Seforimchatter

#70. With Prof. Martin Lockshin discussing Rashbam We discuss Rashbam's bio, his works and style of pirush on chumash, Prof. Lockshin's critical hebrew edition and English translation, and more. For more information or to sponsor a show, please email seforimchatter@gmail.com  Support the show

#69. With Pearl Herzog discussing her father, R' Tovia Preschel, and his collected writings that she published (Ma'amarei Tovia). We discussed her father and his, his varied writings on a vast amount of subjects and more. The seforim are publsihed by Mossad Harav Kook and  should be widely available. Currently 6 volumes are available.  Support the show

#68. With Dr. Pinchas Roth discussing Medieval Jewry of Provence (South France). We discuss the communities history, its overall "hashkafa", famous Provencial Rabbinic figures like: Ra'avad, Ibn Tibbon's, Kimhi's (Radak, etc.), Meiri, Ralbag, and more.  We also discuss his new book, " In This Land: Jewish Life and Legal Culture in Late Medieval Provence". To orde...

#67. One year anniversary episode: About how the twitter account and podcast developed and some reflections on the past year Please email any questions or comments to seforimchatter@gmail.com Support the show

#66. With Prof. Shalom Sabar (Prof. Emeritus of Jewish Art and Folklore at Hebrew University) discussing the Sarajevo Haggadah. We discussed an overview of illuminated manuscripts and Haggadah's, the Sarajevo haggadah: Its history, the popularization of it, and much more.  To purchase the 2 volume set of the facsimile and Prof. Sabar's study of the Haggadah: https://www.amazon.com/Saraje...

#65. With Prof. Benny Brown (Prof. of jewish thought at Hebrew University) discussing the Mussar Movement. We discuss Rav Yisroel Salanter, the movement overall, various mussar yeshivos (Slabodka / Novardok / Kelm, and more), mussar seforim and literature, why the movement "ceased" to exist, and much more.  To purchase Prof. Brown's book on the Mussar movement:  https://www.modan.co...

#64. With Rabbi Netanel Wiederblank discussing his "Illuminating Jewish Thought" book series (2 out of 3 volumes have been published thus far). We discuss his style, sources, why he is writing this series and is trying to accomplish, and much more.  To purchase volume 1: https://korenpub.com/products/illuminating-jewish-thought To purchase volume 2:  https://korenpub.com/products/illumin...

#63. With Prof. Yerachmiel (Robert) Brody discussing the Geonim of Babylonia We discuss the period of the Savaro'im, position of Gaon and what it meant and included, where the name comes from, the Yeshivos of Bavel (Pumpidisa & Sura), the yarchei kallah, famous Geonim & writings, Rav Sa'adyah Gaon, and much more. To purchase "The Geonim of Babylonia and the Shaping of Mediev...

#62. With R' Dovid Cohen of the cRc discussing his new book, "Alcoholic Beverages: The Halachos of Alcoholic Beverages, wine, and grape juice as they apply in the modern era arranged according to the order of the Shulchan Aruch". We discussed Sherry cask, mevushal, kiddush on grape juice, grape juice from concentrate, light grape juice,  Starbucks, Teavana, why he chose to self-publ...

#61. With Mitchell First discussing who Achashverosh & Esther were historically, and the origins of Ta'anis Esther. Most of the discussion is based on essays from his book, "Esther Unmaksed: Solving Eleven Mysteries of the Jewish Holidays and Liturgy". A few of the other chapters of the book are referenced as well.  To purchase Esther Unmasked: https://www.amazon.com/Esther-Unma...

#60. With Dr. Gabriel Wasserman discussing Piyutei Arbah Parshiyos ("Yotzros"), Krovetz for Purim, and Piyutim in general. For more information or to sponsor a show, please email seforimchatter@gmail.com Support the show

#59. With Prof. Cedric Cohen-Skalli (Prof. of early modern and modern Jewish Philosophy at the University of Haifa) discussing Abarbnel (1437 - 1508) and his new book, "Don Isaac Abravanel: An Intellectual Biography" We discuss Abarbnel (or is it Abravanel?) and his background,  an overview of his many writings, the expulsion, Rav Meir Arama's charge, and much more. To purchase the...

#58. With Rabbi Elchanan Adler (Rosh Yeshiva at Yeshivas Rabbeinu Yitzchak Elchanan [RIETS]) discussing Anim Zemiros and his new books, " Anim Zemiros: A Poem for All Ages; Elucidating, Demystifying, and Appreciating the Shir HaKavod". We discussed who wrote it, differences with Shir HaYichud, when should it be said, and more. We also discussed his Rebbi, Rav Dovid Feinstein ZT'L. T...

#57. ** Sponsored by Gluck Plumbing - Service Division. 732-523-1836 Ext 1. ** With Rav Yehoshua Hartman (Rosh Beis Medrash Hasmonean in London and editor of Sifrei Maharal - Machon Yerushalayim). We discussed Rav Hutner, the biography of the Maharal, style of Maharal's writing, Me'or Einayim, what Rav Hartman set out to do in his edition, and much more. To listen to the Jewish Philanthr...

#56. With Prof. Elisheva Carlebach (Baron Professor of Jewish History, culture, and Society at Columbia University). Discussing Pinkassei Kehillot of pre-modern Europe.  To purchase "A Window on Their World": https://www.amazon.com/Window-Their-World-Gundersheim-Non/dp/0878202536 To purchase "Colonial Justice and the Jews of Ventian Crete" by Rena Lauer:     https://www.amazon....

#55. With R' Nechemya Sheinfeld discussing the Ibn Ezra and his commentary on the Ibn Ezra, "Daas Ezra" (6 volumes, Mossad Harav Kook) We discussed a basic biography of Ibn Ezra, controversy around the Ibn Ezra's Pirush (Maharshal, Karaites, against Chazal, etc) what Daas Ezra seeks to do and how he did it, Pirush Aruch & Katzar on Shemos, Hakdama on Bereishis, Shittah Ache...

#54. With Prof. Marcin Wodziński (Prof. of Jewish History and Literature at the University of Wroclaw, Poland). Discussing his various books about Chasidus and his Historical Atlas of Hasidism.  Historical Atlas of Hasidism: https://www.amazon.com/Historical-Atlas-Hasidism-Marcin-Wodzi%C5%84ski/dp/0691174016/ref=sr_1_3?crid=3O3QZ643L777B&dchild=1&keywords=marcin+wodzinski&qid=161023506...

#53. With Daniel Klein discussing Shadal (Samuel David Luzzatto. 1800 - 1865) and his new translation of Shadal on Chumash. We discussed the biography of Shadal, his works, his opinion about Koheles & the Zohar (Kabbolah), his Chumash translation & Pirush, Dan's translations and what went into producing them, the introduction to each volume, the forthcoming volume on Vayikra (Leviticu...

#52. With Prof. Ephraim Kanarfogel (E. Billi Ivry University Professor of Jewish History, Literature, and Law at the Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies, Yeshiva University) discussing Rashi on Shas. We discuss various aspects of Rashi: Different Mahaduros, the order Rashi wrote, Rashbam & Rivan, Rashi on Rif & Ein Yaakov, and much more. Support the show

#51. With Rav Aaron Lopiansky (R'Y Yeshiva of Greater Washington, Tiferes Gedalyahu in Silver Spring, Maryland) discussing his (Hebrew) Seforim & the Rishonim. We discussed his Siddur Aliyos Eliyahu and what went into it; Tefillah L'Moshe on Siddur (collection of Pirushei Rishonim) and what went into it, why he compiled & published it; Sefer Yesodei HaTorah Al Hatorah & Yesod...

#50. With Dr. Martina Mampieri discussing her book, "Living under the Evil Pope: The Hebrew Chronicle of Pope Paul IV by Benjamin Nehemiah ben Elnathan from Civitanova Marche (16th cent.)" We discuss the Jews of Italy in the 15th & 16th century, the Pope's and the Jews, Pope Paul IV and his harsh decrees on the Jews (starting with the Bull Cum nimis absurdum), the burning of the...

#49. With R' Simcha Lauer discussing his book, " Learning the News: Halachic Perspectives on Current Events". We discuss Gedolim's outlook on reading the news, how he approached writing the book, and a few examples from the book.  To purchase the book: https://mosaicapress.com/product/learning-the-news/ Support the show

#48.  With R' Alex Hool discussing his new book, "Pharaoh: Biblical History, Egypt, And the Missing Millennium" about the biblical Pharaoh.  R' Hool explains the background of the Egyptian dynasties, his hypothesis, who was the biblical pharaoh and who was the pharaoh at the time of Yosef, and much more.  We also discuss his first book, "The challenge of Jewish History: Th...

#47. With Prof. Lawrence H. Schiffman (Judge Abraham Lieberman Professorship in Hebrew & Judaic studies at NYU) discussing Chanukah and its historical sources. We discussed 1 Maccabees, 2 Maccabees, Megillas Ta'anis, Megillas Antiochus, Josephus, Josippon, and more.  Their history, who wrote them & when were they written, Nes Pach Shemen, and more.  Support the show

#46. With R' Moshe Kravetz discussing Rav Ovadiah Sforno: His life and works.  R' Kravetz edited and published critical editions of the Sforno on Chumash, various of his Seforim on Nach, Avos, shiurim of a Talmid on Chumash and Tehillim.  We discussed the Sforno's life, how to pronounce his name, Italian jewry, his Seforim, Ohr Amim (which the Sforno translated into latin and dedica...