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JEWISH-GERMAN.

"ALTHOUGH the language of the German Jews differs from pure German only in the circumstance of
its being written in Hebrew characters, yet, as these Jews form an important and distinctive section of
the dispersed people of Israel
, the several versions executed or printed by them, and for their special
benefit, may be entitled to a separate consideration.   The number of these Jews settled in the Austrian
states has been computed at 700,000: until within the last two centuries their condition was degraded
and pitiable in the extreme, and their character became enfeebled under the manifold sufferings they
were called to undergo: in the words of their historian, "they became divested of natural feeling,
absorbed in pecuniary interest and self-preservation, and even accustomed to their servile and abject
position."
  They are now happily released from the persecutions by which their existence was formerly
rendered so wretched, as to be justly termed, by a contemporary historian, "a mass of suffering;" but

it is remarkable, that they are now said to be characterised by a tendency to "merge Mosaic as well as
Talmudic Judaism in a philosophical and social Pantheism."

   The first portion of the Scriptures translated and published expressly for the German Jews con-
sisted of the Pentateuch and Megilloth (i. e. Ruth, Esther, Ecclesiastes, Lamentations, and Canticles),
an edition of which was printed in Hebrew characters at Cremona, in Italy, in 1542: the author of
this translation is unknown, but it is attributed to Elias Levita, a celebrated Jewish grammarian.   Two
years afterwards a version of the Pentateuch, the Megilloth, and the Haphtoroth (lessons from the
Prophets appointed to be read in the synagogues), was made by Michael Adam, a converted Jew, and
an edition was printed at Constance.   The first four chapters of Genesis were printed at the same place,
in 1543, from the German-Jewish translation; and the books of Exodus, Joshua, Ezekiel, and Canticles,
appeared at Prague in 1553.   Some separate books of the Old Testament were likewise published
by R. R. Nathan, F. E. Michol, Mardochaeus, F. Jacob, and others.
   The first edition of the German New Testament in rabbinical characters was printed at Cracow, in
1540: the work was executed by Johan Hersuge, a converted Jew
, on the basis of Luther's version;
but the book of Revelation is omitted.   Five books of the New Testament (namely, St. Luke, St. John,
Acts, Romans, Hebrews, and part of the first and second chapters of St. Matthew) were translated into
German by Elias Schadaeus, a German pastor of the church of Strasburg
, chiefly from Luther's version;
and an edition was printed at Strasburg, in 1592: a tract on the conversion of the Jews was appended
to the work.
   In 1820 the London Society for Promoting Christianity among the Jews undertook to furnish
the German Jews with copies of the German Scriptures in rabbinical characters.   The Society's first
edition of the New Testament appeared in 1820
: the German text from which it was taken was the
edition of Luther's version published by Senator Von Meyer, at Frankfort, in 1819, and the transcription
into rabbinical characters was made by Mr. Judah D’Allemand, of London.
  With respect to the
effects produced by the dissemination of this version, it has been stated that "those who have gone over
to the Protestant Church from the synagogue have been more numerous during the last few years in
Germany than they ever were elsewhere or before."
  The number of Jews baptized in Germany during
the last twenty years is estimated at 5000; and the sincerity of some among them has been attested by
the irreproachable tenor of their conduct, and by the devotedness with which they have preached the
new covenant of grace in Christ Jesus."
--The Bible of Every Land. (1860, Second Edition)   Samuel Bagster   [Info only]

JEWISH-GERMAN.--1860   S. Bagster   [Info only: Rabbinical? Character   n.d. John 1:1-14 unknown.]

JUDEO-POLISH.

"THE Polish Jews are regarded by their brethren as the most highly gifted of their nation in intellectual
endowments, and their reputation for superior sagacity is apparently not unfounded; for in no other
section of the Jewish people, it has been observed, do we find a life of so much social activity combined
with so decided a bent towards religious and contemplative philosophy.   Since the beginning of the
seventeenth century, they have in a great measure, supplied the synagogues of Germany with teachers
and rabbins; and, according to the testimony of Chevalier Bunsen, "there is scarcely any branch of
literature or science taught in the universities (at least of Prussia) where the professors are not either
converted Jews or the sons of those who were Jews."

   The Polish Jews have long been settled in Poland, and the whole trade of the country is in their
hands.   They form a large proportion of the population; and in Cracow there is one Israelite to every
eleven inhabitants.   Russia, says Da Costa, since the accession of its Polish provinces, numbers not less
than 1,120,000 Jews among its 63,000,000.   These Jews, having been exposed to much suffering by
the oppressive measures of the Russian government, have in many cases adopted the same expedient that
was resorted to, under similar persecutions, by some of their brethren in the Spanish peninsula; and, by
concealing their religion, have shielded themselves from persecution.   The immense power acquired by
the Jews of the Russian empire is not generally known, because not outwardly manifested; yet we are
told, by one of their own nation, that "from the smallest retail dealer in Poland, to the general officer
at Petersburg, there is said to exist a line of Jews in communication with each other, through whose
hands pass the chief affairs of the home department, as well as the most important foreign negotiations."

   The language spoken by the Polish Jews is principally Old German, with a mixture of Hebraisms,
or at least phrases peculiar to the Jews: there is very little Polish in it.   A translation of the New
Testament into this language was undertaken, in 1820, by the London Society for Promoting Christi-
anity among the Jews: the preparation of the work was intrusted by the Society to a converted Jew,
Benjamin Nehemiah Solomon, who prosecuted this translation under the roof of the Rev. Thomas Scott.
An edition was published by the Society in 1821, and 300 of the copies were purchased by the British
and Foreign Bible Society, 200 of which were placed at the disposal of the Prussian Bible Society, for
sale or gratuitous distribution among the Jews.   In 1827, the Rev. A. M‘Caul proposed to undertake
a translation of the Old Testament into Judeo-Polish;
but it does not appear that this important work
has been yet completed."
--1860   S. Bagster   [Info only]

JUDEO-POLISH.--1860   S. Bagster   [Info only: Rabbinical? Character   n.d. John 1:1-14 unknown.]

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