Ben Pincus
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Member Joined May 17 2009
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Rockland County, NY
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Jew.curmudgeon.poet wrestles the angels of traditional Judaism and American culture, wondering: "Is it possible to use references to the Talmud, Soupy Sales, and Garth Brooks in creating a poetry sacred enough to offer on the Holy Altar?" Post a CommentOops!The words you entered did not match the given text. Please try again. 1 Comment
My name is Yakov Azriel. I would like to bring to your attention that a few weeks ago, my third full length book of poems, Beads for the Messiah's Bride: Poems on Leviticus, was published by Time Being Books, the same publisher that brought out my two earlier books, In The Shadow Of A Burning Bush: Poems On Exodus (2008), and Threads From A Coat Of Many Colors: Poems On Genesis (2005). This new book has been nominated for the 2009 National Jewish Book Award.
Like the earlier two books, this one is also structured as a running commentary or midrash (this time on the Book of Leviticus), starting with chapter 1, verse 1, and ending with the last verse in the book. Eventually, we will be publishing five volumes of poetry, one for each of the Five Books of Moses. I wanted to know if you might be interested in my emailing you some sample poems, to see if these poems "speak" to you. Should you be interested, this book can be ordered through Internet bookstores such as Amazon, as well as www.timebeing.com (the publisher?s website), and selected bookstores. About my poems in general ? over 120 of my poems on Jewish, religious and Biblical themes have been published in journals in the US, the UK and Israel since I began submitting poems to magazines in 2000, and my poems have won twelve prizes in international poetry competitions. In addition, the Memorial Foundation for Jewish Culture has twice awarded me fellowships for my poetry (in 2004 and in 2009). I am printing a list of endorsements my book has received below. Respectfully, Yakov Azriel yakovaz@hotmail.com Endorsements for BEADS FOR THE MESSIAH'S BRIDE: Poems on Leviticus 1) Yakov Azriel has undertaken an exceptionally ambitious and difficult project: to write a series of books of poems based on the books of the Torah. His third volume in this series, Beads for the Messiah's Bride: Poems on Leviticus was perhaps the most challenging, as readers tend to view Leviticus as a rather dry compilation of laws. But Azriel has managed to mine this difficult text and return with an inspired series of poems that disprove, once and for all, the assumption that the well of Leviticus is dry. I would heartily recommend reading this fine book of poems before reading Leviticus, as a way of realizing that this least appreciated of biblical books is in fact full of mystery and meaning. ? Howard Schwartz, author of Tree of Souls: The Mythology of Judaism, professor of English at the University of Missouri, St. Louis 2) The wonder of Yakov Azriel?s Torah-inspired poetry continues with Beads for the Messiah?s Bride: Poems on Leviticus. Once again, formal mastery combines with depth of learning and soul-searching to produce a work that wrestles uncompromisingly with the demands of the Torah, the questions of an individual life, and the challenges of contemporary Jewish history. Many individual poems are unforgettably poignant, and the reader has throughout a sense of existential engagement with a sacred text. ? Esther Cameron, editor of The Deronda Review 3) According to Jewish tradition, children begin their Torah study with the book of Leviticus because of the many Mitzvot it contains. At the same time, Leviticus can be very difficult to read for moderns because it is filled with laws regarding sacrifices, priestly garments, purity and impurity. In his book, Yakov Azriel gives us an entrance into Leviticus by creating a poetic Midrash in which he relates his spiritual struggles and those of our people to the words of the Torah. His highly inspirational, evocative and melodic poems move from themes in Leviticus to themes in the Prophets and the Psalms and the books of R. Nahman of Bratslav. He has created a thread from the laws in Leviticus to his own soul and from there to the soul of the universe. Azriel not only teaches us how to read the book of Leviticus but also how to read ourselves into the book. In doing so, he also brings us closer to God?s word. ? Rabbi Reuben Landman, Congregation Har Tzeon-Agudath Achim, Silver Spring, MD 4) In his third book of poetry based on the Torah, award winning scholar / poet Yakov Azriel explores the mystery and meaning of the book of Leviticus. As always, Azriel brilliantly blends the Torah and the human spirit in ways both beautiful and stunning. Reverently and passionately, Azriel brings the laws, Sabbath, feasts, and seasons in Leviticus to vibrant life through poetry? Like the other two books before it, these poems based on Leviticus are wondrous. Azriel captures the ebb and flow of life here, both ancient and modern. He skillfully weaves in ways we can all understand the interconnected branches of God?s chosen people, and shines a gentle light on the Shadow of the Messiah. Whether you are Christian, Jew, curious about ancient life, or simply a poetry lover, this book is highly recommended. ? Book Review by Laurel Johnson, Midwest Book Review |
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