Moses Mendelssohn (1729–1786) is often described as the founder of modern Jewish thought and as a leading philosopher of the late Enlightenment. One of Mendelssohn's main concerns was how to conceive of the relationship between Judaism; philosophy; and the civic life of a modern state. Elias Sacks explores Mendelssohn's landmark account of Jewish practice--Judaism's "living script;" to use his famous phrase--to present a broader reading of Mendelssohn's writings and extend inquiry into conversations about modernity and religion. By studying Mendelssohn's thought in these dimensions; Sacks suggests that he shows a deep concern with history. Sacks affords a view of a foundational moment in Jewish modernity and forwards new ways of thinking about ritual practice; the development of traditions; and the role of religion in society.
#1515621 in Books Indiana University Press 2013-06-04 2013-06-04Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.00 x 1.30 x 6.00l; 1.27 #File Name: 0253008530296 pagesbiography of Pere Marie-Benoit and his "Jewish resecueduring WWII
Review
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Important History and Good AuthorshipBy Joan D HostetterThe story of Roman Catholic Priests who saved Jews from the Holocaust needs this kind of readable yet scholarly presentation. It is good to remember the loving; brave heroes among the priests who saved Jews from the Nazis. Praises to Susan Zuccotti for this fine work. I half-expected a ponderous or overly excitable presentation; but Ms. Zuccotti has struck just the right balance here.2 of 5 people found the following review helpful. Thin when history counts.By Karl BergerFull disclosure: I bought this book because I am writing a novel about the French Resistance in WW II. I have read only the part that applies to that specific time; very few pages beyond. I hoped for more telling episodes and details about techniques of forgery and individual fates. The time I am most interested in—and so I think most readers will be—is not represented fully enough. Maybe I am doing this book injustice; there might just not be more material.21 of 34 people found the following review helpful. Highly inaccurate and misleading regarding Pius XIIBy MarilynI have read with interest what Susan Zuccotti says about Fr. Marie-Benoit. However; I find a great many inaccurate things in what she says about Pius XII. To name just four out of dozens:1. Page 48: Re: Pius XII not mentioning the Jews specifically in his first encyclical -Nevertheless Pius XII did specifically mention the Jews in his Christmas Eve sermon in the Consistory Hall to the Cardinals and high-ranking prelates on Dec. 24; 1940: "It is not a little comforting to Us to be in a position to console with the moral and spiritual assistance of Our representatives and with Our Peter's Pence subsidies; a huge number of refugees; of ex-patriates; of emigrants; among whom are also those of the Semitic race. We were able to give particularly large aid to the Poles..." See his speeches from 1940 on the Vatican website. See paragraph 18: "...anche fra quelli di stirpe semitica..."2. Page 223: She says that Fr. Benoit said that the Vatican was not involved in helping DELASEM secure loans in lire against deposits of the Joint [American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee] in London at the end of 1943 and into 1944.On the contrary; in March 1944 Count Carletti; a go-between; asked the Vatican bank to accept $16;000 from Jews in America and convert them into lire; to be used by DELASEM. Secretary of State; Cardinal Maglione responded;"That would be an operation on behalf of a person residing in an enemy country. The Apostolic Delegate in Washington has warned us repeatedly that such operations are severely prohibited; even for small sums... If you really want to help Count Carletti and the Jews; you could suggest to the Count to seek a trusted person with an open account in dollars in the Opere di Religione [the Vatican Bank] who would lend himself to host the $16;000. Professor Rothschild has proposed a similar operation. He mentioned to me; if I have understood it correctly; the British minister [Osborne] in exile at the Vatican... Couldn't these Jews take the matter up with the British Minister?"As if worried that even this might compromise the Vatican's neutrality; Maglione's note to himself adds; "I don't intend to give orders or assume responsibility. I don't even want to make suggestions." But in fact he had pointed out the most clever; legal way for DELASEM to use the Vatican bank to obtain currency conversions. ADSS; Volume 10; #103; March 16; 1944; pages 178-179.3. Page 197: Zuccotti says "...those imprecise references did not imply the pope himself was directly involved in rescue. Rather; the pope was a symbol of an institution that had been helpful in Rome."But the pope himself was directly involved in rescue; as his longtime housekeeper; Sister Pascalina testified in her biography:"The fear of being arrested and sent off to some concentration camp was so great that today one can hardly grasp it. People tried to hide in every imaginable way; and once again it was the Holy Father who kept the door and the gate open. The Vatican; the many cloisters; the colleges; all became cities of refuge for hunted; persecuted people. He himself helped to care for those in hiding and to make their accommodations endurable. And everything had to happen in great secrecy; there were always new refugees; and those who were already in safety couldn't be put into danger.""Pius XII wanted to help; to help everyone who was in need. It made no difference; they even took in people who would repay him with ingratitude or with slander. Woe if he were to find out that someone had been hesitant to take in someone who had a bad reputation. He always wanted to know everything and be informed exactly about all that had been done and what had yet to be done; and he never grew tired of giving." (Ich Durfte Ihm Dienen. Erinnerungen an Papst Pius XII; page 120).4. Zuccotti says on Page 197: "He added that after the liberation of Rome; Pius XII had met with two leaders of the Roman Jewish Community; Chief Rabbi Israel Zolli and the lawyer Carlo Alberto Ottolenghi; and had agreed to grant a public audience to all the Jews of Rome later; when circumstances permitted. That public audience did not occur..."On the contrary; it did occur as J. Bogle relates in "The Real Story of Pius XII and the Jews;" The Salisbury Review; Spring 1996:"Later; after the war was over; Pius XII received a large delegation of Roman Jews in the Vatican and ordered that the Imperial steps be opened for them to enter by. These steps were usually reserved for crowned Heads of State... The Pope received them in the Sistine chapel and; seeing that his Jewish visitors felt uncomfortable in that place; he came down from his throne and warmly welcomed them; telling them to feel completely at home; saying 'I am only the Vicar of Christ but you are his very kith and kin.' Such was his great love for the Jewish people; augmented by his knowledge of their terrible sufferings."I could go and on; showing very precisely where Zuccotti has given inaccurate and misleading information about Pope Pius XII; but it would become a book. Dr. Marilyn Mallory; S.T.D.
