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Judaism
Leifheit bat Asher owned a copy of the oldest printed Jewish prayer book. Was she also called to the Torah?
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Diaspora, Judaism
Rabbi Márton Schreiner, a religious educator, orientalist and scholar of Semitic languages, struggled against the Ethnic Cultural Movement’s intent to be substitute for Jewish religious life.
This watershed event would pave the way for the groom to become one of the most important figures in 20th century Judaism. An invitation to the wedding was recently discovered in the National Library archives.
Ladder cakes, all-night prayer sessions and tractor parades! The strange evolution and quirky traditions of one of the oldest holidays in the Jewish calendar…
These methods will help you discover if you are in possession of an ancient book containing mystical powers, or perhaps not
Judaism, Land of Israel
This story of the purchase of this Spanish Kabbalistic manuscript encapsulates much of the work done here at the National Library.
When the thirty-five fallen soldiers of a legendary military convoy were brought for burial at Mt. Herzl, following Israel’s War of Independence, only twenty-three could be identified with certainty. To resolve the problem, Rabbi Aryeh Levin performed a little-known Kabbalistic ritual.
“3/12/1941 – My heart is burning and my body is freezing. My head is hurting beyond all reason. Why? Is all justice forsaken?”
Chayem Benzion Kassier wrote letter after letter pleading for financial help so he could properly celebrate the holiday of Passover and feed his starving family and other needy members of the community.
A look at Passover Haggadot written for the blind and the visually impaired
Why was it specifically Haman’s ear that was chosen as the inspiration for this holiday treat?
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