[ha-Safran] Sin for the Sake of God: A Tale of a Radical Idea in the Talmudic Literature

[Celestina Levant]

Hello,
We would like to introduce a new publication by The Hebrew University Magnes 
press.
Sin for the Sake of God
A Tale of a Radical Idea in the Talmudic Literature
By Yuval 
Blankovsky

[http://www.magnes-press.com/NetisUtils/srvrutil_getImg.aspx?unitId=5048]All 
cultures, religions, and ethical or legal systems struggle with the role 
intention plays in evaluating actions. The Talmud compellingly elaborates on 
the notion of intention through the radical concept that "A sin committed for 
the sake of God [averah li-shmah] is greater than a commandment fulfilled not 
for the sake of God [mi-mizvah she-lo li-shmah]." The Babylonian Talmud 
attributes this concept, which challenges one of rabbinic Judaism's most 
fundamental dogmas, the obligation to fulfill the commandments and avoid sin-to 
R. Nahman b. Isaac (RNBI), a renowned 4th century Amora. Considering the 
normative character of the rabbinic culture in which Halakhah (Jewish religious 
law) plays such a central role, this concept, seems almost like a foreign body 
in the Talmudic corpus. The book reveals the origins of this radical idea, its 
accurate meaning and use in the time this concept was formulated and the 
movement of this radical idea from the margins culture to mainstream - into the 
Babylonian Talmud, the canonic book of Rabbinic Judaism. The findings of this 
research provide substantial insight into our understanding of the interpretive 
process and of conceptual adaptation in rabbinic culture.

Dr. Yuval Blankovsky is a Talmud scholar and the Berkowitz fellow at NYU Law 
School.
His main interests are the literature of the Sages, the Yeshiva's world 
commentary on the Talmud, and its relation to academic commentary on the Talmud.

Language: Hebrew
Price: $ 28.00
Available from EBSCO eBooks

For sample pages press 
here
For purchase and more information press 
here

Celestina Levant
International marketing
Hebrew University Magnes press
http://www.magnes-press.com 
[cid:image002.jpg@01D29E81.A3804CF0] 

Tel: 972-2-6584780, Fax: 972-2-5633370

Newsletter
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Discount

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[ha-Safran] Educational Resources for Lag Ba'Omer

[Jacob Richman]

Hi Everyone!

The Jewish festival "Lag Ba'Omer" is Sunday, May 14, 2017. 
To avoid Shabbat desecration, bonfires will be on Sunday night May 14
instead of Saturday night. Israeli school vacation for Lag Ba´omer has 
been postponed by one day, from Sunday, May 14 to Monday, May 15.
If you are flying over Israel on Sunday night (May 14) and you 
look down out of your plane, you will see thousands of bonfires 
dotting the landscape as far as the eye can see. There are various 
customs and explanations for these celebrations.

I posted on my website 40 links to learn about "Lag Ba'Omer".

The address is:
http://www.jr.co.il/hotsites/lag-ba-omer.htm

I also created English Hebrew vocabulary sheets at:
http://www.english-hebrew-dictionary.com/lag-baomer-1.htm

Enjoy the bonfires!

FYI: 
I am currently updating the links for Yom Yerushalayim,
Jerusalem Day, which is celebrated this year on May 24, 2017.

Education resources:
http://www.jr.co.il/hotsites/jerusalem.htm

Videos about Jerusalem:
http://www.jr.co.il/videos/jerusalem-videos.htm

Jerusalem Photo Gallery:
http://www.history-of-israel.co.il/jerusalem/index.html

English Hebrew Jerusalem Vocabulary:
http://www.english-hebrew-dictionary.com/jerusalem-1.htm

Please share the links. Thank You!

Chag Sameach!
Jacob

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[ha-Safran] Sami Rohr Prize for Jewish Literature

[Rachel Kamin]

I was surprised to see that Idra Novey won the Sami Rohr Prize for Jewish 
Literature for her novel Ways to Disappear - see 
http://www.jewishbookcouncil.org/awards/sami-rohr-prize-2017.  As someone who 
tries to stay on top of Jewish fiction, I had never heard of this book or 
author.  I listened to the audio-book over the weekend and am completely 
baffled.  According to the website: "The annual award recognizes the unique 
role of contemporary writers in the transmission and examination of the Jewish 
experience. It is intended to encourage and promote outstanding writing of 
Jewish interest. Each year, the prize of $100,000 aims to reward an emerging 
writer whose work has demonstrated a fresh vision and evidence of further 
growth. Recipients must have written a book of literary merit that stimulates 
an interest in themes of Jewish concern."

It is only briefly mentioned three times that the Brazilian family in the Ways 
to Disappear is Jewish but it is never explored and is totally insignificant 
and irrelevant to the plot. Two of the mentions just reinforce negative Jewish 
stereotypes (since I listened to the audio-book I can't quote exactly but 
something to the effect of: your people are Jews, don't you have money under 
the mattress? and she was a Jew so she was sneaky). And, during the funeral 
scene at the end Novey erroneously writes that Emma murmured the Hebrew words 
of the Kaddish, the traditional mourner's prayer. However, the prayer is in 
Aramaic not Hebrew! I don't see how a book that does not contain any Jewish 
themes can "stimulate an interest in themes of Jewish concern." And, in no way 
does this book transmit or examine the Jewish experience. I also want to 
mention that while the book was positively reviewed by the New York Times, NPR 
and Kirkus, none of the reviews mention that it is about a Jewish family.

So my question is: Should I purchase this book for our synagogue library? Our 
collection is limited to books with Jewish content so this would not qualify.  
However, it did just win a major Jewish literary award and I've already 
received one request from a patron looking to borrow it.  Also, while our 
collection already includes two of the four Sami Rohr finalists - The Last 
Flight of Poxl West by Daniel Torday and The Yid by Paul Goldberg - I'm 
wondering if I should purchase the other two finalists, Inherited Disorders: 
Stories, Parables & Problems by Adam Ehrlich Sachs and The Bed Moved: Stories 
by Rebecca Schiff.  Do they have significant Jewish content to merit purchasing 
for our collection? I'm interested to hear from anyone who has read these books 
or who has insider information about the Sami Rohr Prize.

Thanks!

Rachel Kamin, Director
The Joseph and Mae Gray Cultural & Learning Center
North Suburban Synagogue Beth El
1175 Sheridan Road
Highland Park, IL 60035
847/926-7902 or rka...@nssbethel.orgmailto:rka...@nssbethel.org>

Office Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday 9am-2pm and Wednesday 4-6 pm & 
Sunday 9am-12pm (when school is in session)

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