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Reviews of books

(Chanting the Hebrew Bible)

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“His monumental work is … an authoritative, exhaustively detailed survey of the history, structure, performance and inculcation of the … Biblical melodies. Aficionados like myself…will be delighted by its appearance.”

     Stuart Schoffman, The Jerusalem Report, September 9, 2002, p. 48.

 

“Precision. Thoroughness. Clarity. Devotion to Torah. These are some of the thoughts that define my reaction to this new and excellent work by Joshua Jacobson . . . The outstanding features of this work are many. … this is your new desk reference.”

     Judith Pinnolis. October 4, 2002. Jewish Music Web Center

 

“Jacobson has delivered an indispensable teaching tool that, quite unusually, is a genuinely fascinating read. … Even those who consider themselves experts will learn a lot from this book. … Jacobson consistently provides a wealth of interesting historical material to make this a great reference book.”

     Susan Miron. April 18, 2003. THE FORWARD, reprinted May 7, 2003 in Ha-Aretz (Tel Aviv)   

 

“Monumental in scope and richly detailed, this revised edition of Chanting the Hebrew Bible—enriched by a week-by-week guide to the Torah, haftarah and megillot readings, and a comprehensive index—is an invaluable contribution to the study and practice of biblical cantillation. Jacobson’s work of impressive scholarship is simultaneously an accessible and engaging practical resource.”

     Rabbi Jeffrey A. Summit, author of Singing God’s Words: The Performance of Biblical Chant in Contemporary Judaism 

 

“This encyclopedic volume is a ‘must have’ for all serious students of cantillation—and for anyone who wants to learn how to chant Hebrew texts and understand the whys of the cantillation systems.”

     Nancy Abramson, cantor and director of the H. L. Miller Cantorial School at Jewish Theological Seminary 

 

“The cantillation of Hebrew scripture is an indispensable portal to its authentic interpretation, and Jacobson has extraordinary command of this material. Students and scholars, beginners and experts—everyone who treasures this foundational form of biblical learning has much cause for celebration.”

     Richard Cohn, cantor and director of the Debbie Friedman School of Sacred Music, Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion 

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