Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-03-01
Hoohs Reviews.


1870. c. E). Philadelphia: The Jewish
Publication Society of America. ~
Pages. Price, s..
This completes the translation of the
Grasts History proper, though all who
may be so fortunate as TO own the work
will be glad to learn that the publishers
have decided TO issue a supplemental
volume. embracing "a portrait and me-
moirs" OF the historian. a chronological
analysis OF Jewish history, new ana
complete index Of the five volumes. and
series Of maps. illustrative OF the his
tory at different times" The periods or
ths four volumes preceding the present
one are: Volume l., from the earliest
period to the death OF Simon the Macca-
bee lbs. Il. c. E.); Volume H.. from the
reign Of Hyrcanus to the completion OF
the Babylonian Talmud 600 c. FL; Vol
ume Ill, from the completion OF the
Babylonian Talmud to the Punishment OF
the Jews from England Q2O. c. Ed;
Volume ~. from the rise OF tho Kab-
bala d270, G.. Ed to the permanent set
Element of the Marranos In Holland Q6lS
c. E.).
In the opening chapter Of Volume v.
we have the story of the Chmielnicd
persecution. succinctly and graphically
told, together with a fearless and In some
respects scathing criticism Of the Polish
Talmudic School. To the students of the
Talmud, In Poland. Graetz credits great
scholarship, but. he says: THE disciples
OF this school looked down almost with
contempt on Scripture in its simple
grandeur. or. rather, 1t did not exist for
them. How, indeed, could they have
found time to occupy themselves with 1t?
And what could they do. with these
children's stories, which did not admit
the application of intellectual subuety7
They knew something Of the Bible from
the extracts read in the synagOgues, and
those occasionally quoted in the Talmud.
The faculty for apprecIating the sub
Unity Of Biblical doctrines and charac-
ters as well as simplicity and elevation
IN general, was denied them
Professor Graetz shows how the Polish
Rabbnineal methods OF study spread to
tho Talmudcal schools OF Germany. and
then passes to the career of Ma
nasseh ben Israel, ind the set
Element OF the Jews In England.
With Manasseh ben Israel. says the his
torian, began the Jewish struggle for civil
equality. HE was the Riesser OF the
seventeenth century" In this connection
We have a most interesting insight into
the political and religious conditions ex-
listing at the time in England, and the
Jewish and the Christian literature that
the question Of the admission Of the
Jews into that country inspired.
Chapter 8 goes back some years, and
treats OF tho skeptics," and from It. a.
an example OF Graetz's methods of
thought we quote the following:
Judaism. then In its three-thousandth
year. was like rich kernel, covered and
concealed by crUsts. deposited one upon
another. and by extraordinary matter.
so that only very few could recognize It's
true character The Sinaitic and prophetic
kernel Of thought had long been covered
over with the three-fod layer OF Sopheric.
Mishnaitic and Talmutical explanations
and restrictions. over these. in the course
OF centuries, new layers had been formed
by the Gaonic, Spanish, French, German.
and Polish schools. and these layers and
strata were enclosed by an unsightly
growth OF fungus forms. the mouldy
coating OF the Kabbala, which, settling
I'm the gaps and chinks, grew and rami-
fed. All these new forms had already the
authority OF age In their favor and were
considered lnviolahle. People no longer
asked what was taught in the funda-
mental Sinaitic law, or what was con-
sdered OF importance by the prophets;
they scarcely regarded what the Talmud
decided TO be essential or non-essential;
the rabbinical writers alone, Joseph Karo
and Moses Isserless, being che highest
authorities, decided what was Judaism.
Besides. there were superadditlons from
the Polish schools, and. lastly. the Kab-
ballstic dreams Of Isaac Surga. The pa
rasitic Kabbala choked the whole rel-
gious life OF the Jews. Almost all rabbis
and leaders of Jewish communities,
whether in small Polish towns or in
cultivated Amsterdam-the Chacham
Isaac. Ahoab de Fonseca. as well as
Isaiah Hurwitz, the emlgrant to Pales-
tlne-were ensnared by the kabbala.
Gaining influence in the fourteenth CEN
fury. contemporaneously with the ban
against science, il had made such giant
strides since Isaac Surga's death. or.
rather. committed such gigantic ravages,
that nothing could keep It In check.
Surga's wild notions OF the origin, trans
migration, and union Of souls, Of redemp-
ton. and woodworking, after his death,
attracted more and more adherents into
his magic circle. clouding their minds and
narrowing their sympathies"
In the two succeeding chapters we have
as almost logical sequence n treatise
on Splnoza and Sabbattai levi, then
Light and Shade" as embracing THE
Jews Under Mahometan Rule" THE Ex-
pulsion From Vienna" and 'Milder Treat
ment Throughout Europe" Following
these chapters IL the general demoraliza-
ton of Judaism at the end of the Sc
venteenth century. and THE Age OF
Luzzatto Ebeschutz. and Frank" ard
We are then brought 10 1.-THE Mendelssohn
Epoch"
Professor Ora treatment OF this
epoch IS in many respects a volume in
Itself. and IL holds the attention with
fascinating grasp. The keynote OF his
treatise Is sounded when he says
1.-THE Jewish race has displayed miracu-
lous phenomena not only in ancient days
the age Of miracles-but also I'm this mat
ter-of-fact epoch: a community which was
an object OF mockery, not merely 10 the
malicious and ignorant, hut almost more
to benevolent and cultured men: despicable
in its own eyes; admirable only by reason
OF It's domestic virtues and ancient me-
morles: both. however, dishgured beyond
recognition by trivial observances;
scourging itself with bitter irony; OF
which representative member could
justly remark, My nation has become so
estranged from culture that the posi-
bility OF Improvement is doubtful-this
community nevertheless, raised Itself
from the dust II revived itself
with marvellous rapidity. from its abjec-
ton, as II prophet had called unto is
Shake thyself from the dust. arise-loose
thysef from the bands OF thy neck, oh
daughter Of Zionv And who caused the
revival? One man. Moses Mendelssohn.
who may be considered the incarnation
OF his race lat the time)-stunted In form,
awkward. timid. suffering. ugly, and re-
pulsive in appearance. But I'm this race
deformity breathed a thoughtful spirit,
which only when misled pursued chime
ras. and lost It's self-esteem only when
prescribed. No sooner did IL understand
that IL was the exponent Of the truth than
1t dismissed It's visionary fancies. Its spirit
TRANSPORTED the body. and raised the
bent form erect. the hateful Characters