Category Archives: Zvi Ankori

My Review of Daniel Lasker’s Book, “Karaism” (Reader Poll)

I love this book. It is a perfect overview and amazing introduction to Karaite Judaism. Even I – who has been studying Karaite Judaism formally for 20+ years (and informally my entire life) – learned a tremendous amount from this book. After the jump, you can watch my video review of the book, and you can also vote on which book I do a video review of next. I’ll also describe more parts of the book that I absolutely love – and one part that I absolutely disagree with.

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Filed under Aaron ben Joseph, Aharon ben Eliyahu, Crimea, Dead Sea Scrolls, Dr. Goldstein, Dr. Rustow, Istanbul, Judah Hadassi, Karaite Prayers & Melody, Karaites In Bynzantium, Zvi Ankori

Zvi Ankori Z”L: Author of “Karaites in Byzantium” Passes Away

Karaites in ByzantiumProfessor Zvi Ankori, one of the most influential scholars in the field of Karaite Judaism, passed away last month.

Professor Ankori authored Karaites in Byzantium: The Formative Years, 970-1100, considered by many to be his magnum opus. The work is on the recommended reading list for the Karaite Jewish University.

In the introduction to the bibliography of Karaites in Byzantium, Professor Ankori wrote, “A comprehensive, classified, up-to-date bibliography of Karaitica is an urgent desideratum.” It was this sentence that, in part, inspired Professor Barry Dov Walfish to compile his recently-published Bibliographia Karaitica: An Annotated Bibliography of Karaites and Karaism.

Professor Ankori’s passing reminds me that one of my goals for this blog is to interview researchers and scholars in the field of Karaite Judaism. Perhaps we’ll do a handful of such interviews in the coming year.

Karaites and academics are indebted to Professor Ankori for his many contributions. I recently received the following necrology for Professor Ankori.
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Filed under Barry Dov Walfish, Bibliographia Karaitica, Books, Karaite Jewish University, Karaites In Bynzantium, Zvi Ankori