Speech
Rennaissance of Jewish Literature and Art (1950)
Talk before Sisterhood, Young Israel Grand Concourse, Jan. 20, 1950: Unfortunate that title of talk is "Renaissance" etc. This word means, in plain English, "rebirth", and as we shall soon see, the continuity of J. lit. is such that it needs no rebirth, whereas J. Art has not really been born in the first place. However, shall accept it at face value. 1950. Half-century mark affords us opportunity to review the new literature which had its birth at the turn of the century and which now is at crossroads, its major crisis in its 50 yr. life. But, as said, J. lit. as such is undisrupted since Moses and Torah. Luick tracing of major outlines. Chumash, Tanach, Apocrypha, Mishna, Talmud, Geonim, Rishonim—philosophy—poetry—prose—mysticism, Achronim—responsa—mysticism—Hasidic—Mussar—Haskallah. Ahad Ha’am at his prime at turn of century, died 1927, can be regarded as paver for last 50 yrs of Zionism & lit. Bialik first true son of 20th cent. In this National poet find expression of the new era, swing fr. melancholy which caused almost pathological inaction w. regard to J. bitter fate, to young pessimism. The wide open fields synthesized w. nostalgia for Beis Hamidrash. Nationalistic aspirations. First poems appear, coincide approx. w. Herzl’s "Judenstaat", conversion of Rothschild by Ahad Ha’am to Zionism, to provide the dramatic setting for a revived J. dynamism, inspired by Prophets, which was to see fruition in 50 years, culminating w. declar. State Israel. Until contemporary period, most lit. strong nationalistic kernel, optimism—outdoors etc till contemporary period.The contemp period, the mid–cent, coincides w. Israel, which creates new problems for the literary talents of the new state. Lit, because it is the most articulate of the arts, is most intimately involved in the cultural, political, and social & economic issues as they evolve. Lit not only reflects them, it also directs. Our discussion of contemp, or as we call it "renaiss" of J. lit. must therefore…
