The books-generally tag has no wiki summary.
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35 views
Can I improve something I borrow?
If I borrow something may I do something which I believe improves that thing, without the owners consent? For example if I borrow a library book and find an error in one of the facts printed there can ...
1
vote
1answer
64 views
List of Publishers
I am looking for a list of publishers that are putting out seforim now a days. My reason is because I want to make a list of publishers in an effort to track down certain seforim. Many publishers ...
4
votes
2answers
65 views
Are there any books which specifically deal with the laws of an Aguna? Preferably in English?
I know where it is written in the Torah that a man needs to write a document for his wife in order to divorce her, but I want to know if there is a thoroughly explained book written on the topic of ...
0
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0answers
70 views
Gentile Biography which Inspires
What is the jewish view on reading biographies of remarkable gentiles which one finds inspirational provided there is no apikorsus in the content.
Have come across a website about a certain person ...
0
votes
1answer
91 views
Reading foreign literature: perspectives and experiences
I'd like to hear how people make their decisions about reading, watching, and listening to materials that express non-Jewish ideas and imagery... both in your study and in your entertainment.
There ...
4
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0answers
47 views
Publisher prohibiting purchaser from sharing
Tradition articles are downloadable from the Tradition Online website, which prohibits further distribution of the materials. On each download page there is the following warning:
It is strictly ...
10
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2answers
182 views
Reading secular books on shabbat?
Which prominent halakhic authorities permit (or forbid) the reading of secular books, magazines, and newspapers from Friday evening until Saturday nightfall? Why? Is it uvda dechol? What if it is ...
6
votes
2answers
168 views
How historically accurate is Josephus?
How accurate is the writing of Josephus? Can we rely on any of his writings to establish authentic Jewish practices or in areas of halacha?
7
votes
0answers
105 views
Pronunciation guide by a Gerer Rebbe?
I heard from a friend years ago that one of the Rebbes from Gur (possibly the S'fas Emes) wrote a book describing the proper pronunciation of Hebrew letters and words. I am not able to find any trace ...
4
votes
1answer
83 views
Trouble understanding this Kaf HaHaim
My friend asked recently asked me an interesting Hakira in Halacha. Is it better to eat Pat Shahrit Hamosi or Pat Shahrit Mezonot and go to the Mikve (because of a lack of time)?
I started looking ...
0
votes
1answer
45 views
Respected Haskamot [closed]
Sometimes I find a interesting looking Sefer (I know...I know...don't judge a book by it's cover) and want to take a look at the content. To my surprise, there are many Haskamot (approbations) from ...
7
votes
2answers
206 views
Fulltext search across sources: Gemara, Zohars, Rishonim and Aharonim
I know about Hebrewbooks.org for searching for sources in books, but the problem is you have to get to let's say every Masechta to look for a phrase. Is there a program (doesn't have to be free) that ...
6
votes
2answers
115 views
The original Mesilas Yesharim
Mesilas Yesharim is a digest version of a previous work by the Ramchal. This work is an ongoing conversation between a wise man and a pious man (Thank you chanoch for the correction). I don't recall ...
8
votes
3answers
363 views
Were the Books of Maccabees found in the Dead Sea Scrolls?
Were there copies of any of the Books of Maccabees (and/or Megillas Antiochus) found amongst in the Dead Sea Scrolls?
3
votes
3answers
141 views
What are the major ancient literature on Judaic mysticism and spiritual development?
What are the major ancient literature on Judaic mysticism and spiritual development? By ancient I mean B.C.E.
I also would appreciate if you can also provide links to online English translations if ...
5
votes
2answers
140 views
Is one allowed to fold the corner of a book on Shabbos?
An easy way to keep a bookmark is to fold the upper-right corner of a book (aka Dog ears)
Is such an action permitted on Shabbos?
7
votes
1answer
92 views
Which came first the Mishnah Torah or the Pirush HaMishnayos
Which sefer did the Ramabm author first, was it his Mishnah Torah (Yad HaChazaka) or his commentary to Mishnayos?
3
votes
2answers
80 views
Why does “ateres roshi” mean “my parent”?
The phrase "עטרת ראשי" (ateres roshi == my head's crown) appears in many Hebrew texts to refer to respectable individuals. I heard in a shi'ur recently that it specifically refers to the father of the ...
11
votes
1answer
213 views
How does Orthodox Judaism view the Book of Jubillees
How is the Book of Jubilees regarded by Orthodox Jewry (I'm not asking if we believe it existed, but if we hold any of the information in it to be accurate).
Is it ever quoted by any of the ...
8
votes
1answer
92 views
Why were the prophecies of Eliyahu and Elisha not written as separate books?
The prophets during the second half of the First Temple era have their prophecies and actions recorded in books of Tanach named for them (or, as in the case of Trei Asar, in sections of a book). This ...
3
votes
2answers
73 views
is there a good source for critical study of shabbat zemirot?
The Shabbat Zemirot are written as poetry/songs, and as such, can be kind of cryptic. (See questions tagged "shabbat-songs" for examples of questions about certain phrases in the songs.
Is there a ...
3
votes
1answer
97 views
Source of Dzikov customs
Does anyone know of a book of minhagim (practices) or a sidur (prayer book) of the chasidim of Dzikov (דזיקוב, sometimes דז׳יקוב)? (Or anything that would show their minhagim.)
Hebrewbooks.org ...
10
votes
2answers
160 views
Can a book with ancient text really be copyright?
Pick up your local chumash, siddur or gemara. Open it to the front page. There it is, the dreaded ©.
But to me that seems quite odd. Can the text of the actual davening or talmud really be ...
6
votes
2answers
127 views
How to pronounce the name of the sefer “Bnei Yso(s)cher”
How does one pronounce the name of the sefer בני יששכר ?
I've heard people pronounce both sins -- so it is Ysoscher. (There is also a common custom to pronounce the name יששכר with both sins the ...
5
votes
1answer
117 views
Where are these mysterious OU documents?
I was recently reading a Halachically Speaking article and noticed that in many places in the footnotes, a reference to an OU Document is made. For example:
Refer to OU Document A-94
Is this ...
4
votes
2answers
159 views
What are Brochos seforim for Sefardim?
There are many Hilchos Brochos (on food) seforim for Ashkenazim such as Halachos of Brochos, The Laws of B'rachos, etc.
What are examples of English Brachos seforim that sefardim could use? (in other ...
11
votes
1answer
381 views
What does this pointing hand symbol mean?
I've seen in the Shulchan Aruch the hand symbol ( ☜ ) appearing quite a few times.
What does it do? Does it reference to mforshim on the side?
5
votes
1answer
80 views
Who was R' Jacob Pidanki?
Every once in a while the Judaica Press English translations (such as this one) will quote R' Jacob Pidanki in their commentary anthology.
Who was R' Jacob Pidanki? Where did he live? What ...
7
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5answers
222 views
Learning History on Shabbos
Is there a Halachic problem to read and or learn the topic of History on Shabbos for enjoyment purposes? and why?
6
votes
2answers
138 views
Is using a book with letters stamped on the sides melacha (erasing) if the book wasn't closed in the first place?
A comment on this question points to the following from OU:
Likewise, when words are stamped on the edge of a book (as is the case with most library books), these letters are separated when the ...
2
votes
2answers
226 views
Looking for a good version of Maimonides Introduction to his Commentary on the Mishna available online
I while ago, I read through most of an English translation Rambam's Introduction to his Commentary on the Mishnah. I think it was an earlier edition of this one, but I'm not sure.
I'm looking for a ...
3
votes
1answer
91 views
'fixed' wording of the g'mara justified by found mss.?
In the margins of the g'mara are many notations indicating changes that various rabbis (Bach, G'ra, Tzon Kadashim, Shita M'kubetzes, etc.) made in the wording of the g'mara, seemingly to resolve ...
12
votes
1answer
366 views
What is the oldest manuscript of Torah Shebaal Peh?
We don't have (and more's the pity!) R' Yehudah Hanassi's autograph copy of the Mishnah (well, okay, it's a controversial issue whether he actually wrote it or only arranged it orally), or Ravina and ...
5
votes
2answers
100 views
Why is Chulin in Kodshim
Why is the Gemara (Talmud) Chulin which talks about Ritual slaughter of animals not having to do with sacrifices in the Beis Hamikdash (temple) in the SEDER (order) of Kodshim which is talks about ...
6
votes
1answer
92 views
Less disgraceful placement of a sefer kodesh?
Suppose I find myself in a public building, in need of a restroom, with a chumash in my hand that is too large to fit in a pocket. Outside the restroom, in a painted cinderblock hallway, there is no ...
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6answers
137 views
Beginning a comprehensive study of Moreh N'vuchim
A friend of mine would like to begin learning Moreh N'vuchim seriously and is unsure of exactly where/with what to start.
What is the best version out there of the book itself?
Are there any ...
4
votes
1answer
110 views
Do they still print g'maras with regular Torah Or?
It used to be the standard for many many years that each in-text quotation of a Biblical verse in the Vilna edition Talmud Bavli had a little circle before the first word, which corresponded to a ...
4
votes
1answer
124 views
Closing abbreviation ושכמ"ה
Every [anonymous] question asked in the responsum Torah Lishmah ends with an address to the answerer and the abbreviation ושכמ"ה (e.g.). The Otzar Rashei Teivos had only one entry for this ...
5
votes
1answer
147 views
Why can people write Torah sheBal Peh nowadays?
This is a follow up to: Why was Torah sheBal Peh not allowed to be Written?.
The Gemara in Temurah (14b) states that one may not write Torah sheBal Peh. It then states an exception that was made so ...
11
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4answers
228 views
Why was Torah sheBal Peh not allowed to be Written?
The Gemara states that it is forbidden to write down the Oral Torah [1]:
דרש רבי יהודה בר נחמני מתורגמניה דרבי
שמעון בן לקיש, כתיב: +שמות ל"ד+ כתוב
לך את הדברים האלה, וכתיב: +שמות ל"ד+
כי ...
5
votes
1answer
117 views
Torah Learning Time Calculator
I am looking for something that will take the sefer I want to learn, and the amount of time/days I want to complete it in and tell me the average amount I need to learn a day. It doesn't have to be ...
3
votes
1answer
78 views
“The Romans' Book” in Ramba"n
The commentary of Ramba"n on Vayikra 26:16 explains a large swath of parashas B'chukosai as an allegory to the two batei Mikdash and the corresponding exiles. Included therein, he elaborates on the ...
4
votes
1answer
110 views
Where does the Sefer HaChinuch discuss geometry/“Handassa”?
I recall flipping through a Sefer HaChinuch and seeing some geometry diagrams. If I recall correctly, he talks about some mitzva involving fair evaluation of plots of land, and he writes you neeed to ...
8
votes
2answers
499 views
Citation format for G'mara
If one is citing a g'mara in a scholarly article, what is the proper publication information to use, including title, etc.? I can't seem to find reliable examples in either English or Hebrew.
This ...
4
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1answer
275 views
Where can I find the Maharal's Netivot Olam Online?
Where can I find a searchable copy of the Maharal's Netivot Olam (Netiv haTorah specifically) online?
4
votes
1answer
105 views
Answering others' sh'elos
Would it be surprisingly improper for the author of a legal responsum to publish his own answer to a question asked, answered, and published by another such author because he believed he had a better ...
7
votes
4answers
344 views
Good books for non-Jews who are interested in understanding Judaism, especially branches of Orthodox judaism
I have found that the first thing to do when you want to learn something about a subject, is to start with the idea that you know absolutely nothing. I understand, for example, that Judaism has ...
6
votes
2answers
54 views
“Hagahos MaimoniYOS”?
Is the correct title for the work abbreviated "ה"מ" "Hagahos Maimoni" or "Hagahos Maimoniyos"?
2
votes
1answer
101 views
Can't remember the name of a mussar sefer [closed]
I'm trying to remember the name of a sefer that I learnt with someone a couple of times a while ago. It was written by a chasidic rebbe, but isn't just popular amongst chasidim. We were learning a ...
4
votes
5answers
187 views
What is your favorite haggadah? [closed]
There are many classic and modern haggadot. Any recommendations? If so, why? And if available online (such as at HebrewBooks), please provide a link.
