Benjaminson, Abraham Leib. Milchamah be-Shalom: Viku'ach bein shnei ohavim, yehudi ve-notzri, be-inyenei ha-dath ["War in Peace": A Religious Dispute Between Two Friends, a Jew and a Christian]

(AMERICAN JUDAICA)

A.H. Rosenberg

New York

1898

FIRST EDITION.

Singerman 5131; Goldman, Hebrew Printing in America 1068

A defense of Judaism by highlighting inherent contradictions found within Christianity. The author takes up the cudgels with McCaul's infamous missionary tract in the Hebrew language, "Nethivoth Olam" (London, 1839). In his introduction, Benjaminson acknowledges that he has been preceded in critiquing Nethivoth Olam by Isaac Baer Levinsohn, author Achiyah ha-Shiloni (Leipzig, 1841). Nonetheless, Benjaminson provides new arguments in his armament (p. V). Rabbi Jacob Joseph, Chief Rabbi of America, wrote a hearty endorsement of the book, which he thought would be of especial benefit to the youth, by "instilling in their hearts pure faith before they acquire false opinions." Rabbi Dr. Hillel (Philip) Klein was equally profuse in his praise, writing that the book's objective is to "justify our Oral Law against missionaries who forever heap abuse upon the Sages."