Announcement: Musings of a Book Collector podcast
…The second free episode, on new and old Seforim related to Chanukah, titled Sefer Makabi’im, Sdei Chemed and other Chanukah related seforim was just recorded and is available for listening…
Book Review: Pischei Tefilah u-Mo’ad by Y. S. Spiegel
…on coffee generally. There is an article discussing the piyut Achlu Mashmanyim which is customarily recited on Shabbos Chanukah. As an aside, he provides an early source for eating sufganiyot…
Review: Yemi Shemonah – The Bet Yosef's Question
ספר ימי שמונה–קושית הבית יוסף מאת: עקביא שמש בחנוכה לפני שנתיים ימים כתבתי בבלוג הנוכחי את הדברים הבאים: “אחד המאפיינים את הספרות הרבנית ההלכתית בדורנו הוא חיבור ספרים סביב נושא…
How much Greek in “Greek Wisdom”? On the Meaning of Hokhmat Yevanit
How much Greek in “Greek Wisdom”? On the Meaning of Hokhmat Yevanit by Eliyahu Krakowski In the medieval controversies over the study of philosophy, one of the major points of…
Screen for the Spirit, Garment for the Soul
…works, To Illuminate the Openings (להאיר את הפתחים).[4] The book is primarily a collection of R. Shagar’s discourses on the holiday of Hanukkah, part of the “For This Time” (לזמן…
In Praise of Ephemera: A Picture Postcard from Vilna Reveals its Secrets More than One Hundred Years after its Original Publication
…clippings; outdated New Years cards; wine-stained Passover Haggadot; Jewish ornaments, objects (e.g., Chanukkah dreidels) and artwork of a previous generation; photographs and postcards; and the like. The items we collect…
Armin Wilkowitch about Shabbes Shekolim in his youth in Russia
…or the shammes will lead the other prayers. As soon as the chazzan has kindled the Chanukkah lights with the meshorerim and the klezmorim, he goes into hibernation until Sabbath…
Eliezer Brodt – The Origins of Hamentashen in Jewish Literature
…our tefillot; Chanukah has fried foods (no trans-fats please); whether latkes sizzling in the frying pan, or the elusive Israeli sufganiyot (jelly doughnuts) seen for a month before but not…
The Origins of Hamentashen in Jewish Literature (Revisited)
…symbolizing our tefillot; Chanukah has fried foods (no trans-fats please); whether latkes sizzling in the frying pan, or the elusive Israeli sufganiyot (jelly doughnuts) seen for a month before but…
Shnei Zeitim: Two Olive Branches – Piyut by Solomon Ibn Gabirol
…the blessing Or Chadash (a new light) on Shabbat Chanukah. I have relied extensively on Baer’s notes for my annotations. I thank Michael R. Stein for the online link to…
Jewish Communal Workers, Preacher’s Kid Syndrome, and Sefer Shmuel
…Yahrtzeit was on Erev Chanukah, the 24th of Kislev 5786 (2025). Rav Schwartz was an overflowing spring of Halachic guidance, wisdom, and practical rabbinic advice. I will always feel indebted…
New Volume of Rav Ovadiah Yosef’s “Hazon Ovadiah,” on the halakhot of the Four Fasts, the Three Weeks, Nine Days, Tisha B’Av, and Zekher le-Hurban
…Chanukah. Earlier this year, Tu B’Shevat and Hilkhot Berakhot were printed. Thus far, the set is eight massive volumes. One only hopes that Rav Ovadiah continues this set with Hilkhot…
Shavuah HaSefer: A Recommended Reading List
…more famous point quoted by the Radak from this Tosefta: In the discussion of the miracle of Chanukah a statement is attributed to R’ Chaim Solevetchick and others (see Making…
Seforim Blog 2.0: How You Can Help
…quickly locate relevant articles. Additionally, the site hosts numerous related articles, for example, customs relating to Chanukah or haggadot, yet those are not easily located or displayed. Similarly, articles by…
Eliezer Brodt: A Censored Work by a Student of R. Hayyim of Volozhin: The Case of Menuchah u-Kedushah
…The author also wrote a lengthy discussion regarding the proper time to light the Chanukah menorah; opining to light after ma’ariv. The author states that the only reason why R….