BEN CHANANJA

BEN CHANANJA, the first Hungarian Jewish learned periodical, published in German between 1844 and 1867. Ben Chananja was founded and edited by leopold loew . It first appeared in Leipzig as a quarterly in 1844; resumed publication in Szeged, Hungary, in 1858; and became a weekly in reduced format in 1861. Ben Chananja advanced the scientific development of Jewish studies and stimulated interest in Jewish questions. Its contributors were scholars of prestige in Hungary and abroad. The periodical presented biblical exegesis, commentary on the Talmud, historical studies, educational information, and literary news. It also considered religious and social problems, advocating the establishment of a rabbinical seminary and legislation for Jewish emancipation. Among the contributors were Simon Bacher, Abraham Hochmuth, Solomon Buber, S.D. Luzzatto, and Leopold Dukes. The academic material was supplemented with topical articles, editorials, Jewish communal news, and occasional poems. Ben Chananja had correspondents in Jerusalem, Berlin, New York, and in most cities with large Jewish communities in Europe and America. (Jeno Zsoldos)