Laws of the Society for relieving the Poor on the Initiation of Their Children into the Holy Covenant of Abraham, reprinted 1886.

This little booklet was published by the Initiation Society, which was founded in 1745.  The Society set out rules for its mohelim and provided relief for the poor.                 More Laws follow here, followed by a list of subscribers and their addresses, which is scanned in full below:

Purim or The Feast of Esther by N. S. Doniach, 1933

Although this book was published by the Jewish Publication Society of America, it belongs in an Anglo-Judaica collection because of its author, and also because my copy is a piece of Anglo-Jewish ephemera. Nakdimon Shabbethay Doniach was a scholar of Hebrew and Semitic languages, lexicographer, linguist, and British civil servant. he was born in London … Continue reading Purim or The Feast of Esther by N. S. Doniach, 1933 →

Nesivos Chen by Rabbi Alter Noach HaKohen Michalensky, London 1899

Rabbi Michalensky was born in 1852 in Neschitz, near Kovel.  He was the first Chassidic Rebbe to settle in London, and according to Rabbi Harry Rabinowicz in his book "A World Apart" (the only source that I have found for information about him) was a colourful, fighting, enigmatic and erratic personality.  In 1870 he travelled … Continue reading Nesivos Chen by Rabbi Alter Noach HaKohen Michalensky, London 1899 →

Yalkut Zvi by Harris (Herschel Zvi) Gertler, London, 1954

Harris (Herschel Zvi) Gertler was born in Olkusz, Poland, in 1883 and died in London in 1972.  He was a pupil of the Sochatchover Rebbe.  He emigrated to London, England.  During the Second World War his house and business were destroyed by bombs, and he left London for a small village in the country for … Continue reading Yalkut Zvi by Harris (Herschel Zvi) Gertler, London, 1954 →

Address given on the occasion of the laying of the Foundation Stone of the New Synagogue by Rabbi Solomon Hirschell, 1837

This little booklet, in English, was issued on the occasion of the laying of the Foundation stone of the New Synagogue, in 1837.  The original New Synagogue, founded in 1757 in Great St. Helens, London, was rebuilt as a larger building.  This booklet records Chief Rabbi's Solomon Hirschell's speech as well as other details of … Continue reading Address given on the occasion of the laying of the Foundation Stone of the New Synagogue by Rabbi Solomon Hirschell, 1837 →

Al HaRishonim VeAchronim by Rabbi Zusman Hodes of Birmingham, London 1927.

Rabbi Zusman Hodes was born in Lithuania about 1870 and received Semicha from Rabbi Jacob Reines.  he was the Rabbi of the Belfast Hebrew congregation from 1906 to 1916 , and then the Birmingham Central Synagogue (the Birmingham Beis Hamedrash) until his retirement in 1942.  After his retirement he moved to Leeds and worked for … Continue reading Al HaRishonim VeAchronim by Rabbi Zusman Hodes of Birmingham, London 1927. →

LiTekufot Hayamim, The Cycle of Seasons by Rabbi Samuel Jacob Rabinowitz of Liverpool, London, 1917.

Rabbi Rabinowitz was born in Kelme, Lithuania, in 1857. He was a member of the Zionist group, Chovevei Zion (Lovers of Zion), attended the second Zionist Congress, and was elected to the Zionist General Council.  He was one of the founders of the Mizrachi movement and was appointed Rabbi of Liverpool in 1906.  He was … Continue reading LiTekufot Hayamim, The Cycle of Seasons by Rabbi Samuel Jacob Rabinowitz of Liverpool, London, 1917. →

Palestina – The Chovevei Zion Quarterly, September 1897

Palestina was the journal of the Chovevei Zion (Lovers of Zion) Association.  This was formally founded in 1884 and was at one time a large, strong international movement, with branches called 'Tents' in major Jewish communities throughout Great Britain and Ireland.                 However, they gave only a reluctant … Continue reading Palestina – The Chovevei Zion Quarterly, September 1897 →

Order of Service at the Consecration of the New Kingsbury Synagogue, London, by Dayan Morris Swift on Sunday 8th September, 1968 – 15th Ellul, 5728

Kingsbury is a suburb of London on the opposite side of the Edgware Road from Hendon.  Jews started moving into Kingsbury in the 1930s, and the embryonic community, as yet without a building, formally joined the United Synagogue in 1936.  Eden Lodge, an early Victorian house, was acquired during the War and a first Synagogue … Continue reading Order of Service at the Consecration of the New Kingsbury Synagogue, London, by Dayan Morris Swift on Sunday 8th September, 1968 – 15th Ellul, 5728 →

Ohr Hayashar on Bereishis with Eulogies by Rabbi Shmuel Yitzchok Hillman, London 1927.

Rabbi Hillman was born in Kovno, Lithuania, in 1868 and came to Great Britain in 1908, when he was appointed a rabbi in Glasgow, Scotland.  In 1914 he was appointed a Dayan of the London Beth Din, serving until 1934, when he settled in Jerusalem.  He died in 1953. His son-in-law was Rabbi Isaac Herzog, … Continue reading Ohr Hayashar on Bereishis with Eulogies by Rabbi Shmuel Yitzchok Hillman, London 1927. →