Babylonian Talmud, Tractates Me'ilah, Kinim, Midot, Tamid, Semahot, Kalah, and Soferim, Venice: Daniel Bomberg, 1522

48 leaves (15  1/2  x 10  1/4  in.; 393 x 260 mm). Collation: 1-6⁸= 48 leaves, including the rarely present final blank. An exceptionally large copy. Four woodcut initial word panels. Some wear to edges. Minor losses to lower outer corner in second half. Dampstains. Later three quarter cloth over paper.

This volume contains the final four tractates of the Mishnaic order Kodashim. These tractates deal chiefly with sacrifices and the attendant Temple rites. Me'ilah deals with the unlawful use and enjoyment of hekdesh (i.e., things consecrated to the Temple, especially sacrifices.) Kinnim means "nest" or "birds in a nest," and deals with the pairs of sacrificial birds brought to the Temple for a variety of ritual sacrifices, some of which were considered obligatory and others, voluntary. Middot (measures) gives exact details and measurements of the building of the Temple and of its component parts, intended perhaps to serve as a guide for the future rebuilding of the Temple. The descriptions refer to the Temple as rebuilt by Herod. They reflect the memory of those sages who were still alive following the destruction of the Temple, and who passed on an oral description of it to their disciples. Tamid is an abbreviated form for olat ha-tamid (daily burnt-offering), and refers to the twice-daily sacrifices as set out at various places in the Hebrew Bible. The tractate is not actually concerned with these sacrifices; rather, it gives a description of the priests' daily Temple service, from the moment the priests set about their work early in the day until after the tamidsacrifice was organized later in the morning.

In addition the texts of three minor tractates, Semahot, Kalah, and Soferim, deal with mourning, marriage, and the writing of sacred texts, respectively.

The contemporary recognition of the enormity of Daniel Bomberg’s achievement in bringing the entire Babylonian Talmud to press is summed up in the lengthy and moving colophon, which appears on the final printed page, and was written by Bomberg's colleague, Cornelius Adelkind:

Praise and thanksgiving to He who is the Creator…He roused the spirit of our lord Daniel Bomberg to print the Babylonian Talmud with Rashi’s commentary, Tosafot, Piskei Tosafot, and Maimonides’ commentary on the Mishnah, and the novellae of the strong hammer, the Asheri (Asher ben Jehiel). And he gathered and assembled the entire Talmud and these commentaries, which had been scattered in every land both distant and near and joined to them many other books. And [so] he accomplished more than his predecessors. He expended his fortune and his wealth and sent couriers, riding swift steeds, to call the finest craftsman that could be found in all these regions to do this awesome work. He designated me, one of the brothers, the sons of Barukh Adelkind, and said to me, “Arise, gird now your loins as a man, and allot, apportion, and divide all these commentaries throughout the Talmud according to the light of your intelligence and they will be consolidated in your hands.”  I responded, “My lord, behold I am ready and prepared to do your command and to carry out your will as you desire and as I perceive it.” And as I saw that one should not refuse and turn away empty handed a person of excellence and nobility, I bestirred myself as God had graced me … I separated and established the two great spheres, the prince, Rashi and the Tosafot to illuminate the eyes of the readers … I divided them in equal parts on every page from the Talmud … nothing was added or removed … At the end of each and every Talmud is the Piskei Tosafot so the reader will have in his hand after studying … the halakhic decision which should serve as a balm … and also added is the commentary of Maimonides … All this was achieved through great efforts.  The Lord knows how much pain and great trouble we had as there was much work and numerous commentaries. If I erred or made a mistake in any matter, let the reader judge me meritoriously. He should know that it was not done intentionally. It was an offense done in error, not an offense committed in bad faith, for the material was sometimes difficult. I place my supplication before He who gives the weary strength, who bestowed upon me the merit to complete, divide, establish and arrange all the orders of the Babylonian Talmud. So may He grant me the merit with the Jerusalem Talmud, which our lord Daniel Bomberg [may his Rock and Redeemer protect him] has prepared to print with the remaining holy books which he has sent to bring from all lands where they are scattered … With this merit may the Lord assist our master Daniel, the son of Cornelius Bomberg, and make him strong and courageous so that he may go from achievement to achievement and grant him increase and prosperity. AMEN.

Literature: Vinograd, Venice, 79; Habermann 31, 44a, 64, 65.