Armin Wilkowitch about Shabbes Shekolim in his youth in Russia

Armin Wilkowitch about Shabbes Shekolim in his youth in Russia

Comments 3 comments

Armin Wilkowitch about Shabbes Shekolim in his youth in Russia by Gabriel Wasserman and Phillip Minden Shabbes Shekolim (Shabbat Sheqalim) is the first of the four special Sabbaths in or near the month of Adar, when special passages are read from the Torah. In addition to the special readings from the Torah, Ashkenazic Jewry has distinguished these four Sabbaths with the inclusion of special piyyutim in the Sabbath service; these piyyutim – most, and perhaps all – are by Eleazar…

Read More Read More

The Image of the Menorah in the Early Printed Hebrew Book

The Image of the Menorah in the Early Printed Hebrew Book

Comments 14 comments

The Image of the Menorah in the Early Printed Hebrew Book By Dan Rabinowitz The menorah is one of the most recognizable Jewish symbols. Today it has been adopted by the State of Israel as her official symbol, and throughout history there are numerous examples of its use. Coins, headstones, paintings and synagogue walls etchings, lamps, mosaics, manuscripts, and books, all provide examples of the widespread usage and mediums. Many of these examples have been addressed by scholars, but there…

Read More Read More

Daf Yomi: Seforim on Chagigah

Daf Yomi: Seforim on Chagigah

Comments 1 comment

Daf Yomi: Seforim on Chagigah By Eliezer Brodt Daf Yomi just began learning Masseches Chagigah. Earlier this week I had a conversation with Rabbi Moshe Schwed of All Daf. The purpose of the conversation was to briefly highlight some of the rishonim and acharonim “out there” on this messechtah, adding some tidbits of interest about them. We recorded it and it’s available for viewing here and here. It is only 32 minutes long. Many aspects could have been discussed at…

Read More Read More

Jacob ben Elhanan Heilbronn – A Multi-faceted Erudite Scholar

Jacob ben Elhanan Heilbronn – A Multi-faceted Erudite Scholar

Comments 3 comments

Jacob ben Elhanan Heilbronn – A Multi-faceted Erudite Scholar By Marvin J. Heller[1] Jewish history and literature is replete with individuals of stature, men of repute, leaders in their generation, whose memory has not fared well over time. Their reputations and accomplishments notwithstanding, they are not well remembered today, excepting in rabbinic or academic circles. This is, of course, not only a Jewish phenomenon, but our concern is with one individual in particular, prominent in his time in the Jewish…

Read More Read More

The Missing Nun Verse in Ashrei

The Missing Nun Verse in Ashrei

Comments 12 comments

The Missing Nun Verse in Ashrei[1] Ben Zion Katz Northwestern University There are several alphabetic acrostics in the book of Psalms. These acrostics are found in Psalms 25, 34, 37, 111, 112, 119 and 145. Only three of these are complete acrostics – i.e., acrostics in which every letter of the alphabet is represented. Psalms 111 and 112 begin each half verse with the succeeding letter of the Hebrew alphabet following the psalm’s first word (Halleluyah). Psalm 119 is an…

Read More Read More

Daf Yomi: Seforim on Moed Katan, Part Two and Three

Daf Yomi: Seforim on Moed Katan, Part Two and Three

Comments 5 comments

Daf Yomi: Seforim on Moed Katan, Part Two and Three By Eliezer Brodt Daf Yomi is in middle of learning Masseches Moed Katan. This week I had two conversations with Rabbi Moshe Schwed of All Daf. The purpose of these conversation were for me to trace the concerns for the fear some had to learn this Masechtah, especially the section devoted to Avelius as it deals with topics related to death. Part two deals with tracing the sources about this…

Read More Read More