New book announcement: Chochmo Ba’goyim Taamin, By Rabbi Yonason Rosman
By Eliezer Brodt
I would like to announce a concise new work which deals with some topics that are sure to be of interest to many of the readers of the blog.
The sefer is titled Chochmo Ba’goyim Taamin, written by Rabbi Yonason Rosman (182 pp.). The goal of the book is to deal with the famous issue … Read More...
Interview with Rabbi Moshe Maimon About his Edition of R. Avraham b. HaRambam’s Peirush on Chumash
By Eliezer Brodt
Last year I wrote:
… Read More...The second volume of R. Avraham b. HaRambam’s peirush on Chumash Shemot was released (832 pp.). This new edition was edited by Rabbi Moshe Maimon and was published in a beautiful edition by Machon Aleh Zayis. Last year, Rabbi Maimon published the first volume (678 pp.)
Rosh Hashana 23b – The Missing Map – Were We Deprived of a Map Drawn by Rashi?
Eli Genauer
The Mishnah on Rosh Hashana 22b discusses the signal fires which were lit to inform the residents of Bavel of the Kiddush HaChodesh in Yerushalayim.
… Read More...מַתְנִי׳: בָּרִאשׁוֹנָה הָיוּ מַשִּׂיאִין מַשּׂוּאוֹת…..
MISHNAH: Initially, after the court sanctified the new month they would light torches on the mountaintops, from one peak
Shiur Announcement: Rabbi Yechiel Goldhaber
R’ Yechiel Goldhaber will be visiting the United States for a few weeks.
The readership of the Seforim Blog is invited to a lecture by the noted author, Rav Yechiel Goldhaber whose respected research and scholarship is well-known to Seforim Blog readers.
He will be giving a shiur tomorrow night, Monday, 11/1, at 7:30 PM. The address is at:
Rabbi Rabinowitz
1454 54th Street
This … Read More...
Dr. Samuel Vita Della Volta (1772-1853): An Underappreciated Bibliophile and his Medical “Diploma”tic Journey
Rabbi Edward Reichman, MD
I came upon the name Samuel Vita Della Volta through my usual historical pathway, the world of Jewish medical history, and my continued quest for medical diplomas of Jewish physicians from the premodern era. While the lion’s share of the diplomas I have identified come from the University of Padua,[1] there are … Read More...
How Dare You Translate Kabbalah!
by Avinoam Fraenkel
Avinoam Fraenkel’s new book, Shomer Emunim: The Introduction to Kabbalah (Urim Publications, 2021), is a full facing page translation and expansive commentary on Shomer Emunim by R. Yosef Ergas, together with an extensive Kabbalah Overview systematically explaining key concepts of Lurianic Kabbalah in the context of a revolutionary framework of scientific understanding (see here).
His previous two-volume Nefesh HaTzimtzum (Urim Publications, … Read More...
Daf Yomi: Seforim on Masseches Taanis
By Eliezer Brodt
Daf Yomi just started learning Masseches Taanis this week. Earlier today I had a conversation with Rabbi Moshe Schwed of All Daf. The purpose of the conversation was for me to briefly highlight some of the Rishonim and Achronim “out there” on this masechtah, adding some tidbits of interest about them. A nice amount of the conversation was devoted to … Read More...
Haftaros of Vayetze and Vayishlach – A Mistake Rectified[1]
By Eli Duker
There had been one practice throughout the Jewish world concerning the Haftara of Vayishlach until the print revolution. The book of Ovadia is the Haftara listed in every Haftara list, including the one in the Rambam’s Seder HaTefillos in the Mishneh Torah, MS Ginsburg Moscow of the Machzor Vitry,[2] Etz Chaim (written in London on the eve of … Read More...
“Seeing the Infinite in Torah”: A Memorial to the Gaon Rabbi Shelomo Fisher (Author of Beit Yishai)
By Rabbi Bezalel Naor
ANCESTRY
Rabbi Shelomo Yehonathan Yehudah Fisher was born in Jerusalem in 1932 to Rabbi Aharon and Devorah Fisher. He was named after his paternal grandfather, Shelomo Fisher (1852-1932), Rabbi of Karlsburg, Siebenbürgen.
Rabbi Shelomo Fisher the Elder, an Oberlander, was a disciple of Rabbi Abraham Samuel … Read More...
Shnei Zeitim: Two Olive Branches
Piyut by Solomon Ibn Gabirol
Translated & Annotated by Ben Zion Katz[1]
Two[2] olive branches[3] cut down in the garden[4] will again produce fresh, pure olive oil[5],
For the leaders of the Kohatites[6] and the Ephratites[7] will be crowned as one[8].
They will shine[9] like candles on the holy Menorah[10]-
There in the camp opposite the menorah, they shined![11]
The son of Ephrat[12] whose … Read More...
Gelatin, Supposed Retractions, and Abraham Goldstein, Part 1
Marc B. Shapiro
In my last post I quoted something from Mesorat Moshe and wondered whether R. Moshe Feinstein could have actually said that which is attributed to him. While the Mesorat Moshe series is quite valuable, whenever one deals with “table talk” there is always going to be the issue of how much authority do you give to such reports, especially … Read More...
ענין הריגת עשו והמסתעף
Shlomo (Steven) Flamer is a fourth-year medical student at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. He previously studied at Yeshivas Ohr Hachaim (Queens, NY), and holds an M.A. in Jewish Studies from Touro College
רש”י לפרשת ויחי (מט, כא) ד”ה הנותן אמרי שפר מביא דברי חז”ל אודות מיתת עשו, ז”ל רבותינו דרשוהו על יום קבורת יעקב כשערער עשו על המערה במסכת סוטה דף יג עכ”ל. ובאמת … Read More...
Daf Yomi: Seforim on Masseches Megilah
By Eliezer Brodt
Daf Yomi just started learning Masseches Megilah this week. Earlier today I had a conversation with Rabbi Moshe Schwed of All Daf. The purpose of the conversation was for me to briefly highlight some of the Rishonim and Achronim “out there” on this masechtah, adding some tidbits of interest about them.
We recorded it and it’s available for viewing here… Read More...
Memories of Harav Shmryahu Shulman zt’l About Rav Ahron Kotler Zt”l
By Avrohom Willner
… Read More...In honor of the Sheloshim of Harav Shmryahu Shulman zt’l formerly Rav in Jersey City and Norwich Ct. and later of Queens NY. R’ Shulman was the author of numerous Seforim and was the last remaining member of the Agudas Harabanim. Presented here are memories of his great Rebbe, Rav Ahron Kotler Zt”l, as one of
Gelatin, Abraham Goldstein, R. Moses Isserles, and More
Marc B. Shapiro
Continued from here
Among the matters I discussed in the previous post were gelatin and consumption of the human body as part of a medical cure. Believe it or not, consumption of human parts not in the context of medicine is mentioned in a short responsum of R. Joseph Kafih. R. Kafih was asked if it permissible to drink … Read More...
The Discovery of a Hidden Treasure in the Vatican and the Correction of a Centuries-Old Error
Rabbi Edward Reichman, MD
In 2018, I was invited to speak at a conference co-sponsored by the Vatican and the CURA Foundation entitled, Unite to Cure: A Global Health Care Initiative. The mission of the conference was to “convene leading decision makers in medicine, business, media, advocacy and faith to encourage multidisciplinary collaboration, … Read More...
Daf Yomi: Seforim on Moed Katan, Part one
By Eliezer Brodt
Daf Yomi just started learning Masseches Moed Katan. Earlier today I had a conversation with Rabbi Moshe Schwed of All Daf. The purpose of the conversation was for me to briefly highlight some of the Rishonim and Achronim “out there” on this masechtah, adding some tidbits of interest about them.
A nice amount of the conversation was
Notes on the Book of Samuel, and the Eternal Sanctity of the Temple in Maimonidean Thought
By Rabbi Avi Grossman
avrahambenyehuda.wordpress.com
Rabbi Label Dulitz, who passed away last week, was an iconic figure at YUHSB. I was privileged to first meet him when I began my studies at the school in the fall of 1996. That year, Rabbi Dulitz was teaching Talmud to part of the tenth grade, but some … Read More...
Daf Yomi: Seforim on Moed Katan, Part Two and Three
By Eliezer Brodt
Daf Yomi is in middle of learning Masseches Moed Katan. This week I had two conversations with Rabbi Moshe Schwed of All Daf. The purpose of these conversation were for me to trace the concerns for the fear some had to learn this Masechtah, especially the section devoted to Avelius as it deals with topics related … Read More...
The Missing Nun Verse in Ashrei[1]
Ben Zion Katz
Northwestern University
There are several alphabetic acrostics in the book of Psalms. These acrostics are found in Psalms 25, 34, 37, 111, 112, 119 and 145. Only three of these are complete acrostics – i.e., acrostics in which every letter of the alphabet is represented. Psalms 111 and 112 begin each half verse with the succeeding letter of the Hebrew … Read More...