New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-04-15

which exempfes all the difficulties Of preserving
the unity of a scattered commonwealth. At the
time Of the capture of Jerusalem the conquered
people had to reckon only with one vast ana
powerful imperial organism which extended from
the Euphrates to the Pillars of Hercules. The
means OF INSTRUMENTATION were the best pos
sible to the times. Just beyond the borders OF
the Roman Empire to the eastward there was
and had been for ages what might be called the
realm Of Judaism, where learning was cultivated.
where schools fiourishcd. and where wealth ac-
cumulated. Before the Christian era the face OF
the Jew had become familiar to the farthest
limits of both Asia and Europe. But while in
Europe he wanderer or was at best to be
found only in small and dubious communities like
that OF Cologne. those of purer origin In SPAIN
In Marseilles. Narbonne and other parts Of Gaul;
In Southwestern Asia he hourished properly as
native to the region. This volume opens at the
moment when the aspects of Jewish life begin TO
change and the Orient ceases to be the centre Of
that life Professor Graetz is not the master of a
grand historic style. If he were he might show
that his theme Is one Of absorbing interest. But
he has dealt carefully wAh his subject. although
ne has not been able to animate the dry bones Of
medieval annals. The details have been worked
out with such minute care that they sometimes OBJ
scure the general purport of the narrative. Anna
the alterations of prosperity and adversely the
succession of prosecutions without and personal or
doctrinal quarre,s within the House of jacob the
extraordinary unity Of the household over whlch
the ages flow ceaselessly without effect is apt to
be forgotten. Compare the migrations OF the
Jews with those of any otter race and see now
soon the old affiliations of the latter have become
legendary There are tribes in the gorges of the
Western Himalayas who claim descent from Alex
ander's soldiers. but they not supposed to
ti.o ely-o ar
Vulnerable movements OF population in Europe
have been attended by loss of identity in each
race and by endless mixture The Jewish blood
flows always back TO the race and the creed from
which 1t rose. The fact that there has been an
alien infusion is forgotten as soon as possible
About the opening Of the sixth century things
began to look .>ss favorable for the Jews in the
East The world was broken up into king
doms Of which the Byzantine Empire was only
the most important The great roads were falling
into decay AS the means Of communication be-
came less convenient, the nations which had once
been part of the old Empire became in manners
and language more remote from each other. the
only bond which united these nations was one
which added TO the difficulties Of the Jew, for 1t
was the bond of Christianity. But in Asia there
began TO be signs of new religious unrest. the
Jews as well as the Christians. and all other
settled peoples were agitated by the conflict with
a communists movement among the Zoroastrlans
which threatened for a time the destruction OF
Persia. The disturbance was so long continued
that the Jewish schools and institutions in Baby
lon!a disappeared. Learned men were driven into
exile-as usual to the benefit Of the people among
whom they settled. When the storm passed
away it left the Jewish with an unfortunate
lapse in its tradition. Before the outbreak the
Talmud.c commentators on the Law still re-
49, ~,la g,pC N
the art was lost, and the great work Of the
schools was to commit the Talmud TO wiiuhg'
What had before been a matter Of oral tradition
was now nut down i'm definite form for prac-
teal use The earlier generations obeyed the re-
ouirements of the code as if by second nature
hut the new Jewish race of the East had to nave
its precepts all down in black and white Ihe
impulse which made the Babylonian Talmud
matter Of record ended by doing the same for the
Talmud Of Jerusalem. These and the vowel
points without which the Scriptures might nave
been forgotten. the main contribution OF
Eastern Judaism in those days. There was IN
deed time when 1t seemed as If jewish KING
dom might be founded and perpetuated in Arabia.
But the very bond which united Jews all over the
world was destructive to a small realm. Zorah,
the King Of the Jewish Himyarities Homerites)
unfortunately heard that Jews were prosecuted
and nut TO death in Cons,antinOple. He avenged
them by shaving the first Byzantine merchants
who came into his country. Then all Christian
merchants took the alarm and trade began to
languish Neighboring chiettains chastised the
Himyartic king in battle. Professor Graetz has
TO record many times the forcible conversion OK
Jews to Christianity or TO Islam But In TINS
case he observes that the Jewish king was
charged with the same kind of persecution Inc
whole experience of the Jews in Arabian politics
was such as they have always had upon attain
ing power. The most permanent form Of govern
ment with them in the East proved to be one
in which men of learning welded power by the
consent of a Gentle ruler. In this way the Jews
of Babylonia for centuries yielded homage to the
socalled Prince of the Exile (Exilarch), who was
sustained and advised by the scholars OF the two
great schools OF the law. Sora and Pumbeditha.
This government was real 1t had actual super
vision of it's subjects and it also furnished an
ideal for Jews in all other parts OF the worid.
II seemed to these wanderers and sojourners IN
strange lands that Babylonia was a paradise IN
which the people enjoyed every privilege they
desired In the farthest corner OF europe a de-
cision from the wise men OF the Euphrates was
accepted with reverence and unquesuoning oDe-
dence.
Domestic uuarrels under the capricious rule OF
ISLAM whose successive Caliphs were s"ayed
only nv the amount Of money that could be placed
IN their hands gradually put an end to the au-
thoritv of the Exiarch and the resident scholars.
There were bitter contests between those VINO
chung to what they deemed the ancient views OF
Scripture and those who endeavored TO interpret
the sacred writings by the aid OF reason lhis
controversy led to an irremediable schism But
the Jews OF Europe were utterly unconscious or
II. They thought that the country where were
the schools to which they looked for guidance
must be a heaven on earth, place OF eterhai
peace. They felt the same romantic. even magical
interest In Pumbeditha that the Western Chris
-. 81. 4, pope They even tried 10 have the