Jewish History
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The Vavei ha-Amudim
What is the "Vavei ha-Amudim"? The best known "Vavei ha-Amudim" is by R.Shabsai Sheftel, son of R.Yeshaiah ha-Levi Horovitz, author of the Sh'nei Luchos ha-B'ris (SH'LAH). It was published together with the SH'LAH in Amsterdam 1648-9 (and many times afterwards);…
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The Chareidim
Who wrote the Sefer Charedim? R.Eleazar b.Moshe Azkari lived in Tzfas in the 1500's. He was a popular preacher. His Sefer Charedim was published in Venice in 1601, a year after his death. Not much is recorded about his career,…
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R. Yehonasan Eybeschutz
Who was R.Yehonasan Eybeschutz? R.Yehonasan (b.Noson Nota) Eybeschutz was born in Cracow about 1690. He was learned in many areas, including halacha, kabbalah, philosophy and science. He founded a Yeshiva in Hamburg, and afterwards headed a Yeshiva in Prague. In…
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R. Shlomo Ganzfried
Who was R.Shlomo Ganzfried? R.Shlomo b.Yosef Ganzfried was born in Ungvar, Hungary in 1804 and died there in 1886. From 1830 to 1849 he was Rabbi of Brezewicz, and afterwards was head of the Beis Din of Ungvar. His Kitzur…
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The Kaf ha-Chayim
What can you tell me about the author of the Kaf ha-Chayim? The Kaf ha-Chayim, by R.Yaakov Chayim b.Yitzchak Baruch Sofer of Bagdad, was published in Jerusalem between 1905 and 1933. (R.Chayim Palagi published a book with the same title…
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The Kohen Gadol in the Holy of Holies
What would have happened if a Kohen Gadol had died in the Holy of Holies? The Talmud (Yoms 53b) tells about the people worrying about a Kohen Gadol who spent too much time (praying) in the Holy of Holies; this…
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Ezra’s Fame
What is Ezra famous for? Answer: As described in the Book of Ezra, he is famous for inspiring a religious revival among the Jews who had returned from Babylonia to the Land of Israel after King Cyrus granted permission to…
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Fallen Angels and Satan
Who were the fallen angels? Was Satan one of them? In the Jewish tradition, Satan isn’t a “fallen” angel; he’s an angel whose occupation is tempting men to sin, as illustrated in Ch.1 of Job. “Satan” means something like “adversary”;…
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Moses not Entering the Promised Land
Why was Moses forbidden to enter the Promised Land? The Midrash Tanchuma on Deut. Ch. 3 points out that Moses sinned six times: (1-2) By saying “Send whomever You send” (Ex. 4:13) and “From the time I came to Pharaoh…