Questions tagged [books-generally]
Books, generically, as related to by Judaism
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Abbreviations before/after names
What are the more common abbreviations one might see printed before or after a person's name, and what do they mean? Please include honorifics (R'=Rabbi) as well as memorial - or prayerful - suffixes ...
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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 ...
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Why was Torah SheBe'Al Peh not allowed to be written?
The Gemara states that it is forbidden to write down the Oral Torah ("Torah SheBe'Al Peh") [1]:
דרש רבי יהודה בר נחמני מתורגמניה דרבי שמעון בן לקיש, כתיב: +שמות ל"ד+ כתוב לך את הדברים האלה, וכתיב: +...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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Reading books about Avodah Zarah
Is it permissible to read books about Avodah Zarah?
Is it permissible to read Greek mythology for informational purposes, seeing as it's not particularly tempting to anyone nowadays?
Is it ...
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Why can people write Torah sheBal Peh nowadays?
This is a follow up to: Why was Torah SheBe'Al 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 ...
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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 ...
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Where can I buy inexpensive seforim online?
Where can I buy seforim online for inexpensive prices? I mean real seforim.....not digital ones.
I'm willing to buy seforim either new or second-hand.
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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?
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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 ...
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Is the Book of Enoch part of Judaism?
The Book (or Books) of Enoch is a collection of works purportedly made by Enoch, the great-grandfather of Noach, before the flood. I read that they are not part of the Tanach, even though they contain ...
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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 doesn'...
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Learning Hebrew
If I have a decent Hebrew knowledge, but not great, what books (i.e. dictionaries, lexicons, etc.) should I have at hand when I'm learning a sefer, such as the Mishneh Torah?
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"Ramba"m" or "The Ramba"m"?
I often hear the Hebrew abbreviation for Maimonides appended to a definite article but don't quite understand why it should be there when the unabbreviated name would (I think) never warrant such an ...
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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?
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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?
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Is it forbidden for a Jew to read the writings of Baruch Spinoza?
The cherem against Spinoza says the following:
The Lords of the ma'amad, having long known of the evil opinions and acts of Baruch de Espinoza... We order that no one should communicate with him ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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Changing "shlit"a"s to "za"l"s?
The name of living Torah scholar mentioned or quoted in another's book is often followed by an abbreviation of blessing such as שליט"א or נר"ו. The name of a past scholar, no longer living, is ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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What is the font with points in the middle of the letters called? [closed]
What is this [type of] font called - the kind that makes it look like every leg of every letter is a snake that swallowed a block?
Where can I download such a font?
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What is the stance on reading and writing non-Jewish literature?
So, I'm guessing that secular study books (e.g. Biology, Math, etc) are fine and I've heard that reading something like Fantasy is not. What genres of literature are allowed and not allowed to be read ...
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What are Sifrei Minim today?
In Sanhedrin 100b: Rabbi Akivah says "Even one who reads foreign Seforim (has no chelek in Olam Haba)". Beraitha there: "He refers to Sifrei Tzedukim" (or "Sifrei Minim" ...
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Who sells broken up sets of sefarim?
I lost one volume of my Mikraos Gedolos. I cannot find a sefarim store that is willing to sell me just the one volume, and cannot find it on Amazon. Is there a website or store that is willing to ...
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Sefer of Unanswered questions
I heard of a Sefer or page that someone published of a bunch of unanswered questions (either just on Gemara or in general).
I don't remember the amount of questions but it's between 50-100 I believe.
...
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Book on Biblical Archeology
I'm looking to increase my knowledge of biblical archeology. As an orthodox jew, I'd prefer a book which takes a more traditional view with regards to the historicity of tanach. Any suggestions?
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Jewish Archaeology
I'm looking for a good read which discusses archaeology and the Tanach, Chazal, etc. Could anyone point me to some resources? I would prefer that the book be in English, and have pictures throughout.
...
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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 ...
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Would Harry Potter be killed as a sorcerer?
Before asking my question, I'd like to make it clear that this is being asked in all seriousness, and not as some form of satire or "Purim Torah". I think there is a precedent for asking halachic ...
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How Kabbalistically accurate is the golem-making procedure described in "Niflaos Maharal"?
There's been plenty of discussion about the historic authenticity of "Niflaos Maharal", a book that appeared in the early 1900s describing how the Maharal made a Golem to defend the Jews against blood ...
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Origins of איל משולש and Vilna Ga'on's bathroom math
There is a well-known fact that the Vilna Ga'on studied math while in the bathroom since Torah was out of the question in an unclean place. It is also somewhat well-known that he produced the material ...
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Pronunciation guide by a Gerer Rebbe?
I heard from a friend years ago that one of the Rebbes from Gur (the S'fas Emes) wrote a book describing the proper pronunciation of Hebrew letters and words. I am not able to find any trace of such a ...
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Can anyone help me find resources for the content and organization of a shul library?
Our shul library has been neglected for many, many years, and b'h' we are finally cleaning and organizing it. I am used to using a library, not organizing it! So I wonder if anyone can give me some ...
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Shakespeare in Classic Jewish Sources
Does anyone know of any references to Shakespeare, translations of his works, or anything related to Shakespeare in classic Rabbinic sources?
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Jacob Obermeyer and Talmudic Maps?
I had seen a footnote in Socinco on Pesachim (Or, for a real reference see note on בדיתא לבאי in M.K. 11a), I do not currently remember which page but it referenced a city that was mentioned in the ...
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What is the Book of Genealogies?
The g'mara on Pesachim 62b says (Soncino translation):
Rami the son of Rab Judah said: Since the day that the Book of Genealogies was hidden, the strength of the Sages has been impaired and the ...
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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 ...
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Dealing with anger
What is a good sefer or even book that helps people with a problem with getting angry?
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"Hagahos MaimoniYOS"?
Is the correct title for the work abbreviated "ה"מ" "Hagahos Maimoni" or "Hagahos Maimoniyos"?
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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 ...
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Why did Chizkiyahu Hide the book of Refuos
...and he shall provide for healing" (Mishpatim 21:19) nitna reshus larofeh lerapos (Bava Kama 85a) - so why did Chizkiyahu Hamelech hide the Sefer Herefuos (Brachos 10b)
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"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 ...
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Are you allowed to study (not Torah) on Tisha Bi'Av
For example if someone has a big math test on Yud Av, is he allowed to study math (my question was applied to math but goes to learning anything besides Torah) on Tisha Bi'Av?
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Books on Tefillah
Can you tell me of some books/seforim about Jewish prayer (in terms of nusach, development of tefillah, etc.). A good example would be "Netiv Binah". They can be either online or in print.
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Can someone recommend a niggunim / Jewish melodies book
I read notes well enough to sing them. I need two things:
Niggunim/Jewish melodies song book
Niggunim/Jewish melodies ADVANCED for piano
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Is Harry Potter considered to be problematic?
Is there any halachic problem with a Jew reading the Harry Potter series? I know some people are against it, so wondering if there are any solid prohibitions involved beyond bittul zman, bittul torah, ...
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