June 26 1523 – 3 Tammuz 5283
The first printed edition of Sefer Hahinukh, a popular classic thirteenth century work listing the 613 commandments by the weekly Torah portion in which they appear, came off the presses at Daniel Bomberg’s famous printing house in Venice. One of the first Hebrew books in print, just a few decades after Caxton’s press was invented, this title was intended as a teaching tool, to educate children in the importance of practical commandments. Each commandment or mitzva is listed with its sources, how it is to be observed, by whom, and – possibly a new departure – why. The effect of the precept’s observance on character and refinement is also discussed. Earlier books in Hebrew print were obviously the Bible, Rashi’s commentary on the Pentateuch, the Talmud, an earlier code of Jewish law – the Tur (see A Widow in Print) – and a description of the Ten Lost Tribes known as Travels of Eldad the Danite.