Research Catalog

Title

Rabbinic fantasies : imaginative narratives from classical Hebrew literature / edited by David Stern and Mark Jay Mirsky ; translations by Norman Bronznick ... [et al.].

Publication

New Haven : Yale University Press, 1998.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Holdings

Details

Additional Authors

• Stern, David, 1949-
• Mirsky, Mark.

Description

ix, 364 p. : ill.; 24 cm.

Summary

• This remarkable anthology of sixteen narratives from ancient and medieval Hebrew texts opens a new window onto the Jewish imagination. Presenting the captivating world of rabbinic storytelling, it reveals facets of the Jewish experience and tradition that would otherwise have remained unknown and examines the surprisingly deep connection between the values of classical Judaism and the art of imaginative narrative writing.
• Virtually all the narratives appear here in English for the first time. Sometimes pious, sometimes playful, and sometimes almost scandalous, they are each accompanied by an introduction and notes. The selections are framed by essays by David Stern and Mark Jay Mirsky that examine the various moods and forms in which the rabbinic imagination found expression and explore the impact that this unique form of narrative has had on modern fiction.

Series Statement

Yale Judaica series ; v. 29

Uniform Title

Yale Judaica series ; v. 29.

Subject

• Midrash > Translations into English
• Aggada > Translations into English
• Jewish parables
• Jewish religious fiction
• Hebrew literature > Translations into English

Genre/Form

• Translations
• Jewish religious fiction.

Note

• "Published 1990 by the Jewish Publication Society"--T.p.

Bibliography (note)

• Includes bibliographical references.

Processing Action (note)

• committed to retain

Contents

Introduction / David Stern -- A note on the selections and the translations -- Rabbinic parables -- Two narratives about God -- Jonah and the sailors : from Pirkei de-Rabbi Eliezer -- Sefer Zerubbabel -- Midrash on the Ten Commandments -- The tale of the Jerusalemite -- Midrash Eleh Ezkerah : or The legend of the Ten Martyrs -- The alphabet of Ben Sira -- Parables from Sefer Ha-Bahir -- Narrative fantasies from Sefer Hasidim -- Love in the afterlife : a selection from the Zohar -- Asher in the harem / Solomon Ibn Saqbel -- The misogynist / Judah Ibn Shabbetai -- The sorcerer : from Meshal ha-kadmoni / Isaac Ibn Sahula -- Job's novella : from A valley of vision / Abraham ben Hananiah Yagel -- The "dream-talks" of Nahman of Bratslav -- In a turn of the scroll : an afterword / Mark Jay Mirsky.

ISBN

0300074026 (pbk. : alk. paper)

LCCN

^^^97061438^

OCLC

• 38844607
• SCSB-10913249

Owning Institutions

Harvard Library