CURRENT LITERATURE
(Books Received.)
"Zionist work in Palestine," edited by Israel Cohen; profusely illustrated; price, 30 cents; sold at Federation of American Zionists, 230 Grand street, New York.
This book furnishes by far the best presentation of the Zionist movement, its accomplishments and plans in Palestine that it has yet been our good fortune to see. In it are to be found monographs by such men as M. Ussischin, Dr. Bodenheimer, Prof. Warburg, Prof. Israel Abrahams, Prof. Schatz, Dr. Grünhut, Dr. Mühsam, Dr. Sandler, the Drs. O. and J. Thon, Dr. Heinrich Lowe, Prof. Aaronsohn, Dr. Glücksohn, Dr. Auerbuch, Dr. Katzenelsohn, Dr. Ruppin, David Yellin, D. Levontin and Sarah Thon, names which are guarantees.
Practically every aspect of the Zionist position in Palestine is gone into and is handled with that scholarship, fidelity to facts and hopefulness of outlook which is characteristic of these illustrious men The articles of those Zionist soldiers who are now on duty in Palestine, such as Prof. Boris Schatz, Dr. Jacob Thon, Dr. Levontin, Dr. Arthur Ruppin, David Yellin and others, are inspiring. They will make fascinating reading for those who, like the writer, long for a word from Palestine. For others the book should not be lacking in interest. Looking at Zionist activity in Palestine from any point of view whatever, it cannot but interest and impress the reader of this compendium. The student of history, of human life in all its departments in fact, will here find grist for his mill, stimulation for thought and reflection.
“Zionist Work in Palestine” should go far in attracting the attention of the world to what is now being accomplished in the Holy Land, and, in particular, to the great sociological problems which 476 being solved there. It will no doubt stimulate immigration into that country, for it furnishes the best proof that, to quote the words of Dr. Elias Auerbach, “There our fate to a large extent lies in our own hands.”
The work contains a useful appendix, showing the economic requirements of the country, the kind of trades and pro-
fessions in demand, and the amount of capital required for all conditions of immigrants desiring to settle in the land.
All together, it is not too much to say that no Zionist, at least, should fail to read the book and induce others to read it as well.
"Hebrew Learning Among the Puritans of New England Prior to 1700," by Rev. D. de Sola Pool, Ph.D.
This is a scholarly yet interesting study of the spread of Hebrew among the Puritans of New England. It appears that the language was better known to this sect than is generally supposed. Interesting, too, is the description of the relations existing between certain Jews and Puritans such as Cotton Mather, Increase Mather and John Eliot. The latter, it seems, was encouraged in the wish to convert ₪6 Indians by a deposition made to Menasseh ben Israel by one Aaron Levi in which it was asserted by Levi that he had heard the Peruvian Indians recite the Shema, The translation of this document into Latin caused a great sensation at the time, as tending to prove the Hebraic origin of the Indians.
The treatise is of value in that it shows points of contact between Jew and Gentile at a time and place as to which data is all too insufficient to the student of history.
"The Rehearsal," by Joseph Herbach; price, 50 cents; Julius Greenstone, 915 N. Eighth street, Philadelphia, Pa.
This is a one act play dealing with the question of intermarriage. The theme and characters are handled with a commendable measure of sincerity and the little play shows dramatic promise. Unfortunately, however, the denouncement of the play, involving the final recognition by the principle characters that intermarriage is impossible for them, comes, not as a conviction from within but, rather, as an external calamitous necessity. In this sense the writer's point of view seems to be a mistaken one. Some there are who regard the Jewish aversion to intermarriage as one of the afflictions to which the Jew is subject on account of his orthodox faith; that it is a matter of abstract principle having no relation to his well-being, an anachronism in our time. But this