Kobez al Yad , an annual of the Mekize Nirdamim Society, is a forum for the publication from manuscript sources of ancient texts in Jewish studies that are shorter than book-length. The articles in this volume: Avi Shmidman, The Selihot of R. Joseph Ibn Abitur for the Tenth of Tevet Dan Greenberger, Alfasi's Responses to R. Isaac b. Barukh Ibn al-Baliya's Ccritiques Sarah Cohen, The Selihot of R. Sadoq al-'Amani Na'ama Ben-Shachar, The Baraita of Joseph ben Uzziel Dov Schwartz, Two Wedding Sermons by R. Michael ben Shabtai Balbo

Rosh Hashana, the Day of Judgment, has been embellished with numerous fascinating liturgical poems (piyyutim). This book is devoted to the compositions that were written for Rosh Hashana by the illustrious poet R. El‘azar berabbi Qillir, who was active in the Land of Israel at the beginning of the seventh century. The piyyutim for Rosh Hashana are many and varied, and they adorn all of the special prayers for the festival. A number of these piyyutim are known and recited to this day in Ashkenazi congregations, while others are published here for the first time. Even those piyyutim that are known from the festival prayer books (mahzorim) are presented here in a new light. The present edition is primarily based not on European mahzorim, but on earlier fragments from the Cairo Genizah; on the basis of such early sources the editors have succeeded in adding new, original material to the known compositions—there is not one famous composition to which heretofore unpublished material has not been added, in some cases throwing new light on the entire work. Even in such cases, therefore, we are not merely offering old wine in new wineskins, but presenting a new blend that confers on the poetic compositions novel aspects, not previously brought to light. This edition has been prepared on the basis of close to 400 manuscripts, and all of the variant readings have been given in the margins. An extensive commentary aids the reader in understanding the difficult idiom of the payyetan, identifying the many scriptural and midrashic sources that are woven into the piyyutim, and following the development of their themes. A general introduction treats various questions connected to the poems, from their attribution to the author and the reconstruction of the component parts of each composition, to the literary shaping of the material. In his piyyutim, R. El‘azar berabbi Qillir treats Rosh Hashana in all of its aspects: the Day of Judgment, the blowing of the shofar; the malkhiyot, zikhronot, and shofarot verses; the merit of the Fathers; and more. A number of compositions are specially intended for when Rosh Hashana falls on the Sabbath. Qillir’s unique method in the shaping of each of these themes is also clarified in the introduction. The complex web of interrelations between the piyyutim and their literary sources is elucidated as well; thus it has become clear, for example, that one of the piyyutim edited here for the first time throws new light on the famous poem, U-netane toqef qedushat ha-yom. “O King, Remember [the ram] caught [by its] horn!” These few words from one of the piyyutim published in the book reveal the genius of the great payyetan. Here, R. El‘azar berabbi Qillir has succeeded in encapsulating in four words the three great themes that lie at the heart of the benedictions that are unique to Rosh Hashana—kingship, remembrance and the ram’s horn (shofar)—all in the form of a prayer that beseeches God to remember for our sakes, on the Day of Judgment, the Binding of Isaac, symbolized by the ram whose horns are caught in the thicket. And if in four words the payyetan has managed to encapsulate such far-flung meanings, one can only imagine the riches contained in this enormous collection of R. El‘azarʼs writings for the Day of Judgment, which we now have before us.

Kobez al Yad , an annual of the Mekize Nirdamim Society, is a forum for the publication from manuscript sources of ancient texts in Jewish studies that are shorter than book-length. Contents The Piyyutim of R. Jeshua ben R. Joseph ha-Kohen ha-Shofet published by Shulamit Elizur and Tova Beeri " Eten Tzedek le-Foali " - A Kerovah on the Amidah for Fast Days by R. Jehiel bar Abraham of Rome published by Avraham Levin and Avraham Fraenkel Fragments of a Commentary to Tractate Sukkah from the Study Hall of Rashi published by Aaron Ahrend A Fragment from the Commentary by R. Eliezer of Worms ( Rokeah ) to Psalms published by Simcha Emanuel A New Commentary from a Manuscript to the Piyyut " Elohei ha-Ruhot le-Khol Basar " by R. Joseph Bonfils (Tov Elem) published by Yoel Binder The Chapters on the Psyche and Prophecy in the Book Sha`ar Shamayim by R. Isaac ben Abraham ibn Latif published by Adiel Zimran A Commentary to the Guide of the Perplexed (1:1-5) attributed to R. David ben Judah Messer Leon published by Eli Gurfinkel

In Sivan 2013 a distinguished audience gathered at the National Library in Jerusalem to mark the 150th anniversary of the founding of Mekize Nirdamim. The articles published in this fascicle are based on the lectures delivered on that occasion. Some of them are printed as they were delivered that evening, while others have been somewhat expanded by the speakers and provided with bibliographical references and notes. The fascicle concentrates on a general appreciation of the 150 years of the work of the society, sometimes dividing them into various periods and investigating the cultural or scientific phenomena that are reflected in its activities and publications, and sometimes providing a general and all-encompassing overview. The fascicle contains a list of the books printed by Mekize Nirdamim, and the names of the heads of the society over the generations.

This dictionary is the outcome of a over 20 years fieldwork. It presents over 4000 entries and over 12000 subentries of the Hebrew component in Jewish languages, most of which were recorded from the mouth or informants. The research was focused on languages that were not studied at all or poorly studied: Judeo-Arabic of North Africa, Yemen and Iraq, Judeo-Georgian, Judeo-Persian and some Jewish Neo-Aramaic dialects. The dictionary refers to thel literature relevant to this field and has systematic references to a dictionary on the Hebrew component in Judeo-Italian in the making by Prof. Maria Mayer-Modena. In some entries the dictionary functions merely as a bibliographical index. The examples are transliterated and translated into Hebrew. In parenthesis are given the intitals of the informants. Based on Shlomo Morag's records.

Kobez al Yad , an annual of the Mekize Nirdamim Society, is a forum for the publication from manuscript sources of ancient texts in Jewish studies that are shorter than book-length Contents From the Responsa of Rabbenu Migash from the Cairo Genizah published by Amir Ashur A Series of Paronomasia Poems by R. Berechiah ha-Nakdan published by Aviyah Una Baruchi "Ha-She'eilah ve-ha-Teshuvah" by R. Judah ibn Rokesh published by Doron Forte Philosophical Writings of R. Shemariah Ikriti: Sefer Amazyahu, Sefer ha-Mora, and Ra'ayah al Hisharut ha-Nefesh (A Proof for the Immortality of the Soul) published by Dov Schwartz Peri ha-Gan by R. Shalom ben R. Joseph Anabi published by Ofer Elior R. Isaac Aboab's Commentary to the Hermeneutic Principle of Kal va-Homer published by Aviram Ravitsky Quntres Pereq be-Shir by Joshua Benveniste: Hebrew Poetics in the Transition from the Renaissance to the Baroque published by Joseph Yahalom and Naoya Katsumata

The book Statutory Jewish Prayers is a collection of essays by Ezra Fleisher on the subject of prayer and synagogue rituals. The two volumes of this book include Fleishers fundamental essays about the essence and emergence of statutory prayer in Israel. This text is accompanied by ancient versions of Israelite prayer found in the Cairo Geniza Collection in Geneva. The book also includes descriptions of other rituals and customs exercised in Israelite synagogues such as Rosh Hodesh (new moon) customs and special ways to blow the shofar on the Sabath. Torah and Haftorah (additional reading from the prophets) reading are also referenced. The book ends with a detailed inspection of a few important Mahzorim.

Mahzor according to the Italian rite , Soncino –Casalmaggiore 5246 (1485-1486). Facsimile edition of the copy printed on parchment in the U. Nahon Museum of Italian Jewish Art in Jerusalem. Among all the mahzorim in the various rites published during the earliest years of Hebrew typography this Italian rite Mahzor was the first to be brought to print by the renowned printers of the Soncino family. The Mahzor was printed in two towns in northern Italy, Soncino and Casalmaggiore in 5246 (1485-1486) and it is considered to be one of the great achievements in the early stages of Hebrew typography. This first edition of the Mahzor is also invaluable for the study of the history of Jewish prayer. This large-size volume includes prayers and piyyutim (liturgical poems) for the entire year and ritual laws and also incorporates instructions for all the annual rituals in the synagogue and the Jewish home. The laws and customs are not strictly limited to the rituals but provide sustenance for all the household needs of the Roman community and the hundreds of communities following the Roman rite throughout central and northern Italy towards the end of the 15th century. The typography of the Mahzor is clear and easily legible and includes vowel-points (nikkud) and is adorned with large decorated initials made from woodcuts. The copy of the Mahzor from which this facsimile edition was printed, together with the companion volume of studies, is in outstanding condition. The copy is now preserved in the U. Nahon Museum of Italian Jewish Art in Jerusalem. It is a complete, superb copy printed on vellum that was donated to the synagogue of the Italian Jews in Jerusalem in 1960, by the "Sereni Committee" headed by Prof. B.Z. Dinur, as an eternal memento of the first Italian pioneer, Enzo Sereni (Rome 1905 – Dachau 1945) who fell to the enemy after parachuting into Italy during World War II. The Mahzor is printed for the first time in a facsimile edition. Studies on the Mahzor according to the Italian Rite edited by Mordechai Angelo Piattelli- Available in eBook form here This collection of studies by various Israeli scholars is dedicated to the study of the Italian (Roman) rite liturgy, prayers and piyyutim , their editions and the culture of the Jews in Italy during the second half of the 15th century, the period the first edition of the Mahzor was published (Robert Bonfil, Peter Lehnardt, Mordechai Angelo Piattelli, Yitzhak Akiva Satz). Also included are studies on the typography and contents of this first edition of the Mahzor (Yitzhak Yudlov, Michael Ryzhik and Peter Lehnardt, who compiled the index of piyyutim in the Mahzor). The prayer rite designated ‘rite of Rome’ – together with the related Romanian rite – is the most ancient rite practiced in Europe. This rite is an important link in the history of Jewish prayer, and it retains vestiges of the early Palestinian (Land of Israel) rite even though it absorbed many other religious practices, laws and Babylonian liturgies as did other rites. The original name was "the rite of the loazim" i.e., the custom of the Jews who spoke Latin or one of the other Romanite languages, or ‘the rite of Rome’. This rite was followed in the city of Rome and probably in other Jewish communities in Southern Italy until the final expulsion of the Jews from the South in 1541. The rite spread from Rome to other Jewish settlements in central and northern Italy and thus it was eventually designated the ‘Italian rite’, i.e., the custom shared by all the Jewish communities in Italy. Other communities as well adopted this rite including some in Safed during the 16th and early 17th centuries and some congregations in Constantinople and Salonica. Today this rite is followed in a few communities in Italy and in the Roman rite synagogue in Jerusalem.

Bibliophile edition of 200 enumerated copies with high quality color photographs, in a luxurious leather binding, together with a matching leather case. Mahzor according to the Roman rite, Soncino –Casalmaggiore 5246 (1485-1486). Facsimile edition of the copy printed on parchment in the U. Nahon Museum of Italian Jewish Art in Jerusalem. Among all the mahzorim in the various rites published during the earliest years of Hebrew typography this Italian rite Mahzor was the first to be brought to print by the renowned printers of the Soncino family. The Mahzor was printed in two towns in northern Italy, Soncino and Casalmaggiore in 5246 (1485-1486) and it is considered to be one of the great achievements in the early stages of Hebrew typography. This first edition of the Mahzor is also invaluable for the study of the history of Jewish prayer. This large-size volume includes prayers and piyyutim (liturgical poems) for the entire year and ritual laws and also incorporates instructions for all the annual rituals in the synagogue and the Jewish home. The laws and customs are not strictly limited to the rituals but provide sustenance for all the household needs of the Roman community and the hundreds of communities following the Roman rite throughout central and northern Italy towards the end of the 15th century. The typography of the Mahzor is clear and easily legible and includes vowel-points (nikkud) and is adorned with large decorated initials made from woodcuts. The copy of the Mahzor from which this facsimile edition was printed, together with the companion volume of studies, is in outstanding condition. The copy is now preserved in the U. Nahon Museum of Italian Jewish Art in Jerusalem. It is a complete, superb copy printed on vellum that was donated to the synagogue of the Italian Jews in Jerusalem in 1960, by the "Sereni Committee" headed by Prof. B.Z. Dinur, as an eternal memento of the first Italian pioneer, Enzo Sereni (Rome 1905 – Dachau 1945) who fell to the enemy after parachuting into Italy during World War II. The Mahzor is printed for the first time in a facsimile edition. Studies on the Mahzor according to the Italian Rite edited by Mordechai Angelo Piattelli - Available in eBook form here . This collection of studies by various Israeli scholars is dedicated to the study of the Italian (Roman) rite liturgy, prayers and piyyutim, their editions and the culture of the Jews in Italy during the second half of the 15th century, the period the first edition of the Mahzor was published (Robert Bonfil, Peter Lehnardt, Mordechai Angelo Piattelli, Yitzhak Akiva Satz). Also included are studies on the typography and contents of this first edition of the Mahzor (Yitzhak Yudlov, Michael Ryzhik and Peter Lehnardt, who compiled the index of piyyutim in the Mahzor). The prayer rite designated ‘rite of Rome’ – together with the related Romanian rite – is the most ancient rite practiced in Europe. This rite is an important link in the history of Jewish prayer, and it retains vestiges of the early Palestinian (Land of Israel) rite even though it absorbed many other religious practices, laws and Babylonian liturgies as did other rites. The original name was "the rite of the loazim" i.e., the custom of the Jews who spoke Latin or one of the other Romanite languages, or ‘the rite of Rome’. This rite was followed in the city of Rome and probably in other Jewish communities in Southern Italy until the final expulsion of the Jews from the South in 1541. The rite spread from Rome to other Jewish settlements in central and northern Italy and thus it was eventually designated the ‘Italian rite’, i.e., the custom shared by all the Jewish communities in Italy. Other communities as well adopted this rite including some in Safed during the 16th and early 17th centuries and some congregations in Constantinople and Salonica. Today this rite is followed in a few communities in Italy and in the Roman rite synagogue in Jerusalem.

Traditional Jewish religious belief speaks of a divinely revealed, perfect text, authoritatively expounded. The question this book addresses is one with which the author has struggled all his life: in the light of historical criticism, advances in knowledge, and changing moral attitudes, is the traditional notion of divine revelation and authoritative interpretation still valid? The focus is on Judaism but the arguments are easy to transpose to other religions.

Studies on the Mahzor according to the Italian Rite edited by Mordechai Angelo Piattelli This collection of studies by various Israeli scholars is dedicated to the study of the Italian (Roman) rite liturgy, prayers and piyyutim , their editions and the culture of the Jews in Italy during the second half of the 15th century, the period the first edition of the Mahzor was published (Robert Bonfil, Peter Lehnardt, Mordechai Angelo Piattelli, Yitzhak Akiva Satz). Also included are studies on the typography and contents of this first edition of the Mahzor (Yitzhak Yudlov, Michael Ryzhik and Peter Lehnardt, who compiled the index of piyyutim in the Mahzor). The prayer rite designated ‘rite of Rome’ – together with the related Romanian rite – is the most ancient rite practiced in Europe. This rite is an important link in the history of Jewish prayer, and it retains vestiges of the early Palestinian (Land of Israel) rite even though it absorbed many other religious practices, laws and Babylonian liturgies as did other rites. The original name was "the rite of the loazim" i.e., the custom of the Jews who spoke Latin or one of the other Romanite languages, or ‘the rite of Rome’. This rite was followed in the city of Rome and probably in other Jewish communities in Southern Italy until the final expulsion of the Jews from the South in 1541. The rite spread from Rome to other Jewish settlements in central and northern Italy and thus it was eventually designated the ‘Italian rite’, i.e., the custom shared by all the Jewish communities in Italy. Other communities as well adopted this rite including some in Safed during the 16th and early 17th centuries and some congregations in Constantinople and Salonica. Today this rite is followed in a few communities in Italy and in the Roman rite synagogue in Jerusalem.