Shmuel Yosef Agnon is one of the masters of modern Hebrew fiction, who helped to spark the revival of modern Hebrew literature in Israel and around the world. His work is not only beloved, but also profound, laden with many allusions to the vast canon of traditional Jewish text that shaped his literary imagination: one hears in Agnon’s work echoes of the siddur, the Hebrew Bible, and an astonishing array of rabbinic literature. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in literature in 1966.

In the first installment of this three-part series, we will examine two of Agnon’s pieces centered around the High Holidays: “The Orchestra” and “Hemdat the Cantor.” Join us!

Readings and a zoom link will be distributed after registration.

Also, be sure to check out Rabbi Jeffrey Saks’ five-part, online video course introducing students to Agnon’s short stories, novels, and anthologies.