Seforimchatter

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With Prof. Clémence Boulouqe discussing Rav Eliyahu Benamozegh Nov 14, 2020

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#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 more.
To purchase the book: https://www.sup.org/books/title/?id=28797&bottom_ref=subject.
Use code MODERNITY20 for 20% off.

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With Prof. Pawel Maciejko discussing Rav Yonason Eybeschutz and the "Emden - Eybeschutz" controversy. Nov 10, 2020

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#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 Berachos, the amulets ("kameya"), other rabbinical opposition (Pnei Yehoshua, Noda B'Yehuda), and more
To purchase his book, "Sabbatian Heresy" (a collection of translated sources about sabbatiansim): https://www.amazon.com/Sabbatian-Heresy-Mysticism-Messianism-Modernity/dp/1512600520

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With Prof. Steven Nadler discussing Rabbi Menasseh ben Israel Nov 08, 2020

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#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% off

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With Dr. Morris Faierstein discussing the Ze'enah U-Re'enah and his new English translation Nov 05, 2020

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#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-Judaica/dp/3110460327

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With Rabbi Reuven Chaim Klein discussing his book, "God versus gods: Judaism in the age of Idolatry" Nov 04, 2020

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#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, "Lashon HaKodesh": https://www.amazon.com/Lashon-HaKodesh-History-Holiness-English/dp/1937887545/ref=pd_lpo_14_t_0/138-7219926-4850420?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=1937887545&pd_rd_r=f86ec3a4-0831-4e43-886b-a4622934b6b3&pd_rd_w=qOxE6&pd_rd_wg=0NruU&pf_rd_p=7b36d496-f366-4631-94d3-61b87b52511b&pf_rd_r=VDJGC38S9XW6GCKFDQ1C&psc=1&refRID=VDJGC38S9XW6GCKFDQ1C

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With Rabbi Mordechai Lebhar discussing Machon Magen Avot Oct 28, 2020

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#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.

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With Prof. Sara Reguer discussing her grandfather, Rav Simcha Zelig ZT'L, and her father's memoir that she published Oct 21, 2020

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#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 Joseph Ber Soloveitchik, Rav Shlomo Heiman, Rav Shach and much more.
• *CLARIFICATION*: As per Yehuda Geberer of the Jewish History Soundbites Podcast:
• The Brisker Rov did not escape through Switzerland. His escape route was as follows: As the war broke out during the summer, he was at a resort with his oldest son Rav Berel. The remainder of the family was in Brisk. He first escaped to Warsaw. The family was unable to join him there. Due to the Molotov-Von Ribbentrop pact Warsaw wound up under Nazi control while Brisk was in the Soviet zone. A few weeks later he escaped to Vilna. She was able to send some of their children to him, and he ended up with seven of the children, five boys and two girls. The Rov managed to obtain visas for him and his family to Palestine. He requested that she join him in Vilna with the remaining three children, but due to the chaotic conditions was unable to make it. He prepared her visas and paperwork, and told her she needs to come to Vilna in person to appear at the offices. In the meantime his visas and ship tickets were expiring. After leaving instructions for her to obtain the documents in Vilna and follow him to Palestine, he exited via Turkey to Israel, with seven of his children. She managed to make it to Vilna shortly after he left but was unable to finalize the documentation at the appropriate offices. Returning to Brisk with plans to make a further attempt shortly afterwards, her plans were thwarted with the launch of Operation Barbarossa on June 22, 1941- the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union. She was killed with the remaining three children.
To purchase the book: https://www.amazon.com/My-Fathers-Journey-Lithuania-Orthodox/dp/161811414X

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With Rabbi Yosie Levine discussing the Chacham Tzvi Oct 19, 2020

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#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

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The Lost Library: The Legacy of Vilna's Strashun Library in the Aftermath of the Holocaust (with Dan Rabinowitz) Oct 17, 2020

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#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/4wtQF6e

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With Prof. Howard (Tzvi) Adelman discussing Rav Yehuda Aryeh Modena Oct 14, 2020

Show notes

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

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