This
is the fifth book in the series of monographs and annotated indices on
periodicals of the Haskalah.
It covers two major Hebrew periodicals Hehalutz (1852–1889) and
Bikurim (1864–1865), and addresses major developments in the history of the
Hebrew Haskalah in mid-century: the emergence of radical Haskalah in Galicia
which found its mouthpiece in Hehalutz, and the contribution of its
prolific editor, Joshua Heschel Schorr, who published 13 volumes of his
journal.
Bikurim, published in two
volumes, was edited by Naphtali Keller, and represented the moderate Haskalah
and Hochmat Israel (the scholarly study of Judaism).
The Indices to the two journals published in this book are cross-referenced,
annotated,
Alphabetized,
and author-and-subject listed. They cover all articles, essays, and scholarly
studies on a variety of topics in Jewish Studies, such as Biblical and Talmudic
criticism and commentary, questions regarding the Halachah (the religious code), and studies on
the Hebrew language, Jewish history, and Jewish education. They also cite newly
discovered medieval Hebrew manuscripts, their critique and studies of their
authors. Also included are various genres in belles lettres: poems,
stories, satires, biographies, and miscellaneous writings such as editorial
comments and announcements.
All
these subjects are discussed and analyzed in the monographs of the two
journals.
Now, upon their publication, the annotated indices should serve as a reliable
reference tool for viewing and reviewing the major topics and issues that
occupied the minds of the editors and the writers of these journals in Galicia
and elsewhere in Europe in mid-19th century.
Readers
may now examine the scope and the character of the material published in these
journals. Likewise, it is now convenient to assess the contribution of
participating scholars, authors, and poets, to the Haskalah literature, and to
explore their stand on various scholarly or Haskalah-related matters.