Category Archives: Literature

“Chapters On Jewish Literature” – Chapter 25

Posted on March 6, 2010 by rachel-esther

Original file: here. MOSES MENDELSSOHN Mendelssohn’s German Translation of the Bible.—Phædo.—Jerusalem.—Lessing’s “Nathan the Wise.” Moses, the son of Mendel, was born in Dessau in 1728, and died in Berlin in 1786. His father was poor, and he himself was of … Continue reading →

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“Chapters On Jewish Literature” – Chapter 24

Posted on February 27, 2010 by rachel-esther

Original file: here. AMSTERDAM IN THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY Manasseh ben Israel.—Baruch Spinoza.—The Drama in Hebrew.—Moses Zacut, Joseph Felix Penso, Moses Chayim Luzzatto. Holland was the centre of Jewish hope in the seventeenth century, and among its tolerant and cultivated people … Continue reading →

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“Chapters On Jewish Literature” – Chapter 23

Posted on February 20, 2010 by rachel-esther

Original file: here. THE SHULCHAN ARUCH Asheri’s Arba Turim.—Chiddushim and Teshuboth.—Solomon ben Adereth.—Meir of Rothenburg.—Sheshet and Duran.—Moses and Judah Minz.—Jacob Weil, Israel Isserlein, Maharil.—David Abi Zimra.—Joseph Karo.—Jair Bacharach.—Chacham Zevi.—Jacob Emden.—Ezekiel Landau. The religious literature of the Jews, so far as … Continue reading →

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“Chapters On Jewish Literature” – Chapter 22

Posted on February 13, 2010 by rachel-esther

Original file: here. ISAAC ABARBANEL Abarbanel’s Philosophy and Biblical Commentaries.—Elias Levita.—Zeëna u-Reëna.—Moses Alshech.—The Biur. The career of Don Isaac Abarbanel (born in Lisbon in 1437, died in Venice in 1509) worthily closes the long services which the Jews of Spain … Continue reading →

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“Chapters On Jewish Literature” – Chapter 21

Posted on February 6, 2010 by rachel-esther

Original file: here. HISTORIANS AND CHRONICLERS Order of the Tannaim and Amoraim.—Achimaaz.—Abraham Ibn Daud.—Josippon.—Historical Elegies, or Selichoth.—Memorial Books.—Abraham Zacuto.—Elijah Kapsali.—Usque.—Ibn Verga.—Joseph Cohen.—David Gans.—Gedaliah Ibn Yachya.—Azariah di Rossi. The historical books to be found in the Bible, the Apocrypha, and the … Continue reading →

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“Chapters On Jewish Literature” – Chapter 20

Posted on January 31, 2010 by rachel-esther

Original file: here. TRAVELLERS’ TALES Eldad the Danite.—Benjamin of Tudela.—Petachiah of Ratisbon.—Esthori Parchi.—Abraham Farissol.—David Reubeni and Molcho.—Antonio de Montesinos and Manasseh ben Israel.—Tobiah Cohen.—Wessely. The voluntary and enforced travels of the Jews produced, from the earliest period after the destruction … Continue reading →

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“Chapters On Jewish Literature” – Chapter 19

Posted on January 23, 2010 by rachel-esther

Original file: here. ETHICAL LITERATURE Bachya Ibn Pekuda.—Choboth ha-Lebaboth.—Sefer ha-Chassidim.—Rokeach.—Yedaiah Bedaressi’s Bechinath Olam.—Isaac Aboab’s Menorath ha-Maor.—Ibn Chabib’s “Eye of Jacob.”—Zevaoth, or Ethical Wills.—Joseph Ibn Caspi.—Solomon Alami. A large proportion of all Hebrew books is ethical. Many of the works already … Continue reading →

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“Chapters On Jewish Literature” – Chapter 18

Posted on January 16, 2010 by rachel-esther

Original file: here. ITALIAN JEWISH POETRY Immanuel and Dante.—The Machberoth.—Judah Romano.—Kalonymos.—The Eben Bochan.—Moses Rieti.—Messer Leon. The course of Jewish literature in Italy ran along the same lines as in Spain. The Italian group of authors was less brilliant, but the … Continue reading →

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“Chapters On Jewish Literature” – Chapter 17

Posted on January 9, 2010 by rachel-esther

Original file: here. THE ZOHAR AND LATER MYSTICISM Kabbala.—The Bahir.—Abulafia.—Moses of Leon.—The Zohar.—Isaac Lurya.—Isaiah Hurwitz.—Christian Kabbalists.—The Chassidim. Mysticism is the name given to the belief in direct, intuitive communion with God. All true religion has mystical elements, for all true … Continue reading →

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“Chapters On Jewish Literature” – Chapter 16

Posted on January 3, 2010 by rachel-esther

Original file: here. MOSES NACHMANIDES French and Spanish Talmudists.—The Tossafists, Asher of Speyer, Tam, Isaac of Dompaire, Baruch of Ratisbon, Perez of Corbeil.—Nachmanides’ Commentary on the Pentateuch.—Public controversies between Jews and Christians. Nachmanides was one of the earliest writers to … Continue reading →

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