A Concise Compilation of Basic Information
on Judaism in Ausubel's Encyclopedic Volume

Nathan Ausubel, who already
has acquired fame as author of
anthologies of Jewish humor, folk-
lore and poetry, whose "Super-
man: Life of Frederick the Great"
was widely acclaimed, is justifi-
ably considered one of the ablest
collectors of valuable data, an out-
standing research man, a scholar
who is steeped in Jewish knowl-
edge.
His skill as an anthologist and
historian is proven again in his
newest work, "The. Book of Jewish
Knowledge," a large 9x11 book,
just published by Crown (419
Park S., N.Y. 16.)
It is an impressive work, en-
cyclopedic, containing concise facts
above all elements and all eras in
Jewish history, with more than 750
illustratoins and excellently com-
piled indices—of general topics
and of persons—making it all the
NATHAN AUSUBEL
easier for the reader to trace the
subjects on which he seeks infor-
only 'for the sake of Heaven' but
mation.
for the betterment of life itself.
The contents are all-inclusive, Even in the most backward and
from biblical times to the pres -
superstition-ridden periods of the
ent, and as the author admonish- Jewish religion ( psychologically
es the reader it is not a Jewish considered) the harassed Jew, the
encyclopedia in the general sense rejected 'orphan' of the world,
but "a book of Jewish knowledge found in it anodyne for his mac-
arranged in encyclopedia form."
erated human pride . . ."
There is advice to the reader to
It is with this as an inspiration
use cross references for more
that Ausubel commenced his en- -
complete knowledge of informa-
cyclopedic compilation with Av9-
tion sought because: "The reader
dah, referring his readers to
should keep in - mind that no
Prayer and Worship ... and con-
single article on any given sub-
cluded his massive work with a
ject contains all the relevant
lengthy article on Zionism that
data; discussion of it may also
is exceptionally well illustrated.
occur within other articles, Pos -
. Following it there is just the list-
sibly in a different context or
ing of Zohar, telling the reader
with other implications."

A scholarly foreword contrasts to See Cabala.
Jewish with worldly knowledge,
and, describing "the difference
with the Jews," the compiler
states:
"The pursuit of learning—es-
lypecially Torah learning — was
highly revered among the Jews
during the Second Temple period:
it had been elevated, to an exalted
form of religious worship by Ezra
the Scribe about the year 444
B.C.E. The obligation to study
perpetually the precepts, laws and
teachings contained in the Scrip-
tures had evolved in time into a
religious-national dedication. The
internal conditions and social or-
ganization of Jewish community
life made it possible for even the
poorest and the huPlest to acquire
at least some learning; many of
the most illustrious of rabbinic
sages, like Hillel and Akiba, sprang
from the common people. It is,
therefore. not to be wondered at
that, in the democratic and ethical
climate of Jewish community life
(in which all men, at least theo-
retically, stood equal), illiteracy
and ignorance were scorned be-
cause they prevented the indi-
vidual from acquiring an adequate
knowledge of the religious-cultural
heritage of Israel.
"This is how the foundations of
Jewish intellectuality, which was
preponderantly religious and esti-
cal in its preoccupations, were laid
down by its teachers to serve for

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almost 25 centuries as a way of
life and as a fortress for the spirit

the bruised Jewish spirits dur-
ing the many crises in our
history.'
The impressive foreward makes
this additional observation: "The
miracle of it all—and it almost
seems like a miracle—is that, under
the disheartening circumstances of
Jewish life it nevertheless was pos-
sible for the average Jew to
achieve reasonable personality in-
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•

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throughout Israel's never-ending
trials and calamities."
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Taking at random some of the
topics in this important work, the
reviewer could shoW how Ausubel
has managed to incorporate into
his book practically every subject
of importance of the annals of our
people. For instance, under Mas-
sacres, he lists The Crusades and
The Black - Death, and he refers
the reader to many related topics
—Kiddush Ha-Shern, "Ritual Mur-
der" Slanders, Marranos and In-
quisition, Nazis, etc., etc. It is so
clear that he thereby sought and
attained thoroughness in covering
his, thousands of subjects dealt
with in "The Book of Jewish
Knowledge."
There is a vast amount of ma-
terial on Hebrew literature, and
he follows it with a section deal-
ing with Hebrew Vowel-Sounds
and then with a lengthy article
on "Hebrews," "Israelites," "Jews."
Thus he offers historical ata coy-
ering a vast area.
Encyclopedias are not easily re-
viewed, and Ausubel's work must
be seen, studied, read, kept as a
reference work for a full apprecia-
tion of it. Suffice it to say that it
is a magnificent attainment, en-
riching and already splendid
record established by author Na-
than Ausbel.

1111V

Friday, November 20, 1964-7

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