The idea of compiling a work such as the present is not new, as on several occasions S. Munk expressed the intention of editing a Chrestomathie arabe-rabbinique. Since that time many Arabic chrestomathies have been published which can hardly be improved upon and are fully sufficient to introduce the student to the prose and poetic literature of the Arabs. The compilation of this chrestomathy, however, was undertaken from quite a different point of view. The vast Jewish Arabic literature, written almost entirely in Hebrew characters, is but little known to the general student of Arabic, and having assumed a certain degree of independence, is worthy of being studied not only for the treasures it contains, but also for the linguistic peculiarities of its dialects. Although many of these writings have already been printed, the greater part lies scattered in various libraries in MSS. without much hope of reaching the printer's hand for a long time to come.