Binah: Volume I; Studies in Jewish History

Praeger, in collaboration with the distinguished International Center for University Teaching of Jewish Civilization, Jerusalem, and in association with Israeli's Open University, has undertaken the publication of this multi-volume series. Binah brings together for the first time in English seminal articles in Jewish history, thought, and culture. This landmark series, edited by Joseph Dan and under the general supervision of Moshe Davis, will provide resource materials for students enrolled in courses in Jewish studies, religion, history, literature, sociology, cultural anthropology, and philosophy. Binah includes topics from the Biblical period through the 20th century. Each volume of articles is approximately 300 pages in length. An introduction explains the criteria for selecting the articles and indicates their contribution to Jewish history, thought, and culture. The articles, not previously translated, are adapted from their original Hebrew sources in order to make them more accessible to the undergraduate reader, but the editors have made every effort to remain faithful to the intent of the original authors. Each article is preceded by a statement that indicates the original source, a brief biographical sketch of the author placing the article within the framework of his life-work, and the name of the translator/adaptor. The series is bound in both a hardcover library version and in a loose-leaf fomat, allowing the instructor maximum flexibility in utilizing the materials. By special arrangement, purchasers acquire the right to make copies of the articles for student use. Thus, instructors can virtually build a package of readings for their students.

Table of Contents:
Introduction The Death of Joab: A Midrashic Interpretation of Political History by Ephraim E. Urbach Tacitus on the Jews by Yochanan H. Lewy The Concept of History in Hekhalot and Merkabah Literature by Joseph Dan The Origins of the Jewish Communal Organization in the Middle Ages by Yitzhak F. Baer The Generation of the Spanish Exiles Considers Its Fate by H.H. Ben-Sasson From Apostasy to Return to Judaism: The Portuguese Jews in Amsterdam by Joseph Kaplan The Dispute between Jacob Berab and Levi ben Habib over Renewing Ordination by Jacob Katz Jewish Diplomatic Activities to Prevent Expulsion of the Jews from Bohemia and Moravia in 1744-45 by Barouh Mevorah On the Return of Moses Hess to Judaism: The Background to "Rome and Jerusalem" by Michael Graetz The "Kulturkampf" and the Jews of Germany by Uriel Tal Bibliography Index

About the Author :
DAN JOSEPH is Gershom Scholem Professor of Kabbalah at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. His books in English include The Teachings of Hasidism, Jewish Mysticism and Jewish Ethics, The Early Kabbalah, and Gershom Scholem and the Mystical Dimension in Jewish History.