Brookwrite

The Chafetz Project is the translation into English of three noted Judaic works, circa 1700, by Moshe and Gershom Chafetz.

Moshe Chafetz was a late 17th century rabbinical scholar in Venice, Italy. Gershom Chafetz was his son, whose shortened life showed equal promise.

The Books

The Project translates the three books he published:

• Hanukkat haBayit (1696)
  Construction of the Second Temple
• Melekhet Machashevet (1710)
  Homiletical-philosophical commentary on the Torah
• Yad Charuzim (1700)
  Hebrew rhyme lexicon
  (by Gershom Chafetz)

The Men

• Moshe Chafetz (1663-1711)
• Gershom Chafetz (1683-1700)

The Project

Chafetz is believed to be in my family's direct lineage, which compels the project. No English translations are known to exist. If you know of one, please save me the thousands of hours of effort.

We have three copies of, what I believe to be two editions, of Melekhet Machashevet (the Venice first edition and a third Warsaw edition, I believe). We have photocopies and microfilm of Hanukkat haBayit and Yad Charuzim (first edition), obtained from Hebrew University in Jerusalem. All three are scanned into online storage.

I am slowly translating them into English. I seek original copies of all three, especially Hanukkat and Charuzim.

Melekhet Machashevet is still taught on occasion, and referenced in some sermons online (linked in the book's description on this site).

Moshe Chafetz
(inside cover, Melekhet Machashevet)

Got Information?

Any information about either Chafetz, or these three books, is greatly appreciated; in particular, available copies (especially Hanukkat haBayit, Yad Charuzim) or existing translations.

Contact me at djbrook@sbcglobal.net.