Reviewed by Rabbi Reuven Chaim
Klein (Rachack Review)
Through this fascinating work,
the author embarks on a scholarly journey into the first two printings of the
renowned pietistic work, Sefer Chassidim. That seminal work is known for
its moralistic lessons, presented in the form of stories akin to aggadah,
as well as pietistic customs (minhagim) and rulings reminiscent of
Halachic decisions. Skool’s captivating yet meticulously-researched work
explores the first two printings of Sefer Chassidim and offers readers a
unique perspective on the authorship, paratexts, and the historical context
surrounding these editions.
Skloot first focuses on the
initial edition of Sefer Chassidim, published in 1538 by "the
Partners" — a consortium of Jewish merchants in Bologna, Italy and then
turns his attention to the second edition, printed in 1580 by Ambrosius Froben,
a well-known Christian printer with Italian roots based in Basel, Switzerland.
The study also takes into account
significant historical events that transpired between the two printings, and
shows how they influenced aspects of the printing world. Most prominent among these
developments are the 1553 banning of the Talmud in Italy and subsequent efforts
by the Catholic Church to actively censor Jewish works as part of the
Counter-Reformation. Moreover, the emergence of the Great Ashkenazic Yeshivos in
Eastern Europe and the organization and establishment of the Vaad of the Four
Lands, further contributed to the backdrop that helped the author show the
differences between the two historical milieu in which the two printings
happened.
In discussing these two early
prints of Sefer Chassidim, the author touches on the quasi-philosophical
question of what authorship means, examining the motives behind ascribing Sefer
Chassidim to Rabbi Yehuda HaChassid of Regensburg, the 12th century
leader of the Chassidei Ashkenaz movement. However, it is important to
note that unfortunately this work does not extensively explore the reception of
Sefer Chassidim nor its publisher’s claims of its authorship by Rabbi
Yehuda HaChassid. Additionally, the book does not provide a comprehensive
analysis of the content of Sefer Chassidim within the broader genre of Chassidei
Ashkenaz literature.
Beyond Sefer Chassidim
itself, the author explores other books printed by the aforementioned
publishers, shedding light on the individuals involved in those publishing
houses and their relationships with the Catholic Church and the growing
Protestant movement. The book also explores who exactly the intended audiences
of these works were (i.e., whether they printed for the Jewish elite, Jewish students,
or Christian Hebraists).
The author displays a keen
interest in the physical characteristics of the books he discusses, such as
size and typeset font. However, the focus primarily lies on the paratexts (including
the title pages, introductions, and colophons), which surround the actual text
in the two editions under scrutiny. While the discussion of the text itself largely
takes a backseat, the author does touch on censorship within the book that was
intended to conform to Christian sensibilities (especially in terms of how non-Jews
and their holy sites are referenced), and such textual modification are
analyzed with attention and nuance by comparing them to extant manuscripts of Sefer
Chassidim.
Each chapter concludes with a
succinct summary of its main points, aiding the reader in navigating the book's
rich content. With hundreds of well-sourced endnotes and a robust bibliography,
the author provides ample resources for further exploration. The inclusion of a
well-structured index enhances the book's accessibility, allowing readers to
easily locate specific topics discussed within its pages.
By employing the scholarly
paradigm of microhistory, the author masterfully uses the stories behind the
two printings of Sefer Chassidim to shed light on broader questions
surrounding the early days of the printing press. This approach illuminates the
profound impact of the growing use of this technology on geo-political and
geo-religious dynamics. By zooming in on these particular editions, the author
provides valuable insights into the interplay between Jewish literature, the
printing press, and the complex sociocultural landscape of the time.
Jewish Blues: A History of a Color in Judaism (University of Pennsylvania Press, 2022), by Gadi Sagiv
Reviewed by Rabbi Reuven Chaim
Klein (Rachack Review)
In this interesting book, the
author presents a scholarly exploration of the color blue within the context of
Jewish heritage. Focusing on the concept of techeiles, a blue-dyed wool
mentioned in various biblical contexts (such as the Tabernacle, the High
Priest's garments, and the commandment of tzitzis), the book delves into
the multifaceted nature of this enigmatic hue.
One of the book's strengths lies
in its comprehensive historical overview, which draws upon a wide range of
archeological and scientific sources. Through meticulous research, the author
traces the evolution of techeiles throughout Jewish history, shedding
light on its significance as a distinctly "Jewish" color. This
intriguing distinction emerges as the author compares the Jewish connection to
blue with similar associations of red with Christians and green with Islam,
providing a unique perspective on the symbolic power of colors within different
religious traditions.
Linguistic analysis forms another
compelling aspect of the book, exploring the various terms associated with
"blue" in Jewish texts. By unraveling the nuances of terms like kachol
and puch, the author uncovers the rich palette of bluish and
blue-adjacent colors referenced in Hebrew literature. Notably, the book
illuminates the historical significance of Jews in Muslim countries adopting
dark clothing, with blue becoming a popular choice due to its cultural importance.
A particularly captivating
chapter delves into the esoteric realm, decoding the semiotic meaning of the
color blue in Jewish thought. Here, the author explores mystical associations,
depicting how blue is said to mirror God's Throne of Glory and the profound
symbolism of blue fire. Furthermore, the book explores the protective qualities
attributed to blue gemstones and the color itself, including its reputed
defense against the malevolent forces of the Evil Eye. Looking at the color from
a Kabbalistic perspective, the author reveals the profound connections between
the color blue, the sefirot, and the unity of God.
Sagiv’s book skillfully tackles
the intricate debate surrounding the derivation of blue dyes, particularly techeiles,
from various sources. While the color blue can be obtained from several venues,
the author highlights the significance of techeiles being derived from a
specific marine animal known as a chilazon. Throughout the ages, the
question of which mollusk dye precisely constitutes techeiles has
sparked intense discussion, with classical rabbinic positions maintaining that
the identity of the crustacean has been lost and will only be unveiled in the
future.
Notably, this question strikes at
the core of contemporary debates that grapple with reconciling normative
Halacha with scientific findings. The book examines the differing viewpoints,
such as the Radziner Rebbe's preference for the common cuttlefish (sepia
officinalis) and Rav Herzog's scholarly endorsement of the murex
trunculus, offering readers many insights into the ongoing discourse within
the wider Orthodox world. In doing so, the author posits an intriguing
connection between the quest for restoring ancient techeiles and
Messianic motives. In these chapters, the book highlights the profound
religious and spiritual implications associated with the color blue within
Jewish tradition by exploring the fervor surrounding the potential revival of
this historical practice.
In a nutshell, this book is a
meticulously-researched and captivating exploration of the color blue's
profound role in Judaism. From its prosaic historical usage to its mystical and
esoteric associations, the book provides the reader with a comprehensive
understanding of techeiles and its wider implications. As an engaging
and thought-provoking edifice, this scholarly study sheds light on the
intricate interplay between tradition, faith, and the symbolic power of the
color blue.
90 Seconds: The Epic Story of Eli Beer and United Hatzalah (Shaar Press, 2023), by Rabbi Nachman Seltzer
Reviewed by Shira Yael Klein (Rachack Review)
The beginning of the book started
off by vividly depicting Eli Beer as a little kid traumatized from seeing a bus
bombing and not knowing how to help. He was bright and entrepreneurial, successfully running all kinds of side hustles (dalet minim, bus trips
for families, and even a gogo bank), but he could never make it in
school. His whole family is very Haredi, and all his brothers were very
successful on that track. But this kid Eli was just different. You can even see
it in the pictures: Eli is a blue shirt, leather kippah type of a guy,
and the rest of his family is in classic Haredi black and white.
The trauma of the bus bombing
that Eli witnessed at the age of five, compounded by the repeated tragedy of
people who could have been saved dying before the ambulance got there that he
saw time and again as a young MADA volunteer, filled him with a burning
passion: Something must be done to save more people, to save people better,
and to save people faster.
And Eli did it. At its inception,
Hatzolah was an underground organization. They used a radio that Eli bought at Radio
Shack and smuggled into Israel to hack into MADA’s internal broadcasts. The
minute they knew where there was an emergency, the nearest teenaged-volunteer would
run over and start doing CPR, keeping the guy alive until the MADA ambulance
got there. It was a bare bones operation, but it worked.
One day, a teenaged Eli Beer was
manning the radio (instead of helping his father in his sefarim store), when
he hears that there’s been a car accident right next to him. He races out to
the street and sees a man lying there, bleeding profusely from a torn artery in
his neck. Eli whips his kippah off his head, shoves it into the hole in
the guy’s neck, and saves his life.
That was a good story. I would’ve
loved more stories like that.
Teenage Eli, saving people with his
band of undercover superheroes, grows up to be Eli Beer, the head of Ichud
Hatzlolah. Hatzolah has come a long way from its humble origins. It is now a
household name, and a major, organized force in saving lives. Nowadays,
Hatzolah volunteers have defibrillators. And ambucycles. All of this takes
money. Lots and lots of money.
At some point, the book shifts into
showing how Eli becomes an incredible fundraiser. I would have been interested
in reading more heartwarming stories about the work that Hatzolah volunteers do
day in and day out, and less about Eli Beer’s flights all over the world,
hobnobbing with the upper crust and getting million-dollar donations. This is
truly a praiseworthy and wonderful thing, but as a reader it got kind of boring.
Ultimately, I read the book and I even enjoyed it. But I was really hoping for more.
