The Denver Jewish news. [volume] (Denver, Colo.) 1915-1925, 1920-04-14
MOVEMENTS lin JUDAISM.

NS'SAai SeotS ago Tue jewish up-
LEGATION Society of America projected
series of books under the general
heading of Movements in Judaism"
This included volumes on Zionism,
Mysticism, Rationalism, Reform Juda-
ism, and Hellenism. The volume on
Zionism, by Prof. Richard Gottheil
was issued some time ago while the
volume on Hellenism from the pen
OF Mr.. Norman Bentwich, has just
made its appearance. Mr.. Bentwich
is the author of two other volumes pub
lished hy the society one on Philo-
JudacTs of Alexandria and bio
graph of Josephus. Having specialize
ed !? Jewish history and literature MIR.
Pc .ltwich was eminently fitted to un-
Gsrtake the work on Hellenism. 1t is
This movement in Judaism which Mr..
Iicntwich has set himself to describe.
During the last two or three CEN
turtles before the common era the jew
ish people came in Close contact with
the Greek-speaking world. and natural
ly. could not entirely escape its in
fluence. Greek thought prevailed
thruout the Eastern world. and Hell
lenism,. or the culture OF Greece, for
which Hellas is the older name. dom
ina ted tie Intellectual activity of men.
Altho the Jews We're always opposed to
foreign influences which conflictcd
with their mode of thinking, the Greek
.n1fnrn fnl law
ish life in one way or another. 1t
was just this influence which brought
about the Maecabean struggle. Like
wise in the first three centuries of the
Christian era they were engaged in an
:nccssnnt struggle with the lproducts
of the Hellenistic influence which de-
terInined the bent of their future de
vclopment and the bent pf the relis-
ious history of the world. The struggle
of Judaism with Hellenistic culture
marks one of the most fundamental
conflicts in the march of civilization,
and as result Hellenislic Judaism
Is one of the most remarkable CON
tributions to Jewish genius TO the
worlds thought.
The author treats this subject from
the Jewish point of view. Others are
chiefly interested in the relation of
Hellenism to Christianity This school
OF writers contrast the broad univer.
salism of Hellenistic Judaism with the
supposed narrow legallsm of the
pharisees which eventually prevailed
in Palestine. Mr.. Bentwich combats
this attitude. The present volume is
popular in character and the author
has not refrained from pointing out
parallels in modern Jewish life.
In the Introduction the author gives
n general view OF. the subject outlin-
ing the scope of his, treatment, 1t is
in the nature of a historical resume.
The chapters deal with the Hellenistic
culture, Hellenism i'll Palestine till
the destruction of the Temple. HELEN
ism in the Diaspora, Hellenistic-Jew-
ish literature, the Rabbits and HELEN
ism. the Aftermath, and the Conclu-
sion. The author also has appended
some valuable notes and biblio-
graphy.
Mr.. Bentwich apart from giving his
torical description of the various
phases of Hellenism in Palestine and
in the Diaspora, fully describes the
litcra ture produced by the Jews dur
ing that period. He graphically and
infinitely describes the life and works
of Philo, Josephus and other Import
ant Jewish writer's. He gives fine
Of the wisdom of Ben Sira and also
resume deals with the influence of the
Septaugint and the attitude of the jew
ish rabbis toward it.
The book will appeal to the cultured
layman who wishes. to be informed on
the various movements of Judaism.