Themes for Discussion

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I.Discuss the relations between Judaism as law and Mendelssohn's statement that "Judaism is not a revealed religion but a revealed legislation."[25]
II.What was the significance of the defeat of Persia by Greece for civilization in general and for the Jew in particular?[30]
IV.Had the Hasmoneans the right to assume the office of High Priest?[51]
V.Compare the treatment of wisdom in Proverbs (viii) and in Ecclesiasticus.[66]
VI.Are there traces of Greek philosophy in the Septuagint?[71]
VII.Compare modern with ancient parties in Israel.[84]
VIII.Contrast the Wood Festival of ancient Judea with Arbor Day in modern America.[90]
X.Single out great events in Israel influenced by, and influencing the Jews.[101]
XI.Did Herod succeed or did he fail?[110]
XII.Is it possible, as Hillel said, to evolve the whole law from the Golden Rule?[116]
XIV.Does official Judaism discourage conversion? Why did the Jews oppose a census on religious grounds?[126]
XV.Why cannot Jesus be accepted by the synagogue to-day?[135]
XVI.Why did most heathen converts to Judaism ultimately become Christians?[140]
XVII.Why did rabbinic Judaism neglect Philo?[146]
XVIII.If Agrippa had lived and reigned as long as Herod——?[152]
XIX.Compare the Zealots of antiquity with to-day's Russian revolutionists; the Sicarii with the anarchists; the procurators with the Czar's local governors.[156]
XX.Make clear the difference in principle between Judea's "Peace Party" and the "Royalist Party" among the American revolutionists.[160]
XXIII.Should Josephus be regarded as a traitor?[179]
XXIV.Whether the Temple's fall abolished or suspended animal sacrifice is a point of difference between Judaism's two schools to-day.[189]
XXV.In what respect did the "Academy" differ from a school?[196]
XXVI.Contrast the ancient gnostic with the modern agnostic.[200]
XXVIII.Should Akiba's method of law deduction be called casuistic?[210]
XXIX.What degree of pain or peril justifies disregard of ceremonial law?[216]
XXX.Can the number of our duties be specified?[221]
XXXI.What is Revelation, and how did the sages apply it to the Oral Law?[228]
XXXII.Is the Jew's first duty to his countrymen or to his coreligionists?[238]
XXXIV.What right had the Byzantine Empire to the title "Roman"?[249]
XXXV.Compare Bible and Talmud as literatures. In what sense can it be said that the Talmud made the Jew?[255]
XXXVIII.In what respect did mediaeval slavery differ from Russian serfdom and from the bond service in the early colonial era of America?[287]
XXXIX.Why did the higher clergy oppose the mingling of Jews and Christians, and the lower favor it?[292]
XL.Why did Judaism not succeed as a proselytising religion?[298]
XLI.Should Mohammed be called a prophet?[303]
XLII.Amplify the probable consequences of the acceptance of Mohammed by the Jews.[311]