Neveh Shalom, Abraham ben Isaac ben Judah ben Samuel Shalom, Constantinople: Eliezer ben Gershom Soncino, 1539

192 [of 196] leaves (7¼ x 5 in.; 184 x 127 mm). collation of complete work: 1-11^{8, 128(+a bifolium, signed 12_{6 and bound in after 125), 13-238, 2410; this copy lacking four leaves in the second quire. Woodcut architectural title border; title strengthened at gutter margin and lower margin shaved both affecting border, top margin shaved catching a few headlines, dampstain in upper portion; quire 12 with several leaves loose. Nineteenth-century half leather over blindstamped cloth; backstrip and portion of lower cover torn.}}

Judah Leib ben A. Mintz-his stamp on title page; Gedalia ha-Levi Horowitz—his signature on title page; Gershon ben Joseph of Novogrudok (1818)—his note in a fine calligraphic hand pasted on to title page; Joshua Zelig Persitz (Moscow)—his signature on verso of last leaf; Jakob Klatzkin—his bookplate

Vinograd, Constantinople 162; Yaari, Constantinople 127 (his collation incorrect; the complete edition comprises 196, not 194 leaves. The signed bifolium inserted in quire 12 (see collation) at the time of printing was obviously unknown to him).

192 [of 196] leaves (7¼ x 5 in.; 184 x 127 mm). collation of complete work: 1-118, 128(+a bifolium, signed "6" inserted after 5), 13-238, 2410; this copy lacking four leaves in the second quire. Woodcut architectural title border; title strengthened at gutter margin and lower margin shaved both affecting border, top margin shaved catching a few headlines, dampstain in upper portion; quire 12 with several leaves loose. 19th-century half leather over blindstamped cloth; backstrip and portion of lower cover torn.
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Abraham ben Isaac ben Judah ben Samuel Shalom (d. 1492) was a Catalonian philosopher and translator of philosophical writings who in addition to his Hebrew book, Neveh Shalom, is known to have translated two works from Latin into Hebrew. The present work gives evidence of the author's thorough command of the fields of knowledge of his time, and is rich in quotations from Greek and Arabic philosophical literature. In its external form, Neveh Shalom is a series of homilies on various aggadic passages drawn from the talmudic tractate Berakhot. Into this framework Shalom weaves a number of philosophic discussions in which he undertakes to review the statements of his predecessors to determine if their views are in accord with Scripture and thus correct. Among all of the philosophers Shalom considers, it is clearly Maimonides whom he holds in special regard, writing that his words are, "pure, free of the dross of confusion," and that "Moses [Maimonides] is true and his Torah is true." Throughout the book, Shalom undertakes to defend Maimonides' philosophy with its particular equilibrium between Greek wisdom and scriptural teachings. His defense of Maimonides is directed both against the more radical position of Levi ben Gershom, who felt that Maimonides had compromised philosophy, as well as against the more conservative position of Hasdai Crescas, who felt that Maimonides had compromised scriptural religion.