Olam Qatan

17/03/2026

Olam Qatan to open this evening

My Olam Qatan book-table has been closed for some time. But the weather has gotten warmer, we've gotten used to this war, and I plan to open this evening, from 7 - 9 pm... maybe longer. At התחנה הראשונה ירושלים - The First Station Jerusalem, near the big tent, behind the Arab coffee stand. I look forward to seeing some of you there!

02/02/2026

The Olam Qatan book-table is right in front of the Terminal at התחנה הראשונה ירושלים - The First Station Jerusalem, where our friend Rikki Rose Horowitz will be opening her exhibition of her rich and varied works of spiritual art. Rikki's planning to open this evening from 6 - 11 pm, whereas we plan to be open from 4 - 8 pm, and then to spend some time inside the Terminal. So if any of you would like to see Rikki's art along with Olam Qatan books... this evening is a great opportunity!

Rikki's display continues this month, and we usually open our table on weekday evenings (unless we're expecting rain) from about 5 - 7 pm. So folks who can't come tonight, can come another time. But Rikki's special opening celebration, with music, dance, comedy and refreshments, is planned for tonight!

18/01/2026

עולם קטן בהולצר ספרים - Olam Qatan at Holzer's Bookstore

בהולצר ספרים נמשיך השבוע, עוד פעם אחת, את השיחה על סיפרי 'עולם קטן' במבט יהודי וסופי. בהולצר ספרים, רח' יפו 91 פינת המשיח במרכז ירושלים. ביום ד', 21 לינואר, בשעה 19:30.

"האדם הוא עולם קטן, והעולם, שהוא הבניין, אדם גדול" - רבי יצחק דמן עכו

This week at Holzer's Bookstore we plan on having one more informal talk (mostly in Hebrew) exploring the Jewish and Sufi points-of-view of the books published by Olam Qatan. At Holzer's Bookstore, at the corner of 91 Jaffa Road and Mashiach Lane in downtown Jerusalem. On Wednesday, January 21, at 7:30 pm.

"Everyone is a micro-cosm (olam qatan), and the world as a whole is a macro-human being (adam gadol)." - R. Yitzhaq of Acre

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13/01/2026

A Change In Plans for this Wednesday Night

We’re canceling this week’s talk at Holzer's Bookstore about Olam Qatan books, scheduled for Wednesday, January 14. But we plan on having one more informal talk (mostly in Hebrew) exploring the Jewish and Sufi points-of-view of these books, on Wednesday, January 21 at 7:30 pm. At Holzer's Bookstore, at the corner of 91 Jaffa Road and Mashiach Lane in downtown Jerusalem.

לא נמשיך השבוע ב-14 לינואר, את השיחה שלנו על סיפרי 'עולם קטן' במבט יהודי וסופי... אבל ניפגש עוד פעם אחת לשיחה כזו, ביום ד', 21 לינואר, בשעה 19:30. בהולצר ספרים, רח' יפו 91 פינת המשיח, בירושלים.

This Wednesday night, January 14, my old friend and teacher Rabbi Arthur Green is giving a talk on "Hasidic and Neo-Hasidic Perspectives on the Problem of Evil." This is part of a series on "Evil, and Confronting Evil" presented by an interfaith community called The Jerusalem Rainbow Group. The lecture, in English, is at 8 pm (tea and coffee from 7:30). At the Notre Dame Center, Rehov ha-Tsanshanim 3, opposite the New Gate to the Old City. All are welcome and admission is free. I’ve been invited to offer books for sale. Maybe I’ll see some of you there?

04/01/2026

יש עברית אחרי האנגלית:

We'll continue our series of informal talks about Olam Qatan books (mostly in Hebrew) featuring Jewish and Sufi points-of-view... On Wednesday evenings at 7:30 pm at Holzer's Bookstore, at the corner of 91 Jaffa Road and Mashiach Lane in downtown Jerusalem.

"Everyone is a micro-cosm, and the world as a whole is a macro-human being." - R. Yitzhaq of Acre

נמשיך את השיחה שלנו על סיפרי 'עולם קטן' במבט יהודי וסופי... בחודש ינואר, בימי ד' בשעה 19:30 בהולצר ספרים, רח' יפו 91 פינת המשיח בירושלים.

"האדם הוא עולם קטן, והעולם, שהוא הבניין, אדם גדול" - רבי יצחק דמן עכו

29/12/2025

ב-31 בדצמבר, בשעה 19:30 נחקור את האנתולוגיה המרשימה אף נגישה של ידידי הוותק דניאל מט, 'לב הקבלה: מבחר מקורות מתורת הסוד היהודית'.

Our series of Olam Qatan talks (mostly in Hebrew) continues on
Wednesday nights at Holzer's Bookstore, at the corner of 91 Jaffa Road and Mashiach Lane in downtown Jerusalem. But beginning this Wednesday, we'll move up our weekly meetings from 8 pm to 7:30 pm.

This Wednesday, December 31, at 7:30, our focus will be on 'Lev HaKabbalah', the Hebrew edition we published at Olam Qatan of 'The Essential Kabbalah: the Heart of Jewish Mysticism'. This impressive yet approachable anthology does not impose a particular approach to Kabbalah upon the reader, but makes room for each person to discover their favorite texts and make their own relationship with the Kabbalistic tradition. It was put together by my old friend Daniel Matt, who produced the outstanding multi-volume translation of the Zohar. Back on December 10, we planned to get together at Holzer's to explore this book. But the weather was rainy, and I was the only person who showed up. So, weather permitting, we'll try again this Wednesday, on New Year's Eve, and see who might join our exploration of these core texts of Kabbalah.

23/12/2025

מחר ביום ד' בשעה 20:00, עם Ya'qub Ibn Yusuf בהולצר ספרים:

המורה-חבר הוותק שלי, הרב ופרופ' אברהם גרין, יצטרף אלינו בקריאה ובדיון בגרסה העברית של ספרו הקלאסי-מודרני על יהדות מיסטית, 'בקשו פני, קראו בשמי', שדן באלוהות שבתוכנו ובתוך העולם הזה. זהו הספר הראשון שהשקנו כשנפתחה חנות הספרים 'עולם קטן' בשנת 1997, והספר שזה עתה זכינו להוצא לאור מחדש...

Tomorrow, Wednesday at 8 pm, at Holzer's Bookstore:

My old teacher-friend, Rabbi Professor Arthur Green will join me in reading and reflecting (mostly in Hebrew) on his modern classic work of Jewish spirituality, the Hebrew version of 'Seek My Face, Speak My Name', with its discussion of God within us and in this world. This was the first book we launched when we opened 'Olam Qatan' bookstore back in 1997, and the book we most recently republished...

15/12/2025

חוגגים את רומי
Celebrating Rumi (English follows the Hebrew…)

השבוע אני ממשיך את "חברים לדרך," הגל השני בסדרה של עולם קטן בימי ד' בשעה 20:00, בהולצר ספרים, רח' יפו 91 פינת המשיח, במרכז העיר.

ביום רביעי הזה, ב-17 בדצמבר, חוגגים את ה"אורס" (החתונה) של מוולנה, היארצייט שביום מותו של המשורר הפרסי האהוב עלינו, ג'לאל-אדין רומי, ע"ה. אקרא כמה שירים מ'הדיוואן' של רומי, ומשה מנשהוף הסכים להצטרף אלינו בשיחה, ולקרוא את התרגום שלו ל"שיר הקנה" של רומי. גם 'הדיוואן' וגם 'שירת רומי' של מנשוף הם תרגומים עבריים המבוססים על השפה הפרסית המקורית. וחברה דרוויש עומדת להסתובב...

This week we continue "Friends on the Path," the second series of Olam Qatan talks in Hebrew on Wednesday nights at 8 pm, at Holzer's Bookstore, at the corner of 91 Jaffa Road and Mashiach Lane in downtown Jerusalem.

This Wednesday, December 17, is the 'Urs of Mevlana', the
"Wedding" which is actually the Yahrzeit of our beloved Persian poet Jelaluddin Rumi, pbuh. I'll read some poems from our Hebrew translation of Rumi's 'Diwan' and Moshe Menashoff will join our conversation and read his Hebrew translation of Rumi's "Song of the Reed." Both 'HaDiwan' and Menasoff's 'Shirat Rumi' are Hebrew translations based on the original Persian. And we're expecting a dervish friend to come whirl…

07/12/2025

השבוע נמשיך את "חברים לדרך," הגל השני בסדרה של עולם קטן בימי ד' בשעה 20:00, בהולצר ספרים, רח' יפו 91 פינת המשיח, במרכז העיר.

נחקור את האנתולוגיה המרשימה אף נגישה של ידידי הוותק דניאל מט, 'לב הקבלה: מבחר מקורות מתורת הסוד היהודית'.

This week we'll continue with the second meeting of "Friends on the Path," the second series of Olam Qatan talks in Hebrew on Wednesday nights at 8 pm. At Holzer's Bookstore, at the corner of 91 Jaffa Road and Mashiach Lane in downtown Jerusalem.

This Wednesday, on December 10, we'll probe the Hebrew edition we published at Olam Qatan of the impressive yet approachable anthology put together by my old friend Daniel Matt, 'The Essential Kabbalah: the Heart of Jewish Mysticism'.

03/12/2025

This is the announcement I sent out below in Hebrew, in English:

Friends,

This week we begin "Friends on the Path," the second series of Olam Qatan talks in Hebrew on Wednesday nights at 8 pm. At Holzer's Bookstore, at the corner of 91 Jaffa Road and Mashiach Lane in downtown Jerusalem.

Tonight, my good friend Michael Kagan will join me in presenting in Hebrew the prophetic messages he received in his book 'God's Prayer: A Sacred Challenge to Humanity'. What messages might the Creator have for us in these times?

On December 10 we'll probe the Hebrew edition of the impressive yet approachable anthology put together by my old friend Daniel Matt, 'The Essential Kabbalah: the Heart of Jewish Mysticism'.

The following Wednesday night, December 17, is the 'Urs of Mevlana', the "Wedding" which is actually the Yahrzeit of our beloved Persian poet Jelaluddin Rumi, pbuh. I'll read some poems from our Hebrew translation of Rumi's 'Diwan' and Moshe Menashoff will join our conversation, and read his Hebrew translation of Rumi's "Song of the Reed."

And on December 24 my old teacher-friend Rabbi Arthur Green, will join us in reading and discussing the Hebrew edition of his contemporary classic book of Jewish mysticism, with its focus on God within us and in this world, 'Seek My Face, Speak My Name'. When it first came out in Hebrew, this was the first book we launched when we opened Olam Qatan bookstore back in 1997… and the new Hebrew edition is the most recent book we've published!

Lehitraot,
Yaqub