The Kosher Bookworm: Wrestling with angels

The Kosher Bookworm

by Alan Jay Gerber

This week I will focus upon literary works that deal with themes and personalities both Biblical and contemporary.

On the Biblical side is the legacy of our last patriarch, Jacob, and the continuous litany of travails that are the signature of his life’s experiences. These are detailed in two books, each with its own take and each a bit off the beaten track; learning Chumash as you didn’t learn it in yeshiva or seminary.

First is “Wrestling Jacob” by Rabbi Shmuel Klitsner [Urim Publications, 2006]. In this volume we confront a totally different approach to the saga of Jacob’s various encounters with Esav, Laban, and the “angel”. All these encounters are addressed with a psychological methodology, although from the outset the author informs us that he has no formal training in this discipline. Nevertheless, he offers a searing analysis of the Biblical events, treating each incident in the context of allusions and striking parallels, especially in terms of the subconscious. Many of these observations will give you pause and might even make you take a real “double take” of the original Chumash text and the commentaries.

One major drawback is the author’s all-too-technical presentation that could easily lose the lay reader in a wink. Various confusing gematria and Hebrew word relationships are thrown into the mix. They serve only to further complicate what at first seems to be a modern analysis of the text. Yet, when taken together, the daunting challenge may be worth it for those with the intellectual stamina.

Rabbi Klitsner was a student of Nehama Leibowitz, and has trained a generation of Tanach teachers at Jerusalem’s Midreshet Lindenbaum College and at the London School of Jewish Studies.

“The Ladder of Jacob” by Dr. James L. Kugel [Princeton University Press, 2006] is subtitled, “Ancient interpretations of the Biblical story of Jacob and his children.” Despite the term ancient, there is nothing ancient about this book. It is a very modern take on the ancient text that utilizes traditional commentators and attempts to explain and to even vaguely rationalize different segments of the Chumash, like Jacob’s dream of the ladder, Dina’s abduction, Shimon and Levi’s destruction of Shechem, Reuven’s rather questionable behavior, and the story of Yehudah and Tamar.

Kugel attempts to demonstrate the relevance of the traditional commentators’ interpretations to those unfamiliar with them. For this alone we are indebted to Kugel, who has put forth a work that gives non-Jews a better appreciation of our Holy Torah within the context of our tradition.

The language at times is a bit too technical, as in the work reviewed above. However, unlike the previous work, Kugel’s comes with 40 pages of detailed notes, and a complete subject and Hebrew Bible index. This assists the serious reader interested in researching the author’s premises and conclusions.

James Kugel was a professor of Hebrew literature at Harvard University, and currently serves as director of the Institute for the History of the Jewish Bible at Bar Ilan University in Israel.

This Monday marks the 29th yahrtzeit of Rav Yitzchak Hutner, of blessed memory. Our community is blessed with many of his students who were inspired by his teachings and his example. They live his legacy every day, and some have recently asked that I seek out his writings for review. I am most honored to comply.

Recently published in English is, “Shabbos in a New Light”[David Dov publications, 2009] based upon Rav Hutner’s classic work “Pachad Yitzchok,” translated by Rabbi Pinchas Stolper, and most ably edited by Rabbi Yaakov David Homnick.

Like all works and shiurim by Rav Hutner, this work is a hard read. Reflecting favorably upon the integrity of Rabbi Stolper and Rabbi Homnick, a brief introductory essay cautions the reader that this sefer involves some very deep and extended teaching, that is, this book is not for the casual or speed reader. Given that this is a translation of an already deep and difficult Hebrew text, the rabbis further caution those eager to learn of the need to read the text carefully and not to rush the experience. The translation does not lend itself to the depth of the Hebrew original and therefore a rushed reading will prove to be counter-productive.

The authors invite readers to write to them of their experiences, promising to study any and all suggestions for future editions.

Of special interest to the reader is a detailed, heartfelt biographical sketch of Rav Hutner by Rabbi Stolper. Those further interested in Rav Hutner’s life’s work should read “The Vision Before His Eyes” by Matis Greenblatt [Jewish Action , Summer 2001], where Greenblatt details Rav Hutner’s special relationship with Rav Kook zt”l, as well as his relationship with Rav Moshe Soloveitchik and Rav Soloveitchik’s then 12-year-old-son, Aharon, whom Rav Hutner tutored.

This volume, taken together with the previously published translations, “Chanukah in a New Light” and “Purim in a New Light,” will hopefully signal a revival of the teachings of Rav Hutner. The translations of his other works will, in time, help commemorate his 30th Yahrtzeit next year.

In addition, given the complicated nature of this work, hopefully, shiurim will be established in our community based upon these works so as to better learn and understand Rav Hutner’s teaching to all. This would serve as an apt memorial to his legacy; may his memory serve for a blessing.