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The Blessing and the Curse: The Jewish People and Their Books in the Twentieth Century
Following The People and the Books, which "covers more than 2,500 years of highly variegated Jewish cultural expression" (Robert Alter, New York Times Book Review), poet and literary critic Adam Kirsch now turns to the story of modern Jewish literature. From the vast emigration of Jews out of Eastern Europe to the Holocaust to the creation of Israel, the twentieth century transformed Jewish life. The same was true of Jewish writing: the novels, plays, poems, and memoirs of Jewish writers provided intimate access to new worlds of experience.
Kirsch surveys four themes that shaped the twentieth century in Jewish literature and culture: Europe, America, Israel, and the endeavor to reimagine Judaism as a modern faith. With discussions of major books by over thirty writers—ranging from Franz Kafka to Philip Roth, Elie Wiesel to Tony Kushner, Hannah Arendt to Judith Plaskow—he argues that literature offers a new way to think about what it means to be Jewish in the modern world. With a wide scope and diverse, original observations, Kirsch draws fascinating parallels between familiar writers and their less familiar counterparts. While everyone knows the diary of Anne Frank, for example, few outside of Israel have read the diary of Hannah Senesh. Kirsch sheds new light on the literature of the Holocaust through the work of Primo Levi, explores the emergence of America as a Jewish home through the stories of Bernard Malamud, and shows how Yehuda Amichai captured the paradoxes of Israeli identity.
An insightful and engaging work from "one of America’s finest literary critics" (Wall Street Journal), The Blessing and the Curse brings the Jewish experience vividly to life.
Kirsch surveys four themes that shaped the twentieth century in Jewish literature and culture: Europe, America, Israel, and the endeavor to reimagine Judaism as a modern faith. With discussions of major books by over thirty writers—ranging from Franz Kafka to Philip Roth, Elie Wiesel to Tony Kushner, Hannah Arendt to Judith Plaskow—he argues that literature offers a new way to think about what it means to be Jewish in the modern world. With a wide scope and diverse, original observations, Kirsch draws fascinating parallels between familiar writers and their less familiar counterparts. While everyone knows the diary of Anne Frank, for example, few outside of Israel have read the diary of Hannah Senesh. Kirsch sheds new light on the literature of the Holocaust through the work of Primo Levi, explores the emergence of America as a Jewish home through the stories of Bernard Malamud, and shows how Yehuda Amichai captured the paradoxes of Israeli identity.
An insightful and engaging work from "one of America’s finest literary critics" (Wall Street Journal), The Blessing and the Curse brings the Jewish experience vividly to life.
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First published October 6, 2020
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About the author
Adam Kirsch
36 books80 followersAdam Kirsch is the author of two collections of poems and several books of poetry criticism. A senior editor at the New Republic and a columnist for Tablet, he also writes for The New Yorker and the New York Review of Books. He lives in New York City with his wife and son.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
November 1, 2020
Very solid book, encompassing some books you've definitely heard of and some that maybe you haven't. Kirsch's annotations are thoughtful and well-received; the end of the book seemed to pick up steam for me.
July 3, 2021
It so happens that I am Jewish, but I think that Adam Kirsch's excellent book can and should be enjoyed well beyond our small demographic. Very few serious readers would debate the contributions of Jewish writers in the last century. Mr. Kirsch's book is a graceful mixture of literary criticism, biography, sociology, and history, giving context to these writers and their work.
The writers are American, European, and Israeli. There are men and women featured, some are steeped in faith, others outspoken atheists, and everything in between. I'd read some of these writers, many I'd always meant to, others I'd never heard of. The work covered spans the entirety of the twentieth century. My point being, this is a diverse group surveyed, and it's hardly exhaustive.
The exploration of themes, styles, and influences was very interesting. Overall, it left me with a greater understanding and appreciation of the books I have read, and a whole reading list and a desire to explore further. I mentioned above that this book could be enjoyed by non-Jewish readers. I'd take this a step further and suggest that they would especially enjoy a greater understanding of the context and culture that birthed so many significant literary works. Highly recommended for all serious readers!
The writers are American, European, and Israeli. There are men and women featured, some are steeped in faith, others outspoken atheists, and everything in between. I'd read some of these writers, many I'd always meant to, others I'd never heard of. The work covered spans the entirety of the twentieth century. My point being, this is a diverse group surveyed, and it's hardly exhaustive.
The exploration of themes, styles, and influences was very interesting. Overall, it left me with a greater understanding and appreciation of the books I have read, and a whole reading list and a desire to explore further. I mentioned above that this book could be enjoyed by non-Jewish readers. I'd take this a step further and suggest that they would especially enjoy a greater understanding of the context and culture that birthed so many significant literary works. Highly recommended for all serious readers!
December 27, 2022
Disappointingly limited scope for such a large promise. The selling line on the book flap promises a "...survey of Jewish life and culture in the twentieth century, as reflected in seminal texts" and immediately ends that promise by sneaking into the end of the introduction that this is a survey of almost exclusively secular, English-accessible, Ashkenazic texts. The introduction ends stating one goal of the book, which is to "...use literature to illuminate the extreme contrasts of modern Jewish experience..." That's simply not an achievable goal for a book which has already surrendered to only focusing on such an unambitious and non-representitive sample size of the Jewish population, literature, and thought.
The book also would have been more successful in general if it /consciously/ limited its scope (and selling point) to Jewish "secular"* works (where the author appears most knowledgeable and invested,) and was forthright in doing so.
The most interesting chapters were "Red Cavalry," "Satan in Goray," "Bread Givers," and "Only Yesterday."
(* Yes, I also agree that that is an unsatisfying label.)
Rating: 2.5
The book also would have been more successful in general if it /consciously/ limited its scope (and selling point) to Jewish "secular"* works (where the author appears most knowledgeable and invested,) and was forthright in doing so.
The most interesting chapters were "Red Cavalry," "Satan in Goray," "Bread Givers," and "Only Yesterday."
(* Yes, I also agree that that is an unsatisfying label.)
Rating: 2.5
May 9, 2025
3.5
I am not Jewish, but I continue to try to learn about things outside of my own experience. Much of this info through reading. I’ve read about half the books covered in this collection and will likely go on to explore the ones I haven’t yet.
I found the sections on Kafka, Wiesel, and Cahan most interesting. But the entire book is worthwhile.
Overall, the book offers a wealth of Jewish literary thought, making it a valuable read for anyone interested in understanding the intersection of culture, history, and literature, maybe—like me—from a perspective different from their own.
I am not Jewish, but I continue to try to learn about things outside of my own experience. Much of this info through reading. I’ve read about half the books covered in this collection and will likely go on to explore the ones I haven’t yet.
I found the sections on Kafka, Wiesel, and Cahan most interesting. But the entire book is worthwhile.
Overall, the book offers a wealth of Jewish literary thought, making it a valuable read for anyone interested in understanding the intersection of culture, history, and literature, maybe—like me—from a perspective different from their own.
June 20, 2022
"my hope in writing this book ...to use literature to illuminate the extreme contrasts of modern Jewish experience, while introducing the reader to some of the richness of twentieth-century Jewish writing."
_Kirsch
Leaves this reader enriched by the experience.
_Kirsch
Leaves this reader enriched by the experience.
August 23, 2023
Although this sometimes reads like an encyclopedia, the author offers sensitive and informed readings of a diverse group of modern Jewish writers and one learns something new about seeing the readers grouped together. I had read many of the authors (Kafka, Levi, Frank, Wiesel, Arendt, Roth, Amichai, Malamud, Kushner, etc.) but still have a long list of Jewish writers to catch up on (Grossman, Castel-Bloom, Yizhar, Buber, etc. )
March 12, 2021
Excellent in every way. I read it slowly so I could savor it.
December 8, 2024
I reviewed his account of delving into the Talmud (solo, when I expected it to be with a study group as is common nowadays) and found it wanting in engaging this reader, as well as citing, informing, and expounding. This 2020 anthology, following up his survey of highlights before the last century began, better succeeds at sparking intellect and inviting skeptics who debate seekers and believers.
Kirsch best illustrates this in his theological discussions, as he takes on big thinkers among scholars, rabbis, and/or practitioners of often less Orthodox and more eclectic, dissenting, and/or revisionist orientations. He manages to, as one chapter on a key text follows in chronology, deepen and extend the conversation between earlier influencers and later interpreters. This both reminds us of what has already been treated, as the density of ideas and variety of approaches accumulates, and how recent minds have grappled with the same questions over millennia, naturally, as Torah continues to grow. As the book progresses, it can be hard to keep track of who argued what. Thus, this back-and-forth, although steadily advancing dialogue, proves a great assistance for memory.
The literary figures from the primarily Ashkenazi culture, their immigrant progeny in America, and their Israeli brethren making aliyah represent an equally verbal, sharp, and contentious ensemble. I wish sometimes Kirsch had allowed greater range beyond a featured text for the imaginative and inquiring storytellers, poets, and academics. For instance, Bernard Malamud's redefining "who's a Jew?" could have benefited from a mention of his novel "The Assistant," with its Italian American character converting, for once in fiction produced by Jews old and new, to the faith rather than away from it into Christianity, a common conclusion as we see throughout history among forebears and in present-day "messianic" sects, albeit unforced today vs. imposed in far too many instances.
Anyway, this collection got me curious about the companion volume "The People and the Books." I was going to skip that after skimming its table of contents. But I decided, liking its successor after all, that based on this reception rather than that of "Come and Hear," to try not only "People" but his timely short critique of what's become a catch phrase, "On Settler Colonialism" this past year.
Kirsch best illustrates this in his theological discussions, as he takes on big thinkers among scholars, rabbis, and/or practitioners of often less Orthodox and more eclectic, dissenting, and/or revisionist orientations. He manages to, as one chapter on a key text follows in chronology, deepen and extend the conversation between earlier influencers and later interpreters. This both reminds us of what has already been treated, as the density of ideas and variety of approaches accumulates, and how recent minds have grappled with the same questions over millennia, naturally, as Torah continues to grow. As the book progresses, it can be hard to keep track of who argued what. Thus, this back-and-forth, although steadily advancing dialogue, proves a great assistance for memory.
The literary figures from the primarily Ashkenazi culture, their immigrant progeny in America, and their Israeli brethren making aliyah represent an equally verbal, sharp, and contentious ensemble. I wish sometimes Kirsch had allowed greater range beyond a featured text for the imaginative and inquiring storytellers, poets, and academics. For instance, Bernard Malamud's redefining "who's a Jew?" could have benefited from a mention of his novel "The Assistant," with its Italian American character converting, for once in fiction produced by Jews old and new, to the faith rather than away from it into Christianity, a common conclusion as we see throughout history among forebears and in present-day "messianic" sects, albeit unforced today vs. imposed in far too many instances.
Anyway, this collection got me curious about the companion volume "The People and the Books." I was going to skip that after skimming its table of contents. But I decided, liking its successor after all, that based on this reception rather than that of "Come and Hear," to try not only "People" but his timely short critique of what's become a catch phrase, "On Settler Colonialism" this past year.
April 21, 2022
Erudite, highly engaging and accessible, Kirsch’s exploration of Jewish American literature in the 20th century is fascinating. A poet and literary critic, Kirsch considered the impact of the Jewish experience on Jewish writers and asked “[H]ow could Jews in the twentieth century continue to believe the same things in the same way that their ancestors did…then, what did it mean to call themselves Jews?” In a century that had witnessed both the unimaginable horror of the Holocaust and the celebratory establishment of the State of Israel, the response of Jews to the world around them and to their identity itself was dramatically and forever transformed once they had left their communities in Eastern Europe. This transformation was reflected in the literature they wrote.
Firstly, Kirsch analysed Jewish literature in Europe responding to the disappearance of their future. In this section, he astutely focused on the writing of Kafka, Isaac Bashevis Singer, Anne Frank, Primo Levi and others. Then, in light of the mass emigration from Europe to America, Kirsch considered how the New World had left Jews “wondering what, if anything, made Jewish identity still meaningful”. Authors such as Abraham Cahan, Saul Bellow, and Bernard Malamud featured in this engaging study. Thirdly, with the establishment of the State of Israel, writers “carved out a space for individual imagination and experience in a place defined by collective effort and historical myth.” These writers included Agnon, Senesh, Oz, Grossman and Amichai. And, lastly, in a more philosophical and theological discussion, Kirsch examined religious thinkers such as Buber, Fackenheim, Cohen and feminist Plaskow, who had focused on the reconciliation of “tradition with 20th century needs and values.”
Kirsch’s analyses were stunning and reflected the time, thinking, and connection between the literary works that were examined in earlier works in previous sections. This structure, with each essay no more than ten pages long, provided a continuous stream of linked ideas that added a dimension I’d perhaps overlooked, even in the many works with which I’d been familiar.
Firstly, Kirsch analysed Jewish literature in Europe responding to the disappearance of their future. In this section, he astutely focused on the writing of Kafka, Isaac Bashevis Singer, Anne Frank, Primo Levi and others. Then, in light of the mass emigration from Europe to America, Kirsch considered how the New World had left Jews “wondering what, if anything, made Jewish identity still meaningful”. Authors such as Abraham Cahan, Saul Bellow, and Bernard Malamud featured in this engaging study. Thirdly, with the establishment of the State of Israel, writers “carved out a space for individual imagination and experience in a place defined by collective effort and historical myth.” These writers included Agnon, Senesh, Oz, Grossman and Amichai. And, lastly, in a more philosophical and theological discussion, Kirsch examined religious thinkers such as Buber, Fackenheim, Cohen and feminist Plaskow, who had focused on the reconciliation of “tradition with 20th century needs and values.”
Kirsch’s analyses were stunning and reflected the time, thinking, and connection between the literary works that were examined in earlier works in previous sections. This structure, with each essay no more than ten pages long, provided a continuous stream of linked ideas that added a dimension I’d perhaps overlooked, even in the many works with which I’d been familiar.
November 21, 2025
***.5
Although it can be read as a stand-alone, this book is really the sequel to the author's previous work "The People and the Books: 18 Classics of Jewish Literature." I appreciated this one a bit more, although that may just be because I am more familiar with the 20th century, and have read some of the authors he discusses.
Again I question who this book is for. It's not really a great introduction to these writers, because there isn't really enough context provided to know what he's talking about unless you already somewhat know what he's talking about. And if you do, then there isn't enough new insight to make it worthwhile. Towards the end, he does a pretty good job of compare/contrast the works of Abraham Joshua Heschel, Mordecai Kaplan, and Joseph B. Soloveitchik, but again that may just be my familiarity with the concepts rendering his words into something that I could absorb.
I don't mean to be insulting because he's very smart and clearly knows the material, but for me the best use of this book is as a reading list, as a few of the books he mentioned seem worth a read on their own.
Audiobook: for a book about Jewish literature, could they really not find a narrator capable of pronouncing basic words like chai and Halakhah‽
Although it can be read as a stand-alone, this book is really the sequel to the author's previous work "The People and the Books: 18 Classics of Jewish Literature." I appreciated this one a bit more, although that may just be because I am more familiar with the 20th century, and have read some of the authors he discusses.
Again I question who this book is for. It's not really a great introduction to these writers, because there isn't really enough context provided to know what he's talking about unless you already somewhat know what he's talking about. And if you do, then there isn't enough new insight to make it worthwhile. Towards the end, he does a pretty good job of compare/contrast the works of Abraham Joshua Heschel, Mordecai Kaplan, and Joseph B. Soloveitchik, but again that may just be my familiarity with the concepts rendering his words into something that I could absorb.
I don't mean to be insulting because he's very smart and clearly knows the material, but for me the best use of this book is as a reading list, as a few of the books he mentioned seem worth a read on their own.
Audiobook: for a book about Jewish literature, could they really not find a narrator capable of pronouncing basic words like chai and Halakhah‽
February 4, 2025
I found this book to be Interesting. Overall I'm glad I found this book but I wasn't impressed with the audiobook.
Strengths:
Exposure to many diffterent writers increases the chances some of them will be interesting,
Krisch's scope of the 20th century and usage of clear categories (Europe, the US, Israel and a separate section of religious thinkers) help keep his points clear and understandable.
Kirsch makes interesting points and his comparisons are often thought provoking.
I can now add to my list of authors and subjects to explore.
Weaknesses:
The book sufferes from an over simplification in scope, which is not so surprising in a survey: many categories are either not represented or not represented enough. His choosing to mainly focus on authors of Ashkenazi background reveals an unfortunate American bias, as in the US the default assumption for Jews is Ashkenaz even thoug hironically sephardic Jews were in the US first. An Israeli or a Canadian author would probably not have the identical list Kirsh does. Poets and women are underrepresented. Fiction is over reperesented
This is paritcularly striiking in the Israel section. Kirsch's discussion has a very European Ashkenaz bent to explain the literatureand in looking for a clear thesis ignores huge swathes of the population and how these differing cultures contribute to Israeli culture as a whole and how their books reflect this.
The audiobook narrator's voice was grating, I should have listened at 1.25 speed because he introduces a lot of pauses which seem mostly superflous. His mispronounication of non English words is also unfortunate. I'm not sure why they coudln't use a coach to train him on how to pronounce basic words and names especially Amos Oz since there's an entire chapter devoted to him. Syllables are emphasized oddly. it's not a matter of difference of dialect which of course effects how Hebrew is pronounced.. It's hard to explain as I'm not a linguist,but syllables are elongated or the wrong ones are emphasized .
Over all I'm glad I discovered this book and reading more about authors which were often just names to me, and I'm equally interested in learning about authors not included.
Strengths:
Exposure to many diffterent writers increases the chances some of them will be interesting,
Krisch's scope of the 20th century and usage of clear categories (Europe, the US, Israel and a separate section of religious thinkers) help keep his points clear and understandable.
Kirsch makes interesting points and his comparisons are often thought provoking.
I can now add to my list of authors and subjects to explore.
Weaknesses:
The book sufferes from an over simplification in scope, which is not so surprising in a survey: many categories are either not represented or not represented enough. His choosing to mainly focus on authors of Ashkenazi background reveals an unfortunate American bias, as in the US the default assumption for Jews is Ashkenaz even thoug hironically sephardic Jews were in the US first. An Israeli or a Canadian author would probably not have the identical list Kirsh does. Poets and women are underrepresented. Fiction is over reperesented
This is paritcularly striiking in the Israel section. Kirsch's discussion has a very European Ashkenaz bent to explain the literatureand in looking for a clear thesis ignores huge swathes of the population and how these differing cultures contribute to Israeli culture as a whole and how their books reflect this.
The audiobook narrator's voice was grating, I should have listened at 1.25 speed because he introduces a lot of pauses which seem mostly superflous. His mispronounication of non English words is also unfortunate. I'm not sure why they coudln't use a coach to train him on how to pronounce basic words and names especially Amos Oz since there's an entire chapter devoted to him. Syllables are emphasized oddly. it's not a matter of difference of dialect which of course effects how Hebrew is pronounced.. It's hard to explain as I'm not a linguist,but syllables are elongated or the wrong ones are emphasized .
Over all I'm glad I discovered this book and reading more about authors which were often just names to me, and I'm equally interested in learning about authors not included.
October 20, 2022
A respected poet and critic, the author explores four distinct aspects of Jewish literature in the twentieth century: Europe, the United States, Israel, and modern Jewish theology. Each section consists of a series of insightful essays analyzing a specific author, his/her featured work, and a thematic interpretation. Reading this beautifully crafted literary exploration was like visiting old friends (Elie Wiesel, Anzia Yezierska, David Grossman), being introduced to important authors I have not read (Franz Kafka, I. B. Singer, Martin Buber) and meeting others about whom have no knowledge (Isaac Babel, S. Yizhar, Judith Palskow). Authors have had a special place in my life, and Kirsch has provided creative and provocative analyses for each.
April 28, 2023
This is a book about Jewish books and why they are important. It covers some religious books, but the author seems to be covering mostly cultural changes in the lives of Jews and their place (actually "our place" since I am a Jew myself) in society. It covers the Jewish breakthrough in authorship from being Jewish writers to being writers who are also Jewish. That was also when non-Jews felt more comfortable writing on Jewish subjects. Then it covers the Holocaust quite a bit including Anne Frank's book.
It was one very long and really good book review of books. I liked it and it gave some tips on additional books to read.
I doubt I will read this book again except to get the citations on some of the books he mentioned.
It was one very long and really good book review of books. I liked it and it gave some tips on additional books to read.
I doubt I will read this book again except to get the citations on some of the books he mentioned.
January 28, 2021
I haven't read every page (yet)—I'm dipping in and out of the collection of sage commentaries, with a focus at the moment (for teaching purposes) on the first section, emphasizing European Jewish writers.
March 4, 2021
I loved this book! Having just done dna testing as an adopted person, I found out that I was 50% Jewish. This book was so interesting that I took down names and have some Jewish authors to read now and I probably read this book again. I even told my sister she should read it.
February 11, 2021
An interesting read. The authors tries to cover a lot and yet the book is all very condensed. 3.5
May 6, 2021
I especially liked the last section on writings on religion, I thought that was where the author was strongest.
October 28, 2021
Outstanding. A must read for those interested in the topic.
November 12, 2021
Packed full of interesting facts...
January 26, 2023
I am the same but a process has definitely occurred. I should read more old Jewish books and get back on Heschel.
May 11, 2022
I have learned so much from this book about the Jewish writers who came before me. I've read some of the writers Kirsch discusses, but there are others I need to investigate. A cogent introduction by a brilliant critic.
October 11, 2021
excellent in every way.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews