Seforimchatter

#45. With Prof. Joseph Davis (Prof. of Jewish Thought, Gratz College) discussing the Tosfos Yom Tov (Rav Yom Tov Lipmann Heller ZT'L) and his biography of him, "Yom-Tov Lipmann Heller: Portrait of a Seventeenth-Century Rabbi" We discussed his life, Prague in the 16th & 17th centuries, relationship with Maharal & Shelah, his imprisonment & release, his works, no talking d...

#44. With Dr. Steve Weiss of LA discussing Pirkei Avos and his Bibliography of it. We alos discuss his vast collection of "every" Sefer published on Pirkei Avos, other topics he collects on, cholera & judaism, and more. For a copy of the bibliography please email Dr. Weiss: Avotmaven@gmail.com Support the show

#43.  With Prof. Joanna Weinberg (Professor Emerita in early modern Jewish history and Rabbinics, University of Oxford and Hebrew lecturer at Exeter College, Oxford) discussing Azariah De' Rossi (Min HaAdumin) and his work, "Me'or Enayim".  We discussed his biography, Philo of Alexandria, Rav Yehuda Moscato, the Maharal, and many more.   Also discussed was the ban issued by the...

#42. Discussing various seforim on Mesechtas Pesachim. Background info, current edition, availability and more.  Seforim discussed: Rabeinu Dovid, Maharam Chalava, Tosfos HaRashba, Tosfos HaRosh, Toras HaRishonim, Tzlach, Rav Moshe Mimran, Daf Pashut of Rav Elimelech Bluth, and more.  Support the show

#41. With Prof. Clémence Boulouque (Carl and Bernice Witten Assistant Professor in Jewish and Israel studies at Columbia University) discussing Rav Elia Benamozegh and her newly published book about him, "Another Modernity: Elia Benamozegh 's Jewish Universalism ". We discuss his printing press, the ban on Eim LaMikra, his french disciple Aimé Pallière, Israel & Humanities, and...

#40. With Prof. Pawel Maciejko (associate professor of history and Leonard and Helen R. Stulman chair of Classical Jewish Religion, Thought, and Culture at Johns Hopkins University) discussing Rav Yonason Eybeschutz and the "Emden-Eybeschutz" controversy, and Prof. Maciejko's forthcoming book on the topic. We discuss Rav Yaakov Emde, Rav Yonason's censored edition of Mesechtas...

#39. With Prof. Steven Nadler (William H. Hay II Professor of Philosophy and Evjue-Bascom Professor in Humanities at the University of Wisconsin-Madison) discussing Rabbi Menasseh ben Israel., and the biography that Prof. Nadler wrote, "Menasseh ben Israel: Rabbi of Amsterdam". To purchase the book: https://yalebooks.yale.edu/book/9780300224108/menasseh-ben-israel. Use code YAC99 for 30%...

#38. With Dr. Morris Faierstein discussing the Ze'enah U-Re'enah and his new 2 volume english translation.  (De Gruyter, 2018) We discuss the author (Rav Yitzchak ben Yaakov of Yanov), various editions, number of editions, why it became to be known as a work for "simpletons", Yiddish seforim, and much more. To purchase the book: https://www.amazon.com/Zeenah-u-Reenah-Studia-Jud...

#37. With Rabbi Reuven Chaim Klein discussing his book, "God versus Gods: Judaism in the age of Idolatry" which discusses Avodah Zarah in Tanach. The book also includes a comprehensive encyclopedia of all the various Avodah Zarah mentioned in Tanach. To purchase the book: https://www.amazon.com/G-d-Versus-Gods-Judaism-Idolatry/dp/1946351466 To purchase Rabbi Klein's 1st book, "...

#36. With Rabbi Mordechai Lebhar (Rosh Kollel of LINK Kollel in LA) discussing Machin Magen Avot and the various Seforim he has published. Shu's Rav Chaim Dovid Serero, Chachmei Castille Al HaTorah, Shita Ktav Yad on Mesechet Yoma from Rav Avraham Ibn Musah, amd his own sefeorim, Magen Avot (Moroccan Minhagim). We also discussed the authors and various Moroccan Gedolim. Support the show

#35.  With Prof. Sara Reguer (Chair of Judaic Studies at Brooklyn College) discussing her book, "My Father's Journey: A Memoir of Lost Worlds of Jewish Lithuania". We discuss her grandfather, Rav Simcha Zelig Reguer ZT'L Av Beis Din of Brisk, Rav Chaim Soloveitchik ZT'L, her father's time in the yeshiva world and more. We also mentioned Rav Moshe Soloveitchik, Rav Jos...

#34. With Rabbi Yosie Levine (Rabbi of The Jewish Center) discussing the topic of his recently completed dissertation, the Chacham Tzvi. We discuss his life, works, controversies and more Support the show

#33. With Dan Rabinowitz (of the Seforim Blog) discussing his book "The Lost Library: The Legacy of Vilna's Strashun Library in the Aftermath of the Holocaust". We discuss Vilna, the Haskalah in Vilna, the Rashash (Rav Shmuel Strashun), Rav Matisyahu Strashun & his library, the library during World War 2, YIVO, the library today, and more. Purchase the book: https://amzn.to/4wtQ...

#32. With Prof. Howard (Tzvi) Adelman discussing Rav Yehuda Aryeh Modena.  His life, works, and more. We also touch on Italian Jewry in general Support the show

#31. With Yehuda Geberer, tour guide, writer, and host of the Jewish History Soundbites Podcast. We discuss how he got into history, various stories and recollections, how he prepares for a show, what sources do we both use, how we do we know which sources are good and much more Support the show

#30. Discussing the Sefer Shailos U'Teshuvos Torah Lishmah by the Ben Ish Chai, Rav Yosef Chaim ZT"L of Baghdad.  The Ben Ish Chai attributed it to an unknown Chacham "Yechezkel Kuchli", however it is now known that he himself was the author. Various proofs are brought in the extensive introduction to the 2013 Ahavat Shalom edition (as expounded in the podcast). Support the sho...

Show #29. Solo show discussing various new Seforim and my quick thoughts on them. If you have any feedback on this style of episode and whether you would like to hear more episodes like this please email me seforimchatter@gmail.com Support the show

Show #28. With R' Zecharia Holzer of Machon Al Harishonim discussing the Machon, how they got into working on Rishonim, the Machzorim on Rosh Hashanah & Yom Kippur, how they came about, various Rishonim included, and more Support the show

Live show. #27. With Prof. Eve Krakowski (Assistant Professor of Near Eastern Studies and the Program in Judaic Studies at Princeton University) discussing the Cairo Geniza. Its History, how it was discovered, its uses today, the Friedberg project, the differences between the literary fragments and documents, her book, and much more. To purchase her book "Coming of Age in Medieval Egypt: Fema...

Live show. #26. (Some audio issues at around the 40:00 mark, fast forward). 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 the Baalei Tosafos, who were the "main" ones, methodology, style, differnces between France (צרפת) and Germany (אשכנז), th...

Show #25. With Prof. Magda Teter (Shvidler Chair in Judaic Studies and Professor of History at Fordham University) discussing her new book "Blood Libel: On The Trail Of An Antisemitic Myth" (Harvard University Press) about the history of the Blood Libel, William of Norwich & Thomas Of Monmouth, Simon of Trent and the trial of the Jews of Trent, the controversy around Prof. Ariel Toaf...

Show #24.  With Prof. Lawrence H. Schiffman discussing the Dead Sea Scrolls and more. A basic overview of what they are, who wrote them, the differences between the Perushim, Saducees, suggested reading material and more. To read more of Prof. Schiffman's work:  https://nyu.academia.edu/LawrenceSchiffman and  http://lawrenceschiffman.com/ . To purchase his book "Reclaiming the Dead Sea S...

Show #23. With Yossel Housman (@Yeshevav) discussing the history of the Kinnos, who was the Kallir & when did he live, different styles of piyut and kinnos, the kinnah "Eli Tzion" and more Support the show

Show #22. Exclusively for the Podcast. Witn R' Moshe Maimon discussing his new critical edition of the writings of Rabeinu Avraham Ben HaRambam (Abraham Maimonidies), a biography of Rabeinu Avraham, his style of learning, similarities to his father and more Also discussed is R' Maimon's own Kuntris "Ma'atikei HaShmueah" with glosses of Rav Shaul Alter To Purchase the...

Live Show #21. With Elli Fischer discussing his work on Rav Asher Weiss, his work on translating books & Seforim and how he goes about doing it, Rav Eliezer Melamed, Peninei Halakha and more Support the show