Papers of the Institute of Jewish Studies, London

A re-examination of the monographs of four scholars, each in its own way a classic, each imprinting an object lesson for contemporary readers and researchers. Stern's essay provides a look at how first class intellects took up the task of recovering the intellectual heritage of Israel, making it available in well-presented and accurate editions for future generations to translate into intelligible learning. Werblowski's paper, a collection and arrangement of sayings enlivened by unsystematic observations on a single topic, exemplifies methods of research and scholarship that do not work. Urbach's contribution rests on perceptions and methods which, though compelling, are now rendered obsolete by the test of time. Loewe, considered the pre-eminent contributor by the series editor, Jacob Neusner, contributes an essay that is the capstone of the bookoremarkable for his sustained argument, perspicacity and ability to recognize important questions and think about them in critical ways. This reprint of the 1964 edition published at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem contains a new preface by Jacob Neusner.