Jerusalem Books Newsletter Summer Rosh Hashana 2014
Dear Friends,
These past few months have been difficult times for all of us here in Israel
and at Jerusalem Books. The power outages and postal strikes seem minor
compared to the distraction, worry and disruption of the recent Gaza War.
Nevertheless, we carry on and are grateful to be healthy, working and
productive and that despite the terrible loss of life we, ourselves, our
co-workers and immediate families and our country are safe and OK, for now.
In the realm of modern Hebrew Literature Leah Goldberg is a giant. Ziva
Shamir has written a work of literary analysis and criticism,’ ‘Lashir
be-sefat ha-kohavim,’’Celestial melodies : seven essays on the poetry and
poetics of Lea Goldberg.’ The book published by Kibbutz Ha-Meuhad, will be
essential to libraries of modern Hebrew and a resource for research and
study in years to come. Cat. 83997 $29.00
In an earlier newsletter I believe I mentioned a book by Miki Goldenberg,
entitled, Ahim, Brothers. It finally came out. It is about the life,
relationship and death of Dudu Topaz who was a major Israeli superstar,
comedic actor and TV host who descended into bitterness, jealousy and
physical violence and ultimately suicide in police custody. The book is a
memorial, a diary and a dialogue between two talented brothers. It reminds
me of a Billy Crystal film, Mr. Saturday Night. This book is interesting not
only as a spotlight on the relations between brothers, a portrait of a
mercurial artist, (Dudu) but also as a history of the development of Israeli
TV and entertainment. Cat. 83884 $ 36.00
To continue in Hebrew Literature and also Israel Studies, with a work that
is a novel and a piece of Israeli history and culture as well. ‘Bayit
Ba-Galil,’ ‘A Home in Galilee,’ by noted artist and author Yair Garbuz is
such a book. The book is entertaining, a diary and a looking glass into
many exemplars of Israeli and modern Hebrew Literature and Art. Published by
Achuzat Bayit and Yediot - Chemed, 978-965-556-022-0, Cat. 84342 $30.00
Melekh Mehandes, is the title of a new academic, research work,
Engineer-King : David Ben-Gurion, science and nation building.’ The book
by Ari Barell is published by Mossad Bialik, 978-965-510-100-3, Cat 84323
$ 26.00
I would like to mention an English title published by Urim. Find It in the
Talmud: An Encyclopedia of Jewish Ethics and Conduct, is an important and
accessible reference work by Mordechai Judovitz, (whose title is self
explanatory). 978-965-524-146-4. The book is an excellent starting point for
research and an introduction to learning Talmud as well. The author is from
a distinguished Hungarian Transylvanian rabbinic family who survived the
holocaust while other family members perished. This is a book that will be
cherished by the individual or family reader and useful for university
research libraries with Judaica collections and English speaking students
researching Jewish subjects. Cat. 84308 $37.00
Carmel has recently published Rachel Elior’s ישראל בעל-שם-טוב ובני דורו :
סט של 2 כרכים ‘Israel Ba’al Shem Tov and His Contemporaries, Kabbalists,
Sabbateans, Hasidi, and Mitnaggedim.’ The book is scholarly, very
important and comprehensive. While the core and foundation of the work is
the Ba’al Shem Tov and the history, teachings, philosophy and literature of
Hassidut in the 18th Cent CE, much attention is dedicated to messianic
movements like Shabtai Tsevi and equally important the rivalry and struggle
with great figures of ‘mitnagdim,’ like Rabbis Emdin and Eibshitz. 2 vols.
Cat 84179 $85.00
Yediot Sefarim and Mossad Bialik have published, Kol Sipure Rabbi
Nahman,’‘the Complete Stories of Rabbi Nahmanvof Bratslav,’ edited by Prof.
Zvi Mark. The book is on ‘of tales, secret stories, dreams and visions, an
anthology of texts from rare manuscripts.. The book includes introduction,
background and analysis by the author/editor. It is an important anthology,
resource and reference to this vibrant branch of the Hassidic / Haredi
world. The book also demonstrates a recurring theme of mine, namely the
overlap of fields of learning and creation in Jewish Studies which overlap
and sometimes fuse. As in this instance where Jewish Philosophy and Hebrew
(Jewish) Literature come together. This is particularly so because the
stories of Rabbi Nahaman are possibly more literary and seemingly even
secular or just provocative, than rabbinic or Hassidic writings. Some have
suggested that this is why some of the stories were kept secret. Cat.
84324 $ 44.00
As summer draws to a close we wish all of you and all of us a Happy,
Healthy, productive, prosperous and successful New Year. Thank you all for
your interest, patronage and support for all these years and thanks again,
please, for years to come.
Sincerely,
Jeff Spitzer
Jerusalem Books, Ltd.
Jerusalem Books Newsletter Summer Rosh Hashana2014.docx
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