Questions tagged [jewish-books]
Books about or of Judaism
686
questions
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Rav Yosef Karo's Kesef Mishneh: is there online an English translation?
Do you know of online an English translation of Rav Yosef Karo's Kesef Mishneh? Unless I'm mistaken, it is a fundamental work to better understand the Mishneh Torah.
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2answers
124 views
Are the vowel points part of the inspired word?
From what I can tell, when writing Hebrew, the vowel points are optional so that if you leave them out, you might confuse עלה (âleh, foliage) with ('ălâh, a burnt offering). That's a simple example, ...
3
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1answer
78 views
English language guide to how Talmudic discussions have been treated by Rishonim and Acheronim
I have a general interest in the Talmud and how it is studied in yeshivot. However, my Aramaic and Hebrew are basic and I cannot read Rashi script. I recently enjoyed a book called The Talmud: A ...
2
votes
1answer
98 views
Looking for an English translation of the mishna berura
Question as stated in title. So far I've only been able to find two through online searching:
Ohr Olam, with a very... sparse website. They direct purchasers to zbermanbooks, but (1) I can't seem to ...
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1answer
110 views
Why do most Siddurs vowelize Gd’s name?
I’m noticing that in most siddurs, while you’re not meant to pronounce Gd’s name as it’s written, they vowelize the letters as if it’s meant to be said. Is this for kavannah? Why would we need vowels ...
2
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2answers
160 views
Full translation of Chofetz Chaim into English?
Can anyone recommend (or does this even exist?) a full translation of the Chofetz Chaim into English? I'm aware of some of the 'lesson-a-day' things but am not sure whether these are full translations ...
4
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1answer
41 views
Sefer on Avot Keeping Mitzvot
I heard that there was a sefer written that has approximately 100 answers to the question of whether the Avot kept all of the Mitzvot. If anyone know about this and has the name of the sefer and ...
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0answers
40 views
Looking for a sefer with a collection of interesting/fundamental Rishonim on the Parsha
I'm looking for a sefer which is a collection of interesting, original and fundamental pieces from the Rishonim on the weekly Parsha. I prefer if they are quotes [the original wording], but also happy ...
0
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1answer
63 views
Difference between oz vehadar regular shas and the murchevet edition?
What are the differences between Oz Vehadar regular shas and the murchevet edition? Also has anyone seen the handcrafted chosen has that's 4500 NIS? Is it very nice? Thanks
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1answer
48 views
Yalkut Yosef seva semakhot online
Where can i find downloadable pdf for "ילקוט יוסף שובע שמחות" online?
I found it on Tablet.otzar.org but it is not downloadable.
2
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2answers
101 views
Question and answer sefer for shluchim
I remember hearing about a question and answer sefer that is written for Chabad Shulchim. It deals with various unique questions and answers that many shluchim will encounter during their shlichus. ...
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1answer
60 views
Is it acceptable in a Sefer Torah or Tikkun to stretch all letters uniformly to justify the text?
Given that you aren't allowed to stretch spaces in Hebrew (would be interested to know where the primary source for this is), is it acceptable to simply stretch all characters in a line by some ratio ...
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0answers
56 views
Orientation of Kahati's map of the Beis Hamikdash
R' Kahati's map of the Beis Hamikdash - that is printed just before the beginning of Meseches Midos - has South at the top and North at the bottom. I have always found this a little confusing, being ...
2
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2answers
72 views
I am adding Jewish books in my library what religious books are necessary for any orthodox Jew to have? I only speak English [duplicate]
I am adding Jewish books in my library what religious books are necessary for any orthodox Jew to have?
Ive read that I should have these books
-Talmud Bavli
-Tanakh
-Chumash
-Shulhan Aruch
are ...
0
votes
1answer
70 views
Which Book Should I be Reading to Learn Everything About Eliyahu Hanavi's Teachings?
Which book should I be reading to learn everything about Eliyahu hanavi's teachings? I have Shai Lamoreh, but right now need more depth into his teachings, with extended explanations.
4
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0answers
48 views
Maps that can aid the locations of the cities referenced in Masechet Gittin?
I’m currently learning Masechet Gittin and would like to know where I can find maps of the cities referenced in the first daf or so that can assist me. Cities like heger, rekem, kfar lud, etc is what ...
2
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0answers
54 views
Tikkunei Zohar in English or Hebrew
Has the Tikunei Zohar ever been translated into English? Perhaps Hebrew? Online or dead tree works.
3
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1answer
87 views
Rambam's decision to merge Shofar with Succah and Lulav?
When subdividing his 14 books, Rambam decided to merge Hilchos Shofar with Succah and Lulav, allocating the first 3 chapters to the first and the last 5 to the laters (see here) with no seeming ...
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0answers
76 views
Has the corpus of Tosafoth been printed in one volume?
The Talmudic commentary called Tosafoth has been printed together with the Talmud text itself for many centuries. For example, even Maharal testifies (in 1595) to this in Nesiv Hatorah ch. 5:
והכל ...
2
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7answers
235 views
Websites or books about the Torah and history of the world
I am looking for recommendations of good websites and books that talk about various ways of understanding the 'conflicts' between the Torah and a modern understanding of the age of the universe, the ...
3
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0answers
63 views
What software to use to write a multi-section sefer?
What software is available that allows Hebrew and English and multiple sections? i.e. the main section and then a footnote/pirush (section #2) on that, and then a 3rd section which footnotes items ...
4
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2answers
78 views
Aderet's Anonymous Sefer and Haskamah?
In this post, https://www.torahmusings.com/2013/04/my-nom-de-plume-exposed/ , R' Michael Broyde says that "Finally, [Professor Marc B.] Shapiro informed me that the Aderet published a book anonymously,...
2
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1answer
49 views
Difference Between Imrei Emes and Toras Emes
I noticed that Imrei Emes and Toras Emes, works written by R' Leibele Eiger, are often printed together. What's the difference between these two works? Did he simply compose two different commentaries ...
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0answers
63 views
Is there a book or online source explaining Jewish year-“type” sequences?
The current Judaic calendar allows for three types of year lengths:
Chaser ("missing") - 353 days
Kesidra ("in order") - 354 days
Shalem ("full") - 355 days
(Add 30 to each of the above for leap ...
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0answers
63 views
What would the status of the “Book of the Wars of God” be today?
The Torah makes reference to a Book of the Wars of God (Bamidbar 21:10-16). According to most opinions this was an actual written work which has been lost over time. It is not clear (at least to me) ...
4
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1answer
106 views
Books/ biography about the Ketzos and his learning methodology
Does anyone know of any noteworthy books/ biographies on R' Aryeh Leib HaCohen Heller (1745 – 1812) author of the Ketzos Hachoshen, Avnei Miluim, and Shev Shmaytsa- that explain his learning ...
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0answers
42 views
Sefarim about how to respond or debate an apikores?
A friend of mine told me either the Steipler (or another gadol, my friend was not certain but recalled) wrote a Sefer concerning responding to an apikores. My main question inquires if any Sefer ...
3
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0answers
44 views
Seforim about Halachic status of Beta Israel
I am looking for any seforim that talk about the halachic status of the Beta Israel (Ethiopian Jews).
(I remember once seeing a book generally about yichus of Jews, mainly the Russians and the ...
0
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1answer
68 views
Did Rabbis reflect on their cognitive processes?
I was probably too harsh attributing various cognitive biases to Rabbis, so I'd like apologize and to step back.
With some background in Cognitive sciences, I'm very interested in understanding the ...
2
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1answer
51 views
Books on philosophical questions underpinning Halachah
In Deuteronomy, Moses says "For this command that I command you today is not a wonder to you and it is not distant..." I want to explore the (possible) tension between this sentiment and laws whose ...
2
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1answer
71 views
What are the 35 cardinal principles enumerated by Jedaiah Penini in the last chapter of his Behinat ha-Dat?
Others, like Crescas and David ben Samuel Estella, spoke of seven fundamental articles, laying stress on free-will. On the other hand, David ben Yom-Tob ibn Bilia, in his "Yesodot ha- Maskil" (...
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0answers
63 views
Does the Talmud continue to use extra Tanachic sources?
I'm trying to draw an analogy between the written and the oral Torah. After the Mishna was signed, the Sages continued to use extra-Mishnaic sources forever (Toseftah, Midrashim, etc).
After the 24 ...
3
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0answers
81 views
Source for a Chassidic story
I recall this story about a rebbe who is given a Sefer by some Malach. Or maybe he wrote it himself, I don't remember. He tells his chassidim that if any of them copy it, they will be sent to gehinom. ...
3
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4answers
96 views
Book on changing habits and middot (character traits) improvement?
There is now an increasing body of secular literature on how changing habits can help change character (e.g., The Power of Habit, Atomic Habits) but this is not new to us (see Rambam's Hilchot Deot 1:...
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1answer
38 views
Newer edition of Zohar HaRakiah
The Rashbatz (Rabbi Shimon Ben Tzemach, 15th century) authored a commentary on Rashbag's (Rabbi Shlomo ibn Gabirol, 11th century) Azharos (poem on the 613 mitzvos) called Zohar HaRakiah.
There's an ...
5
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2answers
205 views
What are some good modern Brisker/Chakira based analysis sefarim by masechta?
I'm a big fan of the Brisker/Chakira approach to gemara b'iyun and looking for a sefer that I can use to learn either alone or with a chavrusa.
I'm looking for something in Hebrew, and (a) by ...
4
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1answer
207 views
Is it permitted to learn Torah with one's wife?
Is it permitted to learn Torah with one's wife?
And if so, are there any special recommendations for what to study with her?
Generally speaking I understand that men don't take women as Chavrutas, ...
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0answers
40 views
Commentaries on aruch hashulchan
Did anyone write a peirush on aruch hashulchan?(on the choshen mishpat part) I am looking for a english or hebrew commentary.
6
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1answer
145 views
Where can the Tosafot of Rabbi Samson of Sens be found?
This might be quite a basic question, but there’s a passage from Rabbi Samson of Sens’s commentary on Mishnah Eduyot 1:5 that I’ve seen quoted in a few books eg here.
(Sometimes it’s quoted as being ...
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0answers
78 views
Where can I find the radio program of יחוה דעת?
The books called יחוה דעת were authored by Rabbi Ovadya Yosef. In the title page, it states that these books are essentially transcriptions of a radio show called פניני הלכה, with small additions. ...
3
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1answer
63 views
Where can I find R. Hirsch's Hebrew essay on Agaddos?
There is a essay on Aggados written by R. Samson Raphael Hirsch, sometimes it appears in loose translation in English here and there. But I feel that doesn't convey its meaning properly (I suppose).
...
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0answers
51 views
Is there an English translation of Die wichtigsten Instanzen gegen die Graf-Wellhausensche Hypothese?
Is there an English translation of Die wichtigsten Instanzen gegen die Graf-Wellhausensche Hypothese? This is the book in German by R' Dovid Tzvi Hoffman זצ''ל, disproving the documentary hypothesis.
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0answers
59 views
Is there a code of the Rosh in a single volume?
I am familiar of modern single volume editions of the codes of Rambam (other) and Alfasi.
I have yet to come across such a volume of the Rosh. Has such such a volume been produced?
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1answer
33 views
Online availability of Hagahos “Menachem Tzion” on “Shem HaGedolim”
Can the Hagahos of Menachem Tzion to Shem HaGedolim be found anywhere online?
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0answers
33 views
Placing a notebook on top of sefarim
Kitzur Shulchan Aruch (28:9) writes:
לא ישרטט איזה קונטרס על הספר, לפי שאין קדושה בקונטרס, עד שיכתבו בו
You should not draw lines on notebook [while] on [a holy] book, because the notebook is ...
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0answers
52 views
Transgress 5 mitzvos by not returning the siddur?
I was told that if one does not replace the sefer one is using in the Beis Hamedrash, one can transgress several (5?) mitzvos from the Torah.
I can see that one would transgress “love your neighbour ...
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2answers
72 views
Is Rabbi Menashe ben Yisrael listed in Artscroll's “Early Acharonim”?
For anyone who has the sefer, can you tell me if this Rabbi is listed in that book? Also, does anyone know of any Rabbis, contemporary with him or later or even now, who were or are or would be ...
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0answers
58 views
How many words are there in the Zohar?
Zohar (with and w/o the Tikunei Zohar)
Tikkunei Zohar
Also is there a site/place that lists or
otherwise aids in wordcounts for different
Jewish books /Seforim ?
TYVM
1
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1answer
136 views
Is there a modern printing of the book Doros Rishonim?
Rabbi Yitzchak Issac HaLevi wrote a 6 volume set of books entitled Doros Rishonim. The only version I found is on Hebrewbooks.org from the 60's. Is there a more recent printing of these books (printed ...
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1answer
116 views
Piskei teshuvos on resting elbows on a sefer
Can someone please translate this Piskei Teshuvos:
פסקי תשובות אורח חיים סימן קנד
ומי שמניח אצילי ידיו על הספר דרך לימודו, ג"כ אין זה דרך בזיון כיון שבתום לב וכהרגל העוזר לו להבין תלמודו ...
