HAYIM NAHMAN BIALIK (1873-1934) is the leading Hebrew poet of the
twentieth century. Born in the Ukraine, he moved to Odessa in 1891
where he was drawn to the circle of Ahad Ha'am. In 1921, he left
Soviet Russia for Berlin and emigrated to the land of Israel in
1924.
YEHOSHUA HANA RAVNITZKY (1859-1944) was a pioneer of modern Hebrew
journalism and publishing. A native of Odessa, he became Bialik's
closest collaborator. Together they founded the publishing house of
Moriah, which brought forth the first edition of Sefer Ha-Aggadah
in 1908-11. Ravnitzky settled in Tel Aviv in 1921, where he and
Bialik subsequently founded the Dvir Publishing House.
To have Book of Legends/Sefer Ha-Aggadah available in English is to
open to the entire English-reading world -- Jew, non-Jew,
religionist, secularist -- one of the very great creations of
humankind: a rich and intricately woven tapestry of tales,
homilies, legends and dreams that come to us from the very roots of
the imagination. What a treasure!"
-- Chaim Potok
"Bialik and Ravnitzky's great compendium of Rabbinic legend and
homily has been an indispensable resource ever since its
publication in Hebrew eight decades ago....English readers are very
fortunate to be able at last to avail themselves of this
extraordinary compilation."
-- Robert Alter
"In translating Bialik and Ravnitzky's incomparable thematic
anthology into very readable English, William Braude, master
translator of Rabbinic texts, has provided the English reader with
a wonderful access to the wealth of Rabbinic interpretation and
lore. This book should be a fixture in the library of every serious
Jew."
-- Norman J. Cohen, Dean, Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of
Religion
"Sefer Ha-Aggadah has long been one of my favorite volumes of
Jewish literature. Bialik and Ravnitzky arranged topically a vast
collection of Talmudic and midrashic material. Whatever one is
looking for, be it stories about biblical characters or reflections
on love, evil, childrearing, or healing; it is there .... A most
welcome addition to the growing collection of Jewish classics now
available in English translation."
-- Judith Hauptman, Associate Professor of Talmud, Jewish
Theological Seminary
"Sefer Ha-Aggadah restored the prestige of the non-legal sections
of the Talmud and nurtured aesthetic appreciation for one of the
world's most creative and colorful literatures. I fully endorse
this marvelous translation by William Braude."
-- David Weiss-Halivni, Columbia University
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