Originally published in the Journal of Jewish Studies 31:2 (1980), pp. 270-1. Robert Gordis, Love and Sex, A Modern Jewish Perspective, Farrar Strauss Giroux, New York, 1978. xii, 290 pp. $8.95. Professor Gordis faces courageously the challenge of the ‘new morality’, admitting that some of the modern attitudes have value but maintaining that they require the correctives found in…...

Originally published in the Journal of Jewish Studies 31:2 (1980), p. 270. Bernard S. Jackson (ed.), The Jewish Law Annual, Volume II, Brill, Leiden, 1979. ix, 270 pp. Fl. 84. The second volume of The Jewish Law Annual has the same format as the first: Part I, a symposium on ‘Codification and Restatement’, and Part II, a Chronicle, Notes…...

Originally published in the Journal of Jewish Studies 30:1 (1979), pp. 137-8. Elijah J. Schochet, “Taz” Rabbi David Halevi, New York. Ktav, 1979. 79 pages. Every student of Shulhan ‘Arukh, Yoreh De’ah, has been obliged to immerse himself in the fierce Halakhic debates between David ha-Levi, author of Turei Zahab, the Taz, and Shabbetai ha-Kohen, author of Shiftei…...

Originally published in the Journal of Jewish Studies 30:1 (1979), p. 137. Menahem Elon (ed.), Shenaton ha-Mishpat ha-‘Ivri, Vol. V. Jerusalem, The Hebrew University, Institute for Research in Jewish Law, No. 9. 1978. 406 pages. This volume contains ten learned articles on various aspects of Jewish law—hamishpat ha-‘ivri—the term being given a sufficiently flexible connotation to embrace historical…...

Originally published in Conservative Judaism 21:1 (1969), pp. 93-4. A Conceptual Approach to the Mekilta, by Max Kadushin, New York: Jonathan David Publishers, 1969, 298 pp.; Lauterbach’s edition and translation of the Mekilta De-Rabbi Ishmael, vol. 1, 215 pp., $6.95, paperback $2.95. Max Kadushin’s pioneering work on Rabbinic thinking is well-known to students of the Talmudic…...

Originally published in Conservative Judaism 18:2 (1964), pp. 59-61. Torah Min Hashamayim B’aspaklariah Shel Hadorot, (Theology of Ancient Judaism), by Abraham Joshua Heschel, The Soncino Press, London and New York, Vol. I, 1962, 297 pp., plus LIX, $6.75. The publication of this Soncino volume on the weighty subject of revelation by a theologian of Professor Heschel’s…...

Originally published in Commentary Magazine 48:5 (1 November 1969), pp. 89-91. Liberal Beliefs A New Jewish Theology in the Making. by Eugene B. Borowitz. Westminster Press. 224 pp. $6.50. How can a Jew Speak of Faith Today? by Eugene B. Borowitz. Westminster Press. 225 pp. $6.00. For a long time now, many Jewish thinkers and scholars have proudly,…...

Originally published in World Jewry 8:4 (1965), p. 17. Rabbi and Minister: The Friendship of Stephen S. Wise and John Haynes Holmes. By Carl Herman Voss. World, Cleveland & New York. $6.95. Giants of Faith: Great American Rabbis. By Rabbi Alex J. Goldman. Citadel, New York. 1964. $6.95. The American Reform Rabbi. Profile of a Profession. By Abraham…...

Originally published in World Jewry 14:2 (1971), p. 26. How to Live in the Present Tense. By Haim Kemelman. Thomas Yoseloff. £2.25. The Mediaeval Jewish Mind: The Religious Philosophy of Isaac Arama. Vallentine, Mitchell, £2.80. The Heavenly Counsellor in Isaiah xl. 13-14: A Study of the Theology of Deutero-Isaiah. By R. N. Whybray. Cambridge University Press. £2.20…....

Originally published in World Jewry 10:5 (1967), p. 28. You shall be as Gods. By Erich Fromm. Jonathan Cape. 25s. Worship in Ancient Israel. By H. H. Rowley.. S.P.C.K. Press. 42s. The sub-title of Erich Fromm’s book is: ‘A radical interpretation of the Old Testament and its tradition’. Radical indeed—its thesis being that the God idea is…...

Originally published in World Jewry 10:2 (1967), pp. 26-7. The Psycho-analytic Revolution: Sigmund Freud’s Life and Achievement. By Marthe Robert. Allen & Unwin. 50s. Judaism in Sigmund Freud’s World. By Earl A. Grollman. Bloch, New York. $4.95. Sigmund Freud and the Jewish Mystical Tradition. By David Bakan. Schocken Paperbacks. New York. $1.95. Of these three books on…...

Originally published in World Jewry 9:3 (1966), p. 24. Conversion to Judaism. A History and Analysis. Edited by David M. Eichhorn. Ktav Publishing House, New York. $5.95. “Judaism is a tolerant faith, teaching that the righteous of all peoples have a share in the world to come”. “R. Helbo said: Converts are as harmful to Israel as…...

Originally published in World Jewry 9:4 (1966), p. 30. The Growth of Reform Judaism — American and European Sources until 1948. By W. Gunther Plaut. World Union of Progressive Judaism, New York. $7.50. Modern Varieties of Judaism. By Joseph L. Blau. Columbia University Press, New York and London. $6.00. Rabbi Plaut’s earlier volume “The Rise of Reform…...

Originally published in World Jewry 7:2 (1964), p. 17. The Rise of Reform Judaism: A Sourcebook of its European Origins. By W. Gunther Plaut. World Union for Progressive Judaism. New York. $6.00. The Emergence of Conservative Judaism: The Historical School in 19th Century America, By Moshe Davis. Jewish Publication Society of America. Philadelphia. $5.50. The impact of…...

Originally published in World Jewry 4:3 (1961), pp. 18-19. In His Image—The Jewish Philosophy of Man as Expressed in Rabbinic Tradition, by Samuel Belkin. London, Abelard-Schuman, 25s. The term “Rabbinic” in Dr. Belkin’s sub-title embraces post-Talmudic teachers, particularly Maimonides, who is quoted frequently. The ideas of Philo, on whom Dr. Belkin is an authority, are duly…...

Originally published in World Jewry 2:2 (1959), pp. 25-6. Judaism—A Historical Presentation, by Isidore Epstein. Pelican Books, 3s. 6d. The Hassidim used to say of the work Noam Elimelech, what an achievement to contain such a big God in such a little book! Dr. Epstein, the learned principal of Jews’ College, is to be equally congratulated on…...

Originally published in the Jewish Law Annual 10 (1992), pp. 292-3. Havye ha-Levi by Y. Wosner (nephew of the S. Wosner) (Montreal, 1986) — No.101: When a couple adopt an infant should he be told that he is not their natural child?; No.105: When A summons B to attend the Bet Din is B entitled to refuse unless…...

Originally published in the Jewish Law Annual 10 (1992), p. 292. Shevet ha-Levi by S. Wosner, 2nd. ed. (vols.1-5. New York, 1981-4; vol.6. Bene Berak, 1986). — Among the questions discussed are the following: I, 35: the benediction on seeing a monarch applies to a Queen not only to a King; I, 43: a kohen whose car ran…...

Originally published in the Jewish Law Annual 10 (1992), pp. 291-2. Betsel ha-Hokhmah, by B. Stern, 6 Parts in Three Vols., new ed. (Jerusalem, 1990). — Most of these Responsa deal with questions to which modern life gives rise. I, 3: compensation to the victim of an assault who brought further disability on himself through disobeying the doctor’s…...

Originally published in the Jewish Law Annual 10 (1992), pp. 296-7. Adin Steinsaltz, The Babylonian Talmud (Jerusalem: The Israel Institute for Talmudic Publications), Ketubot (1988, 2 vols.), Kiddushin (1989, 2 vols.), Sotah (1990). Adin Steinsaltz continues to produce his popular edition of the tractates of the Babylonian Talmud. Although an historical perspective is somewhat lacking, these volumes are…...