Sefer Brantshpigl

Edited and translated by Morris M. Faierstein

Moshe Henoch's Altschul-Yerushalmi, Altschul-Yerushalmi Altschul-Yerushalmi, Morris M. Faierstein

• Publisher: De Gruyter
• Year: 2024
• Print ISBN:
  9783111413044
• eBook ISBN:
  9783111415895
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Jewish History

Sefer Brantshpigl is an important Yiddish religious/ethical work first published in Cracow, 1596. It was reprinted six more times into the beginning of the eighteenth century and is an important source for the social and religious life of Central/East European Jewry in the Early Modern period. This volume is the first complete translation of this text into English with annotations and scholarly introduction. The author, Moshe Henochs Altschul-Yerushalmi was a member of what has become to be known as the "secondary intelligentsia." Little is known about his life, other than that he lived in Prague. His son, Henoch Altschul, was the Shamash of the Jewish community of Prague from 1603–1633. He examined all aspects of Jewish social and religious life in seventy-six chapters. Each chapter discusses a specific topic. Not only does he describe what is good and critiques what he finds to be lacking, but he buttresses his arguments with citations from the whole range of rabbinic literature. One aspect that is particularly interesting is his citation of kabbalistic sources in his arguments. He cites kabbalistic sources more than sixty times and even devotes a whole chapter to the kabbalistic night ritual of Tikkun Hazot.

Table of contents

• Title Page
• Copyright
• Contents
• Acknowledgments
• Introduction
• Appendix
• Preface [1b]
• Introduction [2a]
• Chapter 1 [3a] In this chapter the usefulness of this book is explained.
• Chapter 2 [9a] This chapter explains why I am doing what follows.
• Chapter 3 [12b] This chapter shows why I wrote it in Yiddish.
• Chapter 4 [13b] This chapter shows the usefulness that comes from the speech of people.
• Chapter 5 [14a] This chapter explains the difference between the wise one and the fool.
• Chapter 6 [16a] This chapter explains that the righteous person is called wise and the wicked one a fool.
• Chapter 7 [19a] This chapter explains what a good wife or an evil wife is.
• Chapter 8 [23b] This chapter explains what good comes from a good wife and the evil from an evil wife.
• Chapter 9 [28b] This chapter explains the difference between the first wife and the second one.
• Chapter 10 [29b] This chapter explains what a good wife is obligated to do for her husband.
• Chapter 11 [34a] This chapter explains how it happens that a righteous man has an evil wife, and the evildoer a pious wife.
• Chapter 12 [35a] This chapter explains that women, with much talk, can talk into eternal life.
• Chapter 13 [37b] This chapter explains all the commandments that a woman is obligated to fulfill or is exempt from them.
• Chapter 14 [39b] This chapter explains how the wife takes wisdom to her husband for the good of her husband.
• Chapter 15 [40a] This chapter explains what the women are obligated to fulfill among the commandments.
• Chapter 16 [43b] This chapter explains that each person should be modest and chaste.
• Chapter 17 [56b] This chapter explains how the modest woman behaves at home.
• Chapter 18 [64a] This chapter explains how she behaves with a servant at home.
• Chapter 19 [69a] This chapter explains how one deals with meat in all things.
• Chapter 20 [71a] This chapter explains that one must spend a proper amount for the household, not too much and not too little.
• Chapter 21 [72a] This chapter explains that one should not habitually be in his friend’s house.
• Chapter 22 [73a] This chapter explains that one should not make enemies with people.
• Chapter 23 [76a] This chapter explains how one should relate to people and not be arrogant.
• Chapter 24 [78b] This chapter explains that one should not rejoice when bad things happen to his friend.
• Chapter 25 [80b] This chapter explains that each person should allow himself to be satisfied with what God, blessed be He, gives him.
• Chapter 26 [82a] This chapter explains that one should not be greedy.
• Chapter 27 [83a] This chapter explains that one should say to all things, “this too is for good.”
• Chapter 28 [85b] This chapter explains that everything that happens to the person, one should not protest to God, blessed be He, or murmur.
• Chapter 29 [86b] This chapter explains that one must be humble.
• Chapter 30 [94b] This chapter explains the giving of charity and how it should be given.
• Chapter 31 [105a] This chapter explains the great mitzvah of hospitality and how to fulfill it.
• Chapter 32 [112a] This chapter explains the great mitzvah of recompensing people for kindness.
• Chapter 33 [114b] This chapter explains how one should behave with father and mother.
• Chapter 34 [122a] This chapter explains the mitzvah of helping the bride under the Huppah.
• Chapter 35 [124b] This chapter explains how a woman behaves when she has her time.
• Chapter 36 [132b] This chapter explains [the concept] of Hallah.
• Chapter 37 [133b] This chapter explains that one must light lights Friday at the beginning of the Sabbath.
• Chapter 38 [134b] This chapter explains that when one goes to bed, how one should be modest in bed.
• Chapter 39 [139b] This chapter explains that one should wake up before dawn.
• Chapter 40 [145a] This chapter explains that before one goes to the synagogue one should go to the toilet, and how one behaves with this.
• Chapter 41 [147a] This chapter explains that one goes to the synagogue and prays, and how one behaves in the synagogue, morning afternoon and evening.
• Chapter 42 [154b] This chapter explains how one should behave when he leaves the synagogue.
• Chapter 43 [156a] This chapter explains how one should behave at the table.
• Chapter 44 [165a] This chapter explains that one should not make celebratory meals that are not needed at any time, these are called optional celebratory meals.
• Chapter 45 [167a] This chapter explains that the person deals with his business accounts after the meal.
• Chapter 46 [169b] This chapter explains how one should raise the children for good.
• Chapter 47 [181a] This chapter explains that one should ritually immerse utensils.
• Chapter 48 [181a] This chapter explains that everyone is obligated to have in the house, zizit yarn, thread, and a needle.
• Chapter 49 [183a] This chapter explains that one should not get angry.
• Chapter 50 [185b] This chapter explains that no person should be envied for any reason.
• Chapter 51 [188a] This chapter explains that one should not deceive anyone.
• Chapter 52 [189b] This chapter explains that one is not allowed to engage in flattery to any person.
• Chapter 53 [190b] This chapter explains that one should not take revenge and not bear a grudge against his friend.
• Chapter 54 [191b] This chapter explains that one should not mock anyone.
• Chapter 55 [194a] This chapter explains that one should not gossip.
• Chapter 56 [199b] This chapter explains that one should not tell lies.
• Chapter 57 [201b] This chapter explains that one should not swear.
• Chapter 58 [206a] This chapter explains that one should not curse or insult.
• Chapter 59 [210a] This chapter explains that a woman is not allowed to dress in male clothes.
• Chapter 60 [210a] This chapter explains that one is not allowed to steal or rob.
• Chapter 61 [212a] This chapter explains that one should not murder.
• Chapter 62 [212a] This chapter explains that one should not be unchaste.
• Chapter 63 [212b] This chapter explains that it is forbidden to give false testimony.
• Chapter 64 [212b] This chapter explains that one is not allowed to take interest from Jews.
• Chapter 65 [213a] This chapter explains that when a Jew loses something, one should not hide oneself from it, and one should return it to him.
• Chapter 66 [213b] This chapter explains that one should have correct weights and proper measures.
• Chapter 67 [214a] This chapter explains that one is not allowed to drink the wine of non-Jews.
• Chapter 68 [215b] This chapter explains that one is not allowed to engage in witchcraft.
• Chapter 69 [216b] This chapter explains how one should repent.
• Chapter 70 [226b] This chapter explains that one should fulfill all the commandments quickly and vigorously.
• Chapter 71 [227a] This chapter explains that one should fulfill all the commandments honestly.
• Chapter 72 [228a] This chapter explains that when one fulfills many commandments, they should not boast about it.
• Chapter 73 [229b] This chapter explains that the commandments one fulfills with money, the money should be honestly acquired.
• Chapter 74 [230a] This chapter explains that one should visit sick people and do what is good for them.
• Chapter 75 [231b] This chapter explains that one should accompany the dead to their grave.
• Chapter 76 [232b] This chapter explains that one should comfort those who mourn.
• Index of Sources