Josephus in Modern Jewish Culture


Book Description

The contributions to this volume trace for the first time how the modern Jewish reception of Josephus, the ancient historian who witnessed and described the destruction of the Second Temple, took shape within different scholarly, religious, literary and political contexts across the Jewish world, from Amsterdam to Berlin, Vilna, Breslau, New York and Tel Aviv. The chapters show how the vagaries of his tumultuous life, spent between a small rebellious nation and the ruling circles of a vast empire, between Jewish and non-Jewish cultures, and between political action and historical reflection have been re-imagined by Jewish readers over the past three centuries in their attempts to make sense of their own times. "The project and this volume can encourage greater awareness of the complex origins of Josephus’ controversial reputation as a Jewish priest, diplomat in Rome, military leader of the first Jewish revolt against the Romans, as an advocate for surrender to imperial forces, as a witness to the Hurban, as a citizen of Rome, and as a historian....Recommended highly for all Jewish and academic libraries." - David B Levy, Touro College, NYC, in: Association of Jewish Libraries News and Review 1.2 (2019)




Two Prize Essays on the Post-Biblical History of the Jews (Classic Reprint)


Book Description

Excerpt from Two Prize Essays on the Post-Biblical History of the Jews It were an interesting, as it is assuredly an important study, to trace this nation from the period of its glory and greatness to that of its sufferings and decadence; to mark how disobedience to the behests of its great Ruler has ever met with punishment, how bigotry has ever been the signal for sedition and civil war, how secession from its tenets has ever led to ignominy and disgrace. Nor are the lessons to be derived from such a contemplation all so gloomy the observant mind cannot fail to mark, on the other hand, how obedience has ever met with reward, how humility in tribulation has ever been the precursor of success, how faith in the hour of triumph has ever averted anarchy and decay. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.