Originally published in The Heythrop Journal, A Quarterly Review of Philosophy and Theology, 31:1 (1990), pp. 94-5. Jewish Spirituality from the Bible through the Middle Ages. Edited by Arthur Green. Pp. xxv, 450 (World Spirituality 13) London, Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1986, £39.50. The editor of this volume of essays by outstanding Jewish scholars had…...

Originally published in The Heythrop Journal, A Quarterly Review of Philosophy and Theology, 36:1 (1995), pp. 85-6. Shield and Sword: Jewish Polemics against Christianity and the Christians in France and Spain from 1100-1500 (Texts and Studies in Medieval and Early Modern Judaism 8). By Hanne Trautner-Kromann. Pp. xi, 216, Tübingen, J.C.B. Mohr, Paul Siebeck, 1993,…...

Originally published in The Heythrop Journal, A Quarterly Review of Philosophy and Theology, 22:3 (1981), pp. 327-9. Samuel David Luzzatto: Traditionalist Scholar. By M. B. Margolies. Pp. xv, 253, New York, Ktav, 1979, $15.00. The five famous names in the 19th-century Judische Wissenschaft movement were Zunz and Geiger in Germany; Krochmal and Rapoport in Galicia;…...

Originally published in Journal of Jewish Studies 31:2 (1980), pp. 126-8. Samuel Atlas, Netivim be-Mishpat ha-‘Ivri (‘Pathways in Hebrew Law’). American Academy for Jewish Research, Sepher Hermon Press, New York, 1978, ix, 304 pp. $12.50. Just before he died in 1977, Professor Samuel Atlas had prepared for publications this collection of his penetrating articles on Jewish…...

Originally published in Expository Times 92:5 (1981), p. 156. HALAKHAH AND ECONOMICS The Halakhah, the pattern of Jewish living worked out in elaborate detail by authoritative teachers throughout the ages, has obviously been greatly concerned with ethical and social obligations as well as with religious observances. But the complexities of modern commerce and politics are so…...

Originally published in Journal of Jewish Studies 31:2 (1980), pp. 125-6. Simon Greenberg, The Ethical in the Jewish and American Heritage, New York, Jewish Theological Seminary of America, 1977, xvi, 327 pp. $15.00. Robert Gordis, Understanding Conservative Judaism, ed. Max Gelb, New York, The Rabbinical Assembly, 1979, xiv, 235 pp. $12.50. Dr. Greenberg, Vice-Chancellor of the…...

Originally published in European Judaism 12:1 (1978), pp. 45-7. A NEW PRAYERBOOK Forms of Prayer—Daily Sabbath and Occasional Prayers, Reform Synagogues of Great Britain, London, 1977, £4.95. It was with strong feelings of impropriety that I undertook to do a critical review of this beautifully produced new edition of the Reform Prayer Book, the advantages of…...

Originally published in Journal of Jewish Studies 23:2 (1972), p. 204. Samuel S. Cohon, What we Jews believe & A guide to Jewish practice, Royal Vangorcum, Assen, The Netherlands, 1971, xvi, 197 pp. Fl. 25 ($7.50). These two small books, printed together, are intended as guides “for the enlightened modern Jew”, as the sub-title has it…....

Originally published in Religious Studies 10:4 (1974), pp. 502-3. Jacob Neusner, editor. Understanding Rabbinic Judaism. From Talmudic to Modern Times. Pp. 422. (Ktav Publishing House, New York, 1974.) $5.95. Professor Neusner, believing that the mode of Judaic religion known as Rabbinic Judaism is ‘a single, seamless, all-encompassing religious structure, continuing essentially in its classic form from its…...

Originally published in Religious Studies 9 (1973), pp. 376-7. Norman Lamm. Faith and Doubt: Studies in Traditional Jewish Thought. Pp. ix, 309. (Ktav, New York, 1971.) $10.00. The title of this book, in large, bold type on the jacket, encourages its potential readers to believe that they will be treated to a comprehensive investigation into the…...

Originally published in the Journal of Semitic Studies 1:1 (1956), pp. 87-8. J. B. Agus, Guideposts in Modern Judaism: An Analysis of Current Trends in Jewish Thought. 1954. Pp. 446. (Bloch Publishing Company, New York. Price: $4.30.) The old gibe that while the Rabbi knows what Abaye said the Professor of Semitics knows only what kind of…...

Originally published in the Journal of Semitic Studies 1:1 (1956), p. 87. H. M. Kallen, “Of them which say they are Jews” and other essays on the Jewish struggle for survival. Ed. J. Pilch. 1954. Pp. xviii + 242. (Bloch Publishing Company, New York. Price: $4.50.) This book is a collection of essays and addresses by the…...

Originally published in the Jewish Chronicle, 18th May 1984. Despite recurring taunts of “legalism”, Jews throughout the ages have seen in the halacha, the legal side of Judaism, the religion’s most distinctive feature. Judaism has been defined as the religion of doing God’s will, so that the halachic process becomes a mighty attempt, by the luminaries…...

Originally published in the Jewish Chronicle, 12th September 1986. Days of Awe: the High Holy-day Machzor: Assembly of Rabbis of the Reform Synagogues of Great Britain. Oxford University Press, £13.95. This attractively produced, thoroughly revised edition of the Reform machzor for Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur contains, in addition to the prayers and a commentary on…...

Originally publishes in BSOAS 66:1 (2003), p. 80-1. ALEXANDER SAMELY: Rabbinic interpretation of scripture in the Mishnah. xi, 479 pp. Oxford, New York: Oxford University Press, 2002. £55. This reviewer of Samely’s massive volume is torn between admiration for the author’s skill in applying modern linguistics and philosophy of language to the Mishnah and amazement at…...

Originally publishes in BSOAS 46:2 (1983), p. 338-9. Jacob J. Staub: The creation of the world according to Gersonides. (Brown Judaic Studies, 24.) xii, 422 pp. Chico, California: Scholars Press, 1982. Levi ben Gershon, or Gersonides (1288-1344), generally considered to be the leading philosophical successor to the great Maimonides, was undoubtedly the boldest of the medieval Jewish…...

Originally publishes in BSOAS 46:1 (1983), p. 141-2. Mordecai Akiva Friedman: Jewish marriage in Palestine: a Cairo Geniza study. 2 vols, i: The Ketubba traditions. ii: The Ketubba texts. xxiv, 492 pp.; ix, 517 pp., 32 plates. Tel-Aviv: Chaim Rosenberg School of Jewish Studies, Tel-Aviv University; New York: Jewish Theological Seminary of America, 1980-81. $15 each. From…...

Originally publishes in BSOAS 44:1 (1981), p. 160-1. Jacob Neusner: A history of the Mishnaic law of women. Parts 1-5. (Studies in Judaism in Late Antiquity, Vol. 33.) xxi, 220; xix, 145; xix, 204 ; xix, 281 ; xxiii, 281 pp. Leiden: E. J. Brill, 1980. Guilders 96, 64, 84, 112, 112. Professor Neusner’s output is astonishing…....

Originally published in BSOAS 41:2 (1978), p. 367-8. Jacob Neusner: A history of the Mishnaic law of purities. Parts 20-22. (Studies in Judaism in Late Antiquity, Vol. 6.) xvi, 253; xxiv, 359; xxvi, 314 pp. Leiden: E. J. Brill, 1977. Guilders 344. Part 20 contains Professor Neusner’s commentary to the final tractate of the Mishnaic Order Tohorot…....

Originally published in BSOAS 41:1 (1978), p. 213. Jacob Neusner: A history of the Mishnaic law of purities. Parts 15-19. (Studies in Judaism in Late Antiquity, Vol.6.) xviii, 183; xviii, 229; xviii, 236; xviii, 218; xxii, 233 pp. Leiden : E. J. Brill, 1976-7. Guilders 472. Parts 12-14 of Professor Neusner’s commentary to the Mishnah of the…...