MiYemei Kedem (From Days of Old), Stories and Sayings from Talmud and Midrash by Rabbi Wolf Gottlieb, London 1948.

Rabbi Wolf Gottlieb, who was the Rabbi of Queens Park Synagogue, Glasgow, Scotland and later Head of the Beth Din (Rabbinical Court) of Glasgow was the author of this very fine and useful textbook, written in 1948, when Jewish education in the United Kingdom was being reorganized after the Second World War. Details about him … Continue reading MiYemei Kedem (From Days of Old), Stories and Sayings from Talmud and Midrash by Rabbi Wolf Gottlieb, London 1948.

Garnethill Synagogue Centenary, Order of Service, Glasgow, 1979.

The Garnethill Synagogue, Glasgow, Scotland, a splendid example of Victorian synagogue architecture, was built in the period of 1879-81. It was designed by John McLeod of Dumbarton, in conjunction with London based architect Nathan Solomon Joseph of the United Synagogue.It is a Grade-I listed building.  It is also the home of the Scottish Jewish Archives … Continue reading Garnethill Synagogue Centenary, Order of Service, Glasgow, 1979.

Madrich LeMachzor, Companion to the Machzor, Rabbi A. L. Rubinstein, Glasgow, 1957.

Rabbi Abraham (Yehuda Leib) Rubinstein is another one of Britain's somewhat forgotten rabbis.  He was born in 1919 in Glasgow, to immigrants Jacob and Fanny Rubinstein. His father died at the young age of 34, two years later.  At the age of nine he was a soloist in the choir of the South Portland Street … Continue reading Madrich LeMachzor, Companion to the Machzor, Rabbi A. L. Rubinstein, Glasgow, 1957.

Communal Conference on the Reconstruction of Jewish Education in Great Britain. Report of Proceedings. London 1946.

This was an extremely important two-day conference, held on November 25th and 26th 1945.  The Chief Rabbi, Dr. Hertz, was ill (he died in January 1946), and delegated his chairmanship to Dayan Grunfeld.  The entire orthodox community was represented, except for the Haredi Union of Orthodox Hebrew Congregations. The list of the attendees, shown below … Continue reading Communal Conference on the Reconstruction of Jewish Education in Great Britain. Report of Proceedings. London 1946.

Jewish National Fund for Great Britain & Ireland, 29th Annual Conference Report, London, 5713 (1953).

I've previously written about the Jewish National Fund's report for 1939.  This one, from 1953 gives an amazingly detailed picture of the spread and activity of the Jewish National Fund throughout Great Britain and Ireland in 1953.  The entire Zionist and general Jewish community in the United Kingdom and Eire was involved in fund raising … Continue reading Jewish National Fund for Great Britain & Ireland, 29th Annual Conference Report, London, 5713 (1953).

What did Dayan Hillman Read? Kereisi Upleisi and Tiferes Yisroel by Rabbi Yonasan Eibeschutz, Warsaw, 1878.

These are two important Rabbinical works by Rabbi Yonasan Eibeschutz (1690-1764), bound in one volume, and printed in Warsaw in 1878.  Rabbi Eibeschutz was an important talmudist, kabbalist and author who was the Dayan (rabbinical judge) of the city of Prague and later Rabbi of the Three Communities of Altona, Hamburg and Wansbeck.  Kereisi Upleisi … Continue reading What did Dayan Hillman Read? Kereisi Upleisi and Tiferes Yisroel by Rabbi Yonasan Eibeschutz, Warsaw, 1878.

The Jewish Memorial Council Central Committee for Jewish Education, Annual Report by Herbert Adler, 1936-37.

This is the report of Herbert Adler, the Director of Education. It gives am interesting report on Jewish Education in Britain in 1936-37, including not just London, but communities all over the British Isles. Herbert Marcus Adler (1876-1940) was a grandson of Chief Rabbi Nathan Marcus Adler.  He was educated at the City of London … Continue reading The Jewish Memorial Council Central Committee for Jewish Education, Annual Report by Herbert Adler, 1936-37.

Ma’amar Ha’achdut by Yosef Yavetz, 1862 – Rabbi Yaakov Ben Zion Mendelsohn’s copy.

This book belonged to Rabbi Yaakov Ben Zion Mendelsohn, another of Britain's  slightly forgotten rabbis.  He was a well-known and respected scholar, Talmudist and pulpit rabbi.  His original name was Rabbi Yaakov Ben Zion Morein and he was born in Kreitzburg (Latvian Krustpils), in the Vitebsk district of Russia. He changed his name to Mendelsohn … Continue reading Ma’amar Ha’achdut by Yosef Yavetz, 1862 – Rabbi Yaakov Ben Zion Mendelsohn’s copy.

Jewish National Fund for Great Britain & Ireland, Report 5699, London 1939.

This report, covering the year ended 30th September 1939, provides a picture of the JNF at the beginning of the Second World War.  There is great concern over the Jews of Poland, a community of three and a half million Jews.  Where can they go? Only in Palestine can they find a home.  The Jewish … Continue reading Jewish National Fund for Great Britain & Ireland, Report 5699, London 1939.