Extension:Ex-1.6.3-4
Meḥir Yayin
Between 1542 and 1557, Kraków was beset by waves of epidemics. In 1556, Rema fled Kraków “because of the moldy air” and went to Szydłów, some 120 kilometers northeast of Kraków. Rema had little praise for his place of refuge. He noted that food and drink were scarce and it was difficult to celebrate the Jewish festivals. To cheer himself up before the holiday of Purim, he composed a commentary on the Book of Esther and sent it to his father in lieu of mishloaḥ manot – foodstuffs that are traditionally given to friends as gifts on Purim. Rema hoped to write commentaries on each of the Five Scrolls, but his plan never materialized. This is how Rema’s first printed work, Meḥir Yayin, came into being and it was printed in 1559 in Cremona, Italy – a decade before Rema began to print his other writings.