21 Mar 90 JUDAIC STUDIES #36 24 Adar 50 BS"D To send a note to this listserv on any issue of common interest, address it to judaica@taunivm Edited by Y. Greenbaum CONTENTS 1) Stone 2) Albeck 3) Oriental Studies 4) Microfilmed Catalog 5) Introduction to Manuscripts 1) Stone From: Sat, 17 Mar 90 10:28:39 +0200 New Book / Old Book I announce, with some bashfulness, the publication of my doctoral thesis with a delay of 25 years. MICHAEL E. STONE FEATURES OF THE ESCHATOLOGY OF 4 EZRA (Harvard Semitic Studies, 35; Scholars Press, Atlanta, 1989). I am also collecting material for an extensive (hopefully exhaustive) introductory essay on the Adam Literature. Any obscure or exotic information anyone might have would be welcome. I am also prepared to exchange Judaica bibliography on the End-note program on the Macintosh. I have and see material on the following areas: 1. Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha 2. Ancient Judaism 3. Jewish Hellenistic literature. 4. Holy Land pilgrimage. Michael Stone (STONEA@HBUNOS.BITNET) Yechiel adds: If we all follow your example, imagine what a clear picture we'll have of where we collectively stand in the field of Judaic Studies. (I am as guilty as anyone. We all don't have time; it's no excuse.) Thank you very much. 2) Albeck 26 Mar Bar Ilan University JS Faculty Talmud Dept. Institute for the Study of Halacha Mr. A. M. and Mrs. Hasia (nee Yaffe) Neftal Center for the Study of the Oral Law and its Transmission 8th Annual Gathering for Contemporary Talmud Research which will be devoted to Prof. R. Hanoch Albeck on the 100th Anniversary of his Birth Mintz Auditorium (formerly Argentina), University Campus 13:45 Afternoon Services 14:00 First Session Chair: Prof. Meir Simcha Feldblum, Dept. Head Greetings: Prof. Zvi Ard, Rector and Acting Pres. Prof. Zvi Aryeh Steinfeld, Dean of Faculty Prof. Shalom Albeck My Father, Guide and Teacher OBM - His Method and His Research - The End of an Era Prof. Shraga Abramson Topical Chapters Inserted in the Talmud Prof. Yitzhak Dov Gilat Miscellaneous Influence of our Guide, Prof. R. Hanoch Albeck, OBM 17:00 Intermission and light refreshments 17:30 Second Session Chair: Prof. Moshe Bar Distribution of Awards in Honor of Prof. Hanoch Albeck Baruch and Sarah Blum Esther and Ephraim Palmer Naphtali Gintin Prof. Saul and Dr. Judith Lieberman Prof. Haim Zalman Dimitrovsky Studies in the Text of the Talmud Prof. Binyamin Zeev Benedict Maimonides' Sources in Reason and Hermeneutics Prof. Zvi Aryeh Steinfeld Atonement for the Dead Prof. Daniel Sperber Kiddush - Rites and Customs 19:45 Evening Services 3) Oriental Studies Here are my impressions of last Thursday's lectures by representatives of the Institute of Oriental Studies (Leningrad). I regret not having arrived in time for the first lecture. Prof. Petrosyan spoke in Russian, with a spoken translation in Hebrew, and a typewritten translation in English. He outlined work-in-progress on short alphabetical and elaborate topical catalogs in various languages, mentioning that a catalog prepared by I. Ginzburg of the 3000 Hebrew mss is due to be published thru HUC next year. In answer to a question, he noted the recent publication of a two volume general catalog of the 2000 Arabic mss. Although the first run of 800 has been distributed, the catalog has now been reissued. In response to the great interest which the Judaic Studies community has in improving access to the materials, he offered his personal estimation of the situation (here I give my understanding of his meaning), which might be termed cautious optimism that it is possible to initiate a substantial change presently. He pointed out the wisdom of quiet diplomacy; we can be patient knowing that things are moving. (It should be remembered that we refer here to the IOS, only one of the three major collections of Hebraica in the USSR.) Dr. Yakerson alluded to the benefits of working together with other bibliographic specialists in a wide variety of languages. He reviewed the place of Hebrew incunabula in the context of the general study of incunabula. He elaborated upon Hebraic colophons as a literary form, and listed some of the types of information embedded therein, notably the often detailed descriptions of printing procedures. 4) Microfilmed Catalog During their visit to Givat Ram, the representatives of the Institute of Oriental Studies (Leningrad) deposited a microfilm of a typewritten catalog of mss (it is for perusal only, as the catalog is in preparation - see section 3 above). The catalog is in Cyrillic with Hebrew titles and, at times, extensive Hebrew citations. The box reads, "Catalogue of Hebrew Manuscripts of the Institue of Oriental Studies of the Academy of Sciences, Leningrad Branch 1990 Microfilm of Typewritten Form". 5) Introduction to Manuscripts Hebrew Manuscripts: A Treasured Legacy by Binyamin Richler with a chapter on the Cairo Genizah by Robert Brody R. Abraham Shoshana, Gen. Ed. Ofeq Institute Inc. Cleveland/Jerusalem 1990 27801 Euclid Av., OH 44132 Distributed by Feldheim, $30 Regular users of the Institute of Microfilmed Hebrew Manuscripts know the value of Binyamin's experience. The aesthetics of the book may do much to advance general interest in manuscripts. This is a succinct, yet readable, review of basic information in all relevant areas. Included are almost 50 specimens of script, as well as practical information about major collections. At the end are 17 longer samples of "difficult" scripts, with the printed text on the same page, so that the interested beginner can try his ...hand (excuse the pun - and temper the passion of my review by bearing in mind my extreme interest in the topic).