To say that this Kosher Bookworm loves books would be an understatement, and to read and evaluate a book on the history of Jewish book publishing is indeed a labor of love. So it is with this week’s selection, “People of the Book: Five Hundred Years of the Hebrew Book from The Beginning Of Printing Until The 20th Century” [Feldheim, 2014]. more

A much neglected book was recently brought to my attention by my friend, Yitzy Gruen of Brooklyn’s famed Judaica Place on Avenue M, published by the OU, entitled “Missing the Point: What’s Wrong with the Orthodox Jewish Community and How to Fix It.” Its author is Rabbi Dr. Gidon Rothstein of Riverdale. more

I have to thank my long time friend, Danny Levine, proprietor of America’s oldest family-owned Jewish book store, J. Levine and Co., for bringing to my attention the recently released “Derashot Ledorot: A Commentary for the Ages, Exodus” [Maggid Books, 2013] by Rabbi Norman Lamm. This second volume Bible sermons is a most eloquent work going back to over a half century of Rabbi Lamm’s rabbinical career at Manhattan’s The Jewish Center. more

Last week’s parsha showcases the bond between Yosef Ha-Tzadik (Joseph the just one) and Yisrael Sava (Israel the elder) who is also our zeida (grandfather) Ya’akov. This inspiring story of the special relationship of grandfather to grandchildren, prompted the great Yosef of our time, Rav Joseph B. Soloveitchik, zt”l, to write an eloquent and learned teaching reflecting upon the first relationship between grandfather and grandsons as recorded in the Bible, that being between Jacob and Ephraim and Menashe. more

With the conclusion of the Torah reading cycle of Bereishis, this week’s essay will be devoted to a presentation of several contrasting styles of commentary. Utilizing their own words, this will demonstrate how the same biblical segment can be made to be viewed from variant perspectives thus demonstrating the unique plurality of methods of midrash and p’shat in our religious tradition. more

At last week’s Saturday night Chanukah presentation at the Young Israel of Woodmere, Rabbi David Fohrman, of Woodmere, contrasted the Purim and Chanukah Al Hanisim prayers that we say after the Modim liturgical work, each themed to a thanksgiving to G-d. “In the Al Hanisim prayer for Purim, we give thanks for the miracle of being saved, and that’s it. The prayer ends with a recounting of the salvation itself. However, for Chanukah, it doesn’t end there. Instead, the prayer concludes with an epilogue: and we establish these days, as days of thanks and praise.” more

The essays by Rabbi Moshe Sokolow and Rabbi Meir Soloveitchik cited in last week’s essay prompted great interest, especially in the Bible commentary by Henry Ainsworth referenced by them. This prompted me to research this matter further and to bring to your attention a work written and published three years ago by British historian, Nick Bunker, entitled, “Making Haste From Babylon: The Mayflower Pilgrims and Their World” [Vintage Books, 2010]. more

Two years ago Rabbi Moshe Sokolow of Yeshiva University penned an essay entitled, “Thanksgiving: A Jewish Holiday After All,” wherein he cited the following historical item that was recently highlighted in an excellent expository essay by Rabbi Meir Soloveitchik of Congregation Shearith Israel entitled, “G-d’s Providence and the United States: A Thanksgiving Reader on Judaism and the American Idea” [Torah To-Go, Nov. 2013, YU ]. more

It was a different era, a time that revered idealism yet tolerated a diversity that at times defied reality. Nevertheless, with all that was tolerated, respect for diverse opinion was laced with respect, a respect that was saturated throughout society’s opinion makers’ creed. The legacy of the brief presidency of John F. Kennedy was highlighted by image, personality, ideology and most important of all to this writer, the element of eloquence and elegance in both language and style. more

With the annual observance of Veterans Day this coming Monday, my column this week will be devoted to a review of a very special essay that appeared in a very special high quality halacha journal, Hakirah, entitled, “Jewish GIs and Their Dog-Tags” by Rabbi Akiva Males of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. more