The Maccabaean

pathizing with the enemy—Jewish money-lenders of Salonica held mortgages on estates in Hungary and Austria.” Just how this is to be reconciled with the idea mentioned earlier (although not advanced by Mr. Price himself), that the Jews brought the Allied army to Salonica, is not clear. There is also a curious reference, which one wishes Mr. Price had expanded a bit, to the Dounmehs, who are described as Mohammedans of Jewish race.

In general, Mr. Price feels that the Greeks of Salonica, including the Jewish population, took undue advantage of war conditions and charged inordinate prices. Probably this was so, but as Mr. Price himself points out, the remedy was in the hands of the Allies, who could easily have regulated prices, as we have proved possible in this country since April, 1917. Mr. Price holds strongly that the Salonica expedition was not only worth while, but absolutely necessary; and there can be no doubt that when the victory of the Allies has arrived, and the question of the Balkans is equitably settled, the Jewish population of Salonica, as of the whole neighboring region, will receive large benefits in the way of justice and order, and of education and contact with the world. M. J. H.

STUDIES OF THE DOMINANT RELIGIONS An authoritative yet popular presentation of the dominant religions of the world is contained in “Religions of the Past and Present” (Edited by James A. Montgomery, Ph.D., Philadelphia, J. B. Lippincott Co., $2.50 net), a book that should strongly recommend itself to Jewish readers of a more serious turn of mind desiring to reinforce their knowledge of the mainsprings of human beliefs. The book

“Primitive Religion,” by Dr. Frank G. Speck; “The Religion of Babylonia and Assyria,” by Dr. Morris Jastrow, Jr.; ‘“Zoroastrianism,” by Dr. Roland G. Kent; “The Religion of the Veda,” by Dr. Franklin Edgerton; “The Religion of Greece,” by Dr. Walter Woodburn Hyde; “The Religion of the Teutons,” by Dr. Amandus Johnson, these and other chapters, each one written by a separate writer, constitute essays of unusual interest which are further enhanced by simplicity and beauty of style and which make the book a possession to be sought for. Dr. Montgomery’s essay on the Hebrew Religion is not only scholarly and sympathetic, but displays rare penetration of the Jewish spirit. He regards the distinguishing trait of Judaism “the idea of a definite conviction in Religion with the grim ethical purpose to live and die by it.” He says:

is based upon a course of lectures delivered before the University of Pennsylvania by members of the Department of the History of Religions and the direct and clear method of treatment of the various themes is such as should be appreciated by the general reader not having the time nor the inclination to delve into more weighty volumes. Every religion from Primitive Paganism to medieval Christianity and Zoroastrianism is amply and scholarly treated, but owing to the popular and brief form of presentation in the course of a lecture, each expert stresses rather the general characteristics of the religion under discussion than the historic development of its principles. Sufficient historic background is, however, given by each writer to enable the teader to better comprehend the unfoldment of each of the great faiths of mankind

“The story of the Maccabaean revolt against

Hellenism, the most glorious episode in Hebrew history, shows how, despite all the subtle influences of fascinating. Hellenism, when the danger was apprehended, the Hebrew religion reacted. It gave the world the finest thing its politics has ever seen, the man of religious -conscience refusing to worship the deity of the state and insisting on worshipping the God of his heart alone. Some deep-ingrained conviction, originated and enveloped however we may surmise, along with an ethical obstinacy which supported that conviction even to death, was the characteristic of the Hebrew religion. Later religions have shown like tendencies, although rarely with such a permanent history. This quality has given to modern minds a harsh aspect to the Hebrew religion, especially to the loose thinking and light living of us moderns. The fantastic systems of Egypt and Babylonia and the mythologies of Greece have been more agreeable to philosophic and aesthetic tastes; they have perished except so far as they have been sublimated into poetry. But the idea of a definite conviction in religion, with the grim ethical purpose to live and die by it, that is the contribution of the Hebrew religion to the world. Within the sphere of our western civilization only one other religion, excepting Israel’s daughter Christianity, has shown the like characteristic; the religion of Mohammed. And his religion was born in the same region as that of Moses, in the deserts of western Arabia. If we inquire for geographical and ethical causes for these two great phenomena of religion, we are driven back to Sinai and the wastes about Mecca, and to some stock of people morally capable of possession by a great religious enthusiasm.” ₪

I

Sing all ye trees, shout triumphant Jordan! David has conquered, his foes are stricken down! Absalom has fallen, fallen the rebellious, David's throne’s established and bright is David's crown. Sing all ye soldiers, clash your swords as cymbals! God's is the triumph and David’s the renown; God has fought for David, forests were his allies, And we shall bear King David back to Zion town.

II

David Speaks

Absalom, my son, fallen, stricken before me, My little one, Absalom, that I have stricken down, Beautiful and sinful, how can I reign without thee? Those clustered golden curls were the glory of my crown. Pale are thy lips, drawn awry, with black blood oozing, Heavy is thy head—heavy, dull as my renown, I shall eat but dust and ashes, dust and ashes, dust and ashes, In the streets of Zion town.