Questions tagged [jewish-books]
Books about or of Judaism
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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 ...
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63 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. ...
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4answers
58 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
37 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 ...
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2answers
164 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
155 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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36 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
130 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
27 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
47 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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43 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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55 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
31 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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26 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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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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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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40 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
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1answer
98 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
111 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 ...
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1answer
78 views
Resting elbows on sefer while learning from it
I read this on the halachipedia website, "Rama 282:7 writes that one may not place a Sefer on one’s lap and lean one’s elbows on it. Sh”t Shelmat Chaim 2:566 (quoted in Piskei Teshuvot 154:23) is ...
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33 views
Jewish sources on Spanish Inquisition
During and after the Holocaust, there were many situations, which although horrible, required שאלות ותשובות from many of the rabbis at the time on certain questions in הלכה pertaining to the Holocaust....
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What is the difference in Sha"s types; Oz V'hadar, Zecher Chanoch, N'harda'ah(נהרדעא)?
I am looking to purchase a true Chossen Shas, and I see various editions or publications.
I am familiar with the classic Vilna Shaas, but I see many sets in either Oz V'hadar עוז והדר, Zecher Chanoch ...
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1answer
56 views
A sefer that states the reasons behind the Halachos
Is there a sefer that states the Halachos L'maseah and gives the reasoning as to why the Halacha is the way it is.
I'm looking for a Halacha sefer that states the Halacha as we pasken, but also ...
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1answer
26 views
Is the Kafich edition of the Rambam's peirush on Mishnah to Mesecht Keilim available online anywhere?
I'm trying to find the Kafich edition of the Rambam's peirush on Mishnah to Mesecht Keilim. Is it available online anywhere?
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42 views
Learning Shorshei Hashemos
Can anyone Learn Shorshei Hashemos? Or is there a procedure one must go through before learning it? Does one have to be 40? Does he have to have grey hair? Does she have to know Tanach? Does he have ...
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2answers
39 views
Shas Chazarah Seforim
Are there any seforim that are catered only to help one chazar mesechtos/Shas Bavli? If so, can you please direct me to them.
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29 views
Personal Attributes, Influence and Importance of Japhet Among Noah's Sons [closed]
Would you be so kind and provide brief, yet details information about personal attributes, influence and importance of Japhet, commonly agreed among Jews and also Hebrews, perhaps if possible by ...
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1answer
42 views
Mussar work by Chacham Ovadia
Did, Maran HaRav HaGaon Ovadia Yosef Ztk"l write any Ethical(mussar) work during his lifetime? And if he did, do we have it online in english?
3
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4answers
68 views
Seeking works by tanaim or amoraim
To the best of my knowledge there is only 1 full work that was authored by a rabbi from the period of the tanaim or amoraim is the work seder olam by r' yose ben chalafta. I would like to know if ...
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3answers
358 views
Book on the laws of Shabbos
Which English book on the laws of Shabbos would you recommend?
One that is Halacha Lemaase with footnotes that show where the Halacha stems from and the differentiating opinions.
2
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1answer
68 views
Nefesh HaChaim vs Derech Hashem
What is the difference (in content) between Nefesh HaChaim and Derech Hashem? Are they written to educate the reader on the same topic? Does one presuppose knowledge while the other doesn't? Is one a ...
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1answer
87 views
Sources for scientific rationale for the 613 Mizvot?
Are there any published works on the scientific rationale for any of the 613 Mizvot?
For example: Handwashing: It only took the medical community did not deem it medically relevant until 2 centuries ...
3
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1answer
164 views
Sefer written by a woman?
I remember hearing once about a sefer written by a woman that people were learning but then it was banned. Do you the name of the sefer/author?
*I think it was written in pre-war Europe
2
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3answers
124 views
Are there any non-inspired writings before Philo's time?
I came across some writings of Philo, which I found very interesting, and wondered if there are any Jewish writings either around his time (circa 20 BCE to circa 50 CE) or before. I looked around and ...
3
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1answer
105 views
What book is the Iyun Yaakov referring to with the abbreviation כ"ח?
The Iyun Yaakov on Berachos daf 3a on the words "the night has 4 watches" quotes from a book that he refers to with the abbreviation כ"ח. What book is he referring to?
(In the new edition of the Ein ...
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102 views
Views of Rabbi Mazuz
Israeli media outlets report that Rabbi Gershon Edelstien commented about various Torah pamphlets which circulate in Jewish communities, basically characterizing them as nonsense. Perhaps most notably,...
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Sefer on Chazal, Geonim and Later Acharonim
I currently own the Artscroll books The Rishonim and The Early Acharonim by Rabbi Goldwurm. They have a few features on Rabbonim of the ages that I really appreciate:
Anecdotal information about each ...
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0answers
49 views
Has anyone learned the Sheiltot of R. Achai Gaon with the Netziv's commentary?
Would you recommend it? I really enjoy learning anything with the Netziv and I like the idea of halachic midrashim on the parsha with some ethical messages. It seems like it's a great way to learn ...
3
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2answers
138 views
Choosing the Name of a Sefer
Is there a kabbalistic preference for the author of a sefer to create a title alluding from a posuk alluding to his name? If so, why?
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1answer
214 views
Why does Rav Soloveichik feel lonely when he has G-d?
As I understand it, The Rav feels lonely, as a man of faith he feels definitionally lonely because he can't relate to people and people can't relate to him. Why doesn't he find solace with G-d though? ...
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0answers
73 views
Pesicha of 3 Sifrei Torah: special time
Someone sent me a voice recording of someone mentioning an idea from the Sefer Heichalos that when there is we open 3 sifrei Torah (Torah scrolls, on shabbas – chanuka – rosh chodesh), then there is a ...
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3answers
111 views
Recommendation of Chassidic classics
I have recently seen reference to the “chassidic classics”, a term which I understand encompasses works by the great rebbes of the 18th and 19th Centuries.
Examples that I have seen mentioned are ...
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97 views
Alei Shur Online
Does anyone know if there is a copy of Rav Wolbe's Alei Shur anywhere online? Free versions preferred, but if it is behind a paywall that can work too.
Thanks!
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1answer
46 views
Where can I obtain the sefer “Titen Emes L'Yaakov”?
Rabbi D Neustadt referenced a sefer “Titen Emes L'Yaakov” in his “Weekly Halacha Discussion” titled “The Halachic Definition of a Lie”. Can someone tell me where I can obtain this sefer please? (I ...
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1answer
33 views
Rabbi Dovid Oppenheim's introduction to the Ein Yaakov- Where is it?
In the commentary Eitz Yosef to Gemara Berachos daf 3a, on the words "ve'ha kamashma lan..." he references an introduction to the Ein Yaakov by Rabbi Dovid Oppenheim. I looked around and could not ...
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52 views
Qafih edition of Bustan al-Uqul Online?
Is R. Yosef Qafih's translation גן השכלים by R. Nathanel al-Fayumi available online somewhere? It seems to appear here in Otzar HaChochma but only the first 40 pages.
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95 views
Pre-1948 Haredi view on political Zionism and how it developed
Are there any readings discussing the Haredi (Hasidic, orthodox non-Mizrachi) stance on political Zionism prior to the establishment of the State of Israel?
Did it change with the establishment of ...
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107 views
In 2 Esdras 14:46, what are the “last seventy” scrolls and do they still exist?
In 2 Esdras 14:37-48, the story is told of Ezra's restoration of the Tanakh
37 I took the five men, as he had commanded me, and we went out into the field and remained there. 38 So it happened to ...
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1answer
51 views
Sefer Nestor Hakomer Online?
Does anyone know if it is possible to find the (hebrew) text of Sefer Nestor Hakomer, an old jewish apologetic book, available for free online?
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228 views
English translation of Reshit Chochmah
Is there an English translation of the book Reshit Chochmah By Rabbi Eliyahu DaVidas?
