Seforimchatter

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**Seforimchatter**

The Seforimchatter podcast is dedicated to the discussion of Seforim (holy texts and works pertaining to them), Jewish (non-sacred) Books, Jewish History and more. The variety of guests include rabbis, professors, historians, authors, editors, and others in the field. For more information or to sponsor a show, check out seforimchatter.com or email info@seforimchatter.com

Latest Episodes:

AuctionChatter: With R' Moshe Maimon discussing the Taj Art Auction 11 catalogue Dec 20, 2023

Show notes

#252.
> Sponsored by Taj Art

> The auction will take place Sunday, Dec 24, 12:00 PM EST.

> To view the complete catalogue and bid on items (make sure to register first!) click here.

1. To view and bid on Lot 9, Me’ein Ganim see here.
2. To view and bid on Lot 11, Eitz HaDaas of Rav Shimshon Morpurgo see here.
3. To view and bid on Lot 12, Divrei Zikaron of Rav Yosef Stadthagen, an ethical work on Shulchan Aruch Hilchos Shechita & Bedikah see here.
4. To view and bid on Lot 26, Shomer Emunim of Rav Yosef Ergas see here.
5. To view and bid on Lot 27, first edition Gevuras Hashem of the Maharal printed in 1582 see here.
6. To view and bid on Lot 44, Lekach Tov from Rav Moshe Najara see here.
7. To view and bid on Lot 75, Masa Melech on the laws of Taxes from Rav Yosef Ibn Ezra see here.
8. To view and bid on Lot 86, the Hebrew-Latin 1541 edition of Sefer Tishby see here.
9. To view and bid on Lot 93, the 1st edition of Sefer Chafetz Chaim (published anonymously in 1873) see here.
10. To view and bid on Lot 119, an Indian Torah Scroll case see here.
11. To view and bid on Lot 123, a hand drawn and illustrated “Mizrach” (including Moshe with horns!) see here.
12. To view and bid on Lot 127, the manuscript memorial book of the community of Padua, 1749 – 1778 see here.
13. To view and bid on Lot 141, The Appointment Letter of Rabbi Yosef Chaim Zonnenfeld to the Rabbinate of Yerushalayim see here.
14. To view and bid on Lot 152, Manuscript of “Ibbur Shanim” / Tiqqun Yissachar by Rabbi Yissachar Ibn Sussan of Tzfat see here.
15. To view and bid on Lot 171, 12.5 manuscript pages of Rav Shach that would later be published in Avi Ezri see here.
16. To view and bid on Lot 180, Shu’t Ohr HaMeir of Rav Meir Shapiro (R’Y Chacmei Lublin) with his handwritten dedication see here

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TLT (Ten Lost Tribes) Series Episode 1: Prof. Zvi Ben-Dor Benite - The Ten Lost Tribes: A World History Dec 17, 2023

Show notes

#251
> Corporate sponsor of the series: Gluck Plumbing.
For all your service needs big or small in NJ with a full service division, from boiler change outs, main sewer line snake outs, camera-ing main lines, to a simple faucet leak, Gluck Plumbing Service Division has you covered. Give them a call - 732-523-1836 x 1.
> Episode Sponsor: Ten Ten Watches.
1135 East Veterans Hwy
Jackson, New Jersey
Call/WhatsApp:
(732) 884-1010
Email: sales@ten10watches.com
> Subscribe and read the new connected post on SeforimChatter Substack:
https://open.substack.com/pub/seforimchatter/p/the-lost-tribes-a-new-podcast-series?r=91ow0&utm_medium=ios&utm_campaign=post
> To support the podcast or to sponsor an episode (including an individual episode in the series): https://seforimchatter.com/support-seforimchatter/ or email seforimchatter@gmail.com (Zelle/QP this email address)
> To join the SeforimChatter WhatsApp community: https://chat.whatsapp.com/DZ3C2CjUeD9AGJvXeEODtK
> We discussed a wide range of topics, and the episode functions as an overview of the entire series. Topics discussed include the origins of the legend in Tanach, the option of Rav Akiva in Tractate Sanhedrin (that the Lost Tribes are not coming back), Medrash, the legendary Sambatyon River, Eldad HaDani (9th century) & Rav Tzemach Gaon’s letter, Prester John (the Christian parallel to the Lost Tribes), David Reuveni, Antonio de Montezinos (17th century) and Rabbi Menasseh ben Israel, Native Americans and the Lost Tribes, the Mormons, and much much more.
> To purchase Prof. Ben-Dor Benite’s “The Ten Lost Tribes: A World History”: https://amzn.to/3Tqfsba

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With R' Yechiel Goldhaber discussing the history of playing games and dreidel on Chanukah Dec 09, 2023

Show notes

#250.
> To support the podcast or to sponsor an episode: https://seforimchatter.com/support-seforimchatter/ or email seforimchatter@gmail.com (Zelle/QP this email address)
> For the SeforimChatter Whatsapp Community chat:
https://chat.whatsapp.com/DZ3C2CjUeD9AGJvXeEODtK
> For the SeforimChatter substack:
https://seforimchatter.substack.com/
We discussed why playing games (gambling) was allowed and accepted on Chanukah, the sugya of mesachek b'kuvya, a brief history of dreidel as a non-Jewish gambling game, various stories about games on Chanukah,
To contact R' Goldhaber: Goldhaber.y@gmail.com

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The History of the Menorah (with Prof. Steven Fine) Dec 03, 2023

Show notes

#249.
** Sign up to SeforimChatter Substack (coming soon): https://seforimchatter.substack.com/?r=91ow0&utm_campaign=pub-share-checklist
** To join the SeforimChatter WhatsApp community chat: https://chat.whatsapp.com/DZ3C2CjUeD9AGJvXeEODtK
** To support the podcast or to sponsor an episode: https://seforimchatter.com/support-seforimchatter/ or email seforimchatter@gmail.com (Zelle/QP this email address)**
** Sponsored by Mosaica Press. Check out their many new titles at your local Judaica store or www.Mosaicapress.com, including Be’er Yosef (Rav Yosef Tzvi Salant), a treasure trove of unique insights on the Parasha, from the student of Rav Yitzchak Blazer and the teacher of Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach, now available for the first time in English.**
With Prof. Steven Fine discussing the Menorah and its history
We discussed the Menorah, the shape of the Menorah (round vs straight ranches), Rambam's manuscript, Lubavitcher Rebbe, the Arch of Titus Menorah, the Arch of Titus project, using digital imaging to discover yellow paint on the Arch of Titus Menorah, the Menorah as a Jewish symbol, the Menorah in modern Israel/zionism, the Menorah as a "Jewish Holy Grail", the "Menorah in the Vatican" myth, and much more.
To view the Titus Arch Menorah: https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/frieze-on-the-arch-of-titus-gm471155084-63347931
To purchase, "The Menorah: From the Bible to Modern Israel": https://amzn.to/415NNxW
To purchase, "The Arch of Titus: From Jerusalem to Rome - and back": https://amzn.to/4a0qo55
To read “The Hanukkah Lamp” by Mordechai Narkiss: https://www.academia.edu/11917045/Mordecai_Narkiss_The_Hanukkah_Lamp_1939_%D7%9E%D7%A8%D7%93%D7%9B%D7%99_%D7%A0%D7%A8%D7%A7%D7%99%D7%A1_%D7%9E%D7%A0%D7%95%D7%A8%D7%AA_%D7%94%D7%97%D7%A0%D7%95%D7%9B%D7%94

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With Rabbi Yanki Tauber discussing his new translated and annotated Chumash project and volume 1:The Book of Genesis with Commentary and Insights from 500 Sages and Mystics Nov 26, 2023

Show notes

#248.
** To join the SeforimChatter WhatsApp community chat: https://chat.whatsapp.com/DZ3C2CjUeD9AGJvXeEODtK**
**To support the podcast or to sponsor an episode: https://seforimchatter.com/support-seforimchatter/ or email seforimchatter@gmail.com (Zelle/QP this email address)**
** Sponsored by Mosaica Press. Check out their many new titles at your local Judaica store or www.Mosaicapress.com, especially Bat Ayin, a three-volume work, is a compilation of the deep and inspiring teachings of the Rav Avraham Dov Ber Auerbach of Avritch on the parshas hashavua and yamim tovim, now available for the first time in clear and annotated English.**
We discussed why another translated Chumash, how he translated, the process of translating and editing such a project, which commentaries are included, theme/style of the work, lexicon & notes, design of the book, infographics and charts, notes in the back, if it is not a Lubavitch project why write "Rebbe" for Lubavitcher Rebbe and not specify, and more.
To purchase, "The Book of Genesis with Commentary and Insights from 500 Sages and Mystics": https://amzn.to/47uPzeu
For Rabbi Tauber's website: https://www.openbook.press/

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With Prof. Edwin Seroussi discussing Rav Yisrael Najara (1555 - 1625): Gaza's most famous Rabbi, Poet, and Preacher Nov 19, 2023

Show notes

#247.
**To support the podcast or to sponsor an episode: https://seforimchatter.com/support-seforimchatter/ or email seforimchatter@gmail.com (Zelle/QP this email address)**
** This episode is sponsored by Eli and Eva Genauer of Boca Raton Florida in commemoration of the 75th Yahrtzeit on the 8th of Kislev of Reb Moshe Yehuda Genauer of Seattle, Washington.

This episode is also sponsored by the Israel Select Charity Fund: Tefillin campaign.

Only $500 to gift a pair of tefillin to a soldier who is committed to wearing them for life.

Please give whatever you can to protect our soldiers in the current war in Israel: https://thechesedfund.com/israelselect/tefillin?aff=SCNW**

We discussed Rav Yisrael's bio (when and where he was born, his grandfathers Rav Levi Najara and Rav Yisrael di Corial, his father Rav Moshe Najara, and more), travels in the Middle East, end of life and burial in Gaza, his connection with the Arizal and Rav Chaim Vital, infamous comments of Rav Chaim Vital in Sefer Chezyonos, his poetry and its beauty, where he learned to compose poetry from, the controversey over his poetry and using secular music and poetry as its source and the argument with Rav Menachem de Loznano, his famous Shabbos Zemer Kah Ribon, what made his poetry unique, other works, the brand new (forthcoming) volume of Najara's poetry edited by Prof. Seroussi and Prof. Tova Beeri, and much more.
To read the Safed edition of Zemirot Ysirael: https://hebrewbooks.org/21788
To purchase Rav Yisrael's sermons, "Mikve Yisrael": https://www.biupress.co.il/index.php?dir=site&page=catalog&op=item&cs=875

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With Rav Aron Lopiansky discussing Taamei HaMikra, Targum Onkelos, and his new Sefer on the topic Nov 12, 2023

Show notes

#246.
***To support the podcast or to sponsor an episode: https://seforimchatter.com/support-seforimchatter/ or email seforimchatter@gmail.com (Zelle/QP this email address)**
** Sponsored by Mosaica Press. Check out their many new titles at your local Judaica store or www.Mosaicapress.com, especially Lessons From Targum Onkelos, a brand new two-volume set that teaches the fundamental yesodos of Onkelos, and will enhance every readers understanding and appreciation for Onkelos.**

** This episode is also sponsored by a project to reprint the shiurim of the the Mikdash Dovid, Rav Dovid Rappaport ZT’L, R’Y in Baranovitch with Rav Elchanan Wasserman. Rav Dovid was sent to Siberia by the communists and died in 1941 without descendants. This project seeks to publish his shiurim in a projected massive 3 volumes, which will contain the previously published 2 volumes of shiurim on Bava Basra, Pesachim and Chullin, as well as material from manuscripts and Torah journals. If anyone has any notebooks or writings or his shiurim, as well as any knowledge of any Torah published in journals, please email: mikdashdovidshiurim@gmail.com, and also support the project through the link below: שיעורי מקדש דוד על הש''ס | The Chesed Fund**

** Podcast bullet points: We discussed what Taamei HaMikra ("Trop") are, why are Taamim important in general, why they are important for Pshat, whether Taamim are considered Limud HaTorah, examples of Taamim, Tagrum Onkleos, what the Sefer does, sources used in the Sefer, and much more.
To purchase "Meforash V'Som Sechel": https://www.eshelpublications.com/store/p22/Meforash_Ve%27Som_Sechel-_New_Sefer%21.html

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With Prof. Gershon David Hundert A'H discussing Ber (Birkenthal) of Bolechów's (1723 - 1805) memoirs Nov 05, 2023

Show notes

#245.
** In memory of Prof. Gershon David Hundert A'H**
**To support the podcast or to sponsor an episode: https://seforimchatter.com/support-seforimchatter/ or email seforimchatter@gmail.com (Zelle/QP this email address)**
** Sponsored by Mosaica Press. Check out Dimensions in Chumash, by Rabbi Immanuel Bernstein, takes key topics and episodes from the Chumash, and based on a vast array of famous commentators, guides readers to a new level of understanding, illumination, and inspiration.
To purchase Bereishis-Shemos: https://amzn.to/3shCcPr
To purchase Vayikra-Bamidbar-Devarim: https://amzn.to/49oAexu
To purchase the 2 Volume set: https://mosaicapress.com/product/dimensions-in-chumash/**
** Sruly Tress has undertaken to republish a momentous work that delves deeply into the fiery controversy surrounding machine-made matzoh in 1850s Galicia, Poland. This painstaking endeavor involves the meticulous recreation and annotation of treasured kuntresim, complemented by a bounty of supplementary materials and subsequent writings that further illuminate the subject matter. These included such Rabbonim as the venerable Rov of Brody, Reb Shlomo Kluger; the renowned Shoel Uneishiv (Rav Yosef Shaul Nathanson) and esteemed Rebbes of Ger and Tzanz, among many other luminaries.

He is trying to crowdfund the remaining money needed to publish this work, and all donations above 2600 will get a full zechar nishmas page in the sefer.

I am not personally affiliated with this project, so any additional questions should please be sent to seforimredone@gmail.com.

To donate: https://pay.banquest.com/sbmvly**
• With Prof. Gershon David Hundert A'H discussing Dov Ber (Birkenthal) of Bolechów's (1723 - 1805) memoirs
• We discussed a general overview of Polish Jewry in the 18th centruy, Dov Ber of Bolechòw's background, life as a wine merchant, qhy he wrote Divrei Binah and a memoir, style history book/memoir, various examples from his work (including: Encounter with Kazimierz Pulaski - An American Revolutionary war hero -, his encounter with an illuminated Bible, his comments on Chasidim, remarks on the early career of the Kalever Rebbe, mother and wife, comments on SZ and the Frank movement, and much more), his purported role in the 1759 disputation in Lviv (Lemberg) with the Frankist movement and Rav Chaim HaKohen Rappaport, the manuscript and publication history of the work, and much more.
• To purchase Prof. Hundert's new edition of Divrei Binah/Zichronos: https://www.bialik-publishing.co.il/index.php?dir=site&page=catalog&op=item&cs=6234
Or email eliezerbrodt@gmail.com for easy order and shipment of a copy to the US.
• To purchase, "The Jews in a Private Polish Town: The case of Opatòw in the Eighteenth Century": https://amzn.to/49oA35i
• To purchase, "Jews in Poland-Lithunia in the Eighteenth Century": https://amzn.to/47njAwl
• To purchase, "The YIVO Encyclopedia of Jews in Eastern Europe": https://amzn.to/3snzUOL
• To access the Encyclopedia free online: https://yivoencyclopedia.org/

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Spanish Jewry Through the Ages, Episode 19: Genie Milgrom - A modern day Converso story Nov 01, 2023

Show notes

#244.
**To support the podcast or to sponsor an episode: https://seforimchatter.com/support-seforimchatter/ or email seforimchatter@gmail.com (Zelle/QP this email address)**
**Corporate sponsor of the series Gluck Plumbing: For all your service needs big or small in NJ with a full service division, from boiler change outs, main sewer line snake outs, camera-ing main lines, to a simple faucet leak, Gluck Plumbing Service Division has you covered. Give them a call - 732-523-1836 x 1. **
Spanish Jewry Through the Ages, Episode 19: Genie Milgrom - A modern day Converso story.
We discussed her upbringing in Cuba, Catholic school, how she found Judaism, how she settled in Orthodoxy, shul acceptance & Orthodox conversion, when did she begin to suspect that she was Jewish, the genoloegy, the town of Fermoselle, the family and her ancestors, DNA, and much more.
To purchase Genie’s autobiography , “My 15 Grandmothers”: https://amzn.to/45RwlxT
To purchase Genie’s historical fiction novel, “Pyre to Fire”: https://amzn.to/3Sj5asR
To purchase Genie’s cookbook, “Recipes of my 15 Grandmothers: Unique Recipes and Stories from the Times of the Crypto-Jews during the Spanish Inquisition”: https://amzn.to/3QkXaoD
Genie’s website: https://geniemilgrom.com/
Genie’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoRKfDYKDIyXCus-ECi1vIg

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Rav Yehuda Copperman ZT'L and Pshuto Shel Mikra (with Rav Immanuel Bernstein) Oct 29, 2023

Show notes

#243.
**To support the podcast or to sponsor an episode: https://seforimchatter.com/support-seforimchatter/ or email seforimchatter@gmail.com (Zelle/QP this email address)**
** This episode is sponsored in honor of restarting sefer breishis by Rabbi Dovid Asher, Rabbi of Keneseth Beth Israel, the OU shul in Richmond, Virginia, and author of Outreach in the Torah by Mosaica Press, a week by week analysis of how every sedra sends a message on the importance of reaching out to our fellow To purchase the book: https://amzn.to/3MmMR1X**
** Dedicated לזכר ולעלוי נשמת הרב יהודה בן אברהם שמחה - Rav Yehuda Copperman זצ״ל, by a pair of of his Talmidim in London who learn his masterpiece on פשוטו של מקרא together: R’ Nechemya Sheinfeld (מחבר of חומש דעת עזרא, commentary on the Ibn Ezra, who has previously been interviewed on the podcast), andMoishe Dovid Spitzer, in grateful appreciation of all he gained from having the huge Zechus to learn bechavrusa with Rav Copperman.

Also dedicated in honour and appreciation of the interviewee in this podcast, Rav Immanuel Bernstein, תלמיד מובהק of Rav Copperman. **

We discussed the bio and life of Rav Yehuda Copperman ZT'L (founder of Michlala and editor of the Meshech Chochmah and other Seforim), how "Peshat" & "Pshuto Shel Mikra" is defined, what is really "Pshat" and what is really "Pirush", the "why" vs the "how", broad themes of Rav Copperman and examples, the English adaptation, and much more.
How to order Pshuto Shel Mikra:
To order: https://secure.cardknox.com/michlalah.
English Edition: The cost is only US$39.99 including shipping.
List your name and mailing address in the personal comments section and for description choose Publications from the dropdown menu. Your order will be in the mail within two weeks.
Hebrew Editions:
One Volume ‘P’shuto on the Parsha’ is only US$18.00, including shipping. List your name and mailing address in the personal comments section and for description choose Publications from the dropdown menu. Your order will be in the mail within two weeks.
Multi-Volume classic ‘Pshuto Shel Mikra’ is only US$39.99 including shipping. List your name and mailing address in the personal comments section and for description choose “Publications” from the dropdown menu. Your order will be in the mail within two weeks.

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