THE DETROIT ,JEWISH,HBVS Fisch's `Agnon' Worthy Guide to Yiddish Writer's Works By ALLEN A. WARSEN "S. Y. Agnon" by Harold Fisch (Ungar Publishing Co., 1975) is a small, but at- JOE MILLER and HIS ORCHESTRA Music For All occosions LI 5-1244 tractively published mono- graph._ It includes an anno- tated' bibliography of Agnon's works and works about Agnon, and a compre- hensive chronology. Agnon was Yorn in 1888 in Buczacz, Galicia, and be- gan publishing poems in He- brew and Yiddish in 1903. In 1907 he immigrated to Is- rael and settled in Jaffa. A year after his arrival in Jaffa, Agnon published his novel "Agunot," and adopted the name Agnon. His original name was Shmuel YoSef Czaczkes. The most meaningful personal jewelry — S, Y. AGNON Hebrew pendant $20 All jewelry shown also available in 14K gold. reilkille k e ri PLACE OPEN MON-SAT 9:30-5:00 Agnon was twice awarded the Israel Prize for Litera- ture. In 1966, he received the Nobel Prize for literature which he shared with the poetess Nelly Sachs, Agnon died in 1970. North Park Plaza , Room 120 17117 W. Nine Mile Road Southfield, Michigan 48075 (313) 559-6140 The Semi-Annual Meeting of the JEWISH HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MICHIGAN will be held -- SUNDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1975 11:00 A.M. At Congregation Beth Achim 21100 W. 12 Mile Road, Southfield, Michigan GUEST SPEAKER: WALTER KLEIN Former Executive Director of the Jewish Community Council who will talk on "WHAT IS JEWISH ABOUT IT?" Jewish Community Reaction to Public Issues—An historical Prospective President's Report by Dr. Henry Green A Sumptuous Brunch will be served For Reservations call: Dr. Henry Green 559-5288 Dr. Abraham Rogoff 424-8808 Reservations before December 3rd Donation: $3.00 per person All are Welcome The publication of the novel "And the Crooked Shall Be Made Straight" gained him recognition in the world of Hebrew belles-lettres. The author of the mono- graph contends that Ag- non's literary style is re- lated to the "Hebrew of the Midrash," i.e., the classical rabbinic homily of the early "Middle Ages," and not to Yiddish as some critics— maintain. Fisch also claims that-the aguna motif is central to Agnon's writing. An aguna, it should be noted, is a woman whose husband dis- appeared, and according to Jewish law, is not allowed to remarry until definite proof of his death is obtained. However, the term aguna also has a symbolic connotation. It may even refer to alienation, and include individuals es- tranged from their ethnic and religious origin. By extension, the aguna "theme has clear -meta- physical overtones also, for the absent father (in Agnon's stories) suggests the absent Lord of Jewish history, who leaves his wife or child, i.e., the Jew- ish people, bereft of his spiritual authority." Another -motif in Agnon's stories is "the childhood oath." An excellent example is S. Anski's "Dybbuk." In this drama "Lea and Hanan are promised to one another before birth." However, as Lea reached maturity, her father broke the promise, and betrothed her to a weal- thy young man. The result was tragic as both Lea and Hanan died. Although the play is real- istic, yet it signifies spirit- ual conflict. It is significant to note that spiritual conflict is in- trinsic in many of Agnon's stories. Another problem in the works of Agnon is a matter of time, especially the re- lationship between past and present. Whenever in his works the present is in- tertwined with the past, the conjunction is purpose- ful and meaningful. But the past is portrayed "as mere past, i.e., unendur- ing, romanticized," it be- comes unreal. Similarly, the, present becomes a nightmare when it is de- picted without the past. A significant aspect of Agnon's creation is his con- cern with the inner world of reflection, memory, sensa- tion, and dreams. Dreams, in particular, are essential to Agnon for an understand- ing of life. Oftentimes, it is difficult to tell when dreams end and reality begins in his works. There are other aspects in the writings -of Agnon, too numerous to consider. Nev- ertheless, we will comment on a characteristic aspect of Agnon's personality — his view of Zionism. Ideologi- cally Agnon was a "no non- sense" Zionist. He opposed the "Berit Shalom" (Peace League) headed by Dr. Ju- dah Magnes, first president of the Hebrew University, which advocated the estab- lishment of a bi-national state in Palestine; and after the Six-Day War in 1967, Agnon was one of the sig- ners of the Land of Israel Movement which demanded November 28, 1975 27 _ ONE MAN ORCHESTRA that the conquered territo- ries be forever retained by Israel. The monograph "S. Y. Ag- non" is a valuable guide and aid to a better comprehen- sion of Agnon's literary, creativity. 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