Passover Haggadah – Jerusalem, 1842 – First Haggadah Printed in Jerusalem

Passover Haggadah – Jerusalem, 1842 – First Haggadah Printed in Jerusalem

Passover Haggadah, with Kabbalat Shabbat, Maariv and Sefirat HaOmer service. Jerusalem: R. Yisrael Bak, [1842].
This is the first Haggadah printed in Jerusalem, and one of the first Hebrew titles printed in Jerusalem, in the press founded by R. Yisrael Bak. In his foreword at the beginning of the Haggadah, the printer writes about the founding of the press in Jerusalem: "G-d inspired me with wisdom and understanding to do the work of printing as you see, and to grant our fellow Jews the merit of studying and teaching from holy books printed in holiness here in Jerusalem…".

The renowned printer R. Yisrael Bak (1797-1874), a disciple of the Chassidic masters Rebbe Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev and Rebbe Yisrael of Ruzhin. Born in Berditchev, he was involved in the printing profession already in his youth, and in 1815, he established the (second) printing press in Berditchev, where he printed some 26 books before immigrating to Eretz Israel. Reputedly, he designed the Slavita typeface. Following his immigration to Eretz Israel, ca. 1831, he settled in Safed, where he established a printing press which operated for a short while, until the great 1837 earthquake which completely destroyed the town. In 1840 he established a printing press in Jerusalem – the first printing press in Jerusalem to print Hebrew books and the only press in the city until the 1860s.
For more information about R. Yisrael Bak and his printing press in Safed and Jerusalem, see: Shoshana Halevy, Sifrei Yerushalayim HaRishonim, Jerusalem 1976, pp. 15-27; Meir Benayahu, R. Yisrael Bak's Printing Press in Safed and the Beginning of Printing in Jerusalem, Areshet, IV, Jerusalem 1966, pp. 271-295 (Hebrew).

[30] leaves. 15 cm. Fair condition. Stains, including dark stains, and signs of mold. Worming, tears and open tears, affecting text. Tear with printing defect, affecting text. Paper repairs to most leaves. Many inscriptions on title page. New leather binding.

The fourth Hebrew book printed in Jerusalem. Sh. Halevy 5; Yaari 618; Otzar HaHaggadot 849.