The circumstances which prompted this translation of 18 out of 60 treatises of the Mishna into English, 180 years ago, are explained in the preface. The Sephardic community in London was divided between those who wished to maintain orthodox practices and those who wished to establish a reform synagogue with revised liturgy. The reform advocates … Continue reading Eighteen Treatises from the Mishna, translated by D. A. De Sola and M. J. Raphall, London 1845.
Category: London
Oneg Shabbos, Anthology of Ancient Hebrew Table Songs (Zemiroth), Rev. H. Mayerowitsch, London, 1951.
This is actually the second, posthumous edition of a book first published in 1937. Herman Mayerowitsch was born on June 13th, 1882, in Deraznia, a small town in Russia where his father was buergermaster or mayor. At an early age he went with his parents to Czortcow (then Austrian Poland). He had a natural gift … Continue reading Oneg Shabbos, Anthology of Ancient Hebrew Table Songs (Zemiroth), Rev. H. Mayerowitsch, London, 1951.
Moreh Be’Etzbah and Tziporen Shamir, by Rabbi Chaim Yosef David Azulai (the Chida), London, 1791.
This is a single bound volume in my collection, printed in London in 1791 by Alexander Alexander. It includes two short books by Rabbi Chaim Yosef David Azulai, known as the Chida (from his initials). The Chida was born in Jerusalem, and came from a prominent rabbinic family. He was the great-great-grandson of Moroccan Rabbi … Continue reading Moreh Be’Etzbah and Tziporen Shamir, by Rabbi Chaim Yosef David Azulai (the Chida), London, 1791.
Rabbi Samuel Mohilever, compiled by M. Ben-Zvi, London, 1945 – Ruth Lehmann’s copy.
This book was published by the "Bachad Fellowship" in England. Bachad, which are the initial letters of Brit Chalutziim 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 Rabbi Samuel Mohilever, compiled by M. Ben-Zvi, London, 1945 – Ruth Lehmann’s copy.
“Let My People Go”, Some practical proposals for dealing with Hitler’s Massacre of the Jews and an appeal to the British Public, by Victor Gollancz, London, 1943,
This is a very important booklet, written and published during the Second World War by Sir Victor Gollancz. He was a British publisher and humanitarian and was the nephew of a famous British Rabbi, Rabbi Sir Hermann Gollancz. Victor Gollancz was often noted as a supporter of left-wing causes. He was an effective and innovative … Continue reading “Let My People Go”, Some practical proposals for dealing with Hitler’s Massacre of the Jews and an appeal to the British Public, by Victor Gollancz, London, 1943,
Seder Brachos – The Blessings by D. A. De Sola, London, 1829.
David Aaron De Sola was born in Amsterdam in 1796. In 1818, just 23 years old, he was appointed Assistant Hazan (Cantor) of the Bevis Marks Sephardic synagogue in London. The De Sola family had a long history and association with Bevis Marks, and his kinsman, Isaac De Sola was Hazan in London from 1690 … Continue reading Seder Brachos – The Blessings by D. A. De Sola, London, 1829.
Sefer Kerem HaTorah al Sefer Bereishis, by Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch Ferber, London 1956.
Rabbi Ferber's first book about Sefer Bereishis (Genesis), Kerem HaTzvi, which he titled in English 'The Vineyard of Beauty', of which I have written about before, was printed in Vienna in 1920. Now, almost forty years after that first book, he wrote another commentary on Bereishis. It is a completely different work. As he explains … Continue reading Sefer Kerem HaTorah al Sefer Bereishis, by Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch Ferber, London 1956.
What was Rabbi Ferber reading? Sefer Yermiahu (the book of Jeremiah), Dyhrenfurth, 1825.
This edition of Kiriyah Ne'emana (the prophets and scriptures) was printed in Dyhrenfurth in 1825. Dyhrenfurth (in Polish Brzeg Dolny) is a town in lower Silesia, whose Jewish community was established with the first Hebrew printing house there in 1688 and declined with the closure of the printing houses there in the late nineteenth century. … Continue reading What was Rabbi Ferber reading? Sefer Yermiahu (the book of Jeremiah), Dyhrenfurth, 1825.
Sefer Shir HaShirim im peirush chadash “Migdal Dovid” (The book Song of Songs with a new explanation “Tower of David”) by Rabbi Shmuel Dovid Sobel, London 1899.
This is another book, printed in London, by an almost forgotten Rabbi, Samuel David Sobel of Forshtadt. It is a commentary on Shir Hashirim. The printer was Eliahu Zev Wolf Rabbinovitz of 64, High Street, Whitechapel. I know very few biographical details about the author, other that he lived in Grodno, and came to London … Continue reading Sefer Shir HaShirim im peirush chadash “Migdal Dovid” (The book Song of Songs with a new explanation “Tower of David”) by Rabbi Shmuel Dovid Sobel, London 1899.
Kitzur Sefer HaChaim – The Handbook of Life, Chevra Kadisha of London, 1917 – Copy of the Roseman family of Plymouth.
This book consists of prayers and meditations for the sick and dying, together with the rites of purification and burial and the bylaws of the Chevra Kadisha (Jewish Burial Society) of London. It includes the history of the Society, which was set up in London in 1895. The President of the Society was Herbert Bentwich, … Continue reading Kitzur Sefer HaChaim – The Handbook of Life, Chevra Kadisha of London, 1917 – Copy of the Roseman family of Plymouth.
Jewish Miscellanies 