PROFESSOR HYAM MACCOBY has passed away yesterday in Leeds at the age of eighty. The Independent has an obituary by Albert H. Friedlander. (Heads-up, Jack Kilmon on Ioudaios-L. Excerpt:

Maccoby's book, never mind the play, was considered as "too partisan" by some critics. In reply, Maccoby noted that "scholars who lean over backwards to demonstrate their objectivity fall into the pit of negative partisanship".

As the stormy petrel of biblical and post-biblical scholarship, Maccoby could never be accused of this. His books on Jesus and Paul, backed up with the full knowledge of all the sources, were certain to cause controversy. Yet he was one of a school of Jewish experts in New Testament studies - others being Geza Vermes, Samuel Sandmel and Joseph Klausner - all of whom had to be treated with respect.

May his memory be for a blessing.