posted on June 9, 2001 10:37:19 AM
Hi all - Picked up a book in beautiful condition but I have no idea what language it is. Can anyone help? If someone could give me the title or tell me what it's about, I would really appreciate it.
posted on June 9, 2001 10:42:26 AM
It is Hebrew (and it is upside down too! - Hebrew reads from right to left, so the book opens "backwards" from English books)
posted on June 10, 2001 06:29:29 AM
Hi, barbarake,
It's a book of religious commentary.
I had some trouble making out the information on the book cover, probably due to the fact that my eyes are much older than the rest of me. The title page was less of a visual challenge.
There are two men's names listed on the title page. The first is Yehoshua Meir haKohen, who is noted as being deceased. The second is The Young Yaakov Moshe Hillel. From my translation of the rest of the title page text (q.v., to the best of my ability), I would guess that The Young Yaakov Moshe Hillel is the author, and was the student of the late Yehoshua Meir haKohen.
The language of the rest of the title page text is rather elaborate (not unusual with this type of book). It describes the book as a "pamphlet of commentary" called "My Page of Instruction for the Enlargement and Glorification of the Torah."
I'm guessing that the author was inspired to write the book by the teaching of the late Yehoshua Meir haKohen, as there is a reference to the book being "an appendix to them" and the format being "canals/channels of remarks/comments" and a "signpost/marker/monument that was called to me."
The book was "published for the love of peace" in Jerusalem. I'm not sure about the date, which is given in Hebrew letters (each of which has a numerical value). If the date given is the Hebrew date, the book is about twenty years old.
Barbarian that I am, I'm afraid that I'm not familiar with either of these sages, but this might be enough info to do a search with, or to include in an item description.
Looks like a good one to list in Judaica, and don't forget to rotate the photos 180 degrees!
