Tussle Over Horowitz's Book
As I mentioned before, Elliott Horowitz wrote an excellent book on Purim and its connection with violence. But, as some are wont to do, instead of reading a book objectively they come into a book with...
View ArticleArtscroll = Pornography?!
I recently received a sample of the new Artscroll work "A Daily Dose of Torah." This work, which is more or less a modern-day Hok l'Yisrael, parcels out 18 minute learning sections covering Gemara,...
View ArticleThe RCA "Edition" (Or Lack Thereof) Siddur
When a Yom Tov falls out on Shabbat, we add additions to the standard Yom Tov shemonei esrei that relate to Shabbat. One of these additions is found in the V'haseanu והשיאנו blessing, where we add...
View ArticleChofetz Hayyim His Death, the New York Times and Research Tools
I have gotten multiple emails (and now S. has posted it on English Hebraica) in the past couple of days regarding an obituary which appeared in the New York Times for the Chofetz Hayyim. The email...
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Kitzur Shelah, Sabbatianism, and the Importance of Owning Old Books
R. Jacob Emden, in his Torat haKenot claims a well known and fairly popular book is written by a Sabbatian (a follower of the false-Messiah Sabbatai Zevi). This book, Kitzur Shelah, authored by R....
View ArticleGhosts, Demons, Golems and their Halachik Status
One explicit mention of a ghost appears in the Talmud Ketubot 103a. The Talmud records that every week Rebbi used to return to his house after he died. The Talmud, however, does not record what Rebbi...
View ArticleNew Hard Drive
With modern day technology it is now possible to store tremendous amounts of information on hard drives. In the Jewish arena some have begun harnessing this power by placing thousands of seforim on a...
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Akedah, Art, and Illustrations in Hebrew Books
The Akedah (binding of Isaac) is a very popular theme in the arts. It appears in music, most recently (from a decidedly Christian perspective), the critically acclaimed indie musician Sufjan Steven's...
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Dr. Leiman's Post - Two Cases of Non-Jews with Rabbinic Ordination
What follows is an article by Dr. Shnayer Z. Leiman, who I trust is well-known to the readers of this blog. But for the benefit of those who are unfamiliar, Shnayer Leiman is a noted talmid hakham, a...
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Another Case of Historical Censorship at Volozhin or Simply Poor Research?
One of the more important sources for the history relating to the famed Volozhin Yeshiva is Moshe Shmuel v’Doro, by R. Moshe Shmuel Shapiro (Shmukler), which is is full of important material on this...
View ArticleShnayer Leiman on "A Puzzling Passage in a Book Intended for Jewish Children"
A Puzzling Passage in a Book Intended for Jewish Children, with a Tentative Bibliography of ספרי קודש that Treat the Mitzvah of Answering “Amen”Shnayer Z. Leiman In 2004, an anonymous book entitled...
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A Bizarre Case of Censoring the Besamim Rosh
In the majority of cases of self-censorship it is fairly easy to surmise why something has been removed. Most typically, it is due to the current writer or publishers either fear of offending their...
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The Enigma of the Besamim Rosh - Solved by an Amateur - Not!
It seems that my recent posts on the Besamim Rosh have been placed into the wilds of the internet. Someone, however, took issue with the very notion that the Besamim Rosh was a forgery. He claimed he...
View ArticleBenjamin Richler: "Putting the Pieces Together: The 'discovery' of Gershon b....
What follows is an original contribution by noted scholar Benjamin Richler to the Seforim blog. Any typographical errors are my fault alone. -- DanBiographical blurb: Benjamin Richler was born in...
View ArticleThe Case of the Missing Books: Besamim Rosh in Berlin and St. Petersburg
While we have previously discussed how the Besamim Rosh to this day remains an enigma, there are two important texts which may have bearing on this issue. Benjamin Richler has been kind enough to...
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The Chief Rabbi of Amsterdam: A Jewish Convert
Converts have been involved with seforim in many capacities. But, there is one book which was actually authored by a convert – Zera Yitzhak, Amsterdam 1789. This book is on Pirkei Avot and was written...
View ArticleTwo Books Sales
First, Hollander Books is selling their overstocks at 50% off until December 16th and 25% if you order by December 31. You can download the catalog here. Second, Seforim World, has just purchased a...
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A Forgotten Work on Chanukah: חנוכת הבית
Rabbi Eliezer Brodt of Jerusalem has authored articles in the journals Ohr Yisrael and Yeshurun, both familiar to many readers of the Seforim blog, and is contributing what is hoped to be the first of...
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The Custom of Playing Cards on Channukah
One of the more interesting customs relating to Chanukah is that of a relaxation of the restriction against gambling. As Menachem Mendel has pointed out, this relaxation was not limited, as some...
View ArticleBooks for Sale
R. Landy has purchased a library of 19th century books, mainly consisting of she'elot u'teshuvot and hiddushim on Shas for sale. All are obscure prints and many have never been reprinted. He can be...
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