Criticism and Praise
Every book contains at least some flaws, and Keter Shem Tob is no exception. Because of the sheer breadth of the topic at hand, even its mighty 2037 pages of expansively researched scholarly output had to take the form of a survey, leaving it open to the disadvantages of that genre. While it captures the overall picture of Jewish ritual life rather well, it only goes to a finite depth in any one particular tradition, leaving an incomplete picture for people wishing to use it as a guidebook for a specific group of interest. Also, in distilling complex issues into an intelligible narrative, Rabbi Gaguine sometimes speaks decisively about matters that are disputed or nuanced. Finally, his death came a time when he was attempting to partially recast the later volumes, leaving his son Maurice and other well-wishers to figure out the best resolution for the final product without his input.
In spite of this legitimate criticism, the glowing haskamot attached to the first volume attest to the deep approbation with which Keter Shem Tob was received by the rabbinic leaders of its time, both Ashkenazi and Sephardi. These included:
Its manifest and abundant qualities far outweigh its faults, and the book has left an enduring legacy, which, though less impactful than it should have been, is steadily growing with each passing year.
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In spite of this legitimate criticism, the glowing haskamot attached to the first volume attest to the deep approbation with which Keter Shem Tob was received by the rabbinic leaders of its time, both Ashkenazi and Sephardi. These included:
- Chief Rabbis of Madatory Palestine Isaac Meir and Abraham Isaac Kook
- Moroccan Chief Rabbi Raphael Ankawa
- Rabbis Joseph Benattar, Hayyim Yekutiel Birdugo, and Raphael Attias of Rabat
- Rabbi Gaguine’s Ramsgate colleague, Rabbi Zvi Hirsch ben Aryeh Leib Gelberg
- The Mahamad of London’s Bevis Marks Synagogue.
- An entire book of appreciation entitled Letters and Reviews (1937)
Its manifest and abundant qualities far outweigh its faults, and the book has left an enduring legacy, which, though less impactful than it should have been, is steadily growing with each passing year.
Back to "About the Book"