Raphael Nathan Nota Rabinovicz (Rabbinovicz/Rabbinowitz) (1835 – November 28, 1888) [1] authored Dikdukei Soferim (Dikdukei Sofrim), a 15 volume work containing variant readings of half the six orders of the Mishna and two tractates of the Babylonian Talmud. [2] Although he published/republished various other works, including a feature he titled Kunteres Dikdukei Soferim that appeared in a weekly Hebrew-language periodical, his magnum opus came out between 1867 and 1886. His research included visiting various European libraries. [3] Noteworthy is its introduction's history of printings of the Talmud. A sixteenth volume was published posthumously [1] (1897). [4] [5]
The timing of his work enabled him to use one font for the standard (Romm) Talmud and another for variants. [4]
One translation of the title "Dikdukei Sofrim" and the idea behind it is "Fine Points of the Oral Law." [1]