Hebrew Poems from Spain

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Summary

The years 950-1200 are often called the Golden Age of the Jews in Spain. During this period, the Jews reached a peak of achievement in all aspects of their life. They produced great works of litera...

The years 950-1200 are often called the Golden Age of the Jews in Spain. During this period, the Jews reached a peak of achievement in all aspects of their life. They produced great works of literature & philosophy; their poetry represents a peak of literary achievement unparalleled in Hebrew until the 20th century. The poets of the Golden Age forged the language of the Hebrew Bible into an instrument for the expression of every facet of their experience. Their poems reflect their overarching consciousness of Israel's relationship with God & their deep concern with the fate of the Jewish people in exile. Not until modern times did Hebrew poetic genius flourish again with such freedom & intensity. This text conveys in modern English something of the greatness of that literature while as far as possible preserving the poetic values & beauty of the Hebrew original.

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