Relating to Jewish books.
3
votes
1answer
67 views
Holocaust Responsa of Rav Ephraim Oshry
Due to the poor health of Lithuania's last Chief Rabbi, Rav Avraham Shapiro, and due to his death in 1943, many of the residents of Kovno Ghetto addressed their questions to Rav Shapiro's student, Rav ...
3
votes
2answers
97 views
Rav ovadia Yosef mishna berura
A rabbi recently told me that rav ovadia yosef has a "Mishna Berura" style commentary on the shulchan aruch. (I presume he wasn't referring to his son's work Halacha Berura.) anyone know what this ...
1
vote
1answer
60 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 ...
6
votes
1answer
113 views
Sefer Milhamot Hashem - from Bamidbar 21:14
Does anyone know of any discussion of the the "sefer Milkhamot Hashem" mentioned in Bamidbar 21:14? Someone had asked me about the content of the book and I had no idea of what to answer him.
14
votes
4answers
299 views
Why is Sha'ar Ha'Yichud of Chovos Ha'Levavos so “controversial”?
I have heard that Sha'ar Ha'Yichud of Chovos Ha'Levavos is controversial, and that one needs a rebbe in order to learn it. What does the author say that is so difficult to understand?
4
votes
1answer
39 views
How does one request a haskama (approbation)?
Are there any rules or or general best-practices for requesting an approbation? Can an approbation that was sent based on an incomplete manuscript still be used if changes are made to the work later ...
2
votes
0answers
33 views
Are non-Lubavitch Tanya editions listed?
Every edition I've seen of Tanya includes a list, in chronological order, of every edition of Tanya ever printed, including bibliographic information. I assume some central Lubavitch office maintains ...
4
votes
0answers
29 views
Why does Tanya list editions?
Every edition I've seen of Tanya includes a list, in chronological order, of every edition of Tanya ever printed. For each edition, bibliographic information is included: the publisher, the city and ...
0
votes
1answer
75 views
Why is the Kitzur so much more popular than the Chayey Adam?
The Chayey Adam was considered to be the "popular kitzur Shulchan Aruch" for almost a century before the "Kitzur Shulchan Aruch" was printed. Why did people stop learning the Chayey Adam and switch to ...
3
votes
0answers
40 views
Why are rabbonim referred to by the names of their seforim?
Many rabbonim who published important seforim are coloquially referred to by the names of one of the seforim. Why is this? When did it start?
7
votes
2answers
67 views
How large is a typical contemporary hagada commentary?
In a contemporary published hagada with commentary, how many total words does the commentary typically comprise? (For comparison, "Hagada - Mi Yodeya?", in its current form, weighs in at about 14,000 ...
3
votes
0answers
76 views
Good Talmudic Grammar resource for one unfamiliar with grammar in general?
Inspired by: How to say Adonainu Moreinu VeRabeinu in Aramaic
I'd like to understand Talmudic/Aramaic Grammar a little better and am looking for a good resource that will break it down for me.
...
12
votes
2answers
150 views
Which books help one acquire a systematic understanding of Biblical Hebrew grammar?
A question for the grammar experts. How can I learn Hebrew grammar in a systematic way? Especially a book that would help me understand how to layn properly. Something that covers rules of nikkud, ...
1
vote
1answer
72 views
Updating of holy books
I am curious if such thing is possible, e.g. if some new evidence is found (archeological or other scientific or other). So the next generation will have more accurate interpretation, because we all ...
1
vote
1answer
70 views
How and exactly when was the Torah canonized and by whom
I had read in the bible that Prophet Moses received the 10 commandments on a tablet and there was also some other revelations which were not nailed on the tablet which constitute the Torah. Hence I ...
5
votes
2answers
204 views
What Jewish References Exist of the Rise of Islam and Muhammad?
The Quran records interactions between Muhammad and Jews, and according to historical accounts, he lived in places with Jewish communities, in addition to conquering some.
The earliest Torah source ...
4
votes
2answers
231 views
Is the sefer Toldos Yeshu accepted in the yeshiva circles?
Is the sefer Toldos Yeshu quoted by any big rabbanim? Which version is the most accurate (original)?
2
votes
0answers
80 views
Chumash with Rashi and Siftei Chachamim
Does anyone know of a Chumash (not Mikraot Gedolot) with Rashi and Siftei Chachamim
Most Chumashim come with Ikar Siftei Chachamim, but that's not the same thing.
1
vote
0answers
72 views
Which Sacred Books Require Burial?
A straightforward question: can anybody please source for me a full discussion of which seforim require burial and which do not. (By way of an example, I have heard it said that a gemara need not be ...
1
vote
0answers
47 views
How to bury old s'farim
Suppose I have a printed Chumash with Rashi, or the like, which is worn out to the point of inutility, and I wish to discard it. My understanding (based in part on sources I supply below) is that I ...
2
votes
1answer
114 views
Chovos Halevavos vs. Mesilas Yesharim
The three basic texts that R' Yisroel Salanter wanted people to learn were Chovos HaLevavos, Mesilas Yesharim and Cheshbon HaNefesh.
(source: ...
1
vote
1answer
137 views
Stacking Jewish books in order of holiness
Assume I have the following books and no room to store them standing up. Being a good Jew, you know that the holier books go on top of those of lesser holiness. Here are 10 books: 1) Gemara ...
22
votes
5answers
553 views
How Is It That Rabbis Have Copies of Their Own Responsa?
(I could use some help with tagging.)
There are many seforim out there that are the compiled letters or teshuvos of this or that Rabbi. Those that come to mind are "Igros Moshe", from R' Moshe ...
4
votes
0answers
51 views
What's a floor?
There are certain laws pertaining to a floor. For example, if a Sefer Torah is dropped on the floor, one is supposed to do some sort of atonement (eg., most famously, fasting for 40 days).
What is ...
5
votes
1answer
117 views
Which of Moshe Chaim Luzzatto's works influenced Chassidut, Mussar, and Haskalah?
In Dovid Cohen (known as Rav Ha-Nazir)'s Wikipedia page, the following idea is attributed to him:
He saw in Moses Hayyim Luzzatto the harbinger of this redemption, pointing out that the three ...
9
votes
3answers
202 views
Halachic authority of books
To what extent do books on Halachah have authority? I was taught that the Gemara was "closed" and may no longer be challenged in terms of its Halachic authority. To what extent is this authority ...
2
votes
1answer
71 views
Where can I find the Rif's commentary on tractate Niddah?
Where inside tractate Nidda can I find R' Isaac Alfasi's commentary on the tractate? I looked in hebrewbooks.org's 685-page tractate-Niddah PDF but couldn't find it.
2
votes
1answer
39 views
Why is the Rif's digest of tractate Niddah hidden in tractate Shevuos?
Rabbi Isaac Alfasi's summary of tractate Niddah is hidden in masechet Shevuot. Why is it buried in maseches Shevuos?
4
votes
2answers
151 views
Sefer Torah Lishma **not** from the Ben Ish Hai?
Yabia Omer vol. 9 Orah Haim sim. 96:
גם ראיתי בקובץ "משנת חכמים", (תשרי תש"ס), במאמר מאת הרה"ג עזריאל מנצור (עמוד לה) שכתב, ששאל על זה מאת הרה"ג יעקב מוצפי זצ"ל, ואמר לו, שספר "תורה לשמה" אינו ...
1
vote
3answers
129 views
Where did the book Otzrot Hayyim come from?
I've seen the book Otzrot Hayyim recommended as the best first text to use when starting to learn the system of the Ari. When was this book published and where did it come from? References to Kitvei ...
4
votes
2answers
253 views
English translation of Sefer Machaneh Yisrael
Is there an English translation (preferably online) of the Chofetz Chaim's sefer Machaneh Yisrael (a guide for Jewish army conscripts), or other English works on the same topic?
3
votes
1answer
61 views
What are the most important writings of Rav Kook for Emunah and Hashkafah?
I would like to return to learn some of the writings of Rav Kook in order to improve my Hashkafah and Emunah. In the past I attended an Israeli "dati leumi" yeshiva where i learnt a bit of them, but ...
2
votes
1answer
100 views
Can a non-Jew run a Judaica store?
Could a non-Jew run a Judaica store/business? Would this be kosher? What if it's online? Are there any restrictions on converts?
1
vote
2answers
73 views
Where to download Tanach text in digital format
I want to download Tanach, or at least Chumash, in a word type format. I want to be able copy and paste etc...
Any help would be much appreciated.
Yasher Kokachem.
3
votes
1answer
166 views
Who wrote Tohar HaYichud?
Who wrote the anonymous rationalist debunking of kabbalah entitled Tohar HaYichud?
7
votes
1answer
46 views
What is Sha'arei HaAnavah?
Rabbeinu Yonah (Sha'arei Teshuvah 1:24) mentions "Sha'arei HaAnavah". What is this? I have never seen a book by that name attributed to him.
2
votes
1answer
49 views
Authors of Daat Zkeinim
My question is very simple and straightforward: does anybody know who authored the Torah commentary, Daat Zkeinim (דעת זקנים)? I know that it was written by some of the Baalei haTosafot, but would ...
5
votes
1answer
70 views
Who is the author of the Pirush on the first four chapters of Rambam's Hilchos Yesodei HaTorah?
The first four chapters of Hilchos Yesodei HaTorah have a lengthy commentary that is titled simply "פירוש". In standard editions of the Rambam, it wraps around the text, facing the "כסף משנה" (see ...
12
votes
3answers
141 views
Grammatical function of Emet te'amim?
The Emet books (Iyov, Mishlei, Tehillim) have a cantillation system that is not used elsewhere in Tanach. In addition to the use of cantillation marks not found elsewhere (iluy, ole, dehi, geresh ...
1
vote
3answers
197 views
What does R' Feinstein say about eating kosher food in a non-kosher restaurant?
The last paragraph of Igros Moshe O.C. 2:40 discusses when you may order kosher food [such as a banana] in a non-kosher restaurant.
R' Moshe Feinstein begins:
ובדבר אם מותר לאכול ברעסטאראנט ...
5
votes
1answer
88 views
All Sifre HaRamhal? (Rabbi Moshe Chayim Lutzato)
Is there a set that has "Kol Sifre HaRamhal"? The have "Kol Sifre HaHida" and other Rabanim, so maybe they'll also have all Sefarim of the Ramhal?
6
votes
2answers
248 views
What is a good place to buy kabbalah seforim online?
I am aware of Nehora and the other sites I could find googling this same inquiry, I'm looking for other recommendations of sites that have a good selection. Specifically I'm looking for Kanfei Yona ...
5
votes
2answers
194 views
Why is the Mesillas Yesharim so popular and accepted?
To overgeneralize, I bet there is a copy of the mesillas yesharim in almost every orthodox home, shul and beis medrash. I'm wondering why this work is so popular and accepted.
My wondering is ...
2
votes
5answers
115 views
Sifrei Mussar/Machshava/Avodah from the Rishonim
I'm looking for a list of some of the Seforim written by Rishonim that are in the category of either Mussar, Machshava, or Avodah (or anything else that fit into these categories.) For this question ...
5
votes
2answers
183 views
What's the history of Hekhalot/Heichalot/Heikhalot literature?
There is a field of study, which focuses on the Hekhalot literature. However, the internet gives conflicting information about them.
For example, some state that they were written by the early ...
2
votes
2answers
68 views
Who wrote the glosses that are found in the text of the Nefesh HaChaim?
In the common printed editions of the book Nefesh HaChaim by Chaim of Volozhin there are glosses ("hagahhot") included in the text at several points in smaller letters. Could you tell me who wrote ...
1
vote
3answers
64 views
Where can I find indexes to the classic Torah works?
I want indexes (indices) to the classic Torah works, so that I can quickly find the pages that hold the information I need. Where can I find such indexes?
7
votes
4answers
149 views
Where can I find Prenumeraten/Prenumeranten?
A few years back I found an on-line source for "prenumeraten." Just to enlighten those who don't know, before a sefer was published years ago, it would seem that feelers were sent out to find out who ...
6
votes
1answer
112 views
Can a chumash be used for a public torah reading?
I recently attended a weekday morning minyan where the Torah reader was reading simultaneously from a sefer Torah and a printed Chumash. It appeared that the person was mostly reading from Chumash and ...
1
vote
2answers
68 views
Is there a book with well sourced “discussions” on hilchos lashon hara?
I am looking for a book that does not simply state all of the halachis (such as Sefer Chafetz Chaim). Rather what I am looking for is a book that would do something like pose a question or case ...
