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Monash University > News and Events > Monash Memo
Rare Monash family prayer books join library collection
10 August 2005
The Monash University Library Rare Books Collection has obtained four Jewish prayer books printed by Sir John Monash's grandfather -- Baer Lobel Monasch - in the mid-nineteenth century.
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| Rare Jewish prayer books from the mid 1800s printed by BL Monasch, grandfather of the university's namesake, Sir John Monash. |
The prayer books were bought at auction by Rare Books Librarian Mr Richard Overell. They were previously in the personal collection of a Melbourne Rabbi.
Monash University was named after Sir John Monash, a prominent Australian and wartime hero.
His family originated in Prussia's Posen Province, now part of Poland. Sir John's grandfather BL Monasch was a publisher of religious books. After migrating to Melbourne in 1854, the family changed the spelling of its surname.
Mr Overell said the books were highly significant for the university.
"They are iconic for us as Monash University, because they were printed by Monash's grandfather in Krotoschin, Prussia, where the family lived.
"We already have one of BL Monasch's prayer books donated by the Monash family, so it was great to be able to bring some of the set back together again."
Mr Overell said the books were for various festivals such as Shavout, Succot and Yom Kippur, and have been used in local Melbourne synagogues.
The five prayer books are available for viewing in the library's Rare Books Collection at the Sir Louis Matheson Library at Clayton campus.
The Rare Books Collection has 30 books from Sir John Monash's personal library that have been donated by members of his family over the years.
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