Book Review: The Collected Works of Rabbi Yitzhak Halevi Herzog, The Library of the Jewish People (2024)

Reviewed by Rabbi Moshe Maimon, Jackson, NJ

The publication of the collected writings of Rav Dr. Yitzhak (Isaac) Halevi Herzog marks a significant milestone in the study of Jewish thought and law. These volumes serve as a testament to Rabbi Herzog's unparalleled erudition, his intellectual depth, and his versatile expertise. Writing for a diverse readership that included scholars of rabbinical law, history, philology, science, and jurisprudence, as well as the general public, Rabbi Herzog's unique contributions are in a class of their own.

Long out of print and difficult to obtain, these works of great scholarship are now available in a beautifully produced format, making them a true treasure for readers and researchers alike.

Rabbi Dr. Isaac Halevi Herzog (1888–1959) was a towering figure in Jewish scholarship and leadership. Born in Lomza, Poland, he was the son of Miriam and Rabbi Joel Leib Herzog, who later served as a rabbi in Leeds and Paris. Demonstrating exceptional intellect from a young age, Rabbi Herzog became proficient in multiple languages, including ancient ones such as Sumerian and Akkadian, as well as classical Greek and Latin. His scholarly pursuits encompassed the Bible, Hebrew grammar, Talmud, and halachic literature.

In 1921, Rabbi Herzog was appointed as the first Chief Rabbi of Ireland, a position he held until 1936. During his tenure, he established the Mizrachi Federation of Great Britain and Ireland. In 1937, he became the Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Palestine, and later of Israel after its establishment in 1948, serving until his passing in 1959.

Rabbi Herzog's scholarly contributions are vast and varied. His doctoral dissertation on techelet (the ancient blue dye) is a seminal work in the field. With sustained renewed interest in the subject, scholars will be especially delighted to have this important work readily available to them. He also authored The Main Institutions of Jewish Law, a comprehensive analysis of Jewish legal principles. This work is noted both for its clarity and its depth, delighting talmidei chachamim and academic scholars alike. Additionally, his writings on the interplay between religion, democracy, and Jewish law in the State of Israel have been influential in shaping contemporary Jewish thought.

This comprehensive collection includes numerous works, some which have never before been available in English. Volume I features three major sections:

• Hebrew Porphyrology: Rabbi Herzog's doctoral dissertation on the subject of techelet, the ancient blue dye, which remains a seminal work in the field.

• Judaism: Law & Ethics: A series of essays addressing topics ranging from Jewish holidays to the interaction between Judaism and Hellenistic culture.

• The Main Institutions of Jewish Law: Rabbi Herzog's magnum opus that offers a detailed analysis of rabbinical law through the lens of modern jurisprudence.

Volume II introduces, for the first time in English, Rabbi Herzog's Constitution and Law in a Jewish State According to the Halakha, originally a three-volume Hebrew work. This monumental text explores vital questions surrounding the interplay of religion, democracy, and Jewish law in the State of Israel.

It should be noted that this collection, broad and comprehensive though it is, still does not encompass the complete literary and scholarly oeuvre of Rabbi Herzog. His multi-volume compendium of halachic responsa, for example, was not included in this collection, and the same goes for his Torat Ha-ohel on topics relating to Masechet Sanhedrin. This outstanding work of rabbinic scholarship, first published in 1948, earned its author wide acclaim from the generation’s greatest talmidei chachamim, including the Chazon Ish, whose warm letter of reception is included in later editions of the sefer. [Interested readers will certainly be impressed by the superlative praise heaped on the sefer and its author by the formidable (and highly critical) genius, Rabbi Chaim Zimmerman, in his review in Kerem, Vol. 1 No. 2 Av 5711.]

Understandably, these Hebrew Talmudic-heavy writings could not easily be rendered in English, and probably also lie beyond the scope of this excellent series, but that in no way mars the fact that The Collected Writings of Rabbi Herzog stand as a remarkable resource, enriching our understanding of Jewish thought and its relevance in both historical and contemporary contexts.

Kudos to the Library of the Jewish People, together with the editor of this beautiful set, Alexander Kaye, for adding another excellent feather in its well-feathered hat! Scholars, students, and interested readers alike will find these volumes to be an invaluable addition to their libraries.

Purchase the set here.