provided with notes, commentary and Illustrations, by Rabbi David Feldmann, of Leipzig, is an excellent work, highly recommended by great Jewish Rabbis, both ancient and modern. It will prove of great service both for home and school use. I sincerely hope that he will be able to secure a sufficient number of contributors and subscribers to make the publication of this work possible In the near future.”

In the book, Rabbi Feldman also mentions that his next book will be Shimusho shel Torah (the uses of Torah), which actually was not published until 1951 in England.

In 1934 Rabbi Feldman emigrated to England and became Rabbi of the Machzikei Hadass  (upholders of the faith, often known as MH) community in Manchester.  Rabbi Feldman served in his position at the Machzikei Hadass until his retirement in 1947.  He founded the Manchester and Salford Jewish Day School—now known as the Prestwich Jewish Day School.  He was intimately involved with the Manchester Yeshivah.