Hebrew grammar book from 16th century returns to Prague

A 16th century book that belonged to Prague’s Jewish community before World War II and surfaced at a New York City auction last year was brought back to the Czech Republic today.

Titled “Mikne Avram – Peculium Abrae,” the recovered volume is a grammar book published in both Hebrew and Latin in 1523. It was written by Abraham ben Meir de Balmes, an Italian Jew, and published in Italy.

The book titled “Mikne Avram – Peculium Abrae” is displayed at the Prague’s Jewish Museum in Prague, Czech Republic, Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2018. A rare 16th century book that used to belong to Prague’s Jewish community before World War II and was considered lost has been returned after it reappeared at an auction held by New York based auction house. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

It belonged to the library of Prague’s Jewish community before the war, and it is not clear under what circumstances it disappeared.

“It’s an exceptional moment for us that such a rare book returns to Prague after such a long time,”says Leo Pavlat, director of the Jewish Museum in Prague, the legal successor to the Czech capital’s pre-war Jewish community.

— AP