Jewish Contributions to Civilization 1919

Joseph Jacobs was a thinker and writer of unusual breadth and versatility. Among the subjects to which he gave his attention as early as 1886 was the comparative distribution of Jewish ability, as the result of researches he had undertaken in association with Sir Francis Galton. The present work was the natural outcome of these studies, which appeared in the Journal of the Anthropological Institute and were afterwards republished as Studies in Jewish Statistics, 1891.Dr. Jacobs at the time intended to write a comprehensive work, entitled "The Jewish Race-A Study in National Character," in sixty-seven chapters, the outline of which was printed privately in London, 1889. Unfortunately he never went any further with this plan. Similarly his idea of an even more ambitious work, "European Ideals-A Study In Origins," did not go beyond the outline which appeared in 1911. It was perhaps his occupation with this general subject, which again turned his thought to Jewish contributions to European civilization. This subject engaged the attention of Dr. Jacobs during his last years, and, while he did not live to complete the work, it is fortunate that he at least left the first of the three books he had in mind in such form that it can be published without change. One of its chapters appeared in the first volume of the Menorah Journal, December, 1915 (pp. 298-308), under the title "Liberalism and the Jews."The careful reader will notice that the Introduction and various parts of the book show the polished style of the master, while here and there the absence of his revising hand is keenly felt. Nevertheless, the brilliant mind, the wide reading, and the broad information of the author are manifest everywhere, and his calmness and objectivity of, judgment will make this, his last work, a valuable contribution, not only to Jewish literature, but to the history of modern civilization.Jacobs, Joseph is the author of 'Jewish Contributions to Civilization 1919 ' with ISBN 9781594620379 and ISBN 1594620377.