New-York tribune., 1894-03-21

was at peace throughout Europe over the heads
% r.arri,o @, armies II what existed in the days
Of BENJAMIN of Tudea be still the practice theh
r,,,ieogt1,. ,boro is q union in Judaism. which
might become an important factor in interha-
tio,el noI,tics II is based a common
l,rcuapo nc v.eu as on a common faith. and 1t
has = nbveical as we'll as 4 spiritual continuity
p,.t Is only political efficiency In the MIdGe
Ages was that ii provided in one country Tor
/ the exiles from another. 1t mournei us
n,art,,rs and II kept some record o: their SUI
ferincs bur il did not seek 10 avenge them IL
kont alive tine tradition OF mOnotheism in the
strictest sense and IL cultivated the cosmopop-
tanisrn which is excmplifed by the Jew OF the
present dav with all his national preferences
The influence OF Judaism was felt throughout
Europe before the time of the Roman Em-
pire and It increased steadily as well before aS
after the dispersion Of the people OF faieShhe'
The author points out that the social condition
Of the medieval Jew must not be inferred rom
the modern Ghetto. At present the prosperous
and intellectual members OF the race escape from
the Jewish quarter. But in the old days wheh
they were Obliged to live with their poorer
bretbren their homes and the district in gem
eral COMPARED well with those inhabited by
Gon,ias Rich Jews were the friends and adj
visers Of kings; Jewish men Of science were a.
ways favorites as physicians and teachers. -
the Jew through the Moor. the medieval world
owed its knowledge Of Greek philosophy ana
of mathematics The Jew was poet ana a
philologer. Biblical critic and even ration
alist when the like was rare among Chnsnahs'
If the author goes further than one cares 10
follow him in praise Of Hebrew learning MS en-
thusiasn Is obviously that Of a specialist. and it
takes a very minute specialist TO array the
Christian learning of the medieval period. The
number of scholars is few compared with the
ignorant multitude while the number of Jewish
scholars is comparatively large. And the Jewish
population in general had more or less book
KNOWLEDGE. which was confined 10 the clergy
among Christians. There is brief summary
of Hebrew literature in this volume. which VIII
be interesting to those who have never looked
into the subject. II shows that the Hebrew
language Of the mediaeval period enshrncs
body Of writing in which nearly every literary
form. from the lightest fiction to the wciGhtiest
philosophy. was exempfe1. The author OK
presses the fear that this literature, particularly
that of historic value, may be lost as time goes
on There are living among us STILL" he re-
marks "men to whom Hebrew in all its dialects
is a living language. And 1t IS to be feared
that this intimate knowledge and familiarity
with the language and the thought will die out
with these men" In order 10 bring ont this
mass Of hidden material. he would have the COM
ing historian Of the Jews cast aside the
ligious and martyrologcal elements which now
burden the narrative Of men like Gractz and
Geiger. He urges the rabies and learned Jews
TO hold a Congress. not for theological discus
sion. but TO divide the labor of putting before
the world treasures now hidden under thick
crust of uninell'Eible language" Each learned
man should undertake TO edit translate some
part of this practically unknown literature. "Not
only those who learned. who Hebrew
scholars but a simple Jew, who Is merely
familiar with the modern patois called Judisch-
deusch, and is possessed Of literary taste
might give us some Of the treasures couched
in this inaccessible dialect" This suggestion IS
one to awaken the interest not merely Of Jews
Who knows what revolutions in medieval his
tory may follow thorough explorations in the
field thus indicated?
The book is opportune. It should obviate
many misconceptions. and clear away prejudices
which are the offspring Of ignorance. Even
those who may wish to controvert some Of the
statements made by the author will find his
work highly useful Turning TO Mr.. ZangwilI's
collection Of stories. one only regret that he
leaves his gallery Of Jewish portraits many Of
which are masterpieces. for mere trncs in nc-
ton. Bits of cleverncss like THE ScIni-sonti-
mental Dragon" or Cheating the Galows"
are not worthy of a place beside The King Of
the Schnorrers"