Brookwrite

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

Moshe Chafetz (משה חפץ) was a late 17th century rabbinical scholar in Venice, Italy. Gershom Chafetz (גרשם חפץ) 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:

• Melekhet Machashevet - copies of the second (Koenigsberg), third, and fourth (Warsaw) editions
• Hanukkat HaBayit - two copies, including one with the rare pullout map
• Yad Charuzim - about to receive a copy of the second edition

We have microfilm of all three, obtained from Hebrew University in Jerusalem, all scanned into online storage.

I am slowly translating them into English. I'm interested in copies of all three, but particularly first editions of Melekhet Machashevet and Yad Charuzim, and the fifth edition of Melekhet Machashevet.

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 first editions of Melekhet Machashevet and Yad Charuzim) or existing translations or citations.

Contact me at djbrook@sbcglobal.net.