New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-06-15
THE JEWS.
4 Nc7c VoIuane an DR.. Singers
Encyclopedia.

THE JEWISH ENcYcLoP,iDlA DeseTipt aE
Times the PTesen; Day freliIeSS bH 9so -
Isidore Singer. Pm. d, ProjectqTT, and Mana gi1,s
Editor. in twelve Foiefhts as 60,
VI 4to. pp. 6s'- Funk Magnal!s COM
panN.
The sixth volume OF the Jewish Encyclopedia
shows no deviation from the policy adopted At
the outset There Is the usual preponderance OF
biblical and biograp hical articles, with. however
a rather more generous sprinkling OF themes or
varied interest the total result being, as We
have before remarked the presentation OF
,,orl, making for more accurate knowledge and
more equitable views Of the records, achieve
rnents and beliefs Of the Jewish people. The
npening article is the most noteworthy in the
volume Rabbi Hirsch. writing Of God. elah-
CRATES the Jewish conception, and traces It
through the Biblical period to that in which the
Hellenic influence first made itself felt. ana
thence to the present day. Ia Biblical times ne
argues philosophical skepticism as TO the valid
ity of the belief in the Supreme Being was
thing unknown, and it was not until the time OF
Philo that a Jewish writer deemed IT necessary
10 seek TO prove the existence Of God. Phllo s
arguments and his Introduction Of the "Logos
theory into the theology of Judaism were. as
Rabbi Hirsch points out. fraught with lar
reaching consequences in the development of the
Cod idea The modern Jewish view, he con-
cl,,des 'reproduces that of the Biblical books
save that the anthropomorphic and anthropathic
teruninology is recognized as due to the insufh-
cheney Of human language to express the super
human. The influence of modern philosophers
Kant ana HegeD upon some sections OF jewish
thought has been considerable.
This being the case il is surprising, on turning
IN s.Tegel" to find that the famous philosopher
has been allotted space wholly Inadequate 10 a
rroper discussion OF his life and works. why
this should be so is the more difficult TO under
stand since Heinrich Heine is made the SUP
iect of an article more than twice as long as
that relating TO Hegel. Returning TO Biblical
and religious subjects, we note many OF great IN
,erest. all Of which are marked by the eruditlon
and uberaIity characteristic Of the treatment
OF similar themes In earlier volumes. Heaven
1.-The Golden Rule" and The Holy Spirit are
among the more important. S. NJ. Dubnow. OF
Odessa and Peter Wiernik. of New-Gork, con-
tribute two interesting articles the former writ
ing OF "FIasidism," the great religious move
ment among the Polish Jews Of the eighteenth
century, which stin claims hundreds OF
thousands Of adherents among Russo-PohSh
Hebrews: and the latter discussing the Has
lxalsh" the beginning of the movement among
tbe Jews of Eastern Europe toward abandoning
their exclusiveness and acquiring the knowledge
manners and aspirations Of the nations among
whom they dwell" Professor Bacher, Of Buda-
nest makes a brief but scholarly study or
Hebrew Grammar The InQuisition" is treat
cd historically by Rabbi Kayserling, Of Buda-
nest; Christian Hehraists' are made the sub
4ec+ Of an appreciative Vet critical article by
Professor Gottheil. We note the usual quota OF
ousint illustrations from old prints