Der gantz jüdisch Glaub [The Whole Jewish Belief], by Antonius Margaritha. Frankfurt am Main, 1544. German (with some Hebrew).

Anti-Semitic polemic work by the convert Anton Margaritha (1492-1542), a descendent of a well-known family of rabbis in Germany; son of the R. Shmuel Margaliot, Rabbi of Regensburg and grandson of R. Yaakov Margaliot, Rabbi of Nuremberg. The work includes several in-text woodcuts, among them depictions of Jews in the synagogue.

Der Gantze Jüdische Glaube claims to expose the true face of Judaism, mocks Jewish customs and makes serious accusations against the Jews. Among other things, Margaritha warns his Christian readers against having contact and trading with Jews, cautions them not to consult with Jewish physicians and portrays a negative picture of the Jewish Sabbath and the custom of using a "Shabbos goy". One of the worst allegations targets the political loyalty of the Jews, who are portrayed as treacherous subjects and supporters of enemy countries, headed by the Ottoman Empire.

This work deeply affected Martin Luther, who was inspired by it to write his anti-Semitic book Von den Jüden und iren Lügen (On the Jews and Their Lies). Alongside its wide influence on anti-Semitism in early modern history, the book is also considered a valuable source of information about the daily life of Jews and their customs during that period. This work includes, among others, the first translation of the Jewish prayer book for a non-Jewish readership (see: Daniel Lehmann, "Between Judaism and Christianity(ies), between Ethnography and Polemic: Antonius Margaritha's Writing on the Kabbalah in 'The Whole Jewish Belief'", Hayo Haya, Vol. 14, 2019, pp. 29-48, [Hebrew]).

The grim accusations against the Jews made by Margaritha in this book led to a public debate, conducted in 1530 before the Imperial Committee, that convened in the Reichstag of Augsburg, in the presence of Emperor Karl V. Margaritha's opponent in this debate was the well-known Jewish lobbyist R. Joseph ben Gershon of Rosheim (Joseph Loanz). After R. Joseph ben Gershon refuted Margaritha's claims against the Jews, the latter was banished from Augsburg.

[128] leaves. Approximately 19.5 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains and blemishes. Pen and colored pencil inscriptions (on the front endpaper are hand-written inscriptions by Victor Klagsbald). Wear to leaves (mainly at the beginning of the book). Minor tears, some repaired with acid-free tape. New half-leather binding.