Making of a Godol Banned - Again
An astute reader emailed me that it appears the new and improved edition of Making of a Godol has been banned. Although this edition attempted to "fix" some of the "problems" of the first, it appears...
View ArticleUpcoming Auctions
There are three upcoming auctions. Two of those have their catalogs online. Kestenbaum whose auction will happen this Thursday has some very nice pieces, including R. Hirsch's manuscript on Devarim...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Text of the New Ban on Making of a Godol
A helpful reader has scanned the Yated with the latest ban against Making of a Godol ("MOAG"). It is notable that R. Eliashiv has signed again as have others who were part of the original ban. Also,...
View ArticlePlagiarism I
As some of you have brought up in the comments regarding other works that had been plagiarized I thought it would be appropriate to discuss some of the more famous and those less so of instances of...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Latest MOAG Ban Runs Counter to an Agreement with R. Eliyashiv
A reader has sent me the following letter from R. Kamenstky discussing the possiblity of a ban on the improved edition of MOAG. The letter says "if people will come to complain to R. Eliasiv about the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Plagiarism II (Talmudic Terminology)
In 1988, Rabbi Nosson Dovid Rabinowich published a book titled Talmudic Terminology. However, as was noted in brief by Dr. Marc Shapiro, this was plagiarized from Moses Mielziner's Introduction to the...
View ArticleDei'ah veDibur on the MOAG Ban
Not that this is surprising, as Dei'ah veDibur is the English version of the Yated Neeman, but they have also posted the article and the new ban from below on their site in English.
View ArticleReview of Where there's Life there's Life
Rabbi David Feldman, who is well known for his book on issues relating to Jewish law and the beginning of life (abortion, birth control etc.), has now published via Yashar Books, a book on end of life...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The Ban on the book HaGaon
Now, as the Yiddish newspaper Der Yid has gotten around to commenting on the book HaGaon, I thought it would be worthwhile flesh out the entire controversy surrounding this book. Interestingly, R....
View ArticleClik here to view.
Eliyahu Drinking from the Cup
I hope to have a few posts in the coming days discussing some of the artwork found in various haggdah. While for hundreds of years artwork played an integral part of the haggadah recently this has...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Prague 1526 Haggadah
The first fully illustrated haggadah was the Prague 1526 haggadah. This haggadah was reprinted in 1977 by Mekor and is now available for everyone at the Jewish National University Library site here....
View ArticlePesach posts
Also, if you haven't already seen it Menachem Mendal has a very interesting post about using oat matzo for pessach. He also has a great post on another story assumed to be of Jewish origin which is...
View ArticlePesach Shir HaShirim Contest
Two other Pesach issues.First, as we are discussing haggadas, if people have favorites or others they feel are worthwhile letting others know about please comment.Second, as this blog is ostensibly...
View ArticleGettting Kabbalah Customs Wrong, Removing Teffilin on Hol HaMoad
On the Main Line had a discussion regarding whether one should or should not follow customs based upon kabbalah. He brought up the custom of removing teffilin on Rosh Hodesh "before Mussaf." However,...
View ArticleAz Yashir, Another Kabalah Custom Gone Wrong?
One of the most common and troublesome customs based upon kabalah is the addition of verses and targum to אז ישיר.Everyday, at the end of pesuki de’zimra we recite az yashir. However, we for one,...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Separate Beds More on Illustrated Haggadot
As part of the hagadah there is an extensive discussion where various verses are discussed in depth. One of the verses, Devarim 26:7, says that "God heard our pain" (וירא את ענינו), this is...
View ArticleReview of Reckless Rites
While it is a bit out of season, I wanted to review Elliott Horowitz's new book Reckless Rites. In this book, subtitled "Purim and the Legacy of Jewish Violence," everything is viewed through the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Haggadah, First Hebrew Map, and Forgery
One of the most beautifully done haggadot is that of the Amsterdam, 1695. This haggadah for the first time used copperplate instead of woodcuts to produce the illustrations. Consequently, the...
View ArticleOld Haggadot for Free
Many of the haggadot that we have mentioned previously as well as many other interesting ones are available for free in there entirety at the JNUL's site here. All you need is a printer (just make...
View ArticleTalk on the Valmadonna Trust Library
JACK LUNZER, CustodianTHE VALMADONNA TRUST LIBRARYOpening remarks by Arthur Kiron, University of Pennsylvania.The Valmadonna Trust Library, located in London, is the world’s foremost private...
View Article