Michael Levi |
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Michael Levi Rodkinson (1845-1904) was an American-Jewish publisher, known for being the first to translate the Babylonian Talmud to English.
Born with the surname "Frumkin", he is the son of Alexander Sender Frumkin and half brother of Israel Dov Bär Frumkin, the editor of The Havatzeleth newspaper in Jerusalem, Arieh Tzvi Hirsch Frumkin and Guishe Frumkin-Navon. His grandfather was Aaron ha-Levi ben Moses of Staroselye, so he grew up in a Hasidic Chabad atmosphere.
He changed his name to Rodkinson for a reason unknown, maybe after his mother's name "Rada". He lived in Germany for a period of time where he published some of his books, then he moved to the United States and settled in New York where he worked as a publisher. Among his works is an uncompleted translation of the Babylonian Talmud to English that was harshly reviewed.