Whether we think that Jewish people resettled in the British Isles officially in 1656, after the expulsion of 1290, or whether we admit that there were Jews in the British Isles between 1290 and 1656, the Anglo-Jewish community decided to celebrate 300 years since the official resettlement in 1956. This was celebrated very officially, with … Continue reading Tercentenary of the resettlement of the Jews in the British Isles, Ephemera and Catalogue of the Anglo-Jewish Art and History Exhibition, Victoria and Albert Museum, 1956.
Israel Independence Day, London, 1955, 1959, 1962, 1968, St John’s Wood, New West End and Marble Arch Synagogues.
These are the Orders of Service for the celebrations of Israel Independence Day (Yom HaAtzmaut) in London. London's Great Synagogue in Dukes Place, in the City, had been destroyed in 1940 in the Blitz (bombing). So now, the community had to find a new central synagogue for major communal services. In 1955 it was the … Continue reading Israel Independence Day, London, 1955, 1959, 1962, 1968, St John’s Wood, New West End and Marble Arch Synagogues.
The Jewish “Call Up” by Rabbi E. Munk, London, 1959.
This short talk was given by Rabbi Dr. Eliahu Munk of Golders Green, London (not to be confused with his cousin Rabbi Elie Munk of Paris) at the Golders Green Beth Hamedrash in London, on the last day of Pesach 5719 (1959). Rabbi Munk’s father, Ezra (1867–1940) was a Rabbi in Germany, who had studied … Continue reading The Jewish “Call Up” by Rabbi E. Munk, London, 1959.
Passover 1945 – Joint Emergency Committee for Jewish Education in Great Britain, London, 1945.
Currently, when children flee from bombing in wartime, they are called refugees. In Great Britain, at the start of the Second World War, they were called evacuees. Between 1939 and 1945, there was a great effort by the Anglo-Jewish establishment to provide Jewish religious education for both children evacuated from big cities, and also refugee … Continue reading Passover 1945 – Joint Emergency Committee for Jewish Education in Great Britain, London, 1945.
What was Rabbi Mendelsohn of Glasgow reading? Sheeris Yaakov, by Rabbi Yaakov Denezohn of Libau, 1911, Saszfalu.
What was Rabbi Yaakov Ben Zion Mendelsohn of Glasgow reading? And what was his connection with the author of this book? Rabbi Yaakov Denezohn (or Denisohn), published this book of Shaylos and Tshuvos (questions and answers), Sheeris Yaakov (The Offspring of Jacob), originally in 1896. This second edition was published in 1911 in Saszfalu. I … Continue reading What was Rabbi Mendelsohn of Glasgow reading? Sheeris Yaakov, by Rabbi Yaakov Denezohn of Libau, 1911, Saszfalu.
Kerem HaTzvi on the Haggadah of Pesach, by Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch Ferber, London, 1958, inscribed by Rabbi Abraham Moses Babad.
Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch Ferber was born in Kovno in 1879. He was a renowned Torah and Talmudic scholar who emigrated to Manchester, England in 1911 and then in 1913 became the Rabbi and leader of the West End Talmud Torah Synagogue (Kehilas Yeshurun) in Soho, London. He was known as a regular visitor to the … Continue reading Kerem HaTzvi on the Haggadah of Pesach, by Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch Ferber, London, 1958, inscribed by Rabbi Abraham Moses Babad.
Chinuch Hadas Vehada’as by Rabbi Joseph Shapotshnick, Piotrków, 1911.
Rabbi Joseph Shapotshnik, who became a familiar and sometimes controversial figure in London, was born in Kishinev. He was a charismatic and prominent East End character, a social activist and Chassidic rabbi without a congregation. As I have written before, Rabbi Joseph Shaposhnick was like Marmite – you either loved him or hated him. He … Continue reading Chinuch Hadas Vehada’as by Rabbi Joseph Shapotshnick, Piotrków, 1911.
Shoshanas HaEmakim, by Rabbi Yosef ben Meir Teomim, Lemberg, 1860.
This is an interesting small book from my antique book collection, called Shoshanas ha-Emakim, which means Lily of the Valleys. The author is Rabbi Yosef ben Meir Teomim, often known by the title of his major work, "Pri Megadim". It is a scholarly work focused on the methodology and principles of Talmudic study. My copy … Continue reading Shoshanas HaEmakim, by Rabbi Yosef ben Meir Teomim, Lemberg, 1860.
Mishneh Torah – Yad HaChazakah, by Moses ben Maimon (Rambam), Dyhrenfurth, 1809.
The Rambam, Rabbi Moses ben Maimon (also known as Maimonides), was a Talmudist, halakhist (Jewish legal scholar), doctor of medicine, philosopher and communal leader. He lived in 12th-century-Egypt and his writings (in Arabic and Hebrew) spread across the Jewish world and beyond, enriching the study of Judaism, philosophy, medicine, and more. His great work was … Continue reading Mishneh Torah – Yad HaChazakah, by Moses ben Maimon (Rambam), Dyhrenfurth, 1809.
Israel Abrahams, A Biographical Sketch by Herbert Loewe, Cambridge, 1944.
Israel Abrahams died over a hundred years ago, in 1925, leaving a large legacy of writing. The book, by his friend, Herbert Loewe, was written in 1925/6, but not published until 1944. Herbert Loewe had died in 1940, and this book was privately printed as a reproduction of typescript. Israel Abrahams came from an interesting … Continue reading Israel Abrahams, A Biographical Sketch by Herbert Loewe, Cambridge, 1944.
Jewish Miscellanies 