Pesikta de-Rab Kahana: R. Kahana’s Compilation of Discourses for Sabbaths and Festal Days

Kahana, R. Braude, William G. (Gershon Zev); Kapstein, Israel J., Trans. Pesikta de-Rab Kahana: R. Kahana’s Compilation of Discourses for Sabbaths and Festal Days. Philadelphia: The Jewish Publication Society of America, 1975. First edition. 8vo. (lvii), 593 pp. White dust jacket with green and black lettering on covers and spine. White cloth boards with green lettering and gilt ruling on spine. Green endpapers. Work of Midrashic Literature on the Shabbath and Jewish High Holidays (see bellow). Translated from Hebrew and Aramaic. Dust jacket lightly bumped at head and tail of spine, some light rubbing to dj extremities. Head and tail of binding lightly bumped. g+ to vg+. Hardcover.

Long known only to scholars and specialists, Pesikta de-Rab Kahana is a masterpiece of Midrashic literature. A collection of discourses for special Sabbaths and festival days compiled and organized during the fifth century, it was well known and studied from the end of that century until it disappeared sometime in the sixteenth century. From manuscripts discovered in 1868 and still others 100 years later, it was reborn. In 1975 JPS brought it to English readers through Braude and Kapstein’s translation. (Source: Jewish Publication Society) (45689) $45