Dear Friends, As some of you may already know, this is my last month working for the organization. Let me start therefore by emphasizing how wonderful an experience the last 19 months have been for me, exploring the legacy of Rabbi Dr Louis ... Continue Reading ➨
Some Hasidic Thoughts on Hanukkah
Originally published in New London News: Journal of the New London Synagogue, 2:6 (November 1970). Hasidism is justly considered to be a fresh and original Jewish movement not so much because it created new Jewish institutions but because it read ... Continue Reading ➨
Formula for confession
Originally published in The Jewish Chronicle. Ever since the stereotyped formula for the Yom Kippur confession of sin was introduced, sensitive people have been bothered by the dishonesty involved in a man declaring before his God that he is ... Continue Reading ➨
Bastardy
Originally published in The Jewish Chronicle, 23 April 1971. “No mamzer (bastard) shall be admitted into the congregation of the Lord; none of his descendants, even in the tenth generation, shall be admitted into the congregation of the Lord” ... Continue Reading ➨
In Defence of God – 4 reviews of contemporary Jewish thought
Originally published in The Jewish Chronicle, 12 March 1971. His Own Torah: Selected Papers and Sermons of Felix A. Levy: A Memorial Volume, edited by Sefton D. Temkin, Jonathan David, New York, $10. The Royal Reach, by Norman Lamm, Feldheim, ... Continue Reading ➨
Continuing the Quest: A Celebration of Rabbi Dr Louis Jacobs
Published by the Assembly of Masorti Synagogues, with a foreword by Chaim Weiner, and introductions to each section by Jonathan Wittenberg. Click on the picture to start reading the book in a new tab. ... Continue Reading ➨
Norman Solomon reviews ‘Judaism and Theology’ and ‘Rabbinic Thought in the Talmud’
Originally published in The Jewish Chronicle, 10 June 2005. Judaism and Theology: Essays on the Jewish Religion. Louis Jacobs, Vallentine Mitchell, £17.95 (£39.50 HB). Rabbinic Thought in the Talmud. Louis Jacobs, Vallentine Mitchell, £17.95 ... Continue Reading ➨
Louis Ginzberg, ‘A Commentary on the Palestinian Talmud’
Originally published in The Jewish Chronicle, 16 July 1971. A Commentary on the Palestinian Talmud. A Study of the Development of the Halakah and Haggadah in Palestine and Babylonia (Hebrew) by Louis Ginzberg. Ktav Publishing House, New York, ... Continue Reading ➨
‘Principles of the Jewish Faith’ review in the Association of Jewish Libraries Newsletter
Originally published in the Association of Jewish Libraries Newsletter. Jacobs, Louis. Principles of the Jewish Faith. Northvale, N.J.: Jason Aronson 1988. $35.00. ISBN 0-87668-871-7. This reprint of a volume originally published in 1964 by ... Continue Reading ➨
Review of ‘The Talmudic Argument’ by Philip R. Davies
JACOBS, L., The Talmudic Argument, Cambridge: CUP, 1984. Pp. xvi + 220. Cloth, £25.00/$44.50. ISBN 0-521-26370-0. In a series of analyses of selected Talmudic sugyot, Jacobs illustrates his thesis that these arguments have been artificially ... Continue Reading ➨
Samuel H. Dresner, ‘The Zaddik’
The Zaddik. By Samuel H. Dresner. With a preface by Abraham J. Heschel. Abelard-Schuman. 30s. Heinrich Graetz, the famous Jewish historian, writing of the Chassidic movement, described it as “a daughter of darkness.” It was, says Graetz, “born in ... Continue Reading ➨
Re’eh – Blessing and Obedience
Originally published in The Jewish Chronicle. The blessing, if ye shall hearken unto the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you this day (Deuteronomy xi, 27). More than one Jewish commentator reads the Hebrew of this verse to ... Continue Reading ➨
Haim H. Conn, ‘Human Rights in Jewish Law’; Eliezer Berkovits, ‘Not in Heaven’
Human rights and human duties Human Rights in Jewish Law. By Haim H. Conn, Ktav (New York) for the Institute of Jewish Affairs, London. The concept of human rights, owing much to Locke, Paine and the American Declaration of Independence, is a ... Continue Reading ➨
Review by R. J. Zwi Werblowsly of A Jewish Theology’
Originally published in 1974. A Jewish Theology. By Louis Jacobs. Darton, Longman & Todd, £4.75. Jewish theology is an awkward subject. There are some deny its very existence, alleging that Judaism is a “way of life” (which religion is ... Continue Reading ➨
Review of ‘Jewish Values’ in the Jewish Observer & Middle East Review
Originally published in The Jewish Observer and Middle East Review, 23 September 1960. Jewish Values, by Rabbi Dr. Louis Jacobs; 160 pp.; (Vallentine, Mitchell) 21s. It seems to me a little anachronistic to publish a book with the title Jewish ... Continue Reading ➨
Louis Jacobs’s intervention at the Convocation of Religion for World Peace
Convocation held at Cow Palace, San Francisco, on 27 June 1965, on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the United Nations. Click on the picture to read reports of the event. ... Continue Reading ➨
Letter addressed to the New West End Board of Management by Isaac Wolfson
COPY OF A LETTER ADDRESSED TO OSCAR B. DAVIS, ESQ., AND OTHERS FROM SIR ISAAC WOLFSON, BART., PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED SYNAGOGUE 21st February, 1964 Dear Mr. Davis, I have most carefully considered with my colleagues your letter of 17th February. ... Continue Reading ➨
Letter from the New West End Synagogue Board Management to Isaac Wolfson
17th February 1964 The President, United Synagogue, Woburn House, Upper Woburn Place, London, W.C.1. Dear Sir Isaac, The following resolution was unanimously carried at a meeting on the 13th February of the Board of Management of the New ... Continue Reading ➨
Chronological Precis from the Board of Management of the New West End Synagogue
Sent to congregants on 27 February 1964 by Oscar B. Davis (Warden), in preparation for General Meeting to be held on 1 March. FROM THE BOARD OF MANAGEMENT OF THE NEW WEST END SYNAGOGUE 27th February 1964 Dear Congregant, In connection with the ... Continue Reading ➨
Cyril Abelson’s ‘Letter to a Student’
Extract from July 1963, from a correspondence which took place between Cyril Abelson and a student at Oxford University, Mr. Blank, on the subject of the teachings of Louis Jacobs. Click on the picture to read the piece. ... Continue Reading ➨