3

I am currently researching Philo of Alexandria, also known as Philon (פילון) or Yedidyah HaKohen of Alexandria.

There is a book that was prepared in manuscript by Rabbi Shmuel (Samuel) Belkin, z”l, the past Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva University called The Midrash of Philo (מדרשי פילון) which was intended to be six volumes. In Rabbi Belkin’s introduction to volume one, he goes into detail about the content of each volume.

Rabbi Belkin passed away before the book was published but Rav Avraham Yosef Hirschprung and Rabbi Elazar Hurvitz took it upon themselves to actually bring the manuscript to publication.

Volume one was successfully published by Yeshiva University in 1989 (5749). But the remaining five volumes never saw the light of day.

Does anyone know where this manuscript went or how to contact Rabbis Hirschprung and Hurvitz?

I would like to assist in finally getting the remaining five volumes published. It is long overdue.

Improve this question
19
  • 2
    Did you try contacting YU (either the publishing house or the library)? They are more likely to know than us.
    – Double AA ♦
    Commented Jul 31, 2020 at 14:31
  • 1
    I am a student of Dr. Hurvitz (that is the correct spelling) and he has complained many times about how Dr Belkins work on Philo never was published. I can give you his contact, but how should we connect? I’m not sure how to do it without making everyone’s emails public.
    – moses
    Commented Jul 31, 2020 at 19:45
  • 2
    @moses If Dr. Hurvitz has 9 volumes, that means he has expanded whatever Dr. Belkin's original material was. Perhaps he left additional material and explanations, or perhaps Dr. Hurvitz is intending to included the other project that was mentioned at the end of the original introduction. Either way, let him know that there is someone very interested in helping him to make it happen.
    – Yaacov Deane
    Commented Aug 3, 2020 at 17:00
  • 2
    @mose One last detail worth passing along to Dr. Hurvitz, if he isn't already aware of this. I just discovered over the weekend the Bialik Institute in Israel is working on a new complete translation from the original language of all the writings of Philon. They currently have 5 volumes published with several people working on it. I'm in the process of obtaining a copy.
    – Yaacov Deane
    Commented Aug 3, 2020 at 17:08
  • 2
    @moses B"H, I actually spoke with Dr. Hurvitz today concerning the balance of the manuscript. It's not 9 volumes, it's still the original 6. He is interested in my offer to assist and asked that I send him a letter detailing what I propose. He said he needs permission from the University to take the time off to finish the final edits. Thanks for your interest. B'ezrat HaShem, this very important sefer will come to see the light of day after so many years.
    – Yaacov Deane
    Commented Sep 2, 2020 at 14:35

0

Reset to default

You must log in to answer this question.