I am in awe of the good folks at hebrewbooks.org. They recently added 683 more books bringing the grand total to close to 47,000 Seforim, all freely available online for learning and/or download.
What is most gratifying, is that recently there has been a major shift by HB, in that they are adding many of the contemporary Seforim to their database. This is a huge money saver, as entire sets of Seforim, entire sets of the variety that are used seldomly, no longer need to be purchased.
The most recent update includes: Ohr Gedaliahu by Rav Gedalia Shorr. Dibros Moshe by Rav Moshe Feinstein. Minchas Shlomo by Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach. Peirush Chai on various Masechtos, Chazon Yechezkel (including Tosefta) by Rav Yechezkel Abramsky and many of the Emes L'Yaakov series by Rav Yaakov Kamenetzky.
I envy the share of the World to Come earned by Rabbi Chaim Rosenberg.
See also this earlier post.
Update May 25:
I didn't notice this at first, but also included in this list are two volumes on Yevamos entitled Nesivos Mordechai by Rav Mordechai Gifter. This is especially relevant, as these are new brand new Seforim and yet are already being posted on HB. I hope this trend continues that authors immediately post their works - upon, or shortly after publication.
20,000!
ReplyDeletearen't the works you mention still under copyright? i thought there policy was to upload only those works whose copyright had expired?
ReplyDeletePS It's REAL lonely today in the Red Tent. Maybe I DID disappear in the rapture
All Seforim posted on HB that are not out of copyright, are posted with permission of the copyright owner/s.
ReplyDeleteI think it makes sense for authors to post their works on HB. Rare is the Sefer printed with the intention to make money. Most are printed L'Toeles HaRabim. Hence authors will increase readership if they allow their Sefer to be published on HB.