Book of Legends/Sefer Ha-Aggadah: Legends from the Talmud and Midrash
The publication of the complete Book of Legends in English is a landmark event in Jewish learning. Since its original compilation (1908-11) by Bialik and Ravnitzky, two commanding figures in Hebrew literature, this work has been a classic text of rabbinic legend and lore. It is a thematic anthology of nonlegal rabbinic literature on all aspects of human life (e.g., creation, redemption, wisdom, clothing, folk medicine studied through Jewish stories, parables, sayings, homilies, and anecdotes). The translation by Braude is clear, lucid, and readable and includes interpolations that increase the sense and comprehension of the text. The introduction by David Stern analyzes both the volume's place in Rabbinic Judaism and the achievement of the compilers, noting both strengths and weaknesses. This volume is recommended to all libraries with an interest in Judaism, folklore, and religion.- Maurice Tuchman, Hebrew Coll. Lib., Brookline, Mass.Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.