Prayers and Meditations for Every Day of the Year, printed by Wertheimer, Lea and Co., London 1870 – from the Jews’ Hospital and Orphan Asylum, Lower Norwood.

This anonymous book is stamped by the Jews' Hospital and Orphan Asylum, Lower Norwood and has an inscription by the Headmaster, Reverend S, H, Harris, dated May 19th 1884 - 5644. The book itself consists of a series of biblical readings, for every day of the year, and also for the Sabbath and Jewish holidays, … Continue reading Prayers and Meditations for Every Day of the Year, printed by Wertheimer, Lea and Co., London 1870 – from the Jews’ Hospital and Orphan Asylum, Lower Norwood. →

Talmud Torah Ibrith B’Ibrith, 5th Annual Report, 1905-1906, London, November 1906.

The Redman’s Road Talmud Torah in Stepney, East London, was founded in 1901.  The Headmaster was J. K. Goldbloom and the teaching method was simply to teach in Hebrew, with the children not allowed, if possible, to speak any other language.  This was a work in progress.  In the previous annual report, which I have … Continue reading Talmud Torah Ibrith B’Ibrith, 5th Annual Report, 1905-1906, London, November 1906. →

Sefer Ateres Rosh by R. Levi ben David of Kodnya, Amsterdam, 1766 (The Jews College, London copy).

This is another book that has come from the library of Jews College in London, and it has the old stamp of the Beis Hamedrash HaAshkenazi (the study house of the Ashkenazi community) in London. From time to time, books appear for sale that have come from the Jews College Library, in London, and I … Continue reading Sefer Ateres Rosh by R. Levi ben David of Kodnya, Amsterdam, 1766 (The Jews College, London copy). →

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. →

The Jacobs Affair – Statement by Chief Rabbi Dr. Israel Brodie, May 1964.

Sixty years ago, in 1964, the issue that shook and divided a large segment of Anglo-Jewry and  the middle-of-the-road orthodox United Synagogue was known as the Jacobs affair.  It pitted the Chief Rabbi, Dr. Israel Brodie, against the young and influential Rabbi and writer, Dr. Louis Jacobs, and it pitted the old, patrician leadership of … Continue reading The Jacobs Affair – Statement by Chief Rabbi Dr. Israel Brodie, May 1964. →

History of Our People in Rabbinic Times by Joseph Halpern, London, 1948.

This textbook has everything that you would want in English Judaica. It was written by an important Anglo-Jewish teacher and scholar, it was printed in Whitechapel at the Narod Press, it was published by Shapiro Valentine when they were known as a bookshop, and it was "seen through the press" by Chimen Abramsky, son of … Continue reading History of Our People in Rabbinic Times by Joseph Halpern, London, 1948. →

Jews College, Ninety-Eighth Annual Report, London, 1955.

In 1955 the College appeared to be thriving, with a distinguished staff and a list of students, some of whom were to go on to be well known names. For comparison, see the reports for 1937, 1939 and 1951.

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. →

Jews College, London, Catalogue of an Exhibition of Books by Members of the Academic Staff and Alumni, London, 1955.

Jews College, in London, now known as the London School of Jewish Studies, had 50,000 printed volumes and 20,000 pamphlets in 1955, as well as 700 manuscripts of the Montefiore Endowment.  This great library, then under the supervision of the Librarian, Ruth Lehmann, must have grown considerably by now. This catalogue was printed for an … Continue reading Jews College, London, Catalogue of an Exhibition of Books by Members of the Academic Staff and Alumni, London, 1955. →

Talmud Torah Eavris B’Eavris, 4th Annual Report, 1904-1905, London, November 1905.

The Redman's Road Talmud Torah in Stepney, East London, was founded in 1901 and had just moved to its new address in Redman's Road when this report was written. Redman's Road runs parallel to Mile End Road, from Jubilee Street, almost to Stepney Green.  The Headmaster, J. K. Goldbloom, was to remain for many years.  … Continue reading Talmud Torah Eavris B’Eavris, 4th Annual Report, 1904-1905, London, November 1905. →