Obj. ID: 37137  Ha-Vikuach, Basel, 1529

This text was prepared by William Gross:

An exceedingly rare book which records a disputation between and Jew and a Christian. The final sentence concludes with a statement by the Christian to the Jew - "You speak like a hopeless and stubborn Jew". The pages are full of handwritten Latin comments. The text was translated into Latin by Sebastian Mnster, who was appointed professor of Hebrew at the University of Basel in 1527.

While the Hebrew date appears to be 1529, both Prijs and Winogrand record it as 1539.
Johann Froben (c. 1460 – 27 October 1527) was a famous printer and publisher in Basel. He established a printing house in that city about 1491; in 1516 he issued his first Hebrew title, and thus began his role as the most significant printer of Hebrew books in Basel. Johann published as many as 250 titles, among them Hebrew/Latin books of the Bible and grammatical works, primarily by Sebastian Muenster. Decorative borders used on his Latin title pages appear later on the title pages of Hebrew books issued by the Froben press. Upon his death in 1527, Johann was succeeded by his son Hieronymous who was, in turn, succeeded by his sons Ambrosius and Aurelius.

Froben's Hebrew-Greek-Latin tombstone is located in the Basel Peterskirche which has been used as a reformed church since 1529.
Translated by Sebastian Muenster, 1488 - 1552