By COLlive reporter
Some are calling it the “Black Friday” of seforim.
One of the most popular times to purchase Jewish books is on the 5th of Teves, when publishers and Judaica stores offer some of their steepest discounts.
Storing away their menorahs from Chanukah, Lubavitchers worldwide are joined by other seforim seekers in adding volumes to their bookshelves.
The custom celebrates the “Didan Notzach” case in 1987 when the U.S. federal judge ruled that the Agudas Chassidei Chabad Library belonged to the Chabad movement as a whole.
The Rebbe urged that the occasion be marked with time devoted to study from Torah books (“seforim”) as well as the acquisition of new Torah books.
Kehot Publication Society, Chabad’s official publishing house, has announced a 5 day sale of up to 50% off on Hebrew and English sets, individual books and children’s publications.
One of their best sellers is the 5 volume “Torah Chumash,” featuring a new translation and commentary which weaves Rashi’s commentary – explained according to the Rebbe – together with the translation of the Torah text. It’s going for $140 instead of $155.
Visit them at Kehot.com. You can also call in your order at 718-778-0226 or email [email protected].
Hamafitz Judaica, the large Judaica and book store on 361 Kingston Avenue in Crown Heights, is offering a store wide sale on all of their seforim until Thursday, 9 Teves – December 12.
Their discounts are based on the publishers: 30% off Sichos In English, 20% off Feldheim Publishers, and 20% off Artscroll, Judaica Press, Israel Book Shop, C.I.S. Publishers and Hachai.
The day’s sales have become so mainstream that a leading bookstore from Boro Park, Greenfield Judaica, has announced a “Hey Teves Mega Sale.”
“Browse our amazing specials in honor of Hey Teves,” they wrote on their site GreenfieldJudaica.com. “Keep checking back as we are adding items daily. Valid until 12/13/13. While supplies last.”
While they have a limited selection of strictly Chabad chassidus publications, their prices are competitive and they offer deals on sets that many homes can use (just $58 for the 5-volume Vedibarta Bam set on Chumash).
Lahak, the publishers of the Rebbe’s teachings, have also announced a major sale for this day that will last until Teves 7. It is limited to the United States.
For the price of $14.50, they are selling each available single volume of Toras Menachem and Sefer Hamaamarim, the talks and the discourses of the Rebbe. They can be contacted at [email protected].
In a sicha on Parshas Vayigash 5748, the Rebbe said: “Booksellers and publishers should announce a special discount on the Shulchan Aruch and other works of the Beis Yosef – in commemoration of five hundred years from his birth – in order to make it easier for people and to encourage them to acquire Torah texts, and to actually study them.”
He added, “Since ‘one Mitzvah leads to another,’ they should announce a special discount on all Torah texts, covering every area of Torah, in connection with the Hakhel year.”
I love the 90% “decoration” on the kehot flyer
very smart to post this