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Arnold Ages

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Arnold Ages(17 May 1935[1]– 9 October 2020[2]) was a Canadian-born scholar, author, editor and journalist. As an academic, he published 90 scholarly articles and books between 1956 and 2001,[3]not limited to his specialty of French Enlightenment literature; as a journalist, his newspaper publications spanned over five decades and included book reviews, editorials, opinion pieces, interviews, and reports for journals across Canada and the United States. His views were conservative, strongly supportive of the State of Israel, and traditionally Jewish. He preferred discretion to controversy.[4]

Ages was notable for his ability to write for academic as well as general audiences. Likewise unusual was his appeal to newspaper publications in both Canada and the United States.

Life

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Ages was born and raised inOttawa,Ontario.He graduated from Nepean High School in 1953. He received his B.A. degree from Ottawa's Carleton University in 1956, studied at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem (1958), and was awarded graduate degrees from Ohio State University (M.A., 1958, PhD, 1963).[5]At Carleton, he studied religion under Rabbi Simon L. Eckstein,[6]of Congregation Beth Shalom (Orthodox), Ottawa.[7]

Ages was married to Shoshana Ages (who wrote under the pseudonym "Rose Kleiner"[8]) in 1960, and dedicated his doctoral thesis to her.[9]

Academic and scholarly career

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Ages became an assistant professor of French at theUniversity of Waterlooin Waterloo, Ontario, in 1963, and was later associate dean of arts.[10]He retired in 2003[11]and in the following year was named Distinguished Emeritus at Waterloo. He afterwards lectured on French literature during the winter months at the Ft. Lauderdale, Florida campus ofNova Southeastern University.[12]

In 1970, Ages was appointed Canada's first synagogue scholar-in-residence atBeth Tzedec Congregationin Toronto.[13]There he came in contact with some of the leading Jewish figures of the time, all of whom were living in Toronto: Stuart E. Rosenberg (the Beth Tzedec rabbi),Walter Wurzburger(rabbi of the OrthodoxShaarei Shomayim),Gunther Plaut(rabbi at the ReformHoly Blossom), andEmil Fackenheim(theUniversity of TorontoHegelscholar and philosopher of the Holocaust).

Journalism career

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Ages’ entry into the journalism field began in 1964 when, having earned his doctorate, he wrote for the New YorkJewish Spectator,Reconstructionist,andHadassah Magazine.[14]

In April 1972, Ages became the editor of theChronicle Review(originally theCanadian Jewish Review), which was then a monthly magazine. Attracting well-known Canadian writers such asIrving LaytonandWilliam Kurelek,theChronicle Reviewbecame known for providing “high-quality reading for the Jewish public.”[15]But the monthly soon ran a deficit, and closed in November 1976. Ages declined a request at the time to become editor of theCanadian Jewish News.[16]

In Canada, his articles appeared in daily newspapers such as theMontreal Gazette[17]andToronto Star,[18]as well as in publications including the TorontoJewish Standard,theCanadian Jewish News,[19]Canadian Zionist,[20]VancouverJewish Western Bulletin,[21]WinnipegJewish Post,[22]CalgaryJewish Star,[23]EdmontonJewish Star,[24]and B'nai B'rith Canada'sJewish Tribune.[25]

In the United States book reviews and articles appeared in newspapers such as theChicago Tribune,[26]Los Angeles Times,[27]andThe Baltimore Sun,[28]and in Jewish publications (besides those already cited) such as theIndiana Jewish Post and Opinion,[29]Chicago Jewish Star,[30]PhiladelphiaJewish Exponent,[31]B'nai B'rithNational Jewish Monthly,[32]and Washington, D.C.Bible Review.[33]He was a stringer for theJewish Telegraphic Agencyfrom 1983 to 1984,[34]and an occasional contributor in later years. Ages occasionally used the pseudonym "Harold Jacobson".[35]

Recognition

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During his academic career, Ages received sevenCanada Councilgrants.[36]In 1984, he was aKillam Fellowshipaward winner, the first-ever at the University of Waterloo.[37]In the journalism field, in 1973 he received a Smolar Award for editorials and columns.[38]

Selected works

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1969:French Enlightenment and Rabbinic Tradition(appeared in English and German)

1973:The Diaspora Dimension

1986:The Image of Jews and Judaism in the Prelude of the French Enlightenment[39]

References

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  1. ^“Arnold [Ages] Tells Of Canadian 'Wonders',"Ottawa Citizen,Oct. 11, 1947, p. 24.
  2. ^“Arnold Ages,”https://steelesmemorialchapel /condolence/arnold-ages/
  3. ^Arnold Ages, “From the Professor Files: The Shelf Life of Published Research,” Faculty Association of the University of WaterlooFAUW Forumno. 105 (Feb. 2001), p. 12.
  4. ^Lewis Levendel,A Century of the Canadian Jewish Press: 1880s-1980s(Ottawa: Borealis Press, 1989), p. 71.
  5. ^“Autobiography,” in Arnold Ages,Voltaire’s Critical Notes in the Old Testament Portion of ‘La Bible Enfin Expliquee’(Ohio State University, PhD dissertation, 1963), p. 236. His doctoral thesis was an expanded version of his Master’s degree thesis on Voltaire’s notes on the Bible.
  6. ^Letter, Arnold Ages, “Ecksteinaliyah,”Chicago Jewish Star(June 24, 2011), p. 4.
  7. ^Eli Gottesman,Who’s Who in Canadian Jewry(Montreal: Jewish Institute for Higher Research, 1965), p. 102.
  8. ^Rose Kleiner [Shoshana Ages], "Toronto in the Summer: A Delightful Adventure,"Chicago Jewish Star(July 16, 1999), p. 8.
  9. ^Arnold Ages,Voltaire’s Critical Notes in the Old Testament Portion of ‘La Bible Enfin Expliquee’(Ohio State University, PhD dissertation, 1963), p. ii.
  10. ^“Scholar-in-residence appointed,” VancouverJewish Western Bulletin(Nov. 20, 1970), p. 12.
  11. ^“Faculty members retire September 1,” University of WaterlooDaily Bulletin(Aug. 11, 2003).
  12. ^For example, Nova Southeastern UniversityLifeLong Learning Institute Newsletter,vol. 5, Winter 2014, p. 1.
  13. ^“Scholar-in-residence appointed,” VancouverJewish Western Bulletin(Nov. 20, 1970), p. 12.
  14. ^“Smolar Award Winners Announced,”JTADaily News Bulletin(Nov. 8, 1973), p. 4.
  15. ^B. G. Kayfetz, “The Jewish Press in Canada,” in Edmond Y. Lipsitz (ed.),Canadian Jewry Today: Who’s Who in Canadian Jewry(Downsview, Ontario: J.E.S.L. Educational Products, 1989), p. 80.
  16. ^Lewis Levendel,A Century of the Canadian Jewish Press: 1880s-1980s(Ottawa: Borealis Press, 1989), pp. 73, 378.
  17. ^For example, Arnold Ages, “War is hell, but not for everyone,”Montreal Gazette(Feb. 27, 1982), p. A12.
  18. ^For example, Arnold Ages, “A cool dissection of Keegstra,”Toronto Star(Dec. 29, 1985), p. E10.
  19. ^For theJewish StandardandCanadian Jewish News,see Lewis Levendel,A Century of the Canadian Jewish Press: 1880s-1980s(Ottawa: Borealis Press, 1989), p. 71. Ages worked part-time at theCanadian Jewish Newsduring the 1960s (Levendel, p. 321).
  20. ^Lewis Levendel,A Century of the Canadian Jewish Press: 1880s-1980s(Ottawa: Borealis Press, 1989), p. 294.
  21. ^For example, “1960-1970: Decade of rapid growth in content, size, circulation,” VancouverJewish Western Bulletin(Nov. 27, 1970), p. 19; Arnold Ages, “Mideast slogan has to be: ‘peace for peace,’” VancouverJewish Western Bulletin(Nov. 16, 1989), p. 4.
  22. ^For example, Arnold Ages, “Not Just Anti-Israel: The Arab Boycott,” WinnipegJewish Post(June 15, 1978), p. 4.
  23. ^For example, Arnold Ages, “Looking Back at Nuremberg,” CalgaryJewish Star(May 9, 1986), p. 6.
  24. ^For example, Arnold Ages, “An Ambiguous Moral Tale [Shakespeare’sMerchant of Venice],” EdmontonJewish Star(July 1989), pp. 4, 8.
  25. ^For example, Arnold Ages, “Commentary: Canadian troops in peace and war,” North York, Ontario (Canada)Jewish Tribune(April 13, 2006), p. 4; Arnold Ages, “Absurdities, ironies, surprises and puzzlements in recent media reports,” North York, Ontario (Canada)Jewish Tribune(June 13, 2012), p. 21.
  26. ^For example, Arnold Ages, “Modern Satire At its Very Best,”Chicago Tribune(Dec. 25, 1988).
  27. ^For example, Arnold Ages, "Illuminating the interstices of history,"The Los Angeles Times(June 27, 1982), p. M4.
  28. ^For example, Arnold Ages, "Elie Wiesel Unpacks New Fruit from His Reminiscences,"Baltimore Sun(Sept. 23, 1990), p. 11M.
  29. ^For example, Arnold Ages, “Book Nook,”Indiana Jewish Post(Dec. 24, 1971), p. 12; “Palestinians’ cause well presented,”Indiana Jewish Post(Dec. 5, 2001), p. 11.
  30. ^For example, Arnold Ages, “’Jewboy, you are of no use to me’,”Chicago Jewish Star(March 30, 2018), p. 6.
  31. ^For example, Arnold Ages, “The Search for God at Harvard,” PhiladelphiaJewish Exponent(Dec. 27, 1991), p. 6X.
  32. ^For example, Arnold Ages, “What Protestant Churches Have Said About Israel,”National Jewish Monthlyvol. 84 (1969).
  33. ^For example, Arnold Ages, “Why Didn’t Joseph Call Home?”Bible Reviewvol. 9 (Aug. 1993); Arnold Ages, “Dreamer, Schemer, Slave and Prince: Understanding Joseph’s Dreams,”Bible Reviewvol. 14 (1998).
  34. ^For example, Arnold Ages, “Special Interview [with Elie Wiesel]: Some Disquieting Experiences,”JTA Daily News Bulletin(Jan. 5, 1983), p. 4.
  35. ^For example, Harold Jacobson [Arnold Ages], “A gem for Stratford’s 50th,”Chicago Jewish Star(June 28, 2002), p. 8.
  36. ^“Scholar-in-residence appointed,” VancouverJewish Western Bulletin(Nov. 20, 1970), p. 12.
  37. ^“JTA Correspondent Wins Canada’s Most Prestigious Academic Award,”JTA Daily News Bulletin(April 4, 1984), p. 4.
  38. ^“Smolar Award Winners Announced,”JTA Daily News Bulletin(Nov. 8, 1973), p. 4.
  39. ^Review by Prof. Martin Staum, “Roots of Stereotyping,” CalgaryJewish Star(Oct. 3, 1986), p. 13: “Despite some flaws, Ages’ book performs a useful service in clarifying for a brief generation how theological anti-Semitism, even in western Europe, could sow the seeds of the more sinister varieties of anti-Semitism which flourished in the 19th and 20th centuries.”
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  • Works by or about Arnold Ages (WorldCat)
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