In a richly informative article, Shmuel Avinery reflects on cases of book burning among ultra-orthodox Jews of works by Hayim_Nahman_Bialik. Avinery goes on to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of Bialik’s most famous contribution to Hebrew letters (excluding, of course, Bialik’s own poetry), his Sefer ha-aggadah. For a prospectus of a promised new edition, go here. It is a pity that Bialik and Ravnitsky’s work, a cultural treasure of the first order, is not available online, in a diglot edition with links to the Aramaic and Hebrew sources on which B and R drew.
The author is Shmuel Avineri, the name that appears at the end of the article. The Haaretz website made a mistake.
Posted by: Menachem Mendel | July 29, 2011 at 05:37 PM
todah rabbah, Michael. Fixed.
Posted by: JohnFH | July 29, 2011 at 10:41 PM
John, a little help please. I’ve also asked Peter Kirk. I don’t know where to ask this question. It’s about canon. I’m far out of my depth regarding canon. My sometimes Quaker-bias (Bible second-authority, Spirit first-authority) diminishes my interest and impoverishes my appreciation of canon and canonicity. I’m barely able to keep up with you (John) and Henry Neufeld and all the rest of the voices on your stuff about inerrancy, no less canon. I’m a kindergartner here. I’m having a fun discussion over on “Jawbone of An Ass,” where Eric is starting a new series on canon. I had already started a sideways thread on various canons at my blog (“Terminological Tumblers ~ Terminology Science ~ Standardization and Canon,” http://randomarrow.blogspot.com/2011/07/terminological-tumblers-terminology.html) – where I am in need of a link – I need a link to another site or two which give overviews of biblical canon. Maybe links which review a plurality of opinions? I’m asking you – a link or two? I want to put them on my blog. Thanks for your patience with my previous blow-hardedness on Boas. Cheers, ~ Jim
Posted by: Jim | July 30, 2011 at 05:08 PM
Hi Jim:
Here is a 50 page introduction:
http://ancienthebrewpoetry.typepad.com/ancient_hebrew_poetry/files/thinking_about_canon.pdf
For much more, put "canon" into the search engine of this blog.
Posted by: JohnFH | July 30, 2011 at 05:31 PM
Thanks!
Posted by: Jim | July 30, 2011 at 05:35 PM