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.
Loshen un Leben (Language and Life), edited by A. N. Stencl, London, July 1951.
This is another nice issue of A. N. Stencl's monthly Yiddish literary magazine. Avrom Nochem Stencl came to London in 1936. He was born in Poland, into a rabbinical family, and had lived in Germany for some years, where he was a published author. His first volume of poetry in London was published in 1937. … Continue reading Loshen un Leben (Language and Life), edited by A. N. Stencl, London, July 1951.
Masseches Shabbos, Sultzbach, 1755 – from the Manchester Machzike Hadas.
I recently purchased this volume from one of my favorite book dealers, Israel Mizrachi of Brooklyn. Two things caught my eye. The first is that while I have other volumes of this edition of the Talmud, Shabbos is scarce. This is because everyone learns Shabbos - those who follow the "daf yomi" program of learning … Continue reading Masseches Shabbos, Sultzbach, 1755 – from the Manchester Machzike Hadas.
The Zionist Federation of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northen Ireland, 72nd Annual Report, London 1972.
This 110 page Report is definitely historical - it is 50 years old and therefore claims its place in my library of Anglo-Judaica. It is one of a long series of similar reports, and I have previously written about that of 1945. However, much of the 1972 Report is about the British Zionist Federation's 71st … Continue reading The Zionist Federation of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northen Ireland, 72nd Annual Report, London 1972.
Chochmas Shlomo by the Maharshal, Rabbi Solomon Luria, Brinn (Brno), 1796 – once in the Library of Yeshivas Chachmei Lublin.
This book is from my antique book collection. Yeshivas Chachmei Lublin means the Rabbinical School of the Sages of Lublin, which is in Poland. This large and legendary school was opened in 1930 and included a significant and growing library of tens of thousands of important rabbinical texts. The library was supposed to have been … Continue reading Chochmas Shlomo by the Maharshal, Rabbi Solomon Luria, Brinn (Brno), 1796 – once in the Library of Yeshivas Chachmei Lublin.
What was Rabbi Ferber reading? Tsuf Dvash by Vidal Tsarfati, 1718, Amsterdam.
Before we discuss the book itself, which is interesting in its own right, it is inscribed twice, has a marginal note, and has the ownership stamp in red ink, of Rabbi Tzvi Hirsh Ferber. Rabbi Ferber was born in Slobodka, a suburb of Kovno, Lithuania, in 1879. He was a renowned Torah and Talmudic scholar … Continue reading What was Rabbi Ferber reading? Tsuf Dvash by Vidal Tsarfati, 1718, Amsterdam.
Sefer Shalos uTshuvos (Responsa) of Rabbi Solomon Luria, Furth 1768 – from Jews College London.
This book of responsa (questions and answers) is by Rabbi Solomon Luria. Solomon the son of Yehiel Luria is known as Maharshal or Rashal. He was a Rabbi and author; born in Brest-Litovsk, Lithuania, in 1510. He died in Lublin in 1573. When he was still a youth his parents sent him to Posen, where … Continue reading Sefer Shalos uTshuvos (Responsa) of Rabbi Solomon Luria, Furth 1768 – from Jews College London.
Friends of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Annual Report 1938-9, London.
This booklet is really the Annual Report of the British Friends, who had been established in 1926. It describes the University on the eve of the Second World War and has interesting lists of subscribers and donors. The Organizing Secretary of the Friends when this report was written was Chaim Raphael. He was born Chaim … Continue reading Friends of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Annual Report 1938-9, London.
What did Dayan Hillman Read? Kereisi Upleisi and Tiferes Yisroel by Rabbi Yonasan Eibeschutz, Warsaw, 1878.
These are two important Rabbinical works by Rabbi Yonasan Eibeschutz (1690-1764), bound in one volume, and printed in Warsaw in 1878. Rabbi Eibeschutz was an important talmudist, kabbalist and author who was the Dayan (rabbinical judge) of the city of Prague and later Rabbi of the Three Communities of Altona, Hamburg and Wansbeck. Kereisi Upleisi … Continue reading What did Dayan Hillman Read? Kereisi Upleisi and Tiferes Yisroel by Rabbi Yonasan Eibeschutz, Warsaw, 1878.
Jewish Miscellanies 