Dear Friends, We hope that some clarity will emerge out of these stormy times.
We look forward to sending, and posting our Winter Catalog 2009 August 2008 January 2009 in the coming week. Please ask for it and we will send it digitally or in print if you prefer. In the world of Hebrew publishing from Israel let us remember that this year 2009 is the hundredth anniversary of the founding of Tel Aviv. Rubik Rosenthal has written, 'Ha-Or ve-Hakesem..,' 'The Light and Magic One Hundred and One Stories of Early Tel Aviv,' isbn 978-965-483-630-3, published by Yediot Sifre Hemed. Cat. 69560 $ 39.00 Although this newsletter is dedicated to books in Hebrew we must mention Tel Aviv Short Stories, a collection of stories on TA published in English in Israel by Ang Lit publishing 2008. Cat 69780 $ 26.00 Regarding classic modern Hebrew Literature it should be noted that Sifriat Poalim Hakibutz Hameuchad has published, 'Na'arot Ivriyot,' 'Hebrew Youth Lea Goldberg's letters from the province,' isbn 978-965-02-0489-1. The book edited by Prof. Yfaat Weiss and Giddon Ticotsky straddles Jewish History and Hebrew Language and Literature. The work based on a long correspondence with a lifelong friend Mina Landau by the famed modern Hebrew Poet and figure in Israeli Literature. It reveals parts of Lea Goldberg's life, studying in Germany and sheds light on her acquisition and fluency in Hebrew. The book is based on over 100 letters from the estate of Lea Goldberg and is accompanied by comments and notes and includes words in Russian and German. Like many of the most interesting works published in Israel this straddles many academic and cultural disciplines. The book also shed's light on Jewish Life in Lithania between the two world wars and the brighter side of the author's personality contrasting to the heavier perception left by the publication of Lea Goldberg's diaries in 2005. Cat. # 70044 $ 29.00 'Toldot Hayai 1928-1929,' is a recent family published book that might escape notice but shouldn't. It is the diary, of one Dov Fogel, written in pre war Vilna in Hebrew. The book includes the entire facsimile of the handwritten manuscript followed by a modern Hebrew typeset version. The book also documents mid 20th Cent. CE, Israel, from Kibbutz to Ben Shemen and a career as an educator. This beautiful little piece of European and Jewish history also reflects Zionist thinking and most importantly, an early modern, secular Hebrew manuscript. Isbn 978-965-55-388-8. Cat. # 69838 $ 44.00 In the overlap between Holocaust Literature and documentation and Jewish History, I would like to mention and recommend, 'Na'ar im Kinor,' 'A Boy With A Violin' the brilliant autobiography of the author, Yochana Fine. The author who was saved by a righteous gentile was the young 14 year old boy with a violin who is a survivor of the Kaunas / Kovno ghetto. The book documents history of this period and the miraculous survival of the author and a Jewish Engineer and Doctor also saved from extermination. The book was published (in Dutch) in Holland and is now first published in Hebrew, by Kibbutz Hameuchad 2008. Cat. 70022 $ 26.00 Another Holocaust title, is 'Kol Mi She'ahava,' 'Anybody She Loved,' by Edna Noy. The book portrays a Hungarian Jewish family who have survived the Holocaust and rebuild their lives in 1950's Israel. The protectiveness of their only daughter and the relationship to and integration into Israeli thinking and society are depicted. The book is published by Kibbutz Ha'meuchad ( and was reviewed in Haaretz). Cat. # 69529 $ 24.00 Here are a few recent titles on Rabbinics / Sifrei Kodesh: We have just seen a Talmud Classic, 'Sefer Ein Yakov, (hamefo'ar) on all the Sedarot of Mishna and Gemara, published by Mesoret Hashas, Jerusalem 2008. The Mishna -Talmud text is in square print in Hebrew with vocalization nikkud. The edition contains classic commentaries (Rif, Maharsha, Rashi etc. and the Ein Yakov and Ein Yossef) as well as the Talmud Yerushalmi). This edition containd many additions including many Aggadot Midrashim omitted from earlier ed.s The Etz Yosseh and Yad Yosef commentaries of R' Hanoch Zondel Yossef and more for a total of 13 significant additions. It is 7 volumes, Cat. # 69930 $ 199.00 While most libraries don't want 'kuntrasim,' soft cover booklets, every rule must have exceptions. 'Tora she-Ba'al Pe,' has been published by Mossad Harav Kook. It is the publication of the 47th National Congress on the Oral Law, which took place in 2007. It includes many articles by leading modern Rabbis, including Chief Rabbis, Amar, Metzger, Yossef, and Lau, as well as former Jerusalem Mayor Lopolianski. It focuses on the importance, holiness and status of Jerusalem including Jewish Civil law on property and sales, the prohibition on entry to the temple mount and an important article on the significance of different manuscripts on halakha. (This is a series. Those with SO's will get it.) Cat. # 70162 $ 15.00 'Sefer Petiha le-Hokhmat ha-kabbala,' by R' Yehuda Leib Halevy Ashlag, a significant Kabbalistic work published in the 1950's, now published with 2 new commentaries, new edition, with hundreds of comments and clarifications. Published Or Baruch Shalom, 2008. Two (large)Volumes Cat. # 69815 $ 122.00 'Otzar Hazmanim tekufat ha-Hama u-birkata,' by R' Ahraon Mordecai Brisk, on halacha, blessing of the sun. (28 year cycle. ) This is the year for this blessing, somewhat rare, and there have been a few books on this subject. The book is scholarly, with footnotes and indices at the back, reference to secular calendar and a section of responsa of geonim on the subject.) about $ 26.00 Wishing all of you a Happy Purim from all of us at Jerusalem Books ltd. Sincerely, Jeff Spitzer, Dir. Wendy Weiss Simon Jerusalem Books Ltd. 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