Large collection of letters, booklets, books, cards, and additional items belonging or pertaining to the British Jewish historian Cecil (Bezalel) Roth. [Europe, United States, and Israel, approx. 1930s-1970s]. English (and some Hebrew, Italian, French, and Spanish).
Collection includes:
• Ten letters by Cecil Roth (handwritten or typewritten, with his signature) and over 60 letters by his wife Irene (half of them mailed after his death). Letters addressed to their friend in Jerusalem, the collector and researcher Ezra Gorodetzky, most of them dealing with personal matters.
• "Mahzor" (prayer book) for Yom Kippur (New York, 1939), bearing Cecil Roth’s signature in Hebrew and English.
• Siddur (prayer book) for Sabbath and Festivals (New York, 1960), inscribed by the editor and translator Rabbi David de Sola Pool (1885-1970), rabbi of the Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue, Congregation Shearith Israel of New York City.
• Roughly a hundred booklets and offprints of articles written or edited by Cecil Roth, as well as newspaper clippings and journal issues with articles written by him, mostly dealing with the history of the Jewish people, including "The Jew as a European" (with a signed dedication); "Handlist of Hebrew manuscripts... in the collection of Cecil Roth" (1950); four issues of "The Jewish Woman's Review" with articles by Roth (London, 1950); "The Cecil Roth Oxford Haggadah" (New York, 1963); "Haggadah of the Chinese Jews" (New York, 1967); "Memorial Booklet to the Community of Frankfurt am Main" (Hebrew, Jerusalem, 1965); and more.
• Cecil Roth’s bookplate, "MiSifrei Bezalel Min Ha’Adumim Ex Libris Cecil Roth, " designed by the German-born Jewish artist Hermann Fechenbach. Seven copies.
• Photograph of Cecil Roth in his study at the University of Oxford, framed along with his business card, bearing his signature in Hebrew and English.
• Letter from Cecil Roth (printed; signed by hand) regarding a collection of "ketubot" (marriage contracts), Esther scrolls, and other items of Judaica, addressed to Rabbi Stuart Rosenberg (1922-1990), rabbi of the Beth Tzedec Congregation of Toronto, Canada. Jerusalem, July 1966.
• Cecil Roth’s business card, bearing his address on Balfour St. in Jerusalem.
• Invitation to the home of Cecil and Irene Roth in Jerusalem, to view a portrait painting of the "Ba’al-Shem of London" (the kabbalist Rabbi Hayyim Samuel Jacob Falk, 1708-1782) by the English painter John Singleton Copley. Printed in Hebrew and English, with an addendum handwritten by Roth in English.
• Prayer booklet ("A Memorial Service") in memory of Cecil Roth, published by London’s (Spanish-Portuguese) Bevis Marks Synagogue (1970).
• A biography of Cecil Roth entitled "Cecil Roth, Historian Without Tears: A Memoir" by Irene Roth (New York, 1982). Inscribed by Irene Roth on title page.
• Notes handwritten by Cecil Roth, in addition to envelopes, cards, newspaper clippings, and numerous other items.
Also enclosed: • Cecil Roth’s personal document holder (made of leather, imprinted with his name in gilt letters in the bottom right corner. • Roughly 30 letters from Ezra Gorodetzky, addressed to Cecil and Irene Roth. • Additional ephemera.
Professor Cecil (Bezalel) Roth (1899-1970), among the greatest of Jewish historians, and chief editor of the Encyclopaedia Judaica. Born in London; received a traditional Jewish education and upbringing. Married Irene Rosalind Davis. Studied at the University of Oxford, and completed his doctorate there in 1924. Served as professor of Jewish studies at Oxford from 1939 to 1964. During this period he published hundreds of articles and dozens of books, translated into numerous languages. His research focused on the histories of the Jewish communities of Italy and England; on the history of the Jewish people in the Middle Ages and Modern Era; and on Jewish art, bibliography, and the philosophy of history. Was a member of two British royal societies, namely the Royal Historical Society and the Royal Society of Literature. An enthusiastic collector of Judaica, also renowned for his rich art collection. Immigrated to Israel and settled in Jerusalem, having been invited to serve as visiting professor in the Department of Jewish History at Bar-Ilan University following his retirement from Oxford in 1964; the invitation to Bar-Ilan generated fierce opposition in religious circles, who claimed his writings were "offensive to Jewish tradition." Passed away in 1970. His funeral was attended by members of the State of Israel’s leadership, including President Zalman Shazar, the Sephardic Chief Rabbi ("Rishon LeZion") Yitzhak Nissim, and other leading figures. His brother was Leon (Hayyim Judah) Roth (1896-1963), who served as a professor of philosophy first at Manchester University, and subsequently at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
Approx. 250 items. Size and condition vary. Overall good condition.