Maarchei Adom by Rabbi Abraham Dov Moshe Monusson, Seini, Romania, 1929.

When this book was published, Rabbi Monusson was Rav (Rabbi) of Grimsby, a port in Lincolnshire, England.  I have previously written about his son-in-law, Rabbi Julius Gould of Leeds and his book, Geulas Yisroel. Rabbi Monusson's story is somewhat tragic.  He was born in Vilna, about 1868.  He was educated at Yeshivos (Rabbinical schools) in … Continue reading Maarchei Adom by Rabbi Abraham Dov Moshe Monusson, Seini, Romania, 1929.

The Origins of Glasgow Jewry 1812-1895 by Abraham Levy, Glasgow, 1949.

This is a useful book, a predecessor to more modern histories of Scottish Jewry. It was printed for subscribers in 1949.  As well as useful information on the early Jews in Glasgow, and on the first synagogues and burial grounds, it contains information on the founding of Garnethill Synagogue in 1879.

Whittinghame Farm School Ltd., First Annual Report, 1940.

This is an important document which describes the period after November 1938, when there was a great effort by some to bring the maximum amount of Jewish refugee children from Europe to the United Kingdom, known as the kindertransport. Whittinghame House, in Lothian, Scotland, was the birthplace and country home of Lord Balfour, the former … Continue reading Whittinghame Farm School Ltd., First Annual Report, 1940.

Koheles Shlomo by Rabbi Shlomo Stencl, Peterkov, 1932.

This book contains the writings of Rabbi Shlomo Stencl, who was the elder brother of Avrum Nochum Stencl.  A. N. Stencel was the writer and poet, who arrived in London in about 1936 and published and edited the monthly Yiddish magazine Loshen un Lebn for about 40 years.  His book London Lyrics was published in … Continue reading Koheles Shlomo by Rabbi Shlomo Stencl, Peterkov, 1932.

Sefer Korban Shabbos, by Rabbi Betzalel ben Solomon of Kobrin and Slutzk, Dyhrenfurth, 1691.

This is an interesting book from my antique Hebrew books collection, a book of homilies on several laws of Shabbos (the Sabbath day), compiled from halachic (Jewish legal) authorities and works of Kabbalah, including lighting of the Shabbos candles and the idea of adding time onto Shabbos, written by Rabbi Bezalel ben Solomon Darshan (17th … Continue reading Sefer Korban Shabbos, by Rabbi Betzalel ben Solomon of Kobrin and Slutzk, Dyhrenfurth, 1691.

Central Synagogue, Twentieth Annual Report, 1909.

The Central Synagogue, in London, was consecrated in 1870 and stood in Great Portland Street until it was destroyed by a German bomb on 10th May, 1941. It was replaced by the current ‘modern’ synagogue.  I have previously written about the previous year's report, printed in 1908. Here is the 1909 Annual Report:

The Stained Glass Windows of Singers Hill Synagogue, Birmingham, (1963).

The Singers Hill Synagogue, in Birmingham, England, built in 1856, is a Grade II listed building, the home of the orthodox Birmingham Hebrew Congregation.  The stained glass windows were donated as part of a fund-raiser for a pension scheme for the Synagogue employees and officials. Although I have a copy in my collection, I have … Continue reading The Stained Glass Windows of Singers Hill Synagogue, Birmingham, (1963).

Jews College, London, The Library, A History, by Ruth P. Lehmann, London, 1967.

From time to time, books appear for sale that have come from the Jews College Library, in London, and I have occasionally bought these and previously written about them. Jews College was founded in 1855 as a Rabbinical College in London. It was a college of the University of London until recent years, and has … Continue reading Jews College, London, The Library, A History, by Ruth P. Lehmann, London, 1967.

Early English Zionists, 1890-1920, Professor Norman Bentwich, Tel-Aviv, 194?.

Norman Bentwich (1883-1971) was the eldest son of Herbert Bentwich, Zionist and founder of Hampstead Synagogue, of whom I have written about previously. He was a barrister and legal academic, and was the first British-appointed  Attorney General of Palestine, a post he held until 1931. Bentwich's perceived Zionist bias made him increasingly unpopular with Palestinian … Continue reading Early English Zionists, 1890-1920, Professor Norman Bentwich, Tel-Aviv, 194?.

Essays in Jewish History by Lucien Wolf, London 1934, and the origins of the Norwood Jewish Orphanage.

Lucien Wolf's parents, were Edward Wolf, born in the village of Hareth in Bohemia, and Celine, the daughter of Ludwig Redlich, a prosperous Viennese banker.  He was born in London on January 20th, 1857 and claimed to be a descendant of the Chacham Zvi Ashkenazi, whom I have written about previously, and who had visited … Continue reading Essays in Jewish History by Lucien Wolf, London 1934, and the origins of the Norwood Jewish Orphanage.