Newsletter Jerusalem Books ltd Autumn 2013 Dear Friends,
The Shaul Lieberman institute, aka, the Society for Interpretation of the Talmud, under Shamma Freidman has published new volumes of the Talmud Ha-Iggud. Having done so in the past I will say, telegraphically, that this is a modern Talmud series, scholarly and using critical analysis of texts. The new volume on Sukkah by Moshe Benovitz: a comprehensive explanatory commentary to the fourth and fifth chapters of tractate Sukkah, which deal mostly with the ceremonies that took place in the Mikdash - Simhat Bet HaSho'evah, Halel and more. 816 pp. + English summaries. 078-965-7442-05-0. Cat $36.00 The new volume on Sanhedrin, (hayu bodkin) is a comprehensive explanatory commentary to the fifth chapter of tractate Sanhedrin, which deals mostly with the examination of witnesses within the judicial system. 260 pp. and English abstract, by Netanel Baadani isbn 978-965-7442-04-3 Cat. $32.00 Uriel Rappaprt has written, 'Bet Hashmona'i,''the House of the Hasmoneans, the People of Israel in the Land of Israel in the Hasmonean Period,' published by Yad Izhak Ben Zvi 978-965-217-351-5. From the Hellenic times through this dynasty. From Antiokhus and Judah the maccabe through Jonathan, King Yannai, Queen Shlomzion, this is classic, modern, scholarly Jewish History. Cat. 82086 $38.00 Yad Samuel Franco, the Ahavat Shalom institute have published, 'Shir Hadash,' the Song of Songs along with the commentary of Rabbi Yakov Ha-Rofe of Baghdad, first published in 1843.The scholarly work with the Hebrew text, Aramaic and the commentary includes four indices, 1) verses, 2) Rabbinic articles, 3) books, 4) persons. Rabbinic figures and manuscripts. Cat 82777 $22.00 An important recently 'self' published book, entitled, 'Rabi Itsele,' is a 730 page work on the life and teachings of Rabbi Yitzchak Blazer of Peterburg (St. Petersberg). The subject of the book who was a student of R' Israel Salant(er) was chief Rabbi of St. Petersberg in the 19th Century CE and later moved to Kaunas / Kovno, Lithuania. He was an important figure in the Mussar movement. The movement, an ethical and spiritual movement of Ashkenazi Jewry in the 18th and 19th Cent. CE was an orthodox alternative to Hassidut, Enlightenment or Reform Judaism. The book charts much history of the Mussar movement and many affiliated Rabbinic courts There are photos and footnotes and facsimiles of letters. Cat 82768 $46.00 Ben Gurion University (Press) has published some very interesting and important titles. 'Or Same'ah,' is a scholarly treatment and analysis of "Halakha and Jewish Law," on R' Meir Simcha Hakohen's writings on Maimonides' Code, by Yitzhak Cohen. R Mair of Divinsk was an important figure of the 19th Cent CE until after WWI in Russia and Latvia. This book on R Meir of Divinsk's commentaries on the Mishne Torah, is by an author who is both a Rabbi and Doctor of Law, is a senior lecturer on the faculty of Qiryat Ono Law School and researcher at Columbia University School of Law. The book is significant as a scholarly and critical treatment of Rambam's codification of Jewish Law as well as its analysis of R Meir Simcha's teachings, all of which exemplify the influence and implementation of Talmud, (Yerushalmi and Babylonian) in practical Jewish Law matters like marriage, conversion and inheritance. Isbn 978-965-536-093-6,(2012) Cat. 80622 $33.00 Just to add other titles published by Ben Gurion University, first, in passing, I believe I have previously mentioned, 'Hurban Yehude Eropa,' published in Hebrew by Yad Vashem and Ben Gurion Univerity 978-965-308-419-3. The classic work was written by Raoul Hilberg and edited by David Benkir and Bella Guterman. The work was originally published in English and was at the very least, somewhat ignored here in Israel for decades while becoming a classic of Holocaust Studies around the world. The Hebrew edition includes a speech given by Hilberg in 2004 and an intro with discussion relating to the earlier editions. (three volumes $135.00) Second, in a totally different area, Israel and Zionism, let us mention, 'Golda,' biography by Yossi Goldstein. This 649 page scholarly work covers from the former Israeli PM's childhood in Kiev through Milwaukee, Zionist political activity, the founding of Israel, through her premiership and the Yom Kippur War and it's aftermath. Isbn 978-965-536-091-2, Cat. 80272 $ 36.00 In English, I would like to mention some worthwhile titles. Rabbi Binyamin Lau had authored important and fascinating book on the prophet 'Jerimiah, the fate of a prophet.' The book is full of really important and clear biblical history. Especially important and interesting is the analysis of the historical and political circumstances surrounding not only Jeremiah but earlier and later prophets and kings. The work is published by Maggid, isbn 978-159-264-194-9, Cat 82588 $29.00 Before writing about Tehillim in English, please note an important, little book in Yiddish, entitled, 'Eliezer Steinbarg, A Collection of Poems for Children in Yiddish, (An Opkleib fon..), edited and significant afterword/epilogue, in Hebrew by Adina Bar El, 978-965-553-050-6. This book is marvelous and of interest to lovers and scholars of Yiddish as well as collections of European Jewish Culture and history. This is a cultural and linguistic window into Jewish culture in Romania, the Ukraine and specifically Chernovitz of the 1920's. Cat. 82869 $ 13.00 The Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies has published, 'A New Psalm, the Psalms as Literature,' by Benjamin Segal. The 692 page work on this Bible Classic is a new interpretation and commentary on this "poetry of the heart.' As would be expected from this institute, publisher and author the work is both scholarly and philosophical. It contains the text in Hebrew by chapter and verse, English translation beside it, followed by the author's commentary heavy on literary critical analysis. It is highly recommended for any Jewish Library, for academic research into Hebrew Literature and Bible and schools, teachers and individuals. Also jointly published by Gefen, isbn 978-965-229-618-4. Cat. 82850 $36.00 Interesting to note that there is another new book , 'David's Psalms,' with more than thirty paintings by the artist David Sharir depicting images of 39 Psalms, from which selected verses appear as English text, translated by Benjamin Segal. Isbn 978-965-229-619-1, Cat. 82866 $34.00 Also in English but not on the biblical side of history is, 'Theodore Herzl a new reading,' by Georges Yitzchak Weiss isbn 978-965-229-587-3, Cat. 82778 $28.00. This is an important work but is a translation as it originally came out in French a few years ago. Wishing you all a Happy Thanksgiving and Hannuka, from all of us at Jerusalem Books Ltd. Sincerely, Jeff Spitzer Jerusalem Books Ltd.
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