This is the third and (for now) the final list of out-of-print seforim (the two prior lists can be seen here and here). We have provided links for most of the books where a bit of information about the book can be gleaned. These books will only be available for a short bit longer. Most of the titles mentioned here are out-of-print and, for some of the listed titles, there are only a few copies available. For example, for-some of…
This is the second list of out-of-print seforim. At the end of the list I provide suggestions, divided by subject matter. Additionally, where appropriate I have provided information about specific titles. Most of the titles mentioned here are out of print and, for some of the listed titles; there are only a few copies available. For example, for-some of the titles there are only two copies available for sale while others there are many more available. Thus, these books are…
We will be introducing a new feature to the seforim blog. From time to time we will be offering some hard-to-find seforim and academic books for very reasonable prices. Most of the titles mentioned here are out of print and, for some of the listed titles, there are only a few copies available. For example, for-some of the titles there are only 5 copies available for sale while others there are many more available. Thus, these books are on a…
I have spent much of my professional life rummaging through collections of documents, mostly in well-kept archives, but sometimes also in hard-to-reach places in basements and attics. Fortunately, I have made some great discoveries in these places, but I will now tell you a story that doesn’t have a happy ending. It begins around fifteen years ago, when I was researching the life of R. Jehiel Jacob Weinberg. With the strength that only someone in his twenties has, I traveled…
Additionally, for those interested in incunabula, R. David Kimchi’s (RaDaK) Sefer ha-Shorashim, Naples 1490 is for sale. It is worth noting that a tremendous amount of incunabula – by my count some 96 titles! – are available online at the JNUL Digitized Book Repository including this edition of the Sefer ha-Shorashim. To have access to so many rare titles is extrodinary. Even if one has access to a library that has a few incunabula it is difficult to view them…
Kestenbaum & Co.’s latest auction catalog for its auction on April 3, 2008, is available online. The auction includes a collection of important bibliography catalogs including, Koheleth David, the catalog of R. David Oppenheimer’s books that eventually went to the Bodleian Libary; Ohel Avraham, catalog of R. Avraham Merzbacher, this catalog was complied by R. Raphael Nathan Nata Rabinowich the author of Dikdukei Soferim; Likutei Shoshanim, the catalog of R. Mattisyahu Straschun’s library (this library in part went to YIVO…
Henry Hollander Books is having a 50% off sale on selected books. There are a significant number of books on sale, covering many different genres. The catalog is available online and the sale runs through the end of January. There are two auction catalogs online. The first, Asufa, who is having their auction on Janaury 24 is available here. The second, Baranovich, is having their auction on the 23 of January and you need to first fill out a form…
Asufa is having an auction next week on Monday Aug. 13, the catalog is available online here or in the US at Biegeleisen books in NY.
A wedding carries with it many customs, one of which is an attempt to use this ceremony to disseminate Torah. There was an old custom in many communities for people to write poems in honor of the simchas chasan and kallah. Others even wrote plays in honor of the bride and groom. One example is the Ramchal who wrote the play Ma’ashe Shimshon (as well as other poems for various weddings). In other communities there was a custom for someone…
As discussed previously, there are two hard drive systems which contain thousands of seforim. Both of these will be on sale starting on Sunday June 3 for two weeks. For more information one can contact Mr. Flohr, who provided the information which appears below. Here are the sale prices: Otzar Hachochma – Hard Drive System Full version (23,000 seforim)- $1380 (reg. $1980) Bney Torah (21,500 seforim) – $1240 (reg. $1780) G’mara V’Halacha (15,800 seforim) -$930 (reg. $1320) Torah U’Midrash (15,800…
A few weeks ago, while perusing through the new Seforim at the Girsa Seforim store in Jerusalem, I noticed a new מנחת פתים from ר’ מאיר אריק. At first I thought it was another plain old reprint of the original one. But a few friends tipped me off to it being much more than a reprint. So off I went to purchase the seforim. This is a short review what this version is exactly. It’s a well known fact that,…
In previous posts at the Seforim blog, we have attempted to highlight some of the more recently printed books, which are fairly easy to come by. However, I thought it worthwhile to mention some slightly older books, which are generally more difficult to obtain and where they can be obtained. I will highlight the contents of one store — Moznaim (718-438-7680) — in Boro Park. First, for literature of the Geonim, they have the Teshuvot HaGeonim. In this set, the…
In recent years, a host of critical editions of works on various rishonim have been published on all topics – some seeing the light of day for the very first time – on topics related to halakha, kabbalah, and chiddushim on the Talmud. These works have been made available via the major printing presses such as Mossad HaRav Kook, Machon Yerushalyim, Machon Talmud Yisraeli, Machon Harry Fischel and others. However, one very important work has noticeably been omitted from being…
It appears that at least one controversial book can not escape being criticized even after a significant passage of time. In this case, R. Dov Eliach’s book the R. Elijah, Gaon of Vilna, published five years ago and, at the time, subject to some harsh criticism, is the subject of a new magazine – אמת מול שקר (Truth Against Lies) published by “the Institute for Truth and Faith.” That is, the entire purpose of this magazine is to disproving and…
There is a well known joke which claims that some gedolim have actually been “writing from their graves.” The most famous person to be “guilty” of this charge is R. Moshe Sofer (Hatam Sofer) as he printed nothing in his lifetime and yet we have volumes and volumes of his Torah on literally every area and – to this day – they continue to be published. Obviously, all of this material has come to light through his own notes and…