Sunday, November 9, 2014

Hermann Schwab: The Writing of the Commentary on the Pentateuch

"Many a time our father also told us about the  origin of the Rabbi's translation of the Pentateuch  which was as yet a secret to us. The commentary  of the book of Genesis was composed from lectures,  given before an audience of deeply attentive people.  Among those present were three shorthand writers,  Mendel Hirsch, the Rabbi's eldest son, Heinrich  Heinemann and my father, and the commentary on  Genesis was written from their notes. In the first  edition Hirsch has proffered his thanks to his  helpers. The lecture over, my father, who was also  the Rabbi's neighbour, used to see him, at his desk  near the window of his study, working without a  break. The smoke of a pipe rose from the paper  which his indefatigable hand filled with small  letters."

from Memories of Frankfurt

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