Message From Professor Haym Soloveitchik

Message From Professor Haym Soloveitchik

Comments 5 comments

Message From Professor Haym Soloveitchik It has come to my attention that a critique of my article “Halakhah, Hermeneutics and Martyrdom” published by the Jewish Quarterly Review has appeared in the Tradition Seforim blog in Fall of 2008. In principle, I do not respond to blogs, as this would place my time at the mercy of anyone who can type. However, I am preparing my articles for re-publication in 3 volumes by the Littman Library. The articles will be reproduced…

Read More Read More

Marc B. Shapiro: Thoughts on Confrontation & Sundry Matters Part I

Marc B. Shapiro: Thoughts on Confrontation & Sundry Matters Part I

Comments 14 comments

Thoughts on “Confrontation” and Sundry Matters Part II By: Marc B. Shapiro What follows is a continuation of this post.Some people are so set on showing the differences between Christianity and Judaism that in the process they end up distorting Judaism. Let me start with an example that for the last fifteen years must be considered a Jewish teaching. By Jewish teaching I mean a view that is taught in the observant community. This doesn’t mean that all or even…

Read More Read More

Thoughts on Confrontation & Sundry Matters Part I

Thoughts on Confrontation & Sundry Matters Part I

Comments 21 comments

Thoughts on “Confrontation” and Sundry Matters, Part I By: Marc B. Shapiro Rabbi Meir Soloveichik’s year-old essay, “No Friend in Jesus,”[1] caused me to once again think about the Rav’s essay “Confrontation,” (available here) and how it should be understood. Before getting to that, let me note, for those who don’t know, that Soloveichik is emerging as one of the most interesting, if controversial writers, on interfaith matters. I don’t know if he picks the titles of his articles, but…

Read More Read More

Review of Ma'amar al Yishma'el

Review of Ma'amar al Yishma'el

Comments 0 Comment

Review: Ma'amar al Yishma'elby Eliezer Brodt & Ish Sefer  Solomon Ibn Aderet, Ma'amar al Yishma'el, Bezalel Naor ed., Spring Valley, NY, 2008, 178 pp.Bezalel Naor, Mitsvat Hashem Barah, Spring Valley, NY, 2008, 220 pp.  R. Bezalel Naor, who has published a host of translations and explanations of R. Kook's writings, as well as Post Sabbatian Sabbatianisms, discussing Sabbatean works, has published two works in a single volume. The first, Ma'amar al Yishma'el, is a critical edition of R. Solomon Ibn…

Read More Read More

A Note on the Latin Dedication in the Rabbinic Bible of Venice 15

A Note on the Latin Dedication in the Rabbinic Bible of Venice 15

Comments 10 comments

A Note on the Latin Dedication in the Rabbinic Bible of Venice 1517 by: Jordan S. Penkower In response to the recent post at the Seforim Blog about approbations of Hebrew books, a correction is in order concerning the footnote about the intent of the remarks of Felix Pratensis in his dedication of the Venice 1517 Rabbinic Bible to the Pope. In footnote 3 of the recent post, a conjecture was offered to explain Felix Pratensis’ remarks. In addition, Pratensis…

Read More Read More

Some Observations Regarding Approbations for Hebrew Books

Some Observations Regarding Approbations for Hebrew Books

Comments 0 Comment

Haskamot (rabbinical approbations) to Hebrew books have an very interesting history.  There are a few different forms of haskamot, perhaps the most important form is that which granted the author and/or publisher a copyright. Typically, the haskamah would prohibit republishing the particular book for a period of ten or fifteen years, etc.  In some instances, it was not only the particular book but any book in the field. For example, the haskamah to R. Yom Tov Lipmann Heller's edition of…

Read More Read More