Subject: Jewish law

Pamphlet detailing the British Act of 1858 that amended the law restricting the oath of office to Christians, allowing Lionel de Rothschild to take his seat in the House of Commons. The act, passed on July 26, 1858, addressed the issue of the oath's religious requirements. Published in the United Kingdom. The pamphlet excerpts relevant sections of the act, omitting the portion of the oath relating to Christian belief.

This 56-page pamphlet, published in 1854 by M. W. Dodd in New York, presents William Jay's examination of the Mosaic laws concerning servitude. The first edition, originally issued in octavo format and lacking its wrappers, offers a scholarly analysis of this aspect of Jewish law within its historical context.

Manuscript bill of divorce (Get) written in Hebrew and Aramaic. Dated 14 Marheshvan 5648, corresponding to Tuesday, November 1, 1887. The document details the divorce of Ya'akov ben Eliyahu and Leah bat Yosef, with witnesses Yitshak ben Yosef and Yisrael ben Yeshayahu. Written in ink on a single sheet of paper (39.5 x 28 cm). Found and analyzed by Dr. Arthur Kiron, University of Pennsylvania. Shows an ink stain on the back and folding marks. The document's provenance is San Francisco, California, although the original auction description notes this as 'apparently' the location. The elegant scribal hand suggests the scribe possessed rabbinical training; however, no rabbi is mentioned on the document.

A broadside advertisement for "The Jewish Divorce Law," published by Edward Stern & Co. of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The advertisement includes the price ($1.25 postpaid) and the publisher's address (112 N. Twelfth Street). The date of publication is unknown.

Pamphlet containing the Charter and By-Laws of the Har Sinai Congregation. Published in Baltimore, Maryland on February 1, 1885. This pamphlet details the organizational structure and regulations of the congregation.

This book contains the constitution and by-laws of the Congregation House of Israel of Philadelphia, published in 1873. It details the rules and regulations governing the congregation's operations, membership, and activities. According to Singerman 2411, only two copies of this book are known to exist.

This two-page letter constitutes a halachic inquiry from Isaac Moses Slatky, reader at the Baltimore Hebrew Congregation, to R. Solomon Eger of Posen, Germany. The inquiry references Eger's ruling prohibiting Kohanim from leading congregational blessings on holidays or receiving the first aliyah. The letter also includes a description of the Baltimore community, its synagogue, and its kosher mikva. The verso contains a letter from R. Samuel Fogelsdorf of Posen concerning the halachic inquiry and personal matters. It bears the scrawled signature of Yitzchak Chaim, who claims to have been a former student of Eger. Dated January 1, 1845.

First edition of *L'Veit Ya'akov*, a collection of sermons by Rabbi Jacob Joseph (1841-1902), the first and only Grand Rabbi of New York City and America. This volume contains sermons on the weekly Torah portions, special Shabbats, and other occasions. The book includes a handwritten dedication by Rabbi Jacob Joseph to Rabbi Eliezer Zalman Grievsky, author of *Ginat Egoz*, and commentary by Rabbi Chaim Ozer Grodzinsky. Published in Vilna in 1888.

This archival item is the last page (8" x 12") of a letter, dated sometime in 1860, written by Benjamin II to Isaac Leeser. The letter is a rebuttal to press attacks by J. K. Gutheim, the preacher and chazzan of the Portuguese synagogue in New Orleans, concerning the "Touro Monument Affair." The letter appears to be a German-to-English translation by Leeser, showing editing marks and corrections, suggesting preparation for publication. A note in a third hand is present after the signature. The Touro Monument Affair involved a controversy over the planned erection of a statue of Judah Touro, which Benjamin II opposed on halakhic grounds. This led to public disagreements, press attacks, and a withdrawal of financial support from Benjamin II's organization. The controversy was reported in several national publications, including Leeser's *Occident*. The document has been verified by Dr. Arthur Kiron and Bruce Nielsen at the Katz Center, University of Pennsylvania.

A one-page letter written in English by Rabbi Dr. Max Lilienthal to Julius Freiberg on August 31, 1871, in Cincinnati, Ohio. The letter concerns a Halachic opinion on the disinterment of graves from an older Jewish cemetery for transfer to a new cemetery. It includes a reference to Rabbi Isaac Mayer Wise's opinion on the matter. The letter shows the lower left corner is torn.

Manuscript copy book containing letters and commentary debating the permissibility of post-mortem examinations according to Jewish law. The letters, primarily from April 1856, include correspondence from various individuals, notably a letter from Chief Rabbi Nathan Adler of London and rebuttals from American scholars. The copy book also includes six pages of commentary not derived from the copied letters. The cover features a pasted title from the *Occident*, June 1856. The internal first page is dated June 17, 1886, and signed by Dr. M. Mielziner (Professor, Hebrew Union College); however, the majority of the book is in a different hand and ink. The book includes a letter from T.J. Sexias of Jew's Hospital in NYC (April 7, 1856), Rabbi Illowy of St. Louis (April 6, 1856), and an unsigned rebuttal to Chief Rabbi Adler. A two-column clipping from the 1896 *Israelite* by Dr. M. Mielziner is pasted on the final page. The book may have been compiled by Isaac Leeser, possibly in preparation for publication in the *Occident*.

Manuscript in English and Hebrew, containing laws of kosher slaughtering with questions and answers for the practicing Shochet. Written in neat English cursive and square Hebrew letters on 17 leaves of paper. Shows signs of staining. Bound in contemporary marbled wrappers; front cover stained and slightly torn. 12mo. Circa 1850-1860. The manuscript may be a copy of an existing book and requires further research. The handwriting varies, suggesting two scribes. The text includes an account mentioning a sum of money ("four months at four thousand and forty three...dollars"), suggesting the manuscript's creation in the United States. The scarcity of trained Shochetim (ritual slaughterers) in 19th-century America contextualizes the manuscript's creation as a training manual.

This work, *Opera Sabbathum Depellentia*, examines the laws of the Sabbath and the circumstances that permit their violation. Written in Latin with sections in Hebrew, it draws upon Talmudic examples to illustrate situations where Sabbath observance may be legitimately suspended. Published circa 1708, this pamphlet provides insights into the interpretation and application of Jewish law regarding Sabbath restrictions.

Responsum 41, folio 46r, from the book *Leib Aryeh Breslau… Penei Proops, Amsterdam* (small folio; see Vinograd, Amsterdam 2181). This 1790 responsum addresses a halachic question posed by Haym Salomon (Solomon) of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, concerning financial matters related to philanthropy. The book is signed by a previous owner, Hirschel Lehren. Sold at Kestenbaum & Co. auction in NYC on 11/17/1998 for $1,700 (including commission).

This book, published in 1836, examines the laws of marriage within Jewish tradition. It specifically addresses the permissibility of polygamy and the extent of the laws of incest. Author S.E. Dwight presents a detailed analysis of these complex topics from a legal and religious perspective, offering insights into the interpretation and application of Jewish marital laws.

This book, published by the Bloch Publishing and Printing Company in Cincinnati in 1884, explores the Jewish law of marriage and divorce across different historical periods and its intersection with secular law. Authored by Rabbi Moses Mielziner, a prominent figure in American Reform Judaism, the work comprises 149 pages and includes a final leaf of publisher's advertisements. This is the first edition; a revised second edition was published in 1901.

This is the first part of a multi-part compilation of the *Hayye Adam* (Life of Man), a classic work of Jewish law. Published in 1897 by Leon & Weinkrantz in New York City, this volume offers a comprehensive overview of Jewish legal principles and practices. Parts 2 and 3 were published in 1900 by a different printer.

This book, authored by Rev. Louis Salomon, explores the fundamental principles of the Mosaic system. Published in Philadelphia by E.G. Dorsey in 1841, it likely delves into the laws, customs, and religious aspects of the Mosaic Law as presented in the Hebrew Bible. The book offers insights into a significant system of Jewish law and tradition.

Six-page pamphlet detailing a rabbinic court case in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1863. The case, presided over by Rabbi Illoway, involved R. Lowenthal (widow) and her daughter suing Meyer Goldman for fraud. Both parties agreed to abide by the laws of Moses. This printed record is considered unusually rare and possibly the earliest extant example of its kind.

Book by Edmund Pray. Published in 1833. Contains 114 pages. The book explores comparative religious law, examining the laws of Moses and Christ. Additional details regarding the publisher and printing location are not available in the provided metadata.