The Seforim Blog – Page 180 – All about Seforim – New and Old, and Jewish Bibliography

Uncensored Books (Dr. Marc B. Shapiro)

January 25, 2007 admin Comments 54 comments

Uncensored Books Marc B. Shapiro Dan Rabinowitz has provided many examples of censorship in seforim (examples which I look forward to using – with acknowledgment of course – in my own forthcoming book on the subject). What I would like to call attention to are two examples where the publishers would have certainly censored these texts had they known who was being discussed. Presumably, what I mention now has already been pointed out to them and will be excised…

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R. Eliezer Waldenberg’s Hilkhot HaMedinah

January 22, 2007 admin Comments 0 Comment

In light of the previous post regarding the Hilkhot HaMedinah, I have been able to obtain further information of the ban. The BaDaTz issued an Issur (reproduced below) noting that Hilkhot HaMedinah was published without the permission of the descendants of R. Waldenberg and the descendants object to its publication. Although Hilkhot HaMedinah is not mentioned by name – instead only “the books printed after his [R. Waldenberg’s] death” – to my knowledge the only book published after his death…

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Two New Books – Two Further Examples of Censorship

January 22, 2007 admin Comments 0 Comment

Once again we have two new incidents of censorship in the Hebrew book world. R. Eliezer Waldenberg, who recently passed away, is well-known for his teshuvot “Tzitz Eliezer,” and also authored another work – which has recently been reprinted. This book, Hilkhot HaMedinah, originally published in 1952, deals with issues affecting the Jewish state. The book is three volumes in one and includes topics such as the renewal of semikha (Rabbinic ordination), the question of drafting men and women (he…

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The Perils of Ignoring Precedent: Alterations in the Kaddish Prayer

January 18, 2007 admin Comments 20 comments

The Perils of Ignoring Precedent:Alterations in the Kaddish Prayerby Dan Rabinowitz Recently there has been a renewal in interest in the structure and make up of the liturgy or siddur. While there have previously been critical editions of the siddur or articles on topics related to the siddur,[1] today’s renaissance of the siddur has been precipitated by a different series of events. Specifically, this has been fostered by the publication and republication of some important source material on the topic;…

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Review: ספר קושיות (Rabbi Yaakov Stal)

January 16, 2007 admin Comments 0 Comment

Review: ספר קושיות (Rabbi Yaakov Stal) By Rabbi Eliezer Brodt Recently a new sefer hit the stores called ספר קושיות. The publisher, Rabbi Yaakov Stal, is well known, having already established his name with his editions of two seforim by ר’ יהודה החסיד one called ספר גימטריאות and another called אמרות טהורות חיצוניות ופנימיות. Like his previous works, once again he has done a great job. I would like to discuss his latest book a bit. While Rabbi Stal was…

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Yigdal: A Case Study in Modern Customology

January 14, 2007 admin Comments 18 comments

Yigdal: A Case Study in Modern Customologyby Dan Rabinowitz Another blog recently raised the question about the origin of saying Yigdal at the end of services on Friday night. Specifically, they wanted to demonstrate that this custom is not a “modern” or “Young Israel” custom and instead was very old. Although in practice today, this view is perhaps the prevalent custom with most yeshivot and similar minyanim not reciting this and Young Israel and those similar do. In an attempt…

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