Jakob Klatzkin - Biography

Jakob Klatzkin, Yakov/Jakub Klaczkin (Яков Клачкин, 3 October Biaroza (now Belarus), 1882 - 26 March 1948, Vevey, Switzerland) was a Jewish philosopher, publicist, publisher.

He was a son of Rabbi Eliyahu Klaczkin (1852, Oshpol - 1932, Jerusalem).

His birthplace Kartoz-Brioza was the place his father was called rabbinate. He rejected the notion of chosenness for the Jewish people, either religious or secular. He argued that the only meaningful goal for Zionism was regaining the land of Israel and normalizing the conditions of Jewish existence also that assimilationist were "traitors to their Judaism". He criticized Ahad Ha-Am for the notion that morality was the key to Israel's uniqueness. He believed that ethic is universal, not the possession of a particular people. He maintained that the spiritual definition of Judaism denied freedom of thought and led to national chauvinism.

Literary works

• Otzar Munahim ha'Philosophim (Philosophy Terms), 4 vols. (printed in Berlin)
• "Baruch Spinoza, Hermann Cohen, and Crayim" (printed in Berlin)
• "Mishnat Rishonim", a philosophical anthology (printed in Berlin)
• "Shkiyatahayim, philosophical discussions" (printed in Berlin)
• Truhmim, Zutot, and Mishnat Ahonim, and Tavim (printed after he died)
• "Krisis und Entscheidung im Judentum" (Berlin, 1921)
• "Probleme des modernen Judentums" (Berlin, 1918; Berlin, 1930)
• "Hermann Cohen" (Berlin, 1919)
• "Der Erkenntnistrieb als Lebens und Todesprinzip" (Zurich, 1935)
• "German Encyclopaedia Judaica" (completed 10 of 15 intended volumes)

footnotes

External links

• Klaczko Family at www.eilatgordinlevitan.com