Aliyos Eliyahu is a book about Rabbi Eliyahu (HaGra), the Vilna Gaon. It is an interesting book in itself, but my interest is also that my copy once belonged to Rabbi Hyman Levin, also known as Chaim Levine, a Hebrew teacher and Rabbi of the Chevrah Chayei Adam of the Beth Hamedrash Hagadol in Leeds. … Continue reading Aliyos Eliyahu, by Rabbi Yehoshua Heshil Levin, Warsaw, 1901 – copy of Rabbi Hyman Levin of Leeds, England.
The Jewish Year Book, London, 1900, edited by Rev. Isidore Harris – Jews who served in British forces in the South African (Boer) War.
By 1900 the Jewish Year Book was in its fifth year of publication, and was packed with useful information about the Jewish community in the British Empire. The original editor, Joseph Jacobs, had gone to the United States to work on the Jewish Encyclopedia. The new editor, Reverend Isidore Harris, was born in London in … Continue reading The Jewish Year Book, London, 1900, edited by Rev. Isidore Harris – Jews who served in British forces in the South African (Boer) War.
Sefer Zichron Moshe al Talmud Yerushalmi by Rabbi Moshe Pinsker, London, 1934.
In his later years, Rabbi Morris Pinsker was the Rav of the New Road Synagogue, which was at 115 New Road in the East End of London. It was built in 1891-92 on a large plot of vacant ground behind nos 113 to 119 New Road. It was the first purpose-built synagogue built by the … Continue reading Sefer Zichron Moshe al Talmud Yerushalmi by Rabbi Moshe Pinsker, London, 1934.
Sefer Nachalat Zvi, by Rabbi Zvi HaCohen, Venice 1661.
This book, from my antique Hebrew book collection, was printed by the printer Bragadin in Venice in 1661 on the 100th anniversary of the printing of the Shulchan Aruch. It is a commentary on the Even HaEzer (literally stone of help) section of the Shulchan Aruch which is about Jewish family law, including marriage … Continue reading Sefer Nachalat Zvi, by Rabbi Zvi HaCohen, Venice 1661.
Order of Service for Israel Independence Day, edited by Moses Friedlander, published for Armin Krausz by Routledge and Kegan Paul, Ltd., London 1964
This book copies the traditional style of the blue 20th Century Adler Machzorim (Holiday Prayer Books), and has a similar binding. It is interesting because it combines prayers and celebration of Yom HaAtzmaut with some British flavours. My copy was owned, and is stamped by Rabbi Aaron Ben Zion Shurin. He was a native … Continue reading Order of Service for Israel Independence Day, edited by Moses Friedlander, published for Armin Krausz by Routledge and Kegan Paul, Ltd., London 1964
Mevaser Tov (Harbinger of Good Tidings) by Rabbi Yehuda Alkalai, London, 1852.
There is a street in Jerusalem called Rechov Alkalai, which people often mistake for the writer of the dictionary. Actually, it is named after Rabbi Yehudah Alkalai, who came up with the idea that the Jewish people should organize to settle in the Land of Israel, at a much earlier date than the modern Zionist … Continue reading Mevaser Tov (Harbinger of Good Tidings) by Rabbi Yehuda Alkalai, London, 1852.
Guardians of Our Heritage (1724-1953), edited by Leo Jung, New York, 1958 (inscribed).
This is an important book, edited by the British educated Rabbi Dr. Leo Jung. My copy is inscribed by him personally as a gift to Dr. Samuel Belkin, who was the President of Yeshiva University in New York. It includes the mailing label. In 1912 the Federation of Synagogues in London, England, appointed a new … Continue reading Guardians of Our Heritage (1724-1953), edited by Leo Jung, New York, 1958 (inscribed).
Glokn in Midbar (Bells in the Desert), Yiddish, London, 1948 and Ringn un Keyten (Rings and Chains), Yiddish, London, 1947 by S. Palme.
S. Palme was the pen name of Bernard (Berl) Sovinsky. He was my great-grandmother’s first cousin, born in Miedzyrzec Podlaski (Mezerich in Poland) to Baruch and Chana Sovinsky in 1888. I have previously written about his book Farviste Erd (Scorched Earth), published in London in 1943. This copy has all three books bound together, and … Continue reading Glokn in Midbar (Bells in the Desert), Yiddish, London, 1948 and Ringn un Keyten (Rings and Chains), Yiddish, London, 1947 by S. Palme.
The Jewish Year Book 1939 – Zionist and Pro-Palestine Organizations.
This is the Jewish Year Book 1939, published by the Jewish Chronicle, London, England. The pages scanned are those of Zionist organizations just before the Second World War. The entries show a very great depth of support in the Jewish community of the time, with large numbers involved.
Anti-Semitism in Germany, by Israel Cohen, London 1918.
What is striking about this little booklet is the date. We expect the 1930s and 1940s - the era of the Holocaust. But this was published by the London Jewish Chronicle in 1918, towards the end of the First World War. Even allowing for the fact that this was a time of great anti-German sentiment, … Continue reading Anti-Semitism in Germany, by Israel Cohen, London 1918.
Jewish Miscellanies 