The Jews of Northern California and San Francisco

A selection of uncommon and not so uncommon books and ephemera illuminating various aspects of Jewish communal life in Northern California. Earlier on in my bookselling career I made a more significant effort to use my business to offer something to the Northern California Jewish community, a community that I settled in now more than thirty years ago. I re-issued the important volume on California and San Francisco Jewry written by Martin Meyer and A.M. Voorsanger, but it never caught the level of interest that I hoped that it would. The Emanu-El crowd whose ancestors were featured throughout the book showed no interest and getting attention to the book from the Jewish Bulletin was like pulling teeth. 

(San Francisco and Northern California aren't Brooklyn or New Jersey. Home is somewhere else for most of the Jews here I guess.)

Following the death of Seymour Fromer and the destruction of the Judah Magnes Museum in Berkeley I have to admit my enthusiasm for the pursuit of records of Northern Californian Jewish history declined. Still, when I stumble on an interesting pamphlet or ephemeral piece my enthusiasm does flare up. Below are some new arrivals and some older pieces that have caught my interest recently. All are still available on the Hollander Books website as of this posting, except the last two. Email directly if you are interested in those.

    Midrasha 5759 1998-99. Berkeley, California, Midrasha in Berkeley: East Bay Jewish Community High School, 1998. Octavo, stapled paper covers, 42 pp. Softbound. Good. The Annual parent/student handbook for the 5759 school year (22708) The East Bay seems to be much better at communal unity than any other part of the Bay Area. The Midrasha, which is still flourishing, is a good example of a communal success. It provides cross-denominational education for post-Bar Mitzvah teens.  $10.00

   Sloss, Frank H. Only on Monday: Papers delivered before the Chit-Chat Club. San Francisco, Designed and Printed by Lawton Kennedy, 1978. Royal octavo, orange cloth with gold lettering, xii, 144 pp., fold-out illustration. Hardbound. Very Good. Includes "Recollections," by Helen Sloss Luey, "For My Father," by David L. Sloss and "One Word More," by Eleanor L. Sloss. (31630) Frank Sloss was the son of Marcus Sloss and grandson of Louis Sloss. The Sloss and Gerstle families were married into each other and into the Lilienthal families as well as many of the other pioneer Jewish families of San Francisco. Frank was interested in the law and in many other things. This volumes includes twelve papers that he presented to the Chit-Chat Club. This is an elite club limited to twenty-five members at any time. The function of the club is to present a round robin of papers on any subject. This volume was printed designed and printed by Lawton Kennedy who was for decades one of San Francisco's finest printers. He printed some books in his own name but printed mostly special projects for individual and institutional clients.      $30.00

   Fidelity Lodge No. 120 F. & A.M. Centennial 1857-1957. San Francisco, Fidelity Lodge No. 120 F. & A.M. , 1957. Quarto, blue cloth with gold lettering, 27 pp., b/w photos. Hardbound. Very Good. This is an original edition with the photos properly printed and not a cheap facsimile. This volume makes no indication that this Masonic Lodge was always largely a Jewish lodge, but the names make that clear. Among the members were Rabbi Jacob Voorsanger, Seixas Solomon and Rabbi Jacob Nieto. (76098)      $18.00

     Coopersmith, Aryae. Holy Beggars: A Journey from Haight Street to Jerusalem. El Grenada, California, One World Lights, 2011. ISBN: 9789615414287. Octavo, glossy paper covers, xviii, 396 pp., glossary. Softbound. Very Good. Foreword by Zalman Schachter-Shalomi. Edited by Netanel Miles-Yepez. (76308)  An account of the early days of The House of Love and Prayer from one of Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach's followers who went on to make aliyah and took up Haredi practice.    $9.50

    Weber, Lin. Under the Vine and the Fig Tree: The Jews of the Napa Valley. St. Helena, Ca, Wine Ventures Publishing, 2003. ISBN: 0-9667014-4-5. Octavo, glossy paper covers, ii, 198 pp., b/w photos, notes, bibliography, index. Softbound. Very Good. Briefly inscribed by the author. The author and other members of the Jewish Historical Society of Napa Valley contacted me their search for resources on the Jews of Napa Valley. I told them that there wasn't much. They took the trouble to do some serious research and pretty much looked at every possible source.  (76880)      $10.00

    Potash, Gedalia. Siyum Sefer Torah Celebration, Chabad of Noe Valley, September 25, 2005. San Francisco, Chabad of Noe Valley, 2005. Small octavo, stapled paper covers, 20 pp.,  Softbound. Very Good.  (79420)  San Francisco is now graced with at least a minyan of Chabad rabbis. The Potash's outpost in Noe Valley is probably the first organized Jewish presence that has ever existed in Noe Valley. In previous generations Noe Valley was a heavily Catholic neighborhood. However it is now largely another outpost of generic privilege and wealth. The dedication of a new Sefer Torah is always an exciting event. The text of this pamphlet includes the prayers for the ceremony held in honor of the occasion which is in Hebrew and English.     $15.00

    Hirschberg, Harris H., arranged and translated by. Nahalat Ya'akov: The Heritage of Jacob. Torah and Musaf Services for Sabbath Morning. Redwood City, California, Temple Beth Jacob, 1955. Duodecimo, stapled paper covers, 40 pp. Softbound. Good. Text is in Hebrew and English. (79485) This small volume was created for use in the youth services and for the congregation on days when a Bar Mitsvah occurred (apparently Bat Mitsvah was still a thing of the future at Beth Jacob in 1955). Beth Jacob is the oldest synagogue on the peninsula between San Francisco and San Jose. It began as a minyan meeting in members homes in 1930. It was a traditional congregation that affiliated with the Conservative movement in 1957, two years after the issuance of this small prayer-book. It is still an active and flourishing congregation today. See below for a few other items related to this congregation.  $15.00

   Mann, Louise Henriques, As told to her daughter: Susie Washington Smyth. The Mishpucah: Growing Up Jewish in Early Palo Alto. Palo Alto, California, Saturna Publishing, 2003. ISBN: 0-9733752-0-5. Octavo, glossy paper covers, 191 pp., b/w photos, geneological charts. Softbound. Very Good. Signed on the title page by Louise Mann. (79486)  This account is not particularly well organized and it is much more a personal history than a history of Palo Alto Jewry. Nevertheless it is, at best, one of the only accounts of Jewish life in Palo Alto in the first quarter of the 20th Century, if not the only one. There are a good number of illustrations. Probably a vanity press publication.     $22.50

    1981 - 5741. Yearbook of Temple Beth Jacob Our 50th Year. Redwood City, California, Temple Beth Jacob, 1981. Quarto, stapled paper covers with minor wear, 52 pp., b/w photos, ads, pen on the endpapers. Softbound. Good.  (79490) A synagogue directory and calendar with many advertisements from congregants and the businesses that they owned.     $25.00

   1985 - 5745. Yearbook of Temple Beth Jacob. Redwood City, California, Temple Beth Jacob, 1985. Quarto, stapled paper covers with minor wear, 64 pp., b/w photos, ads,  Softbound. Good.  (79491)   Another year of the Beth Jacob directory.      $25.00

     Beth Israel Bulletin. Special Kol Nidre Issue. San Francisco, Congregation Beth Israel, 1951. Royal octavo, paper covers, 6 pp., b/w photos, horizontal and vertical creasing. With excepts from Rabbi Elliot M. Burstein's Rosh Hashanah Eve sermon and with the transcript of a speech by the congregational president Ben Blumenthal. Congregation Beth Israel was located near the corner of Fillmore Street and Geary Boulevard near the center of what was still a Jewish area of San Francisco. The early fifties was a good time for the congregation but in the 1969 under pressure from white flight and the predations upon the neighborhood at the hands of the redevelopment agency the once mighty Beth Israel merged with a small Reform congregation on Brotherhood Way at the edge of San Francisco.  The modest building located there, adjacent to the Hillel Day School (formerly Brandeis-Hillel Day School) continues on without fanfare. Apparently the building was rented out a few times for rock show in 1966 and 1967. The magnificent building on Geary Boulevard was later acquired by Jim Jones' People's Temple. After the horrifying end of the Jones cult the building was mostly occupied. In the late 1980s it was purchased by designer Tony Duchatte who spent significant time and effort to renovate the building in order to turn it into some kind of artistic Christian shrine. The building along with all of his work was destroyed by fire in the 1989. Truly, it had been cursed.

             The cover photo of this issue of the Bulletin features a photo of Ezra Battat with his three sons, Ralph, Harry and Franklin, over an article entitled, "The Family That Prays Together Stays Together." Ezra Battat remained concerned with youth education throughout his life and was a benefactor of the Board of Jewish Education. (For more on the BJE, see the next item below).  $20.00

      Hebrew School Progress Report. Temple Beth Jacob School.  Octavo, 4 pp. Redwood City, California, Congregation Beth Jacob, 1968-9. At this time the Bureau of Jewish Education of San Francisco, Marin County and the Peninsula was a well run enterprise and provided strong support for congregational supplemental school education. This report card, issued by the BJE for use in all synagogue schools is just like a real school report card. Clearly at that time it was still possible to have clear educational goals and measurable standards of success. This report card has grades (good ones) and teacher comments. Sadly, today, neither parents not students are this serious about Jewish education. The BJE has been oddly renamed and no longer has any authority over what goes on at any synagogue supplemental schools.  $15.00.

END

Pre-Thaw Soviet Yiddish Journals

What follows is a selection of various Soviet journals, primarily from the 1930s. Literature and history are the primary areas of coverage. Two different Birobidzhan publications show the poverty and perseverance of the Jewish colonists. An early Yevsktzia journal shows the fervor of the early years. In the glowing light of hind-sight Ruth Weiss condemns the Jewish left. Yet, it is there looking back at us from the traces that remain of Jewish life lived under the broad shadow of a god that failed. Shame on us if we can't make something of all of their efforts.
As of the day of posting  these items are still available at the hollanderbooks.com website. 

Afn visnshaftlekhn front: byuletin fun institut far Yidisher proletarisher kultur ba der Vaysrusisher visnshaft-akademye: peryodishe oysgabe no. 1-2. Minsk, Institut far Yidisher proletarisher kultur ba der Vaysrusisher visnshaft-akademye, 1932. Octavos, paper covers, 196 pp., mildly yellowed paper. Softbound. Very Good. Text is in Yiddish (76938)   Proletarian historiography.   $75.00

Alukraynisher orgkomitet fun di Sovetishe shrayber. Farmest: literarish kinstlerisher un kritish-bibliografisher zshurnal: organ fun Alukraynishn orgkomitet fun di Sovetishe shrayber. Num 9, Sentyaber, 1937. Kharkov, Ukrmelukhenatsmindfarlag, 1937. Octavo, paper covers with minor wear, 112 pp. Softbound. Good. Text is in Yiddish.Contributors include Nair Zarian, David Hofstein, D. Volkenstein, Elye Shekhtman, Y. Kotlyar, F. Sito, A. Hoberman, H. Polianker and A. Velednitsky. Other than Hofstein these are minor authors from the Kharkov area. (76930)     $65.00

Der Komunist. Organ fun Ts. K.K.P. (B.) Oy., No. 7, Oktyaber, 1920. Kharkov, Komunistychna partiia Ukrainy. TSentral'nyi komitet., 1920. Quarto, stapled paper covers, 16 pp., printed on a rough paper used in this early Soviet period when resources were particularly scarce. Softbound. Very Good. Text is in Yiddish. Uncommon or rare, particularly in this condition. A Yevsektzia publication with articles about the Yevsektzia and including an interesting but quite surprising article on Jews in Iceland. Paper is course stock typical of the early and impoverished first years of the revolution. (76926)      $95.00

[Etin, L., edited by?]. Forpost: Drayhoydeshdiker literarish-kinstlerisher un politish-gezelshaftlekher zshurnal fun der Yidisher avtonomer gegnt 2-3, 1940. Birobidzhan, Farlag Emes, 1940. Small octavo, paper covers with minor wear to the spine, 140 pp. Softbound. Very Good. Text is in Yiddish. Uncommon. Though published in Birobidzhan this journal shows that Birobidzhan was still close to the center of Soviet Yiddish life. The journal opens with a phot and poem by Vladimir Mayakovsky on Lenin. Additional contributors include David Bergelson, Der Nister, A. Hofstein, H. Dobin, Zalman Wendroff, Ay. Bronfman and B. Kushnirovitsh. (76932)      $95.00

[Etin, L., edited by?]. Forpost: Drayhoydeshdiker literarish-kinstlerisher un politish-gezelshaftlekher zshurnal fun der Yidisher avtonomer gegnt 4-5, 1940. Birobidzhan, Farlag Emes, 1940. Small octavo, paper covers with minor wear to the spine, 160 pp., with some soiling, delicate, frontispiece photos of Lenin and Stalin. Softbound. Good. Text is in Yiddish. Uncommon. (76933)  Contributions by A. Kushnirok, B. Miler, Laizer Wolf, Y. Falikman, Moyshe Shimel, Sonye Heyferman, Yankev Shudrikh, S. Bordzshes, A Piatigorske, Loybe Vaserman and A. Vergelis With critical remarks by L. Singer, Y. Dobrushin, N. Grinberg and Kh. Nodel    $75.00

Etin, L., edited by. Forpost: Drayhoydeshdiker literarish-kinstlerisher un politish-gezelshaftlekher zshurnal fun der Yidisher avtonomer gegnt 2(7), 1938. Birobidzhan, Farlag Emes, 1938. Small octavo, paper covers, 185 pp. Softbound. Very Good. Text is in Yiddish. Uncommon. (76931)  With contributions by A. Kushnirok and B. Smain, Leib Kvitko, David Hofstein, B. Olievsky, S. Rosen, Z. Telesin, Henekh Koyfman, N. Auslander, Abraham Goldfaden, Zalmen Giterman, T. Heilikman, O. Margolis, H. Rabinkov, M. Magid.    $95.00

Fefer, Itzik, et al., edited by. Prolit: literarish-kinstlerisher, kritish-bibliografisher khoydesh-zshurnal fun der alukrainisher asotsiatsye proletarishe shrayber. No. 12, Dekaber, 1931, Ferter Yorgang. Kharkov, Farlag "Proletari," Alukrainisher asotsiatsye proletarishe shrayber, 1931. Small octavo, paper covers, rear cover soiled and with some tears, xii, 92 pp., mildly yellowed paper. Softbound. Good. Text is in Yiddish. OCLC Number: 35846128. (79341) A magazine of Proletarian Soviet literary theory. With a de rigeur opening essay by Comrade Stalin, but otherwise worth the read.      $60.00

Liberberg, Y. edited by. Visnshaft un revolyutsye: fertlyoriker zshurnal. No. 1-2, April-Yuni. Kiev, Farlag fun der Alukrainisher visnshaftlekher akademye, 1934. Octavo, rebacked in red library cloth, 171 pp. Softbound. Very Good. Text is in Yiddish. (76940)  The high end of Soviet Yiddish literary criticism and historiography. The left-wing of the group that participated in the YIVO literary, historical and philosophical big books.    $60.00

Liberberg, Y. edited by. Visnshaft un revolyutsye: fertlyoriker zshurnal. No. 3-4, Yuli-Dekaber. Kiev, Farlag fun der Alukrainisher visnshaftlekher akademye, 1934. Octavo, rebacked in red library cloth, old clear-tape repair to the title page, frontispiece portrait, 262 pp. Softbound. Good. Text is in Yiddish. (76942)      $60.00

Makagon, A. In kamf: arbetbukh af shprakh, literatur un gezelshaftkentenish: 3 yor. Moscow - Kharkov - Minsk, Tsentrfarlag, Alukrainishe opteylung, 1930. Octavo, worn front cover with repairs and lacking rear cover, 247 pp. Softbound. Fair. Text is in Yiddish. (76939)  A very politicized reading text for older-middle schoolers or high schoolers.   $60.00

Maltinski, Kh., edited by. Birobidzhan: Literarish-Kinstlerisher un gezelshaftlekh-politisher almanakh, organ fun der Faraynigung Sovetishe shrayber fun der Yidisher avtonomer gegnt. 1 (4). Birobidzhan, SSR, Gegntlekher Farlag, 1948. Royal octavo, paper covers, 83 pp., one page of music with notation. Softbound. Very Good. Text is in Yiddish. (76925)   Attention on Jewish resettlement in the Soviet East faded in the US after the breakdown of the United Front era. The massive displacement of refugees in the Soviet Union during the Second World War had the same effect there. However, in the post-war period there was a local revival effort and Maltinski's journal was part of it.   $95.00

Shtern: Literarish-kinstlerish un politish visnshaftlekher khoydesh-zshurnal 9. Septyaber, 1940. Zekhtster Yorgang. Organ fun Farband Sovetisher Shrayber fun Minsk. Minsk, Farband Sovetisher Shrayber fun Minsk, 1940. Small octavo, paper covers, frontispiece photo (of Lenin, of course), 96 pp., yellowed paper. Softbound. Good. Text is in Yiddish. With contributions by Binem Heller, Yitskhok Yanisovitsh, S. Berlinski, Efrayim Kaganovski, Khayim Semiatitski, I. Emiot, Yosif Okrutni, Maksim Tank, Z. Biadolya, Y. Shudrikh, Y.L. Kon, G. Gayfman, B. Mark, and A. Yuditzki (77100)      $50.00

Sovetish Literatur Almanakh: Faraynikung fun di Moskver Yidishe Sovetishe Shrayber bam Orgkomitet funem Farband fun Sovetishe Shrayber. Moscow, Farlag "Emes", 1934. Octavo, paper covers in a mildly edgeworn dust jacket, 336 pp. Hardbound. Good. Text is in Yiddish. Contributions from Peretz Markish, S. Gobiner, A. Kushnirov, E. Gordon, S. Rasin, Y. Rabin, Shmuel Halkin, Ziskind Levin, Ezra Finenberg, A. Frumkin, Moshe Viner, V. Olievsky, Y. Dobrushin and Yissrael Rabinovitsh. OCLC Number: 173850740. (77351)      $75.00

Sovetish Literatur Almanakh: Faraynikung fun di Moskver Yidishe Sovetishe Shrayber bam Orgkomitet funem Farband fun Sovetishe Shrayber 2. Moscow, Farlag "Emes", 1935. Octavo, brown cloth spine, printed paper covered boards, 439 pp. Hardbound. Good. In Yiddish. Contributions from D. Bergelson, A. Kushnirov, H. Dobin, Shmuel Halkin, D. Kliatskine, B. Miler, Peretz Markish, S. Gibiner, S. Rasin, Moshe Viner, Y. Nisnboym, A. Gurshtein, Y. Dobrushin and M. Litakov. (76937)      $85.00

Sovetish Literatur Almanakh: Faraynikung fun di Moskver Yidishe Sovetishe Shrayber bam Orgkomitet funem Farband fun Sovetishe Shrayber 9-10. Moscow, Farlag "Emes", 1939. Octavo, paper covers with wear and minor loss at the head of the spine, 544 pp. Softbound. Good. In Yiddish. Contributions from Peretz Markish, David Bergelson, Shmuel Halkin. J. Joffe, S. Persov, S. Rasin, S. Ritman, Aaron Vergelis, Der Nister, David Hofstein, A. Kushnirov, Khona Levin, S. Helmond, S. Godiner, M. Golbstein, Kh. Gorevitsh, E. Gordon, Lev Kvitko, S. Kholodenko, V. Orshavsky, M. Taytsh, Taras Shevchenko, E. Finenberg, Y. Nusinov, Moshe Viner, A. Groshtein, & A. Finkenstein. (76936)      $75.00

Spivak, E., edited by. Afn shprakhfront : zamlung 3-4. Kiev, Farlag fun Ukrainisher Visnshaft-Akademye, 1935. Octavo, paper covers with minor wear to the rear cover, 355 pp. Softbound. Good. Text is in Yiddish. (77798)  The early Soviet period took a revolutionary attitude towards all aspects of life and language was one of the most active areas. Linguistics proved to be an enduring focus of Soviet life. By the mid-1930s this had become a major area of activity for the academic bureaucracy. This journal reproduces materials from a conference as well as a series of additional academic articles on linguistic issues.    $75.00

Tsaytshrift = Zeitschrift = Chasopis. Bukh Band 4-5. Minsk, Institut far vaysruslendisher kultur, yidisher sektor.; Institut belaruskae kulturi jaurejski sektar.; Institut für weissruthenische Kultur. jüdische Sektor, 1930-1931. Royal octavo, half blue cloth with a woen hand-written spine label, black cloth covered boards, xxii, 345 pp., tables, errata, xvii pp. precis of the articles in German at the rear, 312, 94 pp., yellowed paper. Hardbound. Good. Text is Yiddish except as noted. (77200)   A Soviet equivalent of the big YIVO volumes, but combining the disciplines of literary study, historiography, political economy, and bibliography.     $225.00

Tsaytshrift = Zeitschrift = Chasopis. Band 5. Literatur-Forshung. Minsk, Institut far vaysruslendisher kultur, yidisher sektor.; Institut belaruskae kulturi jaurejski sektar.; Institut für weissruthenische Kultur. jüdische Sektor, 1931. Royal octavo, olive cloth spine with a worn paper label, edgeworn marbled paper covers, original wraps bound in, 312, 94 pp., yellowed paper. Hardbound. Good. In Yiddish except as noted. (77179)      $150.00

Hebrew Yiddish Miscellany

Another miscellany. The kinds of things that interest me, please me and keep me interested in the trade as I stumble through my third decade in the book trade.

Aaron, of Pesaro. [Minkowsky, Aaron?]. Zeh Sefer Toledet Aharon" Asher Sipur mi-yeme hayav maym holado ad moto ve-nidfas al"yad benav ve-hotanu Yakh" ve-hovah le-bet ha-dafus den Iten Yuni 1903. Shanat 763. Cincinnati, Ohio, Press of Samuels Printing Co., 1903. Octavo, paper covers, 20 pp. Softbound. Very Good. Text is in Hebrew. #518 in Yosef Goldman's Hebrew Printing in America V. 1, P. 458. A short account of the author's take in America which he took to task in a humorous but highly educated way. (78151)     $35.00 

Effron, Louis, edited by. Der Bezim: Humoristisher Zshurnal mit Ernste Khonos/ The Bezim, a Journal for Humor and Satire, Vol. 1, No. 1, September, 1945. Philadelphia, PA., Louis Effron, 1945. Duodecimo, stapled paper covers, 20 pp., political cartoons by Zagat. Softbound. Very Good. Text is in Yiddish. OCLC Number: 33347842. Political humor with strong comic images. Uncommon. (78449)      $30.00

Freud, Sigmund. Ha-Psikhologyah shel ha-hamon veha-analizah shel ha-ani. Jerusalem, Hed Ha-Hinukh, 1927/8. First Hebrew Language Edition. Small octavo, paper covers, 86 pp. Softbound. Very Good. Translated from the German into Hebrew by Y. Dvosis. Sifriyat "Hed Ha-Hinukh," Sefer Rishon.Appears to be a translation of Massenpsychologie und Ich-Analyse: Die Zukunft einer Illusion, first published in German in Leipzig in 1921. One of the earliest translations of Freud into Hebrew. (78311)      $75.00

Glicenstein, Simon.  Admor Yoman rishme bikure mi-Lyubavitsh be-Erets Yisra'el. Jerusalem, Menahem-Av, 789 [1929]. Duodecimo, stapled paper covers, 24 pp. Softbound. Very Good. Text is in Hebrew. A short biographical work about the Sixth Lubavitsh Rebbe Yosef Yitshak Schneerson. Glicenstein wrote about Rabbinical history in a way that must have been acceptable to Orthodox community. (78244)      $50.00

Hakohen, Shoshan. Pil'e ha-tsadikim: sipurim u-ma'asiyot meha-tsadikim u-kedoshe elyon  ... Djerba, Tunisia, Ya'akov Hadad, 1935. Duodecimo, black cloth spine, marbled paper covers, 36 pp., yellowed paper. Softbound. Very Good. Text is in Hebrew. (78270) A book of Sephardi legends. One of Hakohen's works published in his lifetime.     $50.00

Komplas de Purim: por rekontar el nes de Purim ... Vienna, H.S.L. Vortman, 1891/2. Octavo, sewn paper covers, 23 pp. Softbound. Good. Text is in Ladino (78330) First published in 1851/2. A Ladino Purim anthology of humorous songs.    $150.00

Rapoport, Abraham. Neki kapayim u-var mitsvah: derush she-darash ... Avraham Kats Rapaport Shrentsil be-yom she-na'aseh bar mitsvah. Frankfurt am Main, Bet ha-defus "Defus", 1925. Small octavo, paper covers, 40 pp. with a facsimile of the original title page. Softbound. Very Good. Text is in Hebrew. Reprints the original title-page from the Krakow edition of 1598. A facsimile reprint of an early collection of Bar Mitsvah drashes, (78333)     $45.00
 
Shirim la-milu'im: yom hukam al kise ha-rabanut be-kehilah kedoshah Levorden ... Avraham ben.. Shabtai Levisson .../Feestzangen bij de installatie van den Weleerw. heer A.S. Levisson als Opperrabbijn van het Synagogaal Ressort Friesland. Amsterdam, Typ. Van Crefeld & Co., 1924. Octavo, stapled paper covers, 8  pp. Softbound. Very Good. Text is in Hebrew and Dutch. A special prayer service on the installation of Avraham Shabatai Levisson as rabbi at the Friesland synagogue. (78260)      $35.00

Todah ve-kol zimrah: be-vate kenesiyot bi-medinat Britanya li-melot 25 shanah le-memshelet ha-melekh 'Gorg' ... al kise malkhuto, yom 1. 9 Iyar 5695/ Prayer and thanksgiving : for the semi-jubilee of His Majesty's accession to the throne, Sunday 12th May 5695-1935. London, Office of the Chief Rabbi, 1935. Octavo, stapled paper covers with mild wear, 12 pp. Softbound. Very Good-. Text is in Hebrew and English on facing pages. (78258)      $80.00

Yaari, Abraham. Ha-Defus ha-Ivri bi-Shklov. Jerusalem, 1946. Octavo, stapled paper covers, 50 pp.  Softbound. Very Good. Text is in Hebrew. Shklov was a small town but at its height between 1780 and 1850 it was a center for Jewish printing in Eastern Europe and for the Lubavitch movement. (78326)      $30.00

Yidisher almanakh Pariz, 1931/ Almanach Juif 1931, Paris. Paris, Farlag der nayer dor, 1931. Octavo, paper covers with rough wear to the spine, 120, 168 pp., calendar, b/w photos. Softbound. Good-. Text is in Yiddish and French. An important resource on the Jews of France in the interwar years. An uncommon title. (77193)     $75.00

Zekher Tsadik Livrakhah: Memorial Exercises in Memory of Solomon Schechter Kaf"Het Tevet 676, Aeolina Hall, New York. New York, 1916. Octavo, string-bound paper covers mildly soiled and lightly creased 19 pp., Hebrew and English text on facing pages. Softbound. Good. Text is in Hebrew and English. Contents are "Psalm XVI," "Shokene Botte Homer, A Dirge," Solomon ibn Gabirol, Introductory address by Jacob H. Schiff, Addresses by Louis Marshall, Louis Ginzberg, Charles Isaiah Hoffman, Herman Lissauer, "Psalm XLIX," "Hazkarah," concluding with Alenu and Karddish. The Psalms and prayers were chanted by all and led by Reverend S. Jacobson. Uncommon. (78225)      $50.00

Hebrew Children's Books Again

A selection of readers for young readers, published in the first half of the century in Mandate Palestine, Israel, Germany and Poland. With one additional item about Jewish education in Lithuania and the American philanthropy that supported it.

Berdichevsky, Micah Joseph. Be-derekh rehokah: sipurim ve-agadot. Tel Aviv, Kupat ha-sefer, Undated [1920 or 1922]. Short octavo, stapled paper covers, 20 pp., small incidental drawings. Softbound. Very Good. Text is in Hebrew. Rare. A collection of short stories and tales adapted for younger readers. (78325)      $75.00

Berkovitz, Y.D. Shevilim: pirke sifrut le-Mikra ve-limud. G. Y. D. Berkovitz. Berlin, Agudat bate-sefer Ivrim, 1920. Octavo, stapled paper covers, 16 pp., yellowed paper. Softbound. Good. Text is in Hebrew. a school reader. (74208)     $20.00

Chekhov, Anton Pavlovich. Ne'arim: sipur. New York, Hotsa'at Sofrim, 1922. Small octaco, stapled paper covers, 16 pp., minor wear to the rear cover, front cover design by Saul Raskin. Softbound. Good. Text is translated into Hebrew from the original Russian. Mikra'ot Ketanot Hoveret Vav. Another school reader. (78245)     $15.00

De Amicis, Edmondo. Min ha-Apeninim ve-ad ha-Andim. Frankfurt am Main, Hotsaat Omanut, c. 1923. 16mo, soiled paper covered boards with black lettering and illustration, small chip at the head of the spine, 63 pp., a few illustrations. Hardbound. Good. Translated into Hebrew from the Italian by A. Almoni. A short tale by De Amicis adapted for the younger reader. Omanut produced art books and this volume, like their others, shows a more artistic aesthetic than most Hebrew publishers work. De Amicis wrote in the late nineteenth century in the vibrant atmosphere of a newly unified Italy. His works embodied both the nationalism of the time and a socialist bent that emerged in the middle years of his writing career. (77615)     $35.00

Frishman, David. Shevilim: pirke sifrut le-Mikra ve-limud. B. David Frishman. Berlin, Agudat bate-sefer Ivrim, 1920. Octavo, stapled paper covers, 16 pp., yellowed paper. Softbound. Good. Text is in Hebrew. (74207)     $20.00Melumad, N. Purim. Hagim: Gimel. Tel Aviv, A.Y. Shtivel, no date (1960s?). Octavo, stapled paper covers, b/w drawings. Softbound. Good. Text is in Hebrew. (78140) Another school text.    $15.00

Gibel, Ya'akov. Sifriyah le-bar be rav. Five fascicles: Hoveret Rishonah: Be-Lel Lag Ba-Omer, Gibel. Hoveret Shniyah: Tefilat Ha-Rav. Hoveret Shelishit: Temunat Matan Torah, by L. Fingold. Hoveret Revi'it: Shene Halomot, by L. Fingold. Hoveret Hamishit: Huledet Ha-Ba'al-Shem-Tov. Five of eight pieces. New York, Hotsa'at Ben-Or, 1920s?. 16mos, stapled paper covers, 8 + 8 + 8 + 8 + 8 pp., b/w drawings. Softbound. Very Good. Text is in Hebrew, (77618) a group of very small little booklets meant for children's hands based on holiday and Hasidic themes.    $35.00

Melumad, N. Purim. Hagim: Gimel. Tel Aviv, A.Y. Shtivel, no date (1960s?). Octavo, stapled paper covers, b/w drawings. Softbound. Good. Text is in Hebrew. (78140) With reproductions of older dull illustrations as well as contemporary stylish line drawings by an uncredited artist. Part of a series by the author on the Jewish holidays.    $15.00


Mendele Mokher Seforim. Shevilim: pirke sifrut le-Mikra ve-limud. Vav-Zayin. Mendele Mokher Seforim. Berlin, Agudat bate-sefer Ivrim, 1920. Octavo, stapled paper covers, 32 pp., yellowed paper. Softbound. Good. Text is in Hebrew. (74209) Another school text.    $25.00

Pe'ulot Keren Edu'ard M. Tsheis li-temikhat talmidim u-studentim be-Lita be-meshekh hamesh shenot ha-limudim 1928/29-1932/33/ Report of the Activities of the Edward M. Chase Student Aid Foundation in Lithuania. School Years 1928/29 - 1932/33. Kaunas/ Kovno, Edward M. Chase Student Aid Foundation in Lithuania, [1933]. Duodecimo, paper covers, 48, 32 pp., b/w frontispiece, tables. Softbound. Very Good. Text is in Hebrew and English from opposite ends of the volume. (78292) Chase was a New Yorker actively interested in aiding the youth of Kovno, his home town. He put his own money into the project and solicited additional donations with modest success. I can't say what became of the fund or the school that it supported.    $45.00

Sholem Aleichem. Ma'ot shel Hanukah: mishak be-shalosh temunot: Mishak be-Shalosh Temunot.  Shalom-Alekhem li-vene ha-ne'urim. Tel Aviv, Dvir, 1928. Octavo, stapled paper covers with mild dog-earing at the open corners, 20 pp. Softbound. Good. Translated into Hebrew and adapted for schools by Y.D. Berkowitz. (78290) A short play adapted from the Yiddish by Sholem Aleichem's son-in-law.    $35.00

Steinberg, Judah. Sihot yeladim: Kovets sihot mekoriyot li-yeladim. Warsaw, Hotsa'at Tushiyah, no date. Octavo, paper covers, 116 pp. Softbound. Very Good. Text is in Hebrew. With vocabulary notes in Russian. (78251)     $35.00