Joseph Zedner
Encyclopedia
Joseph Zedner was a German Jewish bibliographer and librarian.
After completing his education, he acted as teacher in the Jewish school in Strelitz
(Mecklenburg
), where the lexicographer Daniel Sanders
was his pupil. In 1832 he became a tutor in the family of the book-seller A. Asher in Berlin, and later engaged in the book-trade himself; but being unsuccessful he accepted in 1845 a position as librarian of the Hebrew department of the British Museum
in London. There he remained until 1869, when ill health compelled him to resign and to retire to Berlin, where he spent the last two years of his life. Shortly after his appointment, the British Museum acquired the library of the bibliophile Heimann J. Michael of Hamburg, which Zedner catalogued.
He contributed to Asher's edition of the Travels of Benjamin of Tudela
(London, 1840), and wrote poems on two collections of portraits (Ehret die Frauen, and Edelsteine und Perlen, Berlin, 1836-45). While in London, he published a second edition of Ibn Ezra
's commentary on the Book of Esther
, to which he wrote an introduction entitled "Wa-Yosef Abraham."
After completing his education, he acted as teacher in the Jewish school in Strelitz
Strelitz
Strelitz refers to:*Mecklenburg-Strelitz, former German duchy*Mecklenburg-Strelitz , former district in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany*Free State of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, state of Weimar Germany*Neustrelitz, city in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany...
(Mecklenburg
Mecklenburg
Mecklenburg is a historical region in northern Germany comprising the western and larger part of the federal-state Mecklenburg-Vorpommern...
), where the lexicographer Daniel Sanders
Daniel Sanders
Daniel Sanders was a German lexicographer of Jewish parentage. He is famous for lexica and dictionarys .- Biography and bibliography :...
was his pupil. In 1832 he became a tutor in the family of the book-seller A. Asher in Berlin, and later engaged in the book-trade himself; but being unsuccessful he accepted in 1845 a position as librarian of the Hebrew department of the British Museum
British Museum
The British Museum is a museum of human history and culture in London. Its collections, which number more than seven million objects, are amongst the largest and most comprehensive in the world and originate from all continents, illustrating and documenting the story of human culture from its...
in London. There he remained until 1869, when ill health compelled him to resign and to retire to Berlin, where he spent the last two years of his life. Shortly after his appointment, the British Museum acquired the library of the bibliophile Heimann J. Michael of Hamburg, which Zedner catalogued.
Works
Zedner was the author of the following works:- Auswahl Historischer Stücke aus Hebräischen Schriftstellern vom Zweiten Jahrhundert bis in die Gegenwart, mit Vocalisiertem Texte, Deutscher Uebersetzung und Anmerkungen (Berlin, 1840)
- Catalogue of the Hebrew Books in the Library of the British Museum (London, 1867)
-
- Ein Fragment aus dem Letzten Gesange von Reineke Fuchs (Berlin, 1871), a poetical satire on Napoleon III.
-
He contributed to Asher's edition of the Travels of Benjamin of Tudela
Benjamin of Tudela
Benjamin of Tudela was a medieval Jewish traveler who visited Europe, Asia, and Africa in the 12th century. His vivid descriptions of western Asia preceded those of Marco Polo by a hundred years...
(London, 1840), and wrote poems on two collections of portraits (Ehret die Frauen, and Edelsteine und Perlen, Berlin, 1836-45). While in London, he published a second edition of Ibn Ezra
Ibn Ezra
Ibn Ezra was a prominent Jewish family from Spain spanning many centuries.The name ibn Ezra may refer to:* Abraham ibn Ezra , a Rabbi who lived in the eleventh and twelfth centuries...
's commentary on the Book of Esther
Book of Esther
The Book of Esther is a book in the Ketuvim , the third section of the Jewish Tanakh and is part of the Christian Old Testament. The Book of Esther or the Megillah is the basis for the Jewish celebration of Purim...
, to which he wrote an introduction entitled "Wa-Yosef Abraham."