change. One of its chapters appeared in volume of the Menorah Journal, Decemb (pp. 298-308), under the title "Liberal the Jews." The careful reader will notice that th duction and various parts of the book sh polished style of the master, while here ar the absence of his revising hand is keen Nevertheless, the brilliant mind, the wide r and the broad information of the author ar fest everywhere, and his calmness and object judgment will make this, his last work, a v contribution, not only to Jewish literature, the history of modern civilization. Joseph Jacobs was not an apologete-hi was to point out the share of the Jews world's progress. His occupation with th eral subject had convinced him that the part by the Jews had never been adequatel knowledged. On the other hand, he was care bring forward no claims which could not be stantiated by solid facts. It is a matter of de regret that he was not to finish his task an bring the later chapters to the high level of Introduction. Let us be sincerely thankful what we have. As stated in his Introduction, Dr. Jacobs planned to divide this work, dealing with Je contributions to European civilization, into three books. In the first book, entitled "Jews of the Past," he intended to dwell upon Jewish achievement in the various fields of research during the past two thousand years and to show that the Jews have made themselves a constituent element of that civilization to which they are heirs equally with other nations, creeds, and peoples. The second book was to be devoted to the evaluation of the contributions of individual Jews to modern European culture in the immediate past and present. The third book was to determine the value of Jews in the modern cultural State and thus meet the question raised by the modern higher antiSemites who, in consonance with their mediæval ideals, are opposed to Jewish influence in the Church-State which they would like to see revived. When, in January, 1916, Dr. Jacobs died, this task had been but partially accomplished. Book I was practically ready for publication, though, had the author lived, he would undoubtedly have subjected many parts to a thorough revision. Of Book II he left notes, which would have served him as an outline. These notes show the masterly fashion and the thoroughness with which he had intended to treat this important subject. Nothing has been found of Book III. Book I, being complete in itself, is herewith offered to the public, with the express statement that embodied in it a wealth of knowledge and tion, accumulated during a busy and ener and the arguments are marshalled with liancy characteristic of Dr. Jacobs. It ma be said that the question raised by the hig Semites, which was to be dealt with in the 1 has been adequately answered in the volume. During the last few years the political in many European countries has undergon changes, and it is therefore natural that som statements in this book should appear obs such as the numerous references to the tr of the Jews in Russia under conditions whi since been materially changed. January, 1919. |