Itemize Containing Books As a Driven Leaf
Title | : | As a Driven Leaf |
Author | : | Milton Steinberg |
Book Format | : | Paperback |
Book Edition | : | Anniversary Edition |
Pages | : | Pages: 480 pages |
Published | : | October 1st 1996 by Behrman House Publishing (first published 1939) |
Categories | : | Historical. Historical Fiction. Fiction. Literature. Jewish. Religion. Judaism. Judaica |
Milton Steinberg
Paperback | Pages: 480 pages Rating: 4.12 | 2507 Users | 177 Reviews
Chronicle In Pursuance Of Books As a Driven Leaf
The age of the Talmud is brought to life in a breathtaking saga. This masterpiece of modern fiction tells the gripping tale of renegade talmudic sage Elisha ben Abuyah's struggle to reconcile his faith with the allure of Hellenistic culture.Set in Roman Palestine, As a Driven Leaf draws readers into the dramatic era of Rabbinic Judaism. Watch the great Talmudic sages at work in the Sanhedrin, eavesdrop on their arguments about theology and Torah, and agonize with them as they contemplate rebellion against an oppressive Roman rule.
But Steinberg's classic novel also transcends its historical setting with its depiction of a timeless, perennial feature of the Jewish experience: the inevitable conflict between the call of tradition and the glamour of the surrounding culture.
In his illuminating foreword, specially commissioned for this edition, Chaim Potok stresses the contemporary relevance of As a Driven Leaf: This novel of ideas and passions... retains its ability to enter the heart of pious and seeking Jew alike.
Synagogues everywhere are adopting As a Driven Leaf for group study.
Present Books In Favor Of As a Driven Leaf
Original Title: | As a Driven Leaf |
ISBN: | 0874411033 (ISBN13: 9780874411034) |
Edition Language: | English |
Rating Containing Books As a Driven Leaf
Ratings: 4.12 From 2507 Users | 177 ReviewsCrit Containing Books As a Driven Leaf
This is a book about rabbinical Judaism around the 100 AC. It is fiction, but it was written by a rabbi and is faithful to the teachings and historical flavor of that era. It is a story of a rabbi who ultimately losses his faith in order to follow Greek reasoning only to find out in the end that Greek reasoning would lead him back to his faith. It is an amazing read and I highly recommend it for those who are interested.A great read ... Elisha is a very sympathetic figure and for the most part the story is even handed, I think, though I was very troubled by the ending. I found his conflict to be eloquently expressed and extremely relatable. While I found the story to be mostly accurate I was irked by some of the modernizations and places where he clearly took liverties for the sake of fiction - Steinberg's prerogative, of course, but still a little unnerving. Did the tannaim really hang out as couples like
6/2/18 - Starting re-read, felt a connection with Williams' Stoner. Maybe it's just the wife.Stoner**Many decades ago, I explored the religion ... wasn't my path to be, but impressive passion ...Here be quotes from the foreward by Chaim Potok"One day in March 1950 ... I overheard two students talking in Yiddish. ... 'Did you hear the news? Milton Steinberg died last night.' ... Really? He was young.' "To which the first responded: 'Now they're punishing him for his books.'... "Later that day, I
Really connected with this book. It brought to life a period in history I know little about, and dealt with the question of the foundations of faith (rational or irrational) that has been asked throughout the ages. Engrossing read for me, as the question is very much on my mind as well. While the characters sometimes think and act more "modern" than likely, the story still shows how little has changed 2000 years later- humanity's problems and how the individual may choose to deal with them.Not
I read this back in high school a thousand years ago, as all my friends did. Rabbi Elisha Ben Abuya is one of the most tragic and charismatic characters in historical Judaism. One of four legendary Mishanaic-era rabbis who undertook the study of Kabbalah, Elisha Ben Abuya was the one who became a heretic.(Of the other three, it is said that one went mad, one died, and one was the great sage Rabbi Akiva.) The novel begins in 70 CE, after the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, and ends with
Elisha ben Avuyah is one of my favorite Talmudic figures, so I had to read this book as soon as I learned it existed. If I had been writing a book about his life, it would have been in a slightly different light and would have put more of an emphasis of the story where R' Meir tries to convince Elisha to get back on the derech and Elisha "proves" to him (suing Talmudic logic) that it can't be done--that scene is so tragic (in the classic sense of the word) I can't even describe it. Anyway, this
It took me a while to get through this book, but I'm so glad I did! In his book, Steinberg fictionalizes the life of Elisha, a rabbi of the Sanhedrin and sage who lived in Palestine after the destruction of the Second Temple, of whom we know little about for certain. Elisha's struggle to put reason and logic to faith is one I think many people, including myself, can identify with. Though the book plays fast and loose with historical fact and tradition, it was not only enjoyable to read, but
0 comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.