Menachem Mendel

Giluy Milta B’alma has a post about the well-known piyyut, Yedid Nefesh (ignore the version of the piyyut included in this entry, see below), that is recited on Friday night in many synagogues. The post describes the textual history of the piyyut and why it is attributed to R. Elazar Azkari (1533-1600). Pay attention to [...]

Posted on June 29th, 2010 under Liturgy, Manuscripts, Shabbat, Synagogue. Comments: 1

The very good blog, Tosefta Online, has a series of informative posts, Introduction to the Tosefta, addressing questions of dating, authorship, manuscripts, and printed editions.

Posted on March 21st, 2010 under Manuscripts, Rabbinic Literature, Talmud, Talmud Study. Comments: None

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

The Hill Museum and Manuscript Library has a nice exhibition posted online, Book Marks: The Trail Readers Leave Behind. (hat tip) This image may be of interest to those who like illustrated haggadot. See more here on similar images in haggadot.

Posted on January 6th, 2010 under Bibliography, Book Collecting, Manuscripts. Comments: 1

Can anyone offer any help? Kitsur SMaK?: The following question was received at the library’s reference email: The Kitzur Sma’k (which I’m sure you won’t confuse with the Kitzur Sma’g) was compiled by a Christian Hebraist, and for that reason is of no interest to Jews and is not found in any university library that [...]

Posted on January 4th, 2010 under Bibliography, Manuscripts. Comments: 1

I am not sure if this is old and I just never noticed it, but the JNUL seems to have a new web page which has links to many of the important MSS and early printed editions that they have on their website in one place.

Posted on December 16th, 2009 under Bibliography, Manuscripts, Online resources, Rabbinic Literature, Talmud. Comments: None

BibliOdyssey has posted images from a 15th c. illustrated travel diary of a German knight who journeyed to Jerusalem. The JNUL has posted online many maps of the Land of Israel/Holy Land and Jerusalem.

Posted on October 15th, 2009 under Bibliography, Israel, Manuscripts. Comments: 1

My teacher Prof. Neil Danzig, in his comment to this post, reminded me that Rashi’s commentary to Moed Katan that is found in the standard editions of the Talmud is not Rashi’s. Whether Rashi ever wrote a commentary to Moed Katan is subject to some disagreement among scholars. See here (Hebrew) for a discussion on [...]

Posted on August 3rd, 2009 under Manuscripts, Talmud, Talmud Study, Textual Studies. Comments: None

I just came across this interesting comment by Rashi on a mishnah. תלמוד בבלי מסכת מועד קטן דף יט עמוד א משנה. הקובר את מתו שלשה ימים קודם לרגל – בטלה הימנו גזרת שבעה, שמונה – בטלו הימנו גזרת שלשים. מפני שאמרו: שבת עולה ואינה מפסקת. רגלים – מפסיקין ואינן עולין. רבי אליעזר אומר: משחרב [...]

Posted on July 30th, 2009 under Manuscripts, Talmud, Talmud Study, Textual Studies. Comments: 2