SHULA JACOBS,
NEW and BRILLIANT Upload!Originally published in The Jewish Chronicle, 1 April 1977. On Being a Christian. By Hans Küng. Translated by Edward Quinn. Collins. £7.95. In this gigantic book of over 700 pages with learned it notes, the distinguished Roman Catholic ... Continue Reading ➨
Samuel C. Heilman, ‘Synagogue Life: A Study in Symbolic Interaction’
Originally published in The Jewish Chronicle, 29 April 1977. Synagogue Life: A Study in Symbolic Interaction. By Samuel C. Heilman. Chicago University Press. £8.75. Some American anthropologists, having exhausted, in more senses than one, the ... Continue Reading ➨
Norman Linzer (ed.), ‘Understanding Bereavement and Grief’
Originally published in The Jewish Chronicle, 5 August 197[?]. Understanding Bereavement and Grief. Edited by Norman Linzer, Ktav and Yeshiva University Press. $15 cloth, $6.95 paperback. This book contains the Proceedings of two ... Continue Reading ➨
Erudite Enrichment – 4 reviews on biblical literature
Originally published in The Jewish Chronicle. The Biblical Antiquities of Philo, translated from the old Latin version, by M. R. James. Ktav, New York. Old Testament Illustrations. By Clifford M. Jones. Cambridge University Press. £3. The ... Continue Reading ➨
Nahum, son of Moses Aaron, ‘Nehamot Yisrael: A Commentary to the Song of Songs’
Originally published in The Jewish Chronicle. Nehamot Yisrael, a Commentary to the Song of Songs. By Nahum, son of Moses Aaron, Jer., reprinted from the first edition, Jer., 1902. This boob has been reprinted through the efforts of the author’s ... Continue Reading ➨
Samuel Sandmell, ‘Philo of Alexandria: An Introduction’
Originally published in The Jewish Chronicle. Philo of Alexandria: An Introduction. By Samuel Sandmell. Oxford University Press. £7.50. Philo of Alexandria, contemporary of Hillel, Gamaliel, Jesus and Paul, and one of the most influential ... Continue Reading ➨
R. E. Clements, ‘Old Testament Theology: A Fresh Approach’
Originally published in The Jewish Chronicle. Old Testament Theology: A Fresh Approach. By R. E. Clements. Marshall, Morgan and Scott. £6.95. A fresh approach, indeed, and a very refreshing one. R. E. Clements discusses, albeit tentatively, how ... Continue Reading ➨
Haim H. Cohn, ‘Jewish Law in Ancient and Modern Israel’
Originally published in The Jewish Chronicle, 22 October 1971. Jewish Law in Ancient and Modern Israel. Edited by Haim H. Cohn. Ktav, 1971. Judge Cohn has collected a number of previously published essays written by him and by other Israeli ... Continue Reading ➨
Nehama Leibowitz, ‘Studies in Shemot’; Georg Fohrer, ‘Introduction to the Old Testament’
Originally published in The Jewish Chronicle. Studies in Shemot: The Book of Exodus. By Nehama Leibowitz. Translated and adapted from the Hebrew by Aryeh Newman. World Zionist Organisation. Jerusalem. N.P. Introduction to the Old Testament. By ... Continue Reading ➨
Chaim Pearl, ‘The Mediaeval Jewish Mind’
Originally published in The Jewish Chronicle, 13th August 1971. The Mediaeval Jewish Mind. By Chaim Pearl. Vallentine, Mitchell. 1971. £2.80. The sub-title of this book is “The Religious Philosophy of Isaac Arama” of which Dr Pearl gives a ... Continue Reading ➨
The Responsum on the Kabbalah by Jair Hayyim Bacharach (1638-1702)
Unpublished article. The Famous Responsa collection, Havvot Yair, by R. Jair Hayyim Bacharach (1637-1702) was first published, towards the end of the author’s life, in Frankfort in the year 1699[1]. Responsum No. 210 is in reply to a questioner ... Continue Reading ➨
Scriptural interpretation
Originally published in The Jewish Chronicle. Date unknown: Many of the Psalms are headed “A song of degrees.” What does this mean? The New English Bible treats this and similar headings to the Psalms as later interpolations of which the ... Continue Reading ➨
Family law
Originally published in The Jewish Chronicle. Date unknown: I am confused by the report of the Israeli court case about the marriage of a Cohen with a divorced woman. Could you please explain the issues involved? Leviticus 21, 7, reads: ... Continue Reading ➨
Miscellaneous
Originally published in The Jewish Chronicle. Date unknown: Some of our religious leaders have now come out against discrimination on colour grounds. Can you give me precise references from the sources that this is abhorrent to Judaism? ... Continue Reading ➨
Liturgy, synagogue life, and services
Originally published in The Jewish Chronicle. Date unknown: Is it permitted to call a woman to the Reading of the Law? Contrary to what is generally assumed, there is no objection to a woman who has her period coming near to the Sefer Torah ... Continue Reading ➨
Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur
Originally published in The Jewish Chronicle. Rosh Hashanah 28 August 1970: Why is the shofar blown during the month of Ellul? Ellul, the last month of the Jewish year, is traditionally the time of preparation for the new, leading up to Rosh ... Continue Reading ➨
Life cycle (birth, marriage, death, and others)
Originally published in The Jewish Chronicle. Date unknown: Some people say that persons both of whose parents are alive must not visit cemeteries. Is this superstition? I have been unable to find any reference to this in the sources so ... Continue Reading ➨
Fast days, minor holidays, and the Jewish calendar
Originally published in The Jewish Chronicle. Date unknown: I understand that there are various mystical rites connected with Lag b’Omer. Can you tell me about them? From the sixteenth century onwards, Lag b’Omer became identified with the ... Continue Reading ➨
Hanukah and Purim
Originally published in The Jewish Chronicle. Hanukah 18 December 197[?]: During the power-cuts some people used yahrzeit candles or Chanucah candles for illumination. Is this permitted? Both the Yahrzeit candle and the Chanucah candles may ... Continue Reading ➨
Death and Mourning
Originally published in The Jewish Chronicle. Date unknown: I see that a Southend rabbi refused to attend a shiva for a person who was cremated. What is the reason? Reform and liberal congregations permit cremation if it is carried out in a ... Continue Reading ➨