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.
Category: London
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.
Social Legislation in the Talmud, by Rabbi Dr. I. Epstein, Torah Va’Avodah Library, London, 1947.
This book was published by the “Bachad Fellowship” in England. Bachad, which are the initial letters of Brit Chalutzim Datiim, the orthodox Jewish pioneering movement, was started in Germany in 1928. It’s purpose was to equip young orthodox religious Jews with agricultural or other skills which they could use, eventually to settle in British mandated … Continue reading Social Legislation in the Talmud, by Rabbi Dr. I. Epstein, Torah Va’Avodah Library, London, 1947.
Tell It In Gath, British Jewry & Clause 43, The Inside Story, by Abba Bornstein and Bernard Home, London 1972.
One of the great Anglo-Jewish controversies of the early 1970s was the struggle over Clause 43 of the constitution of the Board of Deputies. I remember it well – for full disclosure I was briefly a member of the Board of Deputies in 1971-72. Being young and anti-establishment, I remember regarding the President of the … Continue reading Tell It In Gath, British Jewry & Clause 43, The Inside Story, by Abba Bornstein and Bernard Home, London 1972.
Jews’ College, Hundred and Eighth Annual Report, London 1965.
In 1965 Jews' College, in its newish building off Montague Square in London, was thriving. Unlike the earlier reports that I have, 1937, 1939, 1951 and 1955, Jews' College students in 1965 included people who are still around or well remembered today. All the lists are below. The Governing Body and Committees, the Teaching Staff, … Continue reading Jews’ College, Hundred and Eighth Annual Report, London 1965.
Hendon United Synagogue. Order of Service at the induction of Rabbi Mordechai Shlomo Ginsbury as Minister of the Synagogue, and the Synagogue Newsletter, April 1999.
This is a relatively modern item. I had hoped to find older Hendon items for my collection, as both my sets of grandparents were members of the Raleigh Close synagogue after the war, and my father was a member in his own right from 1946, but these magazines and newsletters do not seem to have … Continue reading Hendon United Synagogue. Order of Service at the induction of Rabbi Mordechai Shlomo Ginsbury as Minister of the Synagogue, and the Synagogue Newsletter, April 1999.
Prelude to Service and Installation of Dr. Immanuel Jakobovits as Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the British Commonwealth of Nations, 1967.
These two booklets were published by the Chief Rabbi's Office in London prior to and for the installation at St. John's Wood Synagogue on 11th April, 1967. The order of service is exactly that - a religious service, providing for the passing of the baton by the outgoing Chief Rabbi, Dr. Israel Brodie, to the … Continue reading Prelude to Service and Installation of Dr. Immanuel Jakobovits as Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the British Commonwealth of Nations, 1967.
Charuzei Peninim (Rhyming Pearls) by Rabbi Yitzchak Reuvein HaKohen Ornstein, London, 1920.
This book, Charuzei Peninim, was originally published in Krakau in 1897. It was reprinted in London in 1919/1920 by Express Printers of 89 Commercial Street, complete with two important haskomos (approbations) from the first edition. The first is from Rabbi Shimon Sofer (1820- 1883). He was the second son of the Chasam Sofer, and was … Continue reading Charuzei Peninim (Rhyming Pearls) by Rabbi Yitzchak Reuvein HaKohen Ornstein, London, 1920.
Limdu Heitev Hachadash – The New Children’s Primer containing elements of Hebrew reading, compiled by Jacob Dickson, abridged by Rev. Izak Goller, London, 1923.
If you are Rachel Cohen, learning Hebrew at Deal Street School, I have the prize that you won in 1923. This little book with large print was used to teach small children to read Hebrew a hundred years ago. It was compiled and published by the Hebrew bookseller, Jacob Dickson, who had a shop in … Continue reading Limdu Heitev Hachadash – The New Children’s Primer containing elements of Hebrew reading, compiled by Jacob Dickson, abridged by Rev. Izak Goller, London, 1923.
Birur Halacha, on civil weddings, by Rabbi Tzvi Firsch Ferber, London, 1937.
This small book, on civil marriages and divorce in Jewish law, was published by Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch Ferber of London and printed by Israel Narodiczky in 1937. It has been reprinted, but this is the original first edition. In this book, Rabbi Ferber quotes the views of many batei din (rabbinical courts) and poskim (Jewish … Continue reading Birur Halacha, on civil weddings, by Rabbi Tzvi Firsch Ferber, London, 1937.
Jewish Miscellanies 