Jewish Literature and Other Essays
Chapter 26
=OPINIONS OF THE PRESS.=
The entire work is one of great interest; it is written with moderation, and yet with a fine enthusiasm for the great race which is set before the reader's mind.--_Atlantic Monthly._
We doubt whether there is in the English language a better sketch of Jewish history. The Jewish Publication Society is to be congratulated on the successful opening of its career. Such a movement, so auspiciously begun, deserves the hearty support of the public.--_Nation_ (New York).
Of universal historical interest.--_Philadelphia Ledger._
Compresses much in simple language.--_Baltimore Sun._
Though full of sympathy for her own people, it is not without a singular value for readers whose religious belief differs from that of the author.--_New York Times._
One of the clearest and most compact works of its class produced in modern times.--_New York Sun._
The Jewish Publication Society of America has not only conferred a favor upon all young Hebrews, but also upon all Gentiles who desire to see the Jew as he appears to himself.--_Boston Herald._
We know of no single-volume history which gives a better idea of the remarkable part played by the Jews in ancient and modern history.--_San Francisco Chronicle._
A succinct, well-written history of a wonderful race.--_Buffalo Courier._
The best hand-book of Jewish history that readers of any class can find.--_New York Herald._
A convenient and attractive hand-book of Jewish history.--_Cleveland Plain Dealer._
The work is an admirable one, and as a manual of Jewish history, it may be commended to persons of every race and creed.--_Philadelphia Times._
Altogether it would be difficult to find another book on this subject containing so much information.--_American_ (Philadelphia).
Lady Magnus' book is a valuable addition to the store-house of literature that we already have about the Jews.--_Charleston (S. C.) News._
We should like to see this volume in the library of every school in the State.--_Albany Argus._
A succinct, helpful portrayal of Jewish history.--_Boston Post._
Bound in Cloth. Price, postpaid, $1.00, Library Edition.
75 cents. School Edition.
"THINK AND THANK."
A Tale for the Young, Narrating in Romantic Form the Boyhood of Sir Moses Montefiore.
WITH SIX ILLUSTRATIONS.
BY SAMUEL W. COOPER.
=OPINIONS OF THE PRESS.=
A graphic and interesting story, full of incident and adventure, with an admirable spirit attending it consonant with the kindly and sweet, though courageous and energetic temper of the distinguished philanthropist.--_American_ (Philadelphia).
THINK AND THANK is a most useful corrective to race prejudice. It is also deeply interesting as a biographical sketch of a distinguished Englishman.--_Philadelphia Ledger._
A fine book for boys of any class to read.--_Public Opinion_ (Washington).
It will have especial interest for the boys of his race, but all school-boys can well afford to read it and profit by it.--_Albany Evening Journal._
Told simply and well.--_New York Sun._
An excellent story for children.--_Indianapolis Journal._
The old as well as the young may learn a lesson from it.--_Jewish Exponent._
It is a thrilling story exceedingly well told.--_American Israelite._
The book is written in a plain, simple style, and is well adapted for Sunday School libraries.--_Jewish Spectator._
It is one of the very few books in the English language which can be placed in the hands of a Jewish boy with the assurance of arousing and maintaining his interest.--_Hebrew Journal._
Intended for the young, but may well be read by their elders.--_Detroit Free Press._
Bright and attractive reading.--_Philadelphia Press._
THINK AND THANK will please boys, and it will be found popular in Sunday School libraries.--_New York Herald._
The story is a beautiful one, and gives a clear insight into the circumstances, the training and the motives that gave impulse and energy to the life-work of the great philanthropist.--_Kansas City Times._
We should be glad to know that this little book has a large circulation among Gentiles as well as among the "chosen people." It has no trace of religious bigotry about it, and its perusal cannot but serve to make Christian and Jew better known to each other.--_Philadelphia Telegraph._
Bound in Cloth. Price, postpaid, 50c.
RABBI AND PRIEST.
A STORY.
BY MILTON GOLDSMITH.
=OPINIONS OF THE PRESS.=
The author has attempted to depict faithfully the customs and practices of the Russian people and government in connection with the Jewish population of that country. The book is a strong and well-written story. We read and suffer with the sufferers.--_Public Opinion_ (Washington).
Although addressed to Jews, with an appeal to them to seek freedom and peace in America, it ought to be read by humane people of all races and religions. Mr. Goldsmith is a master of English, and his pure style is one of the real pleasures of the story.--_Philadelphia Bulletin._
The book has the merit of being well written, is highly entertaining, and it cannot fail to prove of interest to all who may want to acquaint themselves in the matter of the condition of affairs that has recently been attracting universal attention.--_San Francisco Call._
RABBI AND PRIEST has genuine worth, and is entitled to a rank among the foremost of its class.--_Minneapolis Tribune._
The writer tells his story from the Jewish standpoint, and tells it well.--_St. Louis Republic._
The descriptions of life in Russia are vivid and add greatly to the charm of the book.--_Buffalo Courier._
A very thrilling story.--_Charleston (S.C.) News._
Very like the horrid tales that come from unhappy Russia.--_New Orleans Picayune._
The situations are dramatic; the dialogue is spirited.--_Jewish Messenger._
A history of passing events in an interesting form.--_Jewish Tidings._
RABBI AND PRIEST will appeal to the sympathy of every reader in its touching simplicity and truthfulness.--_Jewish Spectator._
Bound in Cloth. Price, postpaid, $1.
SPECIAL SERIES NO. 1.
The Persecution of the Jews in Russia.
WITH A MAP, SHOWING THE PALE OF JEWISH SETTLEMENT.
Also, an Appendix, giving an Abridged Summary of Laws,
Special and Restrictive, relating to the Jews in
Russia, brought down to the year 1890.
=OPINIONS OF THE PRESS.=
The pamphlet is full of facts, and will inform people very fully in regard to the basis of the complaints made by Jews against Russia. We hope it will be very widely circulated.--_Public Opinion_ (Washington).
The laws and regulations governing Jews in Russia, subjecting them to severe oppression, grievous restrictions and systematic persecution, are stated in condensed form with precise references, bespeaking exactness in compilation and in presenting the case of these unfortunate people.--_Galveston News._
This pamphlet supplies information that is much in demand, and which ought to be generally known in enlightened countries.--_Cincinnati Commercial Gazette._
Considering the present agitation upon the subject it is a very timely publication.--_New Orleans Picayune._
It is undoubtedly the most compact and thorough presentation of the Russo-Jewish question.--_American Israelite._
Better adapted to the purpose of affording an adequate knowledge of the issues involved in, and the consequences of, the present great crisis in the affairs of the Jews of Russia than reams of rhetoric.--_Hebrew Journal._
Paper. Price, postpaid, 25c.
SPECIAL SERIES NO. 2.
Voegele's Marriage and Other Tales.
BY LOUIS SCHNABEL.
=OPINIONS OF THE PRESS.=
A series of nine well-written short stories based upon love and religion, which make quite interesting reading.--_Burlington Hawkeye._
A pamphlet containing several sketches full of high moral principle, and of quite interesting developments of simple human emergencies.--_Public Opinion_ (Washington, D. C.)
Interesting alike to Hebrew and Gentile.--_Minneapolis Tribune._
In addition to being interesting, is written with a purpose, and carries with it a wholesome lesson.--_San Francisco Call._
This is a collection of brief stories of Jewish life, some of which are of great interest, while all are well written.--_Charleston (S. C.) News and Courier._
The little volume as a whole is curious and interesting, aside from its claims to artistic merit.--_American Bookseller_ (New York).
Short tales of Jewish life under the oppressive laws of Eastern Europe, full of minute detail.--_Book News_ (Philadelphia).
Written in delightful style, somewhat in the manner of Kompert and Bernstein.... To many the booklet will be a welcome visitor and be greatly relished.--_Menorah Monthly._
These stories are permeated with the Jewish spirit which is characteristic of all Mr. Schnabel's works.--_American Hebrew._
Paper. Price, postpaid, 25c.
CHILDREN OF THE GHETTO
_BEING_
PICTURES OF A PECULIAR PEOPLE.
BY I. ZANGWILL.
The art of a Hogarth or a Cruikshank could not have made types of character stand out with greater force or in bolder relief than has the pen of this author.--_Philadelphia Record._
It is one of the best pictures of Jewish life and thought that we have seen since the publication of "Daniel Deronda."--London _Pall Mall Gazette_.
This book is not a mere mechanical photographic reproduction of the people it describes, but a glowing, vivid portrayal of them, with all the pulsating sympathy of one who understands them, their thoughts and feelings, with all the picturesque fidelity of the artist who appreciates the spiritual significance of that which he seeks to delineate.--_Hebrew Journal._
Its sketches of character have the highest value.... Not often do we note a book so fresh, true and in every way helpful.--_Philadelphia Evening Telegraph._
A strong and remarkable book. It is not easy to find a parallel to it. We do not know of any other novel which deals so fully and so authoritatively with Judaea in modern London.--_Speaker, London._
Among the notable productions of the time.... All that is here portrayed is unquestionable truth.--_Jewish Exponent._
Many of the pictures will be recognized at once by those who have visited London or are at all familiar with the life of that city.--_Detroit Free Press._
It is a succession of sharply-penned realistic portrayals.--_Baltimore American._
TWO VOLUMES.
Bound in Cloth. Price, postpaid, $2.50.
SOME JEWISH WOMEN.
BY
HENRY ZIRNDORF.
=_OPINIONS OF THE PRESS._=
Moral purity, nobility of soul, self-sacrifice, deep affection and devotion, sorrow and happiness all enter into these biographies, and the interest felt in their perusal is added to by the warmth and sympathy which the author displays and by his cultured and vigorous style of writing.--_Philadelphia Record._
His methods are at once a simplification and expansion of Josephus and the Talmud, stories simply told, faithful presentation of the virtues, and not infrequently the vices, of characters sometimes legendary, generally real.--_New York World._
The lives here given are interesting in all cases, and are thrilling in some cases.--_Public Opinion_ (Washington, D.C.).
The volume is one of universal historic interest, and is a portrayal of the early trials of Jewish women.--_Boston Herald._
Though the chapters are brief, they are clearly the result of deep and thorough research that gives the modest volume an historical and critical value.--_Philadelphia Times._
It is an altogether creditable undertaking that the present author has brought to so gratifying a close--the silhouette drawing of Biblical female character against the background of those ancient historic times.--_Minneapolis Tribune._
Henry Zirndorf ranks high as a student, thinker and writer, and this little book will go far to encourage the study of Hebrew literature.--_Denver Republican._
The book is gracefully written, and has many strong touches of characterizations.--_Toledo Blade._
The sketches are based upon available history and are written in clear narrative style.--_Galveston News._
Henry Zirndorf has done a piece of work of much literary excellence in "SOME JEWISH WOMEN."--S_t. Louis Post-Dispatch._
It is an attractive book in appearance and full of curious biographical research.--_Baltimore Sun._
The writer shows careful research and conscientiousness in making his narratives historically correct and in giving to each heroine her just due.--_American Israelite_ (Cincinnati).
Bound in Cloth, Ornamental, Gilt Top. Price, postpaid, $1.25.
HISTORY OF THE JEWS
BY
PROFESSOR H. GRAETZ
Vol. I. From the Earliest Period to the Death of Simon the Maccabee (135 B.C.E.).
Vol. II. From the Reign of Hyrcanus to the Completion of the Babylonian Talmud (500 C.E.).
Vol. III. From the Completion of the Babylonian Talmud to the Banishment of the Jews from England (1290 C.E.).
Vol. IV. From the Rise of the Kabbala (1270 C.E.) to the Permanent Settlement of the Marranos in Holland (1618 C.E.).
Vol. V. In preparation.
=OPINIONS OF THE PRESS.=
Professor Graetz's History is universally accepted as a conscientious and reliable contribution to religious literature.--_Philadelphia Telegraph._
Aside from his value as a historian, he makes his pages charming by all the little side-lights and illustrations which only come at the beck of genius.--_Chicago Inter-Ocean._
The writer, who is considered by far the greatest of Jewish historians, is the pioneer in his field of work--history without theology or polemics.... His monumental work promises to be the standard by which all other Jewish histories are to be measured by Jews for many years to come.--_Baltimore American._
Whenever the subject constrains the author to discuss the Christian religion, he is animated by a spirit not unworthy of the philosophic and high-minded hero of Lessing's "Nathan the Wise."--_New York Sun._
It is an exhaustive and scholarly work, for which the student of history has reason to be devoutly thankful.... It will be welcomed also for the writer's excellent style and for the almost gossipy way in which he turns aside from the serious narrative to illumine his pages with illustrative descriptions of life and scenery.--_Detroit Free Press._
One of the striking features of the compilation is its succinctness and rapidity of narrative, while at the same time necessary detail is not sacrificed.--_Minneapolis Tribune._
Whatever controversies the work may awaken, of its noble scholarship there can be no question.--_Richmond Dispatch._
If one desires to study the history of the Jewish people under the direction of a scholar and pleasant writer who is in sympathy with his subject because he is himself a Jew, he should resort to the volumes of Graetz.--_Review of Reviews_ (New York).
Bound in Cloth. Price, postpaid, $3 per Volume
SABBATH HOURS
=THOUGHTS=
BY LIEBMAN ADLER
=OPINIONS OF THE PRESS=
Rabbi Adler was a man of strong and fertile mind, and his sermons are eminently readable.--_Sunday School Times._
As one turns from sermon to sermon, he gathers a wealth of precept which, if he would practice, he would make both himself and others happier. We might quote from every page some noble utterance or sweet thought well worthy of the cherishing by either Jew or Christian.--_Richmond Dispatch._
The topics discussed are in the most instances practical in their nature. All are instructive, and passages of rare eloquence are of frequent occurrence.--_San Francisco Call._
The sermons are simple and careful studies, sometimes of doctrine, but more often of teaching and precept.--_Chicago Times._
He combined scholarly attainment with practical experience, and these sermons cover a wide range of subject. Some of them are singularly modern in tone.--_Indianapolis News._
They are modern sermons, dealing with the problems of the day, and convey the interpretation which these problems should receive in the light of the Old Testament history.--_Boston Herald._
While this book is not without interest in those communities where there is no scarcity of religious teaching and influence, it cannot fail to be particularly so in those communities where there is but little Jewish teaching.--_Baltimore American._
The sermons are thoughtful and earnest in tone and draw many forcible and pertinent lessons from the Old Testament records.--_Syracuse Herald._
They are saturated with Bible lore, but every incident taken from the Old Testament is made to illustrate some truth in modern life.--_San Francisco Chronicle._
They are calm and conservative, ... applicable in their essential meaning to the modern religious needs of Gentile as well as Jew. In style they are eminently clear and direct.-_-Review of Reviews_ (New York).
Able, forcible, helpful thoughts upon themes most essential to the prosperity of the family, society and the state.--_Public Opinion_ (Washington, D.C.).
Bound in Cloth. Price, postpaid, $1.25
PAPERS
OF THE
Jewish Women's Congress
Held at Chicago, September, 1893
=OPINIONS OF THE PRESS=
This meeting was held during the first week of September, and was marked by the presentation of some particularly interesting addresses and plans. This volume is a complete report of the sessions.--_Chicago Times._
The collection in book form of the papers read at the Jewish Women's Congress ... makes an interesting and valuable book, of the history and affairs of the Jewish women of America.--_St. Louis Post-Dispatch._
A handsome and valuable souvenir of an event of great significance to the people of the Jewish faith, and of much interest and value to intelligent and well informed people of all faiths.--_Kansas City Times._
The Congress was a branch of the Parliament of Religions and was a great success, arousing the interest of Jews and Christians alike, and bringing together from all parts of the country women interested in their religion, following similar lines of work and sympathetic in ways of thought.... The papers in the volume are all of interest.--_Detroit Free Press._
The Jewish Publication Society of America has done a good work in gathering up and issuing in a well-printed volume the "Papers of the Jewish Women's Congress."--_Cleveland Plain-Dealer._
Bound in Cloth. Price, postpaid, $1
OLD EUROPEAN JEWRIES
BY DAVID PHILIPSON, D.D.
=OPINIONS OF THE PRESS=
A good purpose is served in this unpretending little book, ... which contains an amount and kind of information that it would be difficult to find elsewhere without great labor. The author's subject is the Ghetto, or Jewish quarter in European cities.--_Literary World_ (Boston).
It is interesting ... to see the foundation of ... so much fiction that is familiar to us--to go, as the author here has gone in one of his trips abroad, into the remains of the old Jewries.--_Baltimore Sun._
His book is a careful study limited to the official Ghetto.--_Cincinnati Commercial-Gazette._
Out-of-the-way information, grateful to the delver in antiquities, forms the staple of a work on the historic Ghettos of Europe--_Milwaukee Sentinel._
He tells the story of the Ghettos calmly, sympathetically and conscientiously, and his deductions are in harmony with those of all other intelligent and fair-minded men.--_Richmond Dispatch._
A striking study of the results of a system that has left its mark upon the Jews of all countries.--_San Francisco Chronicle._
He has carefully gone over all published accounts and made discriminating use of the publications, both recent and older, on his subject, in German, French and English.--_Reform Advocate_ (Chicago).
Bound in Cloth. Price, postpaid, $1.25
* * * * *
FOOTNOTES:
[1] Zunz, _Gesammelte Schriften_, I., 42.
[2] G. Scherr, _Allgemeine Geschichte der Litteratur_, I., p. 62.
[3] F. Freiligrath, _Die Bilderbibel_.
[4] D. Cassel, _Lehrbuch der juedischen Geschichte und Literatur_, p. 198.
[5] Heine, _Romanzero, Jehuda ben Halevy_.
[6] F. Delitzsch, _Zur Geschichte der juedischen Poesie_, p. 165.
[7] Heine, _l. c._
[8] Heine, _l. c._
[9] M. J. Schleiden, _Die Bedeutung der Juden fuer die Erhaltung der Wissenschaften im Mittelalter_, p. 37.
[10] Ezek. xxiii. 4. [Tr.]
[11] Ad. Jellinek, _Der juedische Stamm_, p. 195.
[12] "Makama (plural, Makamat), the Arabic word for a place where people congregate to discuss public affairs, came to be used as the name of a form of poetry midway between the epic and the drama." (Karpeles, _Geschichte der juedischen Literatur_, vol. II., p. 693.) The most famous Arabic poet of Makamat was Hariri of Bassora, and the most famous Jewish, Yehuda Charisi. See above, p. 32, and p. 211 [Tr.]
[13] Hirt, _Bibliothek_, V., p. 43.
[14] _Midrash Echah_, I., 5; Mishna, _Rosh Hashana_, chap. II.
[15] Cmp. Wuensche, Die Haggada des jerusalemischen Talmud, and the same author's great work, Die Haggada des babylonischen Talmud, IL; also W. Bacher, Die Agada der Tannaiten, Die Agada der babylonischen Amoraeer, and Die Agada der palaestinensischen Amoraeer, Vol. I.
[16] M. Sachs, _Stimmen vom Jordan und Euphrat_.
[17] Emanuel Deutsch, "Literary Remains," p. 45.
[18] Address at the dedication of the new meeting-house of the Independent Order B'nai B'rith, at Berlin.
[19] Numbers, xxi. 17, 18.
[20] Psalm cxxxiii.
[21] M. J. Schleiden: _Die Bedeutung der Juden fuer die Erhaltung der Wissenschaften im Mittelalter_, p. 7.
[22] _Moed Katan_, 26_a_.
[23] Cmp. "Israel's Quest in Africa," pp. 257-258
[24] Cmp. Gutmann, _Die Religiousphilosophie des Saadja_.
[25] M. Hess, _Rom und Jerusalem_, p. 2.
[26] Midrash _Yalkut_ on Proverbs.
[27] _Berachoth_, 10_a_.
[28] _Baba Metsiah_, 59_a_.
[29] _Sota_, 20_a_.
[30] _Berachoth_, 51_b_.
[31] Cmp. W. Bacher in _Frankel-Graetz Monatsschrift_, Vol. XX., p. 186.
[32] Cmp. E. David, _Sara Copia Sullam, une heroine juive au XVII^e siecle_.
[33] For the following, compare Kayserling, _Sephardim_, p. 250 _ff._
[34] Cmp. _Rahel, ein Buch des Andenkens fuer ihre Freunde_, Vol. I., p. 43.
[35] By Julius Rodenberg.
[36] Ritter, _Geschichte der christlichen Philosophie_, Vol. I., p. 610 ff.
[37] Joel, _Beitraege zur Geschichte der Philosophie_, Vol. II., p. 9.
[38] Graetz, _Geschichte der Juden_, Vol. VI., p. 298 _f._
[39] "The Guide of the Perplexed," the English translation, consulted in this work, was made by M. Friedlaender, Ph. D., (London, Truebner & Co., 1885). [Tr.]
[40] Joel, _l. c._
[41] Cmp. Kayserling, _Sephardim_, p. 23 _ff._
[42] Translation by Ticknor. [Tr.]
[43] Cmp. F. Wolf, _Studien zur Geschichte der spanischen Nationalliteratur_, p. 236 _ff._
[44] Cmp. Kayserling, _l. c._ p. 85 _ff._
[45] Livius Fuerst in _Illustrirte Monatshefte fuer die gesammten Interessen des Judenthums_, Vol. I., p. 14 ff. Cmp. also, Hagen, _Minnesaenger_, Vol. II., p. 258, Vol. IV., p. 536 ff., and W. Goldbaum, _Entlegene Culturen_, p. 275 _ff._
[46] Graetz, _Geschichte der Juden_, Vol. VI., p. 257.
[47] For Gabirol, cmp. A. Geiger, _Salomon Gabirol_, and M. Sachs, _Die religioese Poesie der Juden in Spanien_.
[48] H. Heine, _Romanzero_.
[49] Translation by Emma Lazarus. [Tr.]
[50] See note, p. 34. [Tr.]
[51] J. Schor in _He-Chaluz_, Vol. IV., p. 154 _ff._
[52] S. Stein in _Freitagabend_, p. 645 _ff._
[53] H. A. Meisel, _Der Pruefstein des Kalonymos_.
[54] Livius Fuerst in _Illustrirte Monatshefte_, Vol. I., p. 105 _ff._
[55] _Aboda Sara_ 18_b_.
[56] Midrash on Lamentations, ch. 3, v. 13 _ff._
[57] Jerusalem Talmud, _Berachoth_, 9.
[58] Cmp. Berliner, _Yesod Olam, das aelteste bekannte dramatische Gedicht in hebraeischer Sprache_.
[59] Delitzsch, _Zur Geschichte der juedischen Poesie_, p. 88.
[60] Jellinek, _Der juedische Stamm_, p. 64.
[61] Aristotle, _Hist. Anim._, 8, 28. Nicephorus Gregoras, _Hist. Byzant._, p. 805.
[62] Isaiah xi. 11-16.
[63] Jeremiah xxxi. 8-9.
[64] Isaiah xlix. 9 and xxvii. 13.
[65] Ezekiel xxxvii. 16-17.
[66] Cmp. Spiegel, _Die Alexandersagen bei den Orientalen_.
[67] Cmp. A. Epstein, _Eldad ha-Dani_, p. x.