Two years ago was the centenary of the birth of Chaim Dov Friedberg, well known Hebrew author and bibliographer. He was born and raised in Cracow, lived in Frankfurt and Antwerp and after the last war settled in Tel Aviv where he died in 1961.
He wrote biographies of great rabbis and the histories of famous families. His main interest, however was Hebrew bibliography. He described the history of Hebrew book printing in various cities and countries and compiled the monumental “Beit Eked Sefarim.”
When he was still a child in Cracow he came across Isaac Ben Jacob’s “Otzar Haseforim” which listed Hebrew books that appeared until the year 1863.”I was drawn towards that book like unto a magnet,” Friedberg was to write many years later. “I pored over it day and night, adding a note here and there, and making some corrections.” Friedberg went on to tell that years later when as a bookseller he visited the great libraries of Europe he discovered that there were many Hebrew books and editions of which bibliographers had been unaware and decided to compile a new, more complete Hebrew bibliography.
His “Bet Eked Sefarim,” which listed Hebrew books printed between the years 1475 and 1900 appeared in 1928-31 and was well received by Jewish scholars. Twenty years later he undertook to publish a new revised and updated edition of his work. It appeared in 1951-1956 in four volumes and enumerate books which had been printed until 1950.
In 1968, Moshe Feller, a Tel Aviv publisher who made a name for himself by putting out pocket editions of Chumashim, Mishnayot, Midrashim, Talmud and Shulhan Arukh and by reproducing literally hundreds of Hebrew books which had been out of print, issued a new photographic edition of Friedberg’s “Bet Eked Sefarim. ” Three years later he published another edition.
At that time he also undertook to prepare, “Bet Eked Sefarim HeChadash,” which would give the titles of all Hebrew books published since 1950.
The first volume of this work appeared in 1974 and listed more than 5000 volumes whose names began with either the letter Alef or Bet.
On a visit to the U.S. that year, Feller told me that he and his assistants hope to complete the entire work within a short period. They did indeed succeed in doing this. The entire “Bet Eked Sefar Hehadash,” comprising five volumes was out in 1976. Last year Feller published two additional volumes: “Otzar HeMehabrim” an author’s index.
During his visit here three year ago, Feller announced another great publishing venture. He wanted to put out a biographical dictionary of rabbis, religious writers, educators and communual leaders.
In 1958 he had published “HaMadrikch Leyirsael HaDatit” (A guide to Religious Israel,” edited by Y. Gan Zvi which featured biographies of rabbis and Roshe Yeshiva and described various religious organizations and educational ,institutions.
In his new biographical dictionary he wanted to include religious personalities from Israel as well as from abroad.
He enlisted then aides and collaborators in this country. Rabbi Chaim U. Lipschitz was made head of the editorial committee in the U.S.
Recently Feller came again to New York in matters of the planned lexicon.
He is an old friend of mine. We have known each other for more than twenty years from the time both of us worked for the Israeli daily “HaModia.” I met with him soon after his arrival.
He told me that the new work will feature biographies not only of living persons but also of those who died in the last three decades.
“One of the Chief purposes of the lexicon is to relate the life stories of great rabbi and scholars ” Feller said. I would like to meet with their families to receive from them photographs and biographical details.”
He visited also Canada to seek the cooperation of local rabbis and communal leaders.
Members of his staff in Israel include well known writers. The advisory committee is composed of rabbis, members of the Knesset and other prominent persons.
Work on the biographical dictionary is proceeding. The first volume should appear in the near future.
The Jewish Press, Friday April 14, 1978, page 18