Hebrew Melodies, which is a collection of poems by Lord Byron, were mostly written to accompany music of the composer, Isaac Nathan. My copy is the first edition, first issue, printed by T. Davidson of Lombard Street, for the publisher, John Murray. Isaac Nathan was an aspiring composer who was born in 1790 to parents … Continue reading Hebrew Melodies by Lord Byron, London 1815.
Category: London
Mafteach HaKabalah by Rabbi Zev Wolf Tannenbaum, London, 1922.
This book, whose title means "Key to the Kabbalah" was published in London in 1922, and printed by Israel Narodiczky at his press in Mile End Road. It is bound together with a second book, Sefer Erez Halevanon, "Cedar of Lebanon". The book itself is a fascinating and comprehensive guide to kabbalistic ideas, including tables … Continue reading Mafteach HaKabalah by Rabbi Zev Wolf Tannenbaum, London, 1922.
The Responsa of Adreth, Rabbi Dr. Isidore Epstein, London, 1925
This interesting book uses some of the 3,100 'Responsa' (questions and answers) of Rabbi Solomon Ben Adreth of Barcelona (known as RaSHBA) as a source of the history and communal life of the Jews in Spain, particularly Aragon in the 13th century CE. It was the Ph.D. thesis of Rabbi Dr. Isidore Epstein, and probably … Continue reading The Responsa of Adreth, Rabbi Dr. Isidore Epstein, London, 1925
Fifty Years After, Sermons and Addresses (third series) by Rabbi Dr. Sir Hermann Gollancz, Oxford University Press, 1924.
These sermons and writings continue those previously published which include the period of the First World War, and although not in a modern style, are very evocative of the period. Sir Hermann Gollancz was the Rabbi (Minister) of the Bayswater Synagogue, which had an old established, relatively wealthy congregation of very British Jews. Rabbi Doctor … Continue reading Fifty Years After, Sermons and Addresses (third series) by Rabbi Dr. Sir Hermann Gollancz, Oxford University Press, 1924.
Young Israel, A Magazine for Jewish Youth, London, November (December) 1897.
The only periodical of its kind for young Jews in Great Britain at the end of the nineteenth century, Young Israel models itself to a degree on other children's magazines of the time. Young Israel was published monthly between 1897 and 1901. My copy is from November 1897 - or so I thought, until I … Continue reading Young Israel, A Magazine for Jewish Youth, London, November (December) 1897.
Soldiers from Judaea, Rabbi L. Rabinowitz, London 1944.
Rabbi Louis Isaac Rabinowitz was born in Scotland in 1907. His father, Rabbi Jacob Rabinowitz, had emigrated from Eastern Europe to become a rabbi in Edinburgh, Scotland. Jacob Rabinowitz was the descendant of a long line of Lithuanian rabbis. I have written previously about his Haggadah, which was published in 1907. He later moved to … Continue reading Soldiers from Judaea, Rabbi L. Rabinowitz, London 1944.
Henry Shaw, Hillel Director, 1961 (Press Photograph)
Henry Shaw was born in Notting Hill in London in 1911. His younger brother was Rabbi Kopul Rosen. Their parents surname was Rozrazowsky, and Henry changed his last name to Shaw during the Second World War when he was an army officer. He was the United Synagogue's Social Welfare Youth Officer from 1946 to 1949, … Continue reading Henry Shaw, Hillel Director, 1961 (Press Photograph)
Moral Instruction by Hai Gaon, by Rabbi Hermann Gollancz, Oxford, 1922
This is a book that has been copied and translated from manuscripts held in the British Museum by Rabbi Hermann Gollancz. Rabbi Hai Gaon was the last of the Geonim of Pumbeditha. With him the era of the Geonim came to an end. The Geonim were the brilliant Talmudic scholars who headed the great Yeshivos … Continue reading Moral Instruction by Hai Gaon, by Rabbi Hermann Gollancz, Oxford, 1922
Sefer Shimushoh Shel Torah, by Rabbi David Feldmann, London, 1951.
Rabbi David Feldmann announced his intention to publish a book called Shimusha Shel Torah at the end of his annotated edition of the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch in 1926. In the meantime, following the rise of Nazi Germany, he left his position in Leipzig and emigrated to England. This book was not published until 1951, when … Continue reading Sefer Shimushoh Shel Torah, by Rabbi David Feldmann, London, 1951.
Samson Raphael Hirsch’s Cultural Ideal and Our Times, by Jakob Rosenheim, translated by Dr. I. E. Lichtigfeld, London, 1951.
There's a lot in this book - the subject, the author, the translator, the publisher and the printer. The subject, Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch (1808-88) was a German rabbi and religious thinker. He was born in Hamburg where he received a general as well as a traditional Jewish education. His teacher in Hamburg was Isaac … Continue reading Samson Raphael Hirsch’s Cultural Ideal and Our Times, by Jakob Rosenheim, translated by Dr. I. E. Lichtigfeld, London, 1951.
Jewish Miscellanies 