Prof. Simon Rawidowicz, one of the world’s greatest authorities on Jewish philosophy and thought and an internationally renowned scholar, died here suddenly last night. He was 60. Chairman of the Department of Near Eastern and Judaic Studies of Brandeis University and Philip W. Lown Professor of Hebrew Literature and Jewish Philosophy, Dr. Rawidowicz wrote in Hebrew, Yiddish, German and English.
A native of Grajewo, Poland, he lived in Germany until the rise of the Nazis then went to England and, in 1948, came to the United States. In England he lectured at the University of London and was chairman of the Hebrew Department at Leeds University. Before becoming associated with Brandeis, he taught at the College of Jewish Studies in Chicago.
A founder and first head of B’rith Ivrith Olamith, Dr. Rawidowicz published over 20 volumes and had finished reading proof of his latest, unpublished work: “Babylon and Jerusalem, ” the first part of a planned series on the philosophy of Jewish history. He was a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
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