Pachad Yitzchak, description of the miracle that occurred to the Padua community in 1684, during the Ottoman war, by R. Yitzchak Chaim Cantarini (Yechkam). Amsterdam: David Tartas, 1685. First edition.

Half-title with copper-engraved illustration of the Binding of Isaac.

First book authored by R. Yitzchak Chaim Cantarini (Yechkam), with a detailed and poetic description of the Christian attack on the Jewish ghetto in Padua, on August 20, 1684.

During the Austro-Turkish war, a rumor spread that the Jews assisted the Turks in their struggle against the Christians during the battle over the city of Buda (Budapest), which incited an angry mob to attempt to break into the Jewish ghetto in Padua on 10th Elul 1684.

The massacre was averted at the last moment by the king's army, and the festival of "Purim Buda" was instituted and celebrated by Padua Jews each year on this date. The author was an eyewitness to most of the events described in the book, which he describes at length and in detail, comprising much historical material and including official documents of the government of Padua and the Republic of Venice, which then ruled Padua (the documents were translated into Hebrew and incorporated into the book).

R. Yitzchak Chaim HaKohen Cantarini – Yechkam (1644-1723), a physician, poet, rabbi and preacher in Padua. Concluded medical studies in the University of Padua in 1664, and was ordained rabbi in 1669. He taught R. Moshe Chaim Luzzatto (the Ramchal) grammar and rhetoric. He was a regular preacher in the Padua synagogue, whose sermons were at times attended even by Christians. Apart from the present book, he authored several works in Hebrew and Latin, as well as poems. His Et Ketz, discussing the end of times and the messianic era, was printed in Amsterdam, 1710 (including a half-title very similar to the present one).

Pencil inscriptions to verso of leaf with engraving and margins of several leaves.

[1], 53, [1] leaves. 18.5 cm. Overall good condition. Stains. First gathering loose. Oriental binding, with color endpaper. Gilt decorations on spine. Worming and minor defects to binding.

Bookplate of Mozes Heiman Gans.

Rare.