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. 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