SHULA JACOBS,
NEW and BRILLIANT Upload!THE MODERNISM OF LOUIS JACOBS by John Rayner A Jewish Theology, by Louis Jacobs. 322 pages. (Darton, Longman & Todd). £4.75. A 14th-century Halachist produced a law-code which he called Kol Bo, “Everything is in it”, and was duly rewarded ... Continue Reading ➨
Abraham Levy, ‘The Sephardim: A Problem of Survival?’
Originally published in The Jewish Chronicle, 10th November 1972. Sephardi approach LOUIS JACOBS THE SEPHARDIM: A PROBLEM OF SURVIVAL? By Abraham Levy. London, 1972. Copies available from 4 Biddulph Road, Maida Vale, W9. There is a ... Continue Reading ➨
Gerhard Von Rad, ‘Wisdom in Israel’
Originally published in The Jewish Chronicle, 3rd November 1972. PATTERNS OF THOUGHT Louis Jacobs Wisdom in Israel. By Gerhard Von Rad. Translated from the German by James D. Martin. SCM Press. £3.75. This penetrating study is the last ... Continue Reading ➨
Nehama Leibowitz, ‘Studies in the Book of Genesis’
Originally published in The Jewish Chronicle, 19th January 1973. A WORK OF DEVOTION Louis Jacobs Studies in the Book of Genesis. By Nehama Leibowitz, translated and adapted from the Hebrew by Aryeh Newman. Alpha Press, Jerusalem, 1972. No ... Continue Reading ➨
Pamela Vermas, ‘Buber on God and the Perfect Man’
Originally published in The Jewish Chronicle, 13th October 1981. THE I-THOU RELATIONSHIP LOUIS JACOBS Buber on God and the Perfect Man. By Pamela Vermes. Brown Judaic Studies No. 13. Scholars Press/Journal of Jewish Studies. £5.25. That ... Continue Reading ➨
F. George Kay, ‘The Family in Transition: Its Past, Present and Future Patterns’
Originally published in The Jewish Chronicle, 20th October 1972. FAMILY MATTERS Louis Jacobs The Family in Transition: Its Past, Present and Future Patterns. By F. George Kay. David and Charles. £3.25. This interesting book (and ... Continue Reading ➨
Review of ‘A Jewish Theology’ in The Month
Originally published in The Month, July 1974, p. 652. Rabbinical Lore A Jewish Theology by Louis Jacobs. (Darton, Longman and Todd, pp. 342, £4.75). Rabbi Dr Jacob’s book deserves the highest praise. It contains a full, almost encyclopaedic ... Continue Reading ➨
Umberto Cassuto, ‘Commentary on the Book of Exodus’
Originally published in The Jewish Chronicle, 26th January 1973. COMMENTARY & CRITICISM By LOUIS JACOBS Commentary on the Book of Exodus. By U. Cassuto, translated by Israel Abrahams. The Magnes Press, the Hebrew University. Distributed by ... Continue Reading ➨
Abba Hillel Silver, ‘Where Judaism Differed’
Originally published in The Jewish Chronicle, 26th January 1973. Selective Judaism LOUIS JACOBS Where Judaism Differed. By Abba Hillel Silver. Macmillian (NY). Available UK at 70p. This is a paperback edition of the by now famous book, first ... Continue Reading ➨
Dagobert D. Runes, ‘Of God, the Devil, and the Jews’
Originally published in Chayenu, 21:9/10 (1952), pp. 10-11. Of God, the Devil and the Jews, by Dagobert D. Runes, the Philosophical Library, New York. $3.0. The publisher’s blurb describes this book as “a powerful and profound indictment of the ... Continue Reading ➨
The Spirit of the Din
Originally published in Chayenu, 20:1/2 (1952), pp. 2-4. A modern poet wrote a poem called, “The Law the Lawyers Know About,” in which he describes the supposed conflict between the different outlooks of the poet and the legalist: “The law the ... Continue Reading ➨
Stephen Spender, ‘Learning Laughter’
Originally published in Chayenu, 22:2/3 (1953), p. 13. Learning Laughter, by Stephen Spender, London, 1952. Price 15s. The theme of this book is summed up on the jacket by the delightful picture of a dusky and a fair Jewish child playing ... Continue Reading ➨
J. B. Bury, ‘History of Freedom of Thought’
Originally published in Chayenu, 22:2/3 (1953), p. 13. History of freedom of thought, by J. B. Bury with an Epilogue by H. J. Blackham, Oxford University Press, 1952. Price 6s. Prof Burry’s book was first published in 1913. Much water has ... Continue Reading ➨
What is Kabbalah?
Originally published in Jewish Heritage, 2:1 (1959), pp. 17-22. WHAT IS KABALLAH? Kabbalah is the name given to the mystic trend in Jewish life and thought. The word is derived from a root meaning “to receive,” i.e., the tradition of mystic lore ... Continue Reading ➨
The Talmid Hakham
Originally published in The Jewish Spectator, 18:4 (April 1953), pp. 17-20. Of all the spiritual types produced by Jews, none has had a longer and more continuous tradition than that of the Talmid Hakham. Today’s Talmid Hakham may be different in ... Continue Reading ➨
Daniel H. Frank, ‘A People Apart: Choseness and Ritual in Jewish Philosophical Thought’
Originally published in JJSO 36:1 (1994), pp. 61-3. Daniel H. Frank, ed., A People Apart: Chosenness and Ritual in Jewish Philosophical Thought (SUNY Series in Jewish Philosophy), vi + 270 pp., State University of New York Press, Albany, 1993, ... Continue Reading ➨
Chaim Wirszubski, ‘Pico Della Mirandola’s Encounter with Jewish Mysticism’
Originally published in Jewish Quarterly 38:1 (141) (1991), p. 69. A CHRISTIAN KABBALIST Louis Jacobs PICO DELLA MIRANDOLA’S ENCOUNTER WITH JEWISH MYSTICISM by Chaim Wirszubski. Cambridge, MA, and London: Harvard University Press, 1989. The ... Continue Reading ➨
Leo Baeck, ‘God and Man in Judaism’
Originally published in A.J.A. Quarterly, 5:2 (1959), pp. 33-4. Basic Judaism God and Man in Judaism. By Leo Baeck. With a Foreword by Leonard G. Montefiore. Vallentine, Mitchell. 6s. This essay on the basic teachings of Judaism originally ... Continue Reading ➨
Review of ‘We Have Reason to Believe’ by Alan J. L. Jacobs
Originally published in A.J.A. Quarterly, 3:2 (1957), pp. 39-40. FAITH We have Reason to Believe. By Rabbi Louis Jacobs. Vallentine Mitchell. 15s. Rabbi Louis Jacobs has both the courage and the knowledge to answer the most perplexing problems ... Continue Reading ➨
Maurice Friedman, ‘Martin Buber: The Life of Dialogue’; Martin Buber, ‘The Legend of the Baal Shem’
Originally published in A.J.A. Quarterly, 3:2 (1957), pp. 38-9. MORE BUBERISM Martin Buber—The Life of Dialogue. By Maurice Friedman. Routledge and Kegan Paul. 25s. The Legend of the Baal Shem. By Martin Buber. East and West Library. 17s. ... Continue Reading ➨