Dear Friends, The 60th annual celebration of the State of Israel's founding has inspired much publication in Israel. So much so that I feel the area must be revisited.
'Derekh Ha-Azma'ut 60 Years and More To Come,' 'Haatzmaut Road,' is a book / album depicting the development of the State of Israel, including art, photos, posters, cards and much Hebrew and English text. It is a project of the Farkash Gallery, with historical and educational research and text by Dr. Haim Grossman, isbn 965-7267-03 * ((the number appears backward and incomplete on the TP of the book)). The book, in which Israeli art and history are intertwined is as comprehensive as it is lovely, (448 pages) and is itself an archive of Israeli History, Art and Culture of the second half of the 20th Cent. Cat. #67351 $ 98.00 The Ministry of Defense has published, 'Bereshit,' (Genesis) on the founding and unifying of the Israeli Army 1947-1949. The book written and edited by Michal Tzur examines this significant, formative period in Israel's history and the difficult political and logistical task of forming a unified army, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) out of rival militias (particularly, the Irgun 'Etzel' and 'Lehi'). The book contains many photos as well as copies of handwritten and typed letters from army commanders, Ben Gurion and others. This book is fascinating and will be a source for reference and research and provides a handy and accessible look into the archives of the IDF. Isbn 978-965-05-1438-9. Cat # 67243 $ 39.00 60 Shnot Zilum Avir Yisrael Mi-Ma'of a 'Bird's Eye View,' of Israel through ariel photographs has great views of Israel but manages to depict the development of Israel architecturally and economically since it's founding. The book contains many old photographs and text, which allows the reader to compare then and now. Published by Yediot Hemed, ed. Abramovich, Liad and Singer. Cat. # 67244, $ 39.00 The latest issue of Eretz Acheret, (issue #44), has an impressive collection of articles. There is an interview with Prof. David (Weiss) Halivny, who this year won the Israel Prize and released a new book. In the article, the distinguished scholar's history from youth in Sighet, the Holocaust, and his integration and prominence at the Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS) and Columbia University are all discussed. He will forever be known for his study of the Talmud in a systematic, scientific approach, which employs comparisons of manuscripts and editions to determine the original positions and arguments of the authors and editors of the Talmud. However, more recently his philosophical and perhaps Kabbalistic understanding of the Holocaust are also of interest. The journal also contains articles on religious and secular relations, globalization and wealth in Judaism, Jewish practices of Russian and Ethiopian Jewry and much more. Last but not least, I would like to mention that Jerusalem Books own, Dr. Menachem Kallus, has an article on the philosophy of the 'Ari,' R' Isaac Luria and the Baal Shem Tov. Dr. Kallus, a leader in this and other areas of Jewish Philosophy, a student of Dr. Moshe Idel of the Hebrew University, deals with the philosophy, the texts and methods of man's spiritual enlightenment and ascendancy as well as the context of these ideas within the development of western philosophers. Along with a call for continued multi-disciplinary research in these areas this author and others whose writing is published on the pages of Eretz Acheret examine the universal aspects and potential of Jewish Thought for all humanity. Finally, in closing, I would just like to wish everyone a splendid upcoming AJL convention in Cleveland. I look forward to seeing all of you there. Sincerely, Jeff Spitzer Jerusalem Books Ltd. POB 26190 Jerusalem, 91261, Israel (Tel) 972-2-642-6653/6576 (Fax) 972-2-643-3580 www.jerusalembooks.co.il Messages and opinions expressed on Hasafran are those of the individual author and are not necessarily endorsed by the Association of Jewish Libraries (AJL) =========================================================== Submissions for Ha-Safran, send to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] SUBscribing, SIGNOFF commands send to: Listproc @ lists.acs.ohio-state.edu Questions, problems, complaints, compliments;-) send to: galron.1 @ osu.edu Ha-Safran Archives: Current: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html History: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/history.html AJL HomePage http://www.JewishLibraries.org
