The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-02-04
FEAT OF SCHOLARSHIP.
DIR. KoHUT COMPLETES HIS CYCLIC
PEDIC LEXICON.
A Work of Inestimable Value to Biblical
Scholars, in Writing Which Thirteen
Langu ages Were Employed.-Celobra
ton of the Event.
From the baltimore Sun

ne 1seN, Ut. n. D. DCltClliciilit vi Iilo
Baltimore Hebrew Congregation, has just
returned from New York, where he at
tended the celebration OF the completion
by his son-in-law, the Rev. DIR. Alex.
Kohut, OF his "Aruch Completum," a cy-
clopedic lexicon, monument OF quarter
OF century's incessant labor OF u scholar,
and of the marking OF the division line OF
ancient and modern philology in Hebrew
literature. The event OF last Sunday in
honor OF the finishing touches to the last
article on "Tata," Persico. Hebrew word
for "bridge," was not local affair nor
sectarian one, for it concerned all inter-
ested in Jewish literature, and especially
in the studies OF Rabbinical lore.
Congratulatory kilograms poured from
all parts of the world, and among those
priced was one from DIR. Benjamin Sold,
Of this city-himseli a philologist and
scholar OF no small prelensions. The min
ister's congregation, Ahavath Chesed, of
New York, undertake to publish, in honor
OF the event, the sixth volume, which will
be in the royal or lexicon quarto size, while
Mr.. Jacob Schih, a banker philanthropist,
has given 81 900 10 publish preceding,
anu MT. n. w dllsiCh Will pay iOI luo pun
| lication OF the others. The Rabbi has also
assistance from the Academies Of Science
OF Vienna, Paris and Brussels. =
The work will appear in nine volumes,
| five OF which are already printed, and will
contain not less than 5000 articles. An
expert printer has ascertained that not less
than $4,000, 900 words have been used in
the work as far as issued. The text will
| be Hebrew, but characters and explana-
| tons in thirteen different languages will
be used-Dr. Kohut being master OF
| twelve OF them. The work has 10 be pub
| lished in royal publishing house in Eu-
rope. no establishment in this country
having the available materials. In addi-
ton, an appendix in German has already
appeared, and will be followed by two
volumes printed in English, maxi
ing a complete abridged form Of the work,
making il available thus to the student OF
this country.
DIR. Kohut began this work at the age Of
twcnty-one after having received the de-
crees of PHI. ID. and ID. u. at the seminary
at Breslau, under the renowned Rev. DIR.
H. Frankel. He was at that time called to
the chief rabinate Of a town in Hungary,
and soon therlaite to the third largest in
the Hebrew community in that province.
Thence he received a call 10 his present
position in New York in 1885. lie based
his work on the Talmudical-M idrlshtic
dictionary of the renowned Rabbi Nathan
ben Sechel Eleventh century,, itself in
complete, as ii contains but third OF tho
words that occur in the Talmud and
Midrashim. The author did not have a
complete knowledge OF the many foreign
words contained in these works, the origin Of
which is in Persian, Syriac, Latin, Greek,
etc. The old Aruch did contain valuable
references TO ancient commentaries lost to
the scholars OF the world until exhumed
from the Vatican library and comparison
made OF the manuscripts and explanations
rs given by various authorities by DR..
| kOhut, who was able TO examine and take
copies OF the original. lie also compared
the corrupt printed texts with all the ex-
isiing manuscripts Of the Talmud, aud Is
thus able TO give the various readings.
Seward editions OF the old Aruch were
made, one in the latter part OF the past
century, but all were found TO be too mar
row in their views aud not up 30 the scen-
tilic requirements OF lhe scholars vi today.
This Aruch Is q Hebrew 1almudical
encyclopedia combining all the features Of
a leNicon--a concordance. The Hebrew
word Aruch means an order or system.
The etymology and the different occur
FENCES Of each word Ia the Talmud and
Midrashim are explained. II is found,
for instance, that the opening OF the
Proverbs in these works, reading $50 say
the people," occurs nearly 1000 times.
All these are given. Before the work
could be well started 1t had 10 overcome
the prevailing ideas and pathological pre-
judices, which was in itself no little task;
I INN
great Orientaist, characterized the work
~ an immortal monument OF Jewish
knowledge, spreading light ON the entire
jewish science iIom the time Of the
Chaldaic TRANSACTIONS Of the bible TO tho
translation OF the Ialmud.
Since then VI. Rcnan, the great French
critic and sayan. In theology; Prof. Franz
Deliizsch, the greatest Christian llcbrast
Of Germany Leopold Iung DIR. Stern, Of
Hamburg; Solomon Buber all scholars OF
the FIRST rank IN Jewish literature and
| philosophy; Cardinals llayrald and Du-
| lunsky, Prof. Neubauur, uf Oxford, and
the chief slyanls, theoogans, chief mbbis
aud ministers, colleges and universities
and philanthropists have shown apractcal
| appreciation Of DR.. kohuts great work. IL
! will shed light on lhrpreyionsly unlearned
] Ialmud unknown 10 the Christian scien-
| title world, and misunderstood by all, re-
ycaling the treasures until this time hid
den, and making clear what has been mis-.
| construed.
II is now the authority In the world Of
scholars. No work in the last ten years
has been Of such prominence in Jewish
| literature and science; IL Is quoted every
where In standard works, Jewish aud Christ.
ian. In addition Il enjoys the rare privilege
OF being one Of the few modern works
quoted ia the great wilma (RuSian) cdi.
ton OF the Talmud
Its articles on the sciences OF antiquity,
such % botany, medicine astronomy, as
trology, mathematics, chemistry. etc., arc
OF incslimablo value TO the student In this
particular field. Moreover. Il will serve ~
q work Of reference In the history Of tho
Ialmud, IN Oriental philology. theology,
a. perfect dictionary Of all philosophical
terms, and will furnish ready solutions VI
the knotty problems In which students in
these fields arr engaged. The only other
work that approaches i that has been writ
ten by American scholars mot naiiye), is
one by DIR. VI. Jastrow, Of Philadelphia,
Calmudic Dictionary.