Originally published in the Jewish Chronicle, 12th May 1978. The Early History of Israel. By Roland de Vaux. Translated by David Smith. (Vol. I “From the Beginnings to the Exodus and Covenant at Sinai;” Vol. II “From the Entry into Canaan to the ... Continue Reading ➨
Gershon Appel, ‘The Concise Code of Jewish Law’, Vol. I
Originally published in the Jewish Chronicle, 16th June 1978. The Concise Code of Jewish Law. Vol. I: A Guide to Prayer and Religious Observance In the Daily Life of the Jew. By Rabbi Gershon Appel. Ktav / Yeshiva University Press, New York. ... Continue Reading ➨
Life of Saadia – 4 reviews on medieval Jewish history
Originally published in the Jewish Chronicle, 25th June 1971. Saadia Gaon His Life and Works. By Henry Malter. Hermon Press, N.Y. Faith Strengthened. By Isaac of Troki, translated Moses Mocatta, introduction by Trude Weiss-Rosmarin. Ktav, ... Continue Reading ➨
Re’eh
Originally published in the Jewish press, 13th April 1993. The verse in the sidrah, “Ye are children of the Lord your God” (Deuteronomy 14: 1), implying that God can be described as a father, finds an echo in many a passage in the classical ... Continue Reading ➨
Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg – The Jacobs Affair taught us we need to talk together
Originally published in The Jewish News, 6th March 2014. Fifty years ago, in February 1964, the Board of the New West End wrote to the president of the United Synagogue to protest the decision of the Chief Rabbi “to withhold consent to the recall ... Continue Reading ➨
Menachem Mansoor, ‘Jewish History and Thought: An Introduction’
Originally published in The Heythrop Journal, A Quarterly Review of Philosophy and Theology, 35:1 (1994), p. 73. Jewish History and Thought: An Introduction. By Menahem Mansoor. Pp. xii, 571, Hoboken NJ, KTAV Publishing House, 1991, ... Continue Reading ➨
Levi A. Olan, ‘Prophetic Faith and the Secular Age’
Originally published in The Heythrop Journal, A Quarterly Review of Philosophy and Theology, 26:3 (1985), pp. 333-4. Prophetic Faith and the Secular Age. By Levi A. Olan. Pp.xiv, 162, New York, Ktav, 1982, $15.00. Rabbi Olan’s essay seeks to ... Continue Reading ➨
David Darshan, ‘Shir HaMa’alot L’David and Ktav Hitnazzelut L’Darshanim’
Originally published in Polin: Studies in Polish Jewry. Volume 1. Poles and Jews: Renewing the Dialogue (1986), pp. 361-2. David Darshan. Shir HaMa’alot L’David and Ktav Hitnazzelut L’Darshanim. Translated and annotated by H. G. Perelmuter. ... Continue Reading ➨
Schubert Spero, ‘Morality, Halakha and the Jewish Tradition’
Originally published in Journal of Jewish Studies 35:2 (1984), pp. 232-4. Schubert Spero, Morality, Halakha and the Jewish Tradition (The Library of Jewish Law and Ethics, ed. Norman Lamm, Vol. IX), Yeshiva University/Ktav, New York, 1983, xv, 381 ... Continue Reading ➨
Stephen M. Passamaneck, ‘The Traditional Jewish Law of Sale: Shulhan ‘Arukh, Hoshen Mishpat 189-240’
Originally published in Journal of Jewish Studies 35:2 (1984), p. 235. Stephen M. Passamaneck, The Traditional Jewish Law of Sale: Shulhan ‘Arukh Hoshen Mishpat 189-240. Hebrew Union College, Cincinnati, 1983. ii, 332 pp. $20.00. Professor ... Continue Reading ➨
Michael Fishbane, ‘The Kiss of God: Spiritual and Mystical Death in Judaism’
Originally published in the Journal of Semitic Studies, 41:1 (1996), pp. 154-5. MICHAEL FlSHBANE, The Kiss of God: Spiritual and Mystical Death in Judaism (The Samuel and Althea Lectures in Jewish Studies). University of Washington Press, Seattle ... Continue Reading ➨
Shamma Friedman; Alan J. Avery-Peck – 2 reviews on Talmudic translations and commentaries
Originally published in the Journal of Semitic Studies, 44:2 (1999), pp. 316-18. Shamma Friedman, Talmud Arukh: BT Bava Mezi’a VI. Critical Edition with Comprehensive Commentary. Volume I: Text; Volume II: Commentary. The Jewish Theological ... Continue Reading ➨
Aryeh Cohen, ‘Rereading Talmud: Gender, Law and the Poetics of Sugyot’
Originally published in the Journal of Semitic Studies, 47:2 (2002), pp. 357-8. Aryeh Cohen, Rereading Talmud: Gender, Law and the Poetics of Sugyot (Brown Judaic Series 318). Scholars Press, Atlanta 1998. Pp. iv + 242. Price: $34.95 hardback. ... Continue Reading ➨
Tzvee Zahavy, ‘The Talmud of Babylonia: An American Translation, Tractate Hullin, Chapters 1-2’
Originally published in the Journal of Semitic Studies, 39:2 (1994), pp. 330-2. Tzvee Zahavi (tr.), The Talmud of Babylonia: An American Translation, Vol. XXX.A: Tractate Hullin Chapters 1-2 (Brown Judaic Series 253), Scholars Press, Atlanta 1992. ... Continue Reading ➨
Elisheva Carlebach, ‘The Pursuit of Heresy: Rabbi Moses Hagiz and the Sabbatian Controversies’
Originally published in European History Quarterly, 28:4 (1998), pp. 578-9. Elisheva Carlebach, The Pursuit of Heresy: Rabbi Moses Hagiz and the Sabbatian Controversies, New York, Columbia University Press, 1990; ISBN 0-231-07191-4; xv + 364 pp.; ... Continue Reading ➨
Mortimer Ostrow (ed.), ‘Judaism and Psychoanalysis’
Originally published in The Heythrop Journal, A Quarterly Review of Philosophy and Theology, 25:2 (1984), p. 206. Judaism and Psychoanalysis. Edited by Mortimer Ostrow. Pp. ix, 305, New York, Ktav, 1982, $20.00. In a letter to his Christian ... Continue Reading ➨
Hillel Goldberg, ‘Israel Salanter: Text, Structure, Idea’
Originally published in The Heythrop Journal, A Quarterly Review of Philosophy and Theology, 26:2 (1985), p. 218. Israel Salanter: Text, Structure, Idea. By Hillel Goldberg. Pp. xvii, 358, New York, Ktav, 1981, $17.50. Rabbi Israel Lipkin ... Continue Reading ➨
Basil F. Herring, ‘Joseph Ibn Kaspi’s Gevia Kesef’
Originally published in The Heythrop Journal, A Quarterly Review of Philosophy and Theology, 26:3 (1985), pp. 322-3. Joseph Ibn Kaspi’s Gevia ‘Kesef. By Basil Herring. Pp. xii, 301, New York, Ktav, 1982, no price given. Joseph Kaspi was born in ... Continue Reading ➨
David R. Blumenthal, ‘Understanding Jewish Mysticism: A Source Reader’
Originally published in The Heythrop Journal, A Quarterly Review of Philosophy and Theology, 26:4 (1985), p. 479. Understanding Jewish Mysticism: A Source Reader. Edited by David R. Blumenthal. Pp. xv, 208, New York, Ktav Publishing House, 1982, ... Continue Reading ➨
Walter Kaiser, ‘Toward Old Testament Ethics’
Originally published in The Heythrop Journal, A Quarterly Review of Philosophy and Theology, 27:1 (1986), p. 72. Toward Old Testament Ethics. By Walter C. Kaiser, Pp. xii, 345, Grand Rapids (Michigan), Academie Books, 1983, £13.95. Dr Kaiser ... Continue Reading ➨