Several weeks ago Dr. Isidor Epstein died in London. He had been for many years lecturer and subsequently principal of Jews’ College. However, it was not so much for his teaching positions, but for his fruitful and varied literary activity that he gained international fame.
Epstein was the great expositor of Judaism in the English language. He wrote several books in which he explained to Jew and non-Jew alike the fundamentals of Judaism, its faith, morals and laws.
Written in a brilliant style, his concise but comprehensive books convey to the reader a clear understanding of all aspects of traditional Judaism. It was for his mastery in interpreting Judaism that Epstein was approached by leading non-Jewish publishers to write articles on Jewish subjects. Among others he wrote the article of “Judaism” for the Encyclopedia Brittanica.
Limitations of space permit us to mention only a few of his books. “Judaism” originally written in 1939 for the “Great Religions of the East” series, was reprinted and widely distributed. To the second edition, which appeared in 1945, he added a postscript in which he spoke of the destruction of European Jewry during World War II and appealed for the rehabilitation of the Jewish people in its ancient homeland. This was characteristic of Epstein, who was an ardent Zionist and during World War I became attached to Rabbi Abraham Yitzhak Hakohen Kook, who then resided in London.
In 1946 he published “The Jewish Way of Life” a representation of the ethical side of Judaism. This was followed in 1954 by his monumental “The Faith of Judaism” which complements the former by interpreting and elucidation “the religious faith in which the Jewish social and moral teaching is produced and by which it is nourished and sustained.” The book, which is sub-titled, “An Interpretation for Our Time” reveals the author not only as a master of rabbinical and Jewish theological literature as well as well-read in contemporary philosophy and science, but also as a deep and original thinker. Titles of some chapters of the book, which teats of faith and particularly of the Jewish faith in the modern world should be given here: “The Moral Need for Religion,” “Relation of Revelation to Reason,” “Evolution and Genesis,” “G-d as the Lord of History,” “Israel as Instrument of Divine Purpose” and “Kingdom of G-d.”
It is impossible to quote here extracts from Epstein’s writings to illustrate thereby his manner of exposition. However, I cannot refrain from citing a passage from his introduction to his “The Jewish Way of Life,” which might give the reader some idea of his conception of Judaism and his was of interpreting it:
“The Jewish way of life is no desert way, without signposts to guide the traveler, or goal to attract his steps. It is a way with signposts clearly marked and a goal well defined. These signpost, as will be seen, are Justice, Righteousness and Love, and the goal towards which they lead is the Kingdom of G-d, in all its resplendent holiness and glory.”
This is the way which the Jewish people, now wearily, now vigorously, have trodden through as unbroken succession of generations, ever calling at the same time upon the world to follow them, and it is this way which the Jewish people must continue to tread, until mankind shall have learned to trace its steps from the jungle of injustice, unrighteousness and hate, in which it is tramping, to walk in the way of life which is the Jewish way.”
The books we have mentioned so far are only part of his varied literary output. The crown of his literary activity was, no doubt, his editing the Soncino English translation of the Talmud.
There is no necessity to describe here the excellency of this translation which was published between 1935 and 1952 in 35 volumes. Epstein served s its chief editor. He wrote the prefaces to the different Orders, examined the individual translations and added to them notes, containing alternative explanation or matter of historical and geographical interest.
Jewish Press
May 11, 1962