Nehardea Magazine

Journal of the Babylonian Jewry Heritage Center
No.14, Autumn 2003

BOOK REPORT

A NEW BOOK: BUDDING OF MODERN HEBREW CREATIVITY IN BABYLON

Lev Hakak, Budding of Modern Hebrew Creativity in Babylon, Tha Babylonian Jewry Heritage Center, Research Institute of Babylonian Jewry, Or-Yehuda 2003, 372 p. (Hebrew)

Most Hebrew literature written in Babylon focused on religion, religious law, homiletic interpretations of Biblical texts, commentaries, and liturgical poetry.

Babylonian Jews were deeply immersed in their Judaism. As a result, religious feelings and ideologies permeate their literary works. Even so, this book focuses on the emergence of secular Hebrew literature in Babylon.

To appreciate the poetry of the Babylonian Jews, one must regard its allusions to various Jewish sources, especially that of the Bible. The first Hebrew printing house was established in Baghdad in 1863. The same year, the first Hebrew periodical was published in Babylon (ha-Dover). By the 1920's, Jewish schools had libraries with thousands of Hebrew books. At the same time, various associations existed in Baghdad for the promotion of Hebrew language and literature.

The search for Babylonian Hebrew publications yielded a list of over 400 books by 1940. A list of additional literary works continues to be updated as more literature is discovered. While most of these books are of a religious nature, also included are volumes of poetry, periodicals, and literary anthologies. However, many poems were never printed. Therefore, a body of literature remains inaccessible to us.

Prof. Lev Hakak, of the University of California, Los Angeles, presents in his book an analysis of poetry, some prose, the work of a literary scholar, and a drama. This book illustrates secular Hebrew literary works written by Babylonian Jews. That is not to say that Babylon was a center for Modern Hebrew literature. For the sake of historical continuity, Hebrew creativity in all countries (including Near Eastern countries that presumably did not have secular Hebrew literary creativity) should be explored, examined, and included in the history of Hebrew literature. By exploring the Hebrew literature written in Near Eastern countries, we may discover literary works that will lead to rewriting the history of Hebrew literature.

In reviewing the poetry of selected portions for this book, one is awe-struck by his mastery of the Hebrew language, the imagination, the literary flair, the creative use of vocabulary and the poetic craft and rich writing style of the poets. One may enjoy the passion of Shaul Yosef (1849-1906) expressed in his analysis of Medieval Hebrew Poetry. We observe emerging prose in the form of a letter and a short story. At a later date, we find Babylonian periodicals, translations of Omar Khayyam's poetry (in Shemesh), and a play (in Dape he-Haluts).

The literary works presented here are enjoyable in and of themselves. At the same time, they are evidence of secular Hebrew culture and creativity in Babylon.

Next Article

Table of Contents

BOOK REPORT
A NEW BOOK: BUDDING OF MODERN HEBREW CREATIVITY IN BABYLON
Lev Hakak, Budding of Modern Hebrew Creativity in Babylon, Tha Babylonian Jewry Heritage Center, Research Institute of Babylonian Jewry, Or-Yehuda 2003, 372 p. (Hebrew) Most Hebrew literature written in Babylon focused on religion, religious law, homiletic interpretations of Biblical texts, commentaries, and liturgical poetry. Babylonian Jews were deeply immersed in their Judaism. As a result, religious feelings and ideologies permeate their literary works. Even so, this book focuses on the emergence of secular Hebrew literature in Babylon. To appreciate the poetry of the Babylonian Jews, one must regard its allusions to various Jewish sources, especially that of the Bible. The first Hebrew printing house was established in Baghdad in 1863. The same year, the first Hebrew periodical was published in Babylon (ha-Dover). By the 1920's, Jewish schools had libraries with thousands of Hebrew books. At the same time, various associations existed in Baghdad for the promotion of Hebrew language and literature. The search for Babylonian Hebrew publications yielded a list of over 400 books by 1940. A list of additional literary works continues to be updated as more literature is discovered. While most of these books are of a religious nature, also included are volumes of poetry, periodicals, and literary anthologies. However, many poems were never printed. Therefore, a body of literature remains inaccessible to us. Prof. Lev Hakak, of the University of California, Los Angeles, presents in his book an analysis of poetry, some prose, the work of a literary scholar, and a drama. This book illustrates secular Hebrew literary works written by Babylonian Jews. That is not to say that Babylon was a center for Modern Hebrew literature. For the sake of historical continuity, Hebrew creativity in all countries (including Near Eastern countries that presumably did not have secular Hebrew literary creativity) should be explored, examined, and included in the history of Hebrew literature. By exploring the Hebrew literature written in Near Eastern countries, we may discover literary works that will lead to rewriting the history of Hebrew literature. In reviewing the poetry of selected portions for this book, one is awe-struck by his mastery of the Hebrew language, the imagination, the literary flair, the creative use of vocabulary and the poetic craft and rich writing style of the poets. One may enjoy the passion of Shaul Yosef (1849-1906) expressed in his analysis of Medieval Hebrew Poetry. We observe emerging prose in the form of a letter and a short story. At a later date, we find Babylonian periodicals, translations of Omar Khayyam's poetry (in Shemesh), and a play (in Dape he-Haluts). The literary works presented here are enjoyable in and of themselves. At the same time, they are evidence of secular Hebrew culture and creativity in Babylon.
	Next Article	Table of Contents