453 FUNDAMENTAL JEWISH EDUCATIONAL IDEALS A Thesis Submitted to the University of Ottawa by Julius Berger in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy 1950 LkMAfcl£$ %, ^ '»• . *ify 0* X UMI Number: DC53973 INFORMATION TO USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. Broken or indistinct print, colored or poor quality illustrations and photographs, print bleed-through, substandard margins, and improper alignment can adversely affect reproduction. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if unauthorized copyright material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. UMI® UMI Microform DC53973 Copyright 2011 by ProQuest LLC All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. ProQuest LLC 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 Prefatory Note It is customary to add a prefatory note to the beginning and a concluding statement to the end of a dissertation. Perhaps, the basis for it is the maxim that "ideas are most readily conveyed to others when you tell them what you are going to tell them, and then tell them what you have told them." This survey offers a contribution to an under­ standing of the function of Jewish education. The transmission of Jewish values, animated by definite ideals, had for its conscious purpose of arousing religious impulses and ethical tendencies within the hearts and minds of the people. A mere glance at the table of contents will show that the educational ideals described are meant to give support and sanction to the teaching that the history of mankind can be directed into channels making for social, intellect­ ual, religious, national and international progress. The modern setting is, therefore, interpreted to be a ii real part of the main theme. It is not far-fetched to say that questions which vex educators of this age are essentially not dissimilar to those that vexed the minds of seekers of truth in days of old. Those interested in educational ideals and their implications, in the light of the demands of a democ­ racy, may perhaps find in this treatise new materials for thought and investigation. A selected biblio­ graphy will be found at the end of this work. To maintain continuity of text, dates and references to sources and other matter related to the subject are in most instances introduced in footnotes. Hebrew proper names, terms and expressions are transliterated and defined when first used. With the exception of one instance for which the Book of Job by Moses Buttenweiser has been used, all other Old Testament quotations were drawn upon the English translation of the Pentateuch by Joseph Hertz, • « . Ill Ohief Rabbi of England, insofar as the Pentateuch is concerned. Citations from the Prophets and the Writings are referred to the Holy Scriptures, accord­ ing to the Masoretic text, a new translation, pub­ lished by the Jewish Publication Society of America. The New Testament, Red Letter Edition, by the World Publishing Company, authorized version, is the text used for reference to passages therein. Extracts from the Talmud and the Midrashim were rendered into the vernacular by the author of this work. A Key to and meaning of abbreviations in the footnotes of this survey is shown in the belief that it will aid the reader to follow the sources more easily. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Prefatory note i Table of Contents iv Key to and meaning of abbreviations in the footnotes of this work v Chapter I. Introductory 1 II. Topmost Ideal Section 1: The Majesty of God.. 6 a.His exis tence b.His attributes c.His kinship with men d.Imitatio Dei and ethics Section 2: Relation of the ideal to social betterment.30 a.Wage Worker b.Prison reform c.Aid for the needy d.Old age pension III. Ideal links between man and God Section 1: The Torah 99 Section 2: The synagogue 171 Section 3: The home 242 Section 4: The school 281 17. The destiny of Israel according to educational ideals 335 Conclusion 386 Sources : bibliography 390 V Key to and meaning of abbreviations in the footnotes of this work. A.Z Aboda Zara , Idola try, a Talmudic tractate dealing with laws concerning idols and the relation to the worship thereof. B.B Baba Batra, Last Gate, a Talmudic trac­ tate dealing with damages and injuries and their remedies. B.K Baba Kama, First Gate, treats of damages, injuries and their remedies. B.M Baba Mezia, Middle Gate, treats of laws concerning found property, trust, buying and selling, lending and hiring and renting. Ber... Berakot, Benedictions or Prayers, a Talmudic Tractate dealing with liturgical rules. B.C.E Before Christian Era. Cant.R Canticles Rabbati, the Midrash to the Song of Songs, containing comments and explanations, often clothed in the garb of a homily. C.E Christian Era. I Cor The First Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Corin thians• Deut Deuteronomy, the Fifth Book of the Penta­ teuch. The Greek-speaking Jews translated the Hebrew, Mishna Torah, Tthe Repetition of the Law*,by Deuteronomium, rSecond Law* adopted by the English Versions. vi Eccles Ecclesiastes, in the Bible canon, attri­ buted to King Solomon who in old age offered his philosophy of life. Eccles.R».....Ecclesiastes Rabbati, the Midrash to the book by the same name interpreting the text allegorically and giving it a religious significance. Ecclus -Ecclesiasticus, a commentary on the times, replete with lofty religious sentiments, by Ben Sirach, written about 180 B.C.E. Ex.or Exod... .Exodus-, the Second Book of the Pentateuch, from the Greek term exodos, fThe Depart­ ure* (of the Israelites out of Egypt). Ezek Ezekiel, one of the prophetical books of the Bible. Gen. Genesis, name rendered from the Greek, meaning ,origin;t because it gives an account of the creation of the world and the beginnings of life and society. Gitt. Gittin, a treatise on divorces. Is Isaiah, one of the prophetical books of the Bible, dealing with justice and fair­ ness between man and man. Hos Hosea, one of the prophetical books of the Bible, which emphasizes God's love. Jer Jeremiah, one of the prophetical books of the Bible, in which the prophet feels him­ self a man of contention to the whole world Josh. Joshua, in the Bible canon, dealing with Canaan, its conquest and division among the tribes • vii Jud Judges, Book in the Bible canon, a collection of narratives dealing with Israel's life in different parts of the land, both east and west of the Jordan. Ket..... Ketubot, Talmudic tractate, treating of dower and marriage settlements. Kidd Kiddushin, Talmudic tractate on betro­ thals. Lam Lamentations, Book in the Bible canon, having for its subject the fall of Jerusalem in 586 B.C.E. Lev. Leviticus, the Third Book of the Penta­ teuch1. The very name, derived from the Septuagint, reveals the contents; name­ ly, a description of the priesthood and the duties of the people. Lev.R Leviticus Rabbah, one of the older Midrashic works. A striking character­ istic of this Midrash is its collection of prove"rbs in the interpretation of the Book of Leviticus. Mach Mach-shirin, a Talmudic treatise dealing with liquids that dispose seeds and fruits to receive ritual uncleanness. Mai. Malachi, an anonymous book in the Hebrew Bible consisting of a message to the priests and to the people at large. Matt Matthew, Book of the New Testament, con­ taining the gospel according to Saint Matthew. lie..... Micah,Bible Book, which contains the prophet's forebodings and censures* « • • Vlll Midr Midrash, term signifying the method of traditional interpretation: it, therefore, also stands for a collection of comments on the law. Mid.Gen.R.Midrash Genesis Rabba, a collection of in­ terpretations of the Book of Genesis. Midr.Lament.R. Midrash Lamentations Rabbati, con­ sisting of material appropriate to the day of the destruction of the Temple. Midr.Tanh.Midrash Tanhuma, (or Tankhuma), the work of a Palestinian teacher, named Tanhuma, or Tankhuma, who lived during the latter half of the fourth century, C.E. Mikv Mikuaot, a treatise dealing with the con­ ditions under which wells and reservoirs are fit to be used for ritual purifications. M Mishna, the authorized codification of the oral or unwritten law, developed during the second Temple and down to the end of the second century C.E. Num Numbers, the Fourth Book of the Pentateuch; its English designation, derived from the Septuagint, at once suggests that the book describes the numbering of the Israelites in the Wilderness. But, it contains also laws and varied happenings. Num.R Numbers Rabbah, the Midrash of a composite work, made up largely of quotations from Tanhuma. It belongs to the twelfth century, 0 . n . i'x Prov Proverbs, among the Bible books, the author of which, King Solomon, makes knowledge the foundation of virtue and of well-being. The maxims or aphorisms are based on observation and experience. Pal.Amor'aer.Pales tinian Amoraer, teachers in Palestinian academies engaged in the work of interpreting the concise ex­ pressions of the Mishna. • Ps Psalms, not inaptly called the hymn book of the second temple. The book of Psalms is cherished for its widely diverse religious worth and poetical excellence. RaBad Rabbi Abraham ben David (XII century), Southern France,celebrated author of critical annotations on Maimonides* Talmudical code. Rom Romans,- the Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Romans. ISam, and IlSam. The' First and the Second Book of Samuel contain many strands which form a sui.table prelude to the history of the kingdom.