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Book reviews for "Gordis,_Robert" sorted by average review score:

Koheleth: The Man and His World
Published in Paperback by Jason Aronson (1995)
Author: Robert Gordis
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A masterful study of a thought provoking Old Testament book
Robert Gordis has managed to compile a study on the Book of Ecclesiastes which is both fascinating to the novice and challenging to the wider read. The research that has gone into this work is reflected by the number of authors who continually turn to it in their quest for a greater understanding into both the origin and purpose of the famous Old Testament book, and can be found in the bibliographies of all the most pertinent articles and scholarly books written on Ecclesiastes since.

This is a must for anyone who wishes to find out more about the quintessence of Old Testament piety and scepticism as found in Ecclesiastes with its famous cry "Vanity, vanity all is vanity".

A breathtaking one volume achievement which takes the reader through the pre-history of the book and allows one to make ones own informed interpretation for today. I have yet to find anything to match it.

The Best Commentary on Ecclesiastes?

Before praising such a controversial book highly, I ought to point out how non-partisan I am. Professor Gordis is my arch-enemy in an old religious war. I wouldn't drink his wine or eat his food, and if I ever met him, we would probably come as close to a fist- fight as our aged dignities would allow. In addition, I attempted several times to read one of his books on has own religious philosophy, and always died of boredom before page 8.

So much for entertainment. Now to get down to business.

Ecclesiastes is one of the most difficult books of the Bible to understand, and in fact, one of the most difficult books of philosophy ever written. The reaction of most modern commentators has been to emend the text so much that there's really nothing left to either edit or comment on, as Prof. Gordis also notes. Gordis himself manages to understand the Masoretic text by placing it in context, and by reading it as a whole, making no assumptions in advance as to what it should say. He solves many of the contradictions by pointing out that the Biblical wisdom books often present a statement not as a simple truth, but as a subject for discussion or refutation, or even ironically. He solves the problem of Koheleth's own personal philosophy, his knowledge of the evils of this world and lack of knowledge and comfort from another, by making him an existentialist. It works, but for an explanation, you'd better read the book.

Gordis' attempts at dating and identifying Koheleth are less convincing. His argument that we know of very few philosopher-kings doesn't work: statistical arguments break down completely long before N=1. In addition, the totality of the evidence is that the courts of David and Solomon were centers of philosopical thought. As to his evidence for the date of the book from a few Persian linguistic influences, there are many American books which include the verb "to boomerang", but they weren't written after the conquest of the United States by Australian aborigines. Again, his sample is too small. His etymological researches are a pleasure, though, in a book which greatly gains from them: look, for example, at 'hevel', 'amal' and 'anah'.

His new translation aids greatly in understanding the book; printing it facing an unvowelled Masoretic text was a smart move. The bibliographical work is also excellent.

(This review is based on the old Schocken edition. Even if you had to hunt for that, it would be worth the trouble and expense.

The best commentary on Ecclesiastes?
Possibly the best commentary on Ecclesiastes commercially available. Very good scientific level, scholarly in contents, yet a very pleasant book to read. My favorite companion along Qohelet's wandering.


The Dynamics of Judaism: A Study in Jewish Law
Published in Hardcover by Indiana University Press (1990)
Author: Robert Gordis
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An objective study of the development of Halakha
This is one of those rare books that gives an objective study of the development of halakha (Jewish law) within the context of observant Judaism. Rabbi Gordis discusses the main features of Jewish law, including the primacy of ethical and moral concerns; He discusses revelation in a non-fundamentalist fashion; and shows the creative role of rabbis in their formation of the main codes of Jewish law, the Mishna and Talmud.

He then examines how halakha has developed from Talmudic times to the medieval period, and then shows us Judaism's reaction to the Enlightenment, which produced the modern denominations.

He has several chapters which particularly address the concerns of women in Jewish law, especially marriage, divorce, annulment, and the role women as rabbis and cantors.


The Biblical Text in the Making: A Study of the Kethibh-Qere
Published in Hardcover by KTAV Publishing House (1971)
Author: Robert Gordis
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Book of God and Man: A Study of Job
Published in Paperback by University of Chicago Press (1978)
Author: Robert Gordis
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The Book of Job: Commentary, New Translation, and Special Studies
Published in Hardcover by KTAV Publishing House (1978)
Author: Robert Gordis
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Emet Ve-Emunah: Statement of Principles of Conservative Judaism
Published in Paperback by United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism (1988)
Author: Robert Gordis
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Epidemiology of Alcohol Problems in Small Geographic Areas
Published in Paperback by DIANE Publishing Co (2001)
Authors: Robert A. Wilson, Mary C. Dufour, and Enoch Gordis
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Faith and reason; essays in Judaism
Published in Unknown Binding by Ktav Pub. House ()
Author: Robert Gordis
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Faith for Moderns
Published in Paperback by Bloch Pub Co (1971)
Author: Robert Gordis
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Hebrew Annual Review 1983: Biblical and Other Studies in Honor of Robert Gordis
Published in Paperback by Hebrew Annual Review (1984)
Author: Rubin Ahroni
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