Menachem Mendel

Part of the Braginsky Collection of Hebrew books and manuscripts is now online. It is worth a visit. (hat tip)

Posted on January 14th, 2010 under Bibliography, Book Collecting, Hebrew Printing, History of Books, Manuscripts. Comments: None

Pauline Malkiel, the librarian of the Valmadonna Trust Library, has a post at Seforim, now back at its old home, on the library. There is also an article by Allison Hoffman in Tablet on the library. The two of them make nice complimentary reading on the library, its history, and what the future [...]

Posted on September 9th, 2009 under Bibliography, Book Collecting, Hebrew Printing, Rabbinic Literature. Comments: None

Via H-Judaic: Professor Meir Benayahu z”l has passed away in Jerusalem.
From a young age, Benayahu became known as a great expert in the
reading of ancient manuscripts, deciphering their content, and
identifying their authorship and time periods. His expertise in the
field of Hebrew paleography redeemed thousands of manuscripts, letters
and certificates from all over the world from oblivion, [...]

Posted on April 26th, 2009 under Hebrew Printing, In Memoriam, Rabbinic Authority. Comments: None

Today we went on a family outing to see the Valmadonna Trust Library. It really was a breath-taking exhibit. Although my kids had little patience for me continuously stopping to look at specific books, hopefully one day they’ll understand how important it was to see this collection. There are still a few [...]

Posted on February 16th, 2009 under Book Collecting, Hebrew Printing, Public Events. Comments: None

In the first issue of Quntres (see here) there is an article by Shemuel Glick on self-censorship in the responsa literature. I recently posted on private vs. public pesak and Glick brings a quote from an introduction to a collection of responsa in which the author admits that there were responsa which he decided [...]

Posted on February 3rd, 2009 under Hebrew Printing, Rabbinic Authority, Rabbinic Literature, Responsa. Comments: None

Quntres: “Quntres, a bibliographic journal published online by the JTS libraries, has finally published its inaugural volume.
(Via Hagahot.)

Posted on February 3rd, 2009 under Bibliography, Hebrew Printing, Responsa. Comments: None

The YU library has posted online a digitized version of the the 18th c. Breslau/Auras Memorbuch. From a description of the book,
The manuscript includes lekha dodi, mi-sheberakh prayers, Yizkor prayers, blessings for the haftarot of Yom Kipur and Shalosh Regalim, blessings for the Purim Megilah, and the circumcision ceremony, among others. The unifying factor [...]

Posted on January 14th, 2009 under Hebrew Printing, Online resources. Comments: None

R. Yair Hoffman has some comments on the printing of the Shulhan Aruch,
Most of us know that the Shulchan Aruch was written by Rabbi Yoseph Karo. Most of us also know that the additions of the Rama, Rabbi Moshe Isserless, were added to the Shulchan Aruch and they served to eventually make the Shulchan Aruch [...]

Posted on November 6th, 2008 under Halakhic Literature, Hebrew Printing, Rabbinic Literature. Comments: 2