The Philosophers. Maimonides : p. 375 MAIMONIDES (TRANSLATION OF AN EPISTLE ADDRESSED By RABBI MOSES MAIMONIDES TO RABBI SAMUEL IBN TIBBON.) Our illustrious master sent this epistle to the honored sage, the Chief of Translators, R. Samuel, son of R. Jehuda ibn Tibbon, in reply to the question asked by the latter when he...
The Midrash. The Bereshith Or Genesis Rabba : p. 42 THE BERESHITH OR GENESIS RABBA It is forbidden to inquire what existed before creation, as Moses distinctly tells us (Deut. iv. 32): "Ask now of the days that are past which were before thee, since the day God created man upon earth." Thus the scope of inquiry is limited to the time "since"...
The Philosophers. Introduction : p. 367 THE PHILOSOPHERS "When creation was all but ended, the world with all its grandeur and splendor stood out in its glorious beauty. There was but one thing wanting to consummate the marvelous work, and that was a creature with thought and understanding able to behold, reflect, and marvel...
The Midrash. Exodus Rabba : p. 69 EXODUS RABBA King David was a descendant of Miriam. Jethro, who was originally a priest of Midianite idolatry, renounced his idols, and with them his priestly position. For this he was boycotted and excommunicated by his former compatriots; no one was to perform any work for him or his;...
Religious Poetry. Poems Of Ibn Gebirol : p. 334 POEMS OF IBN GEBIROL O SOUL, WITH STORMS BESET! O soul, with storms beset! Thy griefs and cares forget. Why dread earth's transient woe, When soon thy body in the grave unseen Shall be laid low, And all will be forgotten then, as though It had not been? Wherefore, my soul, be still! Adore...
The Midrash. Introduction : p. 7 THE MIDRASH "Wisdom is granted by God to him who already possesses knowledge, not to the ignorant"." --MIDRASH TANHUMA. "The Bible, or written law, contains unexplained passages and hidden sentences, which can not be fully understood without the help of the oral law"." --MIDRASH TANHUMA. p. 9...
The Midrash. Midrash Tanhuma : p. 12 MIDRASH TANHUMA The Torah 1 is full of holy fire; it was written with a black fire upon a white fire. The Torah has meekness as its footgear, and the fear of God as its crown. Hence Moses was the proper person through whose hands it should be delivered; he was meek, and with the fear...
The Midrash. Leviticus Rabba : p. 90 LEVITICUS RABBA The great characteristic of Moses--humility--pervades his life throughout. When he was first charged with the mission to Pharaoh his hesitation in accepting the charge was based upon self-abasement. "Who am I," he says, "that I should go to Pharaoh and that I should bring out...
The Midrash. Numbers Rabba : p. 105 NUMBERS RABBA The works of the wicked are darkness (Isa. xxix. 15), and their retribution is darkness (Ezek. xxxi.): like a pot of earthenware whose cover is of the same material. The tribe of Levi took no part in the making of the golden calf, and, moreover, punished the offense...
The Book Cusari. The Book Cusari : p. 362 THE BOOK CUSARI The King of Khazars, a man of piety and of fervent devotion to his religion, was told in a dream that his intentions were agreeable to God, but not his actions. The King therefore obtained an interview with a philosopher in order to ascertain his opinions about God...
Religious Poetry. Later Poets : p. 352 LATER POETS MY KING Ere time began, ere age to age had thrilled, I waited in his storehouse, as he willed; He gave me being, but, my years fulfilled, I shall be summoned back before the King. He called the hidden to the light of day, To right and left, each side the fountain lay, From out...
The Midrash. Deuteronomy Rabba : p. 121 DEUTERONOMY RABBA Moses declared (Exod. iv.) that he was not a man of words, but observe his eloquence in the book of Deuteronomy; an eloquence acquired since he gained possession of the Torah. The rebukes which the Israelites received from Moses would seem to have been more appropriately...
The Midrash. Ashmedai, The King Of Demons : p. 133 ASHMEDAI, THE KING OF DEMONS After King Solomon had ascended his father's throne, he called all his counselors together one day and addressed them as follows: "As the wise and distinguished men of the people, you can not but recognize that the time has now come when I have to discharge...
The Travels Of Benjamin Of Tudela. The Travels : p. 381 THE TRAVELS OF BENJAMIN OF TUDELA "Palestine is destined to be the center of the globe"." --MIDRASH TANHUMA. "The above-mentioned Rabbi Benjamin was a man of wisdom and understanding, and of much information; and after strict inquiry his words were found to be true, and correct; for he w...
Title Page : THE SACRED BOOKS AND EARLY LITERATURE OF THE EAST VOLUME IV MEDIEVAL HEBREW THE MIDRASH THE KABBALAH In Translations by DR. W. WYNN WESTCOTT, D.P.H., Magus of the Rosicrucian Society; S. L. MATHERS, M.A.; VERY REV. HERMAN ADLER, LL.D., President of Jews' College; ADOLF NEUBAUER, Ph.D., Reader...
Untitled : The Sacred Books And Early Literature Of The East, Vol. IV MEDIEVAL HEBREW "FEATURING" THE MIDRASH [1917] This is an an etext of an early 20th Century anthology of translations of Medieval Hebrew religious texts. This is of interest because of the (abridged) translations of some Midrash texts...
The Book Cusari. Introduction : p. 359 THE BOOK CUSARI "The King of the Khazars, a man of piety and fervent devotion to his religion, was told in a dream that his intentions were agreeable to God, but not his actions"." --THE BOOK CUSARI. p. 361 THE BOOK CUSARI (INTRODUCTION) THE book Cusari was written by the famous poet Judah...
Religious Poetry. Poems Of Judah Halevi : p. 337 POEMS OF JUDAH HALEVI ODE TO ZION Art thou not, Zion, fain To send forth greetings from thy sacred rock Unto thy captive train, Who greet thee as the remnants of thy flock? Take thou on every side-- East, west, and south, and north -their greetings multiplied. Sadly he greets thee still...
Bibliography. Bibliography : p. 429 BIBLIOGRAPHY For the general history of the Hebrew race during the Middle Ages, the fullest and most satisfactory work is the six-volume work: HEINRICH GRAETZ, "History of the Jews" (Jewish Publication Society, Philadelphia, 1891-1898). H. H. MILMAN, "History of the Jews" (new edition, New...
Introduction : p. 1 SACRED BOOKS AND EARLY LITERATURE MEDIEVAL HEBREW INTRODUCTION HOW FROM RELIGION THE HEBREW THOUGHT BRED MYSTERY, PHILOSOPHY, AND POETRY THE Hebrew writings after the fifth century of our present era include no such transcendently important religious works as the Bible and the Talmud. Yet...
The Philosophers. The Commentaries Of Ibn Ezra : p. 371 THE PHILOSOPHERS THE COMMENTARIES OF IBN EZRA (EXTRACTS) I shall inquire into the grammatical form of every word of the Torah and explain it to the best of my knowledge. The first verses of Genesis should be expressed thus: "When in the beginning God decreed the formation of the heaven...
Religious Poetry. Introduction : p. 331 RELIGIOUS POETRY "The word of God is in them as they burst forth, and as they return; they obey the divine command, rushing along as a whirlwind, and returning to prostrate themselves at His throne"." --THE BOOK OF CREATION. "Thy flocks are scattered o'er the barren waste, Yet do they not...
