Dear Friends,
As Passover approaches we are busy working extra hard at sending all
the wonderful material published in Israel and hoping that it all
will arrive within reasonable shipping time.
In addition to the monumental works in Jewish History and Philosophy
we are witnessing a flowering of Hebrew Literature. This is
especially so as we approach 'Shavu'ah ha-Sefer.'
Before mentioning some of the highlights in this area, I would like
to focus on two very important Hebrew titles.
The recent tile, 'Hassidut and Hassidim,' by Dr. Menachem Ben-Shalom
is particularly intriguing as the book examines the period in Jewish
History from the Second (2nd) Temple through the Mishna (and
significant Talmud quotes and cites, 3rd - 5th Cent CE). Most
students and scholars would associate the term Hassidut to the Rabbis
courts and followers of the Baal Shem Tov, ('Besht') in Europe from
17th thru 19th century CE.
The author, a professor at Sapir College, asserts Hassidut as a
heightened spiritual and halakhic state within the Pharisee stream of
Rabbinic Judaism, characterized by the intent to expand holiness and
go beyond the bounds of the law. This 583-page work is scholarly,
with footnotes, bibliography and indices. The indices are not only
people and subjects but also a separate index of researchers. His
index and citations of Bible, Mishna Talmud, Bavli and Yerushalmi
don't stop there and include many late or non canonized texts/scrolls
including the Book of the Hasmoneans - Maccabim, Hanoch, Jubilees,
Josephus, Philo and the New Testament., Essenes and more!
This work will likely be a watershed to scholars of Jewish History
and Philosophy as well as to scholars of Second Temple and Roman
periods as well as researchers of Early Christianity.
The book is in Hebrew, by the distinguished publisher Hakibbutz
Hameuchad, 2008, Cat. #66494 $33.50
Matay ve-Ekh Humtsa ha-Am ha-Yehudi ('When and How the Jewish People
was Invented'), is controversial new title by Prof. Shlomo Zand and
published recently (2008) by Resling.
The work attempts to debunk the myth of the Jewish People as the
author sees it. The author deals with heavy matters of philosophy and
history intertwined. I find the author to be enamored with the post
modern, socialist theories that see the modern nation as a creation
of industrialization and capitalism. Further, the fact that ancient
times are characterized by small kingdoms, monarchies and even
multi-national empires need not negate the existence of nations,
which seems to be underlying Prof. Sand's thesis.
In a recent interview with Israeli TV the author mocked the existence
of the Jewish or Palestinian People. As regarding Israel he asserted
that if/since Sen. Joe Lieberman evinced no interest in emigrating to
Israel and since he could live out his life (as a Jew) without Jewish
sovereignty then somehow the Jewish People don't exist.
Having worked with many fine Italian American colleagues in NY, I
asked myself, if Giordano, Giovaniello, (or Guilliani) grow up in the
US and see themselves as Americans does that negate the existence of
Italy or Italians as a people?
Is it possible that the author exhibits some (post) Zionist
idealistic disappointment in that Israel the home of the Jewish
People has not been adopted by all, particularly western Jewry as
their only homeland?
Having said this, my feeble criticism should not detract from the
fact that the book is broad and scholarly and provides understanding
and analysis of important and interesting issues in Jewish History and Thought.
Cat. #66401 $31.00
Before wrapping up I would like to return to the fertile field of
Hebrew Literature 2008. Kineret-Zmora Bitan has published the latest
Aharon Appelfeld novel, 'And The Rage Is Not Yet Over' 'Ve-ha-Za'am
Od lo Nadam.' The book deals with the 'wanderings' of Bruno through
the ghetto, the Shoah, post-Holocaust Europe and Israel. His
personal challenges and wider more general issues of Jewish identity
are all examined. Cat. #66793 $ 26.00
No less important is 'H.N. Bialik : Stories,' 'Ha'im Nahman Bialik /
ha-Sipurim (with introduction, notes and supplements), edited by
Avner Holtzman. This work, is published by Dvir (also Kineret..) and
is a follow up or continuation of the 2004 Bialik title on Poetry.
Undoubtedly this book is a "must have" for any Hebrew Library. Cat.
#66587 $33.00
We are pleased and excited to be able to see, report and distribute
such outstanding examples of publication from Israel. In the near
future and through flyers and catalogs we look forward to exploring
more books on Hebrew Literature, Rabbinics, Mahshevet Yisrael and
many other areas.
Since this year we will be celebrating the 60th Anniversary of the
founding of the State of Israel, we are proud to mention some of the
many interesting aspects that are reflected in Israeli publishing this year.
All of us at Jerusalem Books wish all of you a Happy, Healthy Pesach !
Sincerely,
Jeff
Wendy Weiss Simon
Jerusalem Books Ltd.
POB 26190
Jerusalem, 91261, Israel
(Tel) 972-2-642-6653/6576
(Fax) 972-2-643-3580
www.jerusalembooks.co.il
Messages and opinions expressed on Hasafran are those of the individual author
and are not necessarily endorsed by the Association of Jewish Libraries (AJL)
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