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ELLEN BIRNBAUM, The Place of Judaism in Philo 's Thought: Israel, Jews, and Proselytes (BJS 290; Studia Philonica Monographs 2; Atlanta: Scholars, 1996). Pp. xviii + 262. $39.95.
This book is a "lightly revised" dissertation directed by Alan Segal at Columbia University and finished in 1992. Birnbaum investigates Judaism's place in Philo's thought by examining how he uses the terms "Israel," "Jews," and "proselytes." A broader question is whether Philo is particularistic or universalistic. B. defines particularism as the view that only Jews can relate properly to God, and universalism as the view that anyone may do so. Believing Philo to be committed equally to Judaism and to philosophy, B. asks how Philo assesses the significance of being a Jew. In the Introduction she makes four key observations: (1) Philo generally mentions "Israel" and Jews" in separate works for different audiences; (2) "Jews" indicates a real people, but "Israel" means various things; (3) "Israel" is primarily associated with seeing God, whereas "Jews" believe in the one true God and worship him through special laws; (4) qualifications for being members of "Israel" and for being "Jews" differ.
In B.'s first chapter she justifies her dichotomy between "Israel" and "Jews."...