The Willesden and Brondesbury Synagogue in London seems to have had quite a complicated origin, a near death experience and a miraculous modern rebirth. Jews started to move into Willesden in Victorian times, but it was still countryside then, and the Willesden Jewish Cemetery opened in 1873. With the coming of the railways, Willesden became … Continue reading Willesden Synagogue Review, Chanucah 5707, London 1946.
Binyan, Organ of the Senior Section of Habonim, London, April 1945.
I came across this magazine in my search for Anglo-Jewish ephemera. Apart from capturing the moment of a British, Socialist Zionist Youth Movement just before the end of the war, I found it included a letter on page 11 from Ivor Blankfield, my mother's first cousin, then serving in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. Siblings … Continue reading Binyan, Organ of the Senior Section of Habonim, London, April 1945.
Sefer Kneses HaGadolah by Rabbi Chaim Benveniste, Fuerth, 1692. (With an approbation by the father-in-law of the first British Chief Rabbi).
With the terrible tragedy of the earthquakes in Turkey, my thoughts turned to a Turkish Rabbi, the author of this book, printed in Furth in 1692.. There is also a tangential British connection... read on to the Haskamah (approbation). Rabbi Chaim Benvenisti was born in Constantinople in 1603, and in his youth studied under Rabbi … Continue reading Sefer Kneses HaGadolah by Rabbi Chaim Benveniste, Fuerth, 1692. (With an approbation by the father-in-law of the first British Chief Rabbi).
Bechinas Olam, with Bakashat Hamemin, a commentary by Rabbi Moshe Galanti on a book by Rabbi Yedaya HaPenini, Vienna 1804.
This is an interesting book from my antique book collection. The original book Bchinat Olam by Rabbi Yedaya Hapenini, with Bakashat Hamemin was printed in Ferrera in 1551. Bakashat Hamemin at the end are requests written as poems, with all words beginning with the letter Mem by Rabbi Yosef Fransiche. Rabbi Yedaya Hapenini of Badrash … Continue reading Bechinas Olam, with Bakashat Hamemin, a commentary by Rabbi Moshe Galanti on a book by Rabbi Yedaya HaPenini, Vienna 1804.
Report of the Mahamad of the Proceedings on the occasion of the Bicentenary Festival of the Bevis Marks Synagogue, 5661 – 1901, London 1903.
The Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue, Shaar Hashamayim, is in Bevis Marks, a street in the City of London. The community had acquired the land in 1699 to replace the older and now too small synagogue in Creechurch Place which had opened in 1657. The new landmark synagogue, still in continuous use, the United Kingdom's oldest … Continue reading Report of the Mahamad of the Proceedings on the occasion of the Bicentenary Festival of the Bevis Marks Synagogue, 5661 – 1901, London 1903.
Ohalei Shem by Rabbi Joseph Kohn-Zedek, London 1883.
Joseph Kohen-Zedek, was born in Lemberg (then in Austria, today Lviv in the Ukraine) in 1827. He was a pupil of Rabbi Solomon Kluger in Brody and Rabbi Saul Joseph Nathanson in Lemberg. He published a number of collections of patriotic poetry in honor of the Austro-Hungarian emperor – from whom he received a gold … Continue reading Ohalei Shem by Rabbi Joseph Kohn-Zedek, London 1883.
Moznaim LeMishpot by Rabbi Zvi Hirsch Kalischer, Koenigsberg, 1855.
I usually write about Anglo-Judaica, however this book is from my general antique book collection. It is the only edition of a detailed clarification of the Shulhan Arukh, Hoshen Mishpat written by R. Zvi Hirsch ben Solomon Kalischer. Rabbi Kalischer (1795 - 1874) was an early proponent of the Zionist idea. He was born in … Continue reading Moznaim LeMishpot by Rabbi Zvi Hirsch Kalischer, Koenigsberg, 1855.
Ein Yaakov, Amsterdam, 1742 (the Jews College, London copy).
Ein Yaakov is a 16th century compilation of the non-legalistic and folklore-like stories that are in the Talmud, together with commentaries. It was compiled by Yaakov ben Shlomo ibn Habib and his son Rabbi Levi ibn Habib. This edition includes commentaries that illuminate the meaning of the text and provide additional insights, including the commentary … Continue reading Ein Yaakov, Amsterdam, 1742 (the Jews College, London copy).
Catalogue of Rare Judaica No. 4, Shapiro Vallentine & Co., London, circa 1948.
This catalogue is for the collectors. Look what we could have bought and at what low prices! Shapiro Vallentine, the famous publishers and bookshop was in Wentworth Street in the East End of London. It was originally owned by the Nirenstein family and then by their son-in-law, Chimen Abramsky, son of Dayan Abramsky. They published … Continue reading Catalogue of Rare Judaica No. 4, Shapiro Vallentine & Co., London, circa 1948.
Jewish Perseverance, by Morris Lissack, Bedford, England, 1851.
Morris (Moshe) Lissack was born in Schwerin in Germany in 1814 to a relatively prosperous family. His father was a corn merchant and he received a traditional Talmudic education. In 1835, after his father had died, he emigrated to England and travelled the country as an itinerant hawker. In 1839 settled in the town of … Continue reading Jewish Perseverance, by Morris Lissack, Bedford, England, 1851.
Jewish Miscellanies 