The Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue, Shaar Hashamayim, is in Bevis Marks, a street in the City of London. The community had acquired the land in 1699 to replace the older and now too small synagogue in Creechurch Place which had opened in 1657. The new landmark synagogue, still in continuous use, the United Kingdom's oldest … Continue reading Report of the Mahamad of the Proceedings on the occasion of the Bicentenary Festival of the Bevis Marks Synagogue, 5661 – 1901, London 1903.
Month: January 2023
Ohalei Shem by Rabbi Joseph Kohn-Zedek, London 1883.
Joseph Kohen-Zedek, was born in Lemberg (then in Austria, today Lviv in the Ukraine) in 1827. He was a pupil of Rabbi Solomon Kluger in Brody and Rabbi Saul Joseph Nathanson in Lemberg. He published a number of collections of patriotic poetry in honor of the Austro-Hungarian emperor – from whom he received a gold … Continue reading Ohalei Shem by Rabbi Joseph Kohn-Zedek, London 1883.
Moznaim LeMishpot by Rabbi Zvi Hirsch Kalischer, Koenigsberg, 1855.
I usually write about Anglo-Judaica, however this book is from my general antique book collection. It is the only edition of a detailed clarification of the Shulhan Arukh, Hoshen Mishpat written by R. Zvi Hirsch ben Solomon Kalischer. Rabbi Kalischer (1795 - 1874) was an early proponent of the Zionist idea. He was born in … Continue reading Moznaim LeMishpot by Rabbi Zvi Hirsch Kalischer, Koenigsberg, 1855.
Ein Yaakov, Amsterdam, 1742 (the Jews College, London copy).
Ein Yaakov is a 16th century compilation of the non-legalistic and folklore-like stories that are in the Talmud, together with commentaries. It was compiled by Yaakov ben Shlomo ibn Habib and his son Rabbi Levi ibn Habib. This edition includes commentaries that illuminate the meaning of the text and provide additional insights, including the commentary … Continue reading Ein Yaakov, Amsterdam, 1742 (the Jews College, London copy).
Catalogue of Rare Judaica No. 4, Shapiro Vallentine & Co., London, circa 1948.
This catalogue is for the collectors. Look what we could have bought and at what low prices! Shapiro Vallentine, the famous publishers and bookshop was in Wentworth Street in the East End of London. It was originally owned by the Nirenstein family and then by their son-in-law, Chimen Abramsky, son of Dayan Abramsky. They published … Continue reading Catalogue of Rare Judaica No. 4, Shapiro Vallentine & Co., London, circa 1948.
Jewish Perseverance, by Morris Lissack, Bedford, England, 1851.
Morris (Moshe) Lissack was born in Schwerin in Germany in 1814 to a relatively prosperous family. His father was a corn merchant and he received a traditional Talmudic education. In 1835, after his father had died, he emigrated to England and travelled the country as an itinerant hawker. In 1839 settled in the town of … Continue reading Jewish Perseverance, by Morris Lissack, Bedford, England, 1851.
Loshen un Leben (Language and Life), edited by A. N. Stencl, London, July 1951.
This is another nice issue of A. N. Stencl's monthly Yiddish literary magazine. Avrom Nochem Stencl came to London in 1936. He was born in Poland, into a rabbinical family, and had lived in Germany for some years, where he was a published author. His first volume of poetry in London was published in 1937. … Continue reading Loshen un Leben (Language and Life), edited by A. N. Stencl, London, July 1951.
Masseches Shabbos, Sultzbach, 1755 – from the Manchester Machzike Hadas.
I recently purchased this volume from one of my favorite book dealers, Israel Mizrachi of Brooklyn. Two things caught my eye. The first is that while I have other volumes of this edition of the Talmud, Shabbos is scarce. This is because everyone learns Shabbos - those who follow the "daf yomi" program of learning … Continue reading Masseches Shabbos, Sultzbach, 1755 – from the Manchester Machzike Hadas.
The Zionist Federation of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northen Ireland, 72nd Annual Report, London 1972.
This 110 page Report is definitely historical - it is 50 years old and therefore claims its place in my library of Anglo-Judaica. It is one of a long series of similar reports, and I have previously written about that of 1945. However, much of the 1972 Report is about the British Zionist Federation's 71st … Continue reading The Zionist Federation of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northen Ireland, 72nd Annual Report, London 1972.
Chochmas Shlomo by the Maharshal, Rabbi Solomon Luria, Brinn (Brno), 1796 – once in the Library of Yeshivas Chachmei Lublin.
This book is from my antique book collection. Yeshivas Chachmei Lublin means the Rabbinical School of the Sages of Lublin, which is in Poland. This large and legendary school was opened in 1930 and included a significant and growing library of tens of thousands of important rabbinical texts. The library was supposed to have been … Continue reading Chochmas Shlomo by the Maharshal, Rabbi Solomon Luria, Brinn (Brno), 1796 – once in the Library of Yeshivas Chachmei Lublin.
Jewish Miscellanies 