The Maccabaean

PHARISAISM, By I. TRAVERS HERFORD

TNDER the title "Pharisaism" Mr. Herford has written what is really a remarkable interpretation of the Jewish character as evidenced through the study of Rabbinical literature. His interpretation is remarkable in that, so far as I know, it is the nearest approach on the part of a non-Jew to a

real understanding of the Jewish habit of mind. He approaches the subject with a humility and unswerving intellectual probity that makes his work the most creditable that has yet appeared, perhaps, from the pen of a non-Jew on the delicate subject of Judaism as contrasted with Christianity—although he does not pretend to enter into the whole discussion of these formidable issues. Mr. Herford conceives his task to be merely to present a historically correct picture of the Pharisee and to remove the heavy cloud of distortion and New Testament obloquy under which he has remained hidden from the view of the Christian world. Incidentally, under the conscientious pen of the writer, the figure of the Jew, from the time of Jesus to the present, becomes more and more luminous, more consistent with his biblical forbears, more comprehendable as a historic entity, until lo! and behold! we come face to face with the orthodox Jew of our times! Here, however, our author stops, the task he set himself being completed. It would be easy for the Jewish reader, perhaps, to underestimate the tremendous difficulties under which the writer must have struggled to complete his picture, because we see in the picture only what we are accustomed to see, although not from an alien pen. But one must bear in mind that this work is written by one of another race, a younger race, that we have practically no impartial records of the Pharisee, and that, at best the Pharisee, that is to say, the Torah-Jew, was, as he continues to be, exceedingly difhicult to understand on the part of those not in the fold,. Having these things in mind, it is not too much to say that Mr. Herford shows powers of visualization which equal those of Ferrero in his studies of Roman times; in fact, Mr. Herford is entitled to even greater credit, because Ferrero had the comparatively simpler task of interpreting historical events susceptible of logical proofs, whereas our philosopher was confronted by the problem of the spiritual interpretation of a people about whom much is written but, which remains to this day essentially unknown and obscure with reference to its inner life.

Very praiseworthy also, is Mr. Herford’s fine scorn of the Pharisees—in the Christian sense—among the Bible critics who approach the subject of Pharisaism with the insolent dogmatism and assurance of ignorance. The subject of Jesus, too, is treated with candor and with a freedom from that pre-judgment which is the bane of Christian scholarship. Indeed, under his pen, Jesus becomes at once more comprehensible and at the same time more impressive as a character of flesh and blood, liable to the exaggeration due to the exciting exigencies of the moment, even when moved by the noblest impulses. According to the author, it was inevitable that Jesus should be incapable of under- standine the Pharisees of his time and that the Phari-

sees should be unable to understand him. I might quote the interesting analysis furnished by the writer. But, then, it would really be better to read the book. Published by Putnams, $1.50 net.

THE JEWS OF RUSSIA AND POLAND, By ISRAEL FRIEDLANDER

The author calls his work a bird's-eye view, and such indeed it is—a bird's-eye view that yet has the interest of a nearer view of Jewish life in Poland and Russia. The book is popular in its appeal and timely.

KB: BT re KT As ae Free The author traces the early beginnings of the Jews in Poland from the time of the early massacres in Germany as a result of which they began to emigrate to Poland down to the threshold of our era. Their treatment in Poland is distinguished from their reception in Russia in that in the former country they were protected by the crown against the attacks of the nobility and the burgers, whereas, in Russia, they were subjected to the merciless oppression of the imperial dynasty and the princes of the blood, while the rest of the population had to be stimulated into an attitude of hostility. Interesting is the portrayal of the Polish “Pan” both in his official relations through the Schlakta or Parliament of Nobles, and also in his irresponsible devil-may-care existence which marked his private life of which the Jew was the victim. The author traces the vices of the Polish nobility, both in his general relations and in his relations to the Jew, and shows how inevitable was the collapse of the Polish state.

Although there were settlements of Jews in Russia before the partition of Poland and their experience of persecution in Russia had already commenced, it was not until the partitions of Poland had been consummated that the struggle between Russian absolutism and the Jewish way of life began. In his treatment of the life of the Jews in Russia, the author’s forshortening method necessarily shows to greater disadvantage. However, enough is shown to give the reader, unacquainted with the life of the Russian Jew, an excellent picture of the tragic war between the Moscovite and the Jewish spirit persistine to this dav.

The book is well written on the whole, although there are occasional lapses in the idioms employed by the writer. Also, to Zionists, the author's defense of his Jewish sympathies will hardly seem necessary, and it is to be doubted whether it is called for even by non-Jewish readers. Histories are not marred but, on the contrary, are improved by the natural nationalist sympathies of their writers, provided, however, that they are written in a spirit of truth.

The book will be of service in that it gives that picture of the Polish and Russian Jew which is missing in the history of Graetz. The outstanding service of the work to Zionists is that the author, however unconsciously, disposes of the idea prevalent in many uninquiring minds, that anti-Semitism in Russia and Poland is of recent growth and is of an ephemeral existence. A study of the history of the Jews of Poland and Russia is convincing of nothing so much as of the fact that the cure for anti-Semitism does not lie in Poland and Russia. HS.

(Published by Putnams. Price, $1.25, net.)

*Books reviewed in this department are obtainable through THE MACCABAEAN.