And you shall tell”: Anthological Practices in Late-Antique, Medieval, and Early Modern Jewish Writings

Session Submission Type: Panel Session

Abstract

Anthologies and story sequences are pivotal generic forms for conveying cultural knowledge and constructing meaning in Jewish writings from the Bible onward. This session will focus on theoretical strategies for critical reading of Jewish anthologies with the aim of better understanding editorial practices in late-antique, medieval, and early modern Jewish literature. By exploring the structure and significance of fiction anthologies in rabbinic literature, medieval Jewish compositions from the Mediterranean comprising poetry and prose, and Yiddish love songs added to early modern magic compositions, we will ask what constitutes Jewish anthology, what is its cultural significance, and how to approach and analyze textual examples across our chronological span both in terms of compositional logic and aesthetics.

Division

• Cross-Divisional and Methodological Approaches

Individual Presentations

• Why Collect? Anthologizing the Medieval Jewish Mediterranean - Isabelle Levy, Columbia University, Institute for Israel and Jewish Studies

• A Book of Spells, a Hymn, and a Love Song: Two Yiddish Songs in a Magic Anthology - Roni Cohen, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main

Respondent

• Laura Lieber, University of Regensburg