Manuscript, Yad David, novellae on Tractates Avodah Zarah (from middle of folio 66), Sanhedrin, Makkot, Shevuot and Horayot, by R. Yosef David Sinzheim. [Strasbourg (France)?, ca. 1790s-1800s].

Large volume in his handwriting, with his signatures. Neat writing, with additions by the author between the lines and in margins.

Title page of volume mounted on endpaper. At the top, inscription handwritten by the author: "Part III of Yad David – the third volume comprises: the rest of Avodah Zarah, Sanhedrin, Makkot, Shevuot and Horayot, which I authored, Yosef David Sinzheim". In the center of the page is a more detailed "title page" written in another hand (subsequent to the author's passing): "Yad David – Part III, Volume III, the remaining novellae on Avodah Zarah left over from Volume II, from folio 66b to the end; novellae on Sanhedrin, Makkot, Shevuot, Horayot, by the great R. Yosef David Sinzheim, already famed for his Yad David on Berachot and Seder Moed".

At the end of the novellae on Tractate Avodah Zarah (p. [8a]), short colophon: "Thank G-d for my finishing Tractate Avodah Zarah". The novellae on Tractate Sanhedrin conclude with a passage of novellae: "A righteous man comes into the world, good comes into the world… May G-d grant our portion to be among the righteous, Amen" (p. [101a], foliated 101). The novellae on Tractate Makkot also conclude with words of blessing built on the contents: "May it be G-d's will for this prophecy to be fulfilled soon in our days, may the elderly yet dwell [in Jerusalem] and may our eyes see Zion rebuilt, Amen" (p. [126b], foliated 125). Tractate Horayot also concludes with words of blessing, based on the Gemara's comparison of the broad knowledge of "Sinai" and the sharp wit of "the uprooter of mountains": "…May G-d grant us the merit to study His Torah and grant our portion among the righteous and wise, both Sinai and uprooters of mountains. And thus we have completed Tractate Horayot and Seder Nezikin, praise and glory to G-d Who has helped me up to this point, so may He grant me the merit to conclude the rest of the Talmud, Amen" (p. [188b]).

R. Yosef David Sinzheim (ca. 1736-1812) was one of the greatest French Torah scholars in the times of the Acharonim and president of the Grand Sanhedrin established by Napoleon. He was born in Trier (South-West Germany), where his father, R. Yitzchak Itzek Sinzheim, served as rabbi. In 1778, he founded a yeshiva in Bischheim (Alsace, France) together with his brother-in-law R. Naftali Hertz Medelsheim (Herz Cerfbeer of Medelsheim). The yeshiva later relocated to Strasbourg (Alsace, France).

In 1806 he was appointed by Napoleon as president of the Grand Sanhedrin – a Jewish high court convened by Napoleon in order to regulate Judaism in France. In this function, he sagaciously handled various attempts to reform Jewish practices. R. Sinzheim was eulogized by the Chatam Sofer and his words portray the unique esteem in which he held him: "…This tzaddik whom we are eulogizing, R. David Sinzheimer, author of Yad David, was very honored and close to Paris royalty and was asked about a number of issues. He responded to their questions and was greatly esteemed by the king and the officers, and they honored him upon his death, as is known. Nonetheless, he was great among the Jews, studying Torah all his life, completing the Talmud several times, and was proficient in all the books of the Rishonim and Acharonim as can be discerned from his book. I knew him in my youth and now too I could see his righteous simplicity in our correspondence. Thus, in addition to gaining lordship by his wisdom in laws and politics, he remained master rather than being led astray by them…". R. Sinzheim left behind voluminous Torah writings, including Yad David on the Talmud, Minchat Ani on Talmudic topics and Shelal David on the Torah. Many volumes of his works were printed by Machon Yerushalayim.

In 1799, R. Yosef David Sinzheim had the first two parts of his Yad David printed, covering Tractate Berachot and Seder Moed (Offenbach, 1799). The rest of the work remained in manuscript, and was only printed recently by Machon Yerushalayim. His novellae on Tractate Sanhedrin were printed from the present manuscript in 1977, and reprinted in 2002 along with his novellae on Tractates Makkot, Shevuot and Horayot from the present manuscript. His novellae on Tractate Avodah Zarah were printed by Machon Yerushalayim in 2016, based on the present manuscript.

[188] leaves (old foliation on some leaves, handwritten by author). 32.5 cm. Good condition. Stains and some wear. Open tears to corners of several leaves, not affecting text. New parchment binding, with portions of original endpapers mounted inside boards.