Arthur A. Cohen (1928–1986)

The writers contained within define and reflect upon central ideas and provide striking insights into both the Jewish experience and the Judeo-Christian tradition. It is encyclopedic in nature and the entries are arranged alphabetically and at over 1000 pages it is quite extensive.

“As a matter of historical fact, however, anti-Judaism and anti-Semitism have been very closely associated with each other. Those who regard to Jews as an evil people, whether because of the racial defects, their economic situation, or their role in the mythological drama, have regarded the Jewish religion as the ideological expression of this innate personal evil. Those who have regarding the primary evil as lying in the pernicious doctrines of Judaism regarding the Jews as conditioned to evil by the practice of an evil religion. There is at least in these attitudes a perception of the intimate relationship between Jews and Judaism: an understanding that the Jews as a people and a nation were formed and molded by the religion based on the Exodus from Egypt and the giving of the law on Sinai” (p. 18).… (meer)

This is an inspiring and mysterious tale of a rich NY developer who, believing himself to be the Messiah sets out to save the Jewish people.

Despite having read this many, many years ago it remains one of the more fascinating and haunting Jewish theme novels I have ever read.

I highly recommend this book if you can get your hands on it. I am fortunate to have secured a signed copy before Mr. Cohen passed away at a young age, well before his time. Mr. Cohen was undoubtedly one of his times great hidden treasures.

An unforgetable book.… (meer)