Nobel Prize Winner S. Y. Agnon Dies at 82
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
Friday, February 20, 1970-19
JERUSALEM (JTA) — Shmuel
Yosef Agnon, Israel's Nobel
Laureate for Literature in 1966,
died Tuesday in a nursing home
in Gedera at age 82.
Mr. Agnon suffered a stroke
Six months ago and never fully
recovered. His death was at-
tributed to a heart attack.
Mr. Agnon, who shared the
Nobel Prize with Nelly Sachs, a
German Jewish poetess, was re-
garded as the outstanding Hebrew
novelist of • his generation. His
works are taught in Hebrew schools
all over the world and have been
"History repeats itself" and "His-
tory never repeats itself" are
about equally true . . . We never
know enough about the infinitely
complex circumstances of any past
event to prophecy the future by
analogy. —G.M. Trevelyan
ly beset by requests from leading
publishing houses the world over
for rights to bring out all of Mr.
Agnon's writings in translation
into various languages.
Shmuel Yosef Agnon Czaczkes
was born at Buczacz, in Eastern
Galicia, on the 9th of Av, cor-
responding with July 17, 1888. His
father was a Jewish scholar pos-
sessed of a poetic soul who earned
his livelihood as a furrier but
spent his free time in writing
poetry.
From the age of 3 until his 9th
birthday, Agnon was educated
in the traditional Heder. From
that time onward, he studied
under the guidance of his father
and of the local rabbi. But from
an early age tried his hand at
writing, his first poem entitled
"The Small Hero" 'appearing in
the Hebrew periodical "Hamit-
speh" published in Cracow, when
be was 16. From that time on-
ward, he began contributing
stories and poems regularly to
various Hebrew periodicals.
Coming under the influence of
one of the early leaders of the
"Hibat Zion" movement, he set
out for Eretz Israel in 1908 where,
until 1913, he served as secretary
of the Hovevet Zion Committee at
Jaffa. In Palestine he developed
a close friendship with Joseph
Brenner, the Hebrew writer, and
with Berl Katznelson, and con-
SHMUEL YOSEF AGNON
tributed to "Ha'Omer" edited by
S. Ben Zion, where his story
translated into 16 languages. He "Agunot" appeared over the pen
infused his writing with the wealth name "Agnon" which was later
of Jewish scholarship he possessed to become his surname.
and a remarkable knowledge of
He went to Berlin for study in
Jewish folklore which stemmed 1913, and there made the acquaint-
from a traditional education in ance of Martin Buber with whom
Eastern Europe and his Hasidic he collaborated in collecting tales
background.
of the Hasidim. It was in Buber's
Mr. Agnon's works were filled monthly "Der Jude" that German
with allusions and images from translations of his stories, made
the Bible, Talmud, Gaonic litera- by Max Strauss and Gershom
ture, medieval Hebrew poetry, Scholem, were first printed. Agnon
Hasidic t ales and rabbinic returned to Jerusalem in 1924, and
responsa. He knew as well the his devoted himself exclusively to
classic Hebrew poets and the writing ever since.
Hebrew writers of his own gen-
He was twice awarded the cov-
eration. Although he drew heav- eted Bialik Prize for Literature by
ily on tradition, he was con- the Tel Aviv Municipality (1934
sidered a modern writer and an and 1950), and twice the Israel
astute observer of the condition Prize for Literature (1954 and
of 1 modern man.
1958). He received an honorary
Ivt addition to his novels and doctorate from the Jewish Theo-
sho stories, he contributed reg- logical Seminary of America in
ularly to the Hebrew dailies 1936 and an honorary doctorate
Haaretz and Davar and to literary from the Hebrew University for
journals, yearbooks and anthologies his contribution to Hebrew litera-
in Israel and abroad. He was the ture and to religious thought, in
receipient of the Bialik Prize for 1958.
Literature in 1934 and 1937, the
Agnon, the most original as well
Ussishkin Prize in 1950 and the as the most perceptive of contem-
Israel Prize in 1958. He was made porary Hebrew writers, ranked
an honorary citizen of Jerusalem among the foremost novelists in
in 1962.
the world. He not only wrote of
Below is a feature on Agnon the life of body and spirit, but
written by an Israeli correspond- also recreated this life as it grew
and developed from its own sources
ent:
by Haim Shachter
and traditions, and not as some-
The first Nobel Prize ever to be thing created by outside pressure.
In his writings, A g n o n en-
awarded to a Hebrew writer went
to Ognon, and he was the first deavored to sum up and perpetuate
a way of life among Jewry in
Israeli to receive a Noble Prize.
In announcing the award, the Eastern Europe which he was
Royal Swedish Academy of Let- possibly among the last to witness,
ters said that it had been given and felt called upon to describe
to Agnon as "the foremost writer and paint for generations to come.
in modern Hebrew literature who To this part of his literary crea-
has gradually penetrated linguistic tions belong not only his great epic
barriers . . . for his profoundly of Jewish life in the townlets of
characteristic narrative art with Galicia. "The Bridal Canopy"
motifs drawn from the life of the which he commenced writing while
in Germany, and which was pub-
Jewish people."
This honor bestowed an entrance lished in 1931, and not only "A
ticket to world literature upon Guest for the Night", a novel of
modern Hebrew writing. Agnon Jewry standing at the brink of
anc his publishers were immediate- destruction on the eve of the
holocaust (published in 1940), but
also his "Only Yesterday", a story
American Technion Scty. of the early pioneers in Eretz
Israel and his other stories, even
Moves Its NYC Office
his seemingly idyllic tales, which
NEW YORK — The American underneath the surface contain
Technion Society has moved its premonitions of the impending
national office to 271 Madison catastrophe and which reflect a
here, giving it a midtown location crumbling world.
accessible to the society's leader-
ship.
The American Technion Society
is the organization in the United
States which supports the Tech-
nion—Israel Institute of Tech-
nology —Israel's oldest university
and only seat of higher learning
devoted fully to the education of
engineers.
Indeed, Agnon looked upon
himself as a link in that long
chain of Jewish scholars who
pored over the ancient tomes of
Jewish lore day and night, rather
than a modern secular story-
writer. Asked at one time what
books he had written, Agnon
characteristically replied: "Days
of Awe" (consisting of stories,
legends, comments and thoughts
on the High Holy Days, 1938)
and several novels and stories".
Agon's place in Hebrew litera-
ture and in the creative writing of
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the Jewish people regenerated in
Israel, was aptly summed up by
Zalman Aranne, Israel minister of
education and culture, to the
Swedish Broadcasting Corporation:
"For two generations and more,
a great literary master has been
at work among us, enriching the
storehouse of Hebrew literature,
imbuing the ancient tongue of
Hebrew with a new radiance,
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revitalizing the roots of Jewish
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tradition, reaching back to time
immemorial.
"In his unique 'Agnonese' lan-
guage and style, Agnon drew
on the entire gamut of Hebrew
expression, ranging from the ear-
liest strata of the language to the
most recent. So naturally and
Presents
harmoniously do these successive
elements in the development of the
language blend in his work that
young and old, Israeli born, the
immigrant from the East as from
the West — all levels of the Israel
people find an instinctive associa-
tion with Agnon's creation with no
barrier intervening.
411
"From Agnon's writing there
emerges an epic of the Jewish
spirit embracing alike what is
enduring and solid, as well as that
NO-TAP
which, within the lifetime of re-
BEST BALL
cent generations, has vanished or
SCOTCH DOUBLES
is in process of disappearance.
REGULAR DOUBLES
"Agnon has meditated deeply on
the destiny of the Jews down the
ages. Ever inspired by the faith
Buffet Supper, Cash Prizes
and heritage of Judaism, he has
brought together within the scope
Surprises, Trophies
of his writings both the life of
the Diaspora and the life of the
Homeland, the one ever illumined
by the longing and hope for the
only
per couple
other. For him both belong to the
single saga of the Jewish people.
Starts at 10:30 p.m.
His writings have now become
part of this saga.
"Explicitly or implicity, Agnon'S
OPEN BOWLING
work centers round the innermost
ALL DAY SATURDAY & SUNDAY
self of the Jewish people, its values
and vision, its revelation and mys-
tery, its enigma and eternity.
"The dust of wandering swept
away, the weariness relieved, the
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spiritual personality of the Jew
renewed and uplifted, poses to us
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the age-old question: 'If thou hast •
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An Urgent Call to
Congregations, Organizations
and Individuals . . .
Help Provide Necessary
Passover Assistance Funds
For Needy in Israel ...
SUPPORT THE MIZRACHI MO'OS CHITIM CAMPAIGN!
Read the facts in this reprint from The Jewish. News of January 30, 1970
New Mizrachi Policy for Mo'os Hitim
in Israel Assists Country's Economy
During the 15 years of pursu-
ing such a program of aid to
needy on Passover, more than
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Mizrachi Organization of De-
troit announces continuation of
ita Mo'os Ilium program in Israel
to aid the need on a new basis
of securing and providing the
food packages within Israel.
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1,000 families were assisted an-
nually.
As a means of boosting Isra-
el's economy, a departure from
previous poUcies is being inaugu-
rated this year by arrangement
with Super-Sol in Israel. Food
packages in amounts of $15 and
more where required will be
filled by Super-Sol and for the
first time this program will be
pursued in Israel where the pur-
chase will be made and Ameri-
can dollars Invested In an Israeli
economic venture.
Checks for this project should
be made payable to Mizrachi.
Contributions are tax deductible.
Contributions should be mailed
to Mizrachi. 23125 Coolidge. Oak
Park phone 398-7180.
Mizrachi, 23125 Coolidge, Oak Park, Mich. 48237
Contact Mr. Zvi Tomkiewicz or phone 398-7180