Mechael Pomeranz, owner of Jerusalem’s Pomeranz Bookseller, came across a virtually unknown narrative poem called “The Tale of a Niggun,” written by Elie Wiesel. In cooperation with Schocken Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House, Pomeranz worked to get this poem published as a separate volume in Israel. The book has an introduction by Wiesel’s son Elisha and full color illustrations by acclaimed artist Mark Podwal.
Read The Jerusalem Post’s A long-lost Elie Wiesel poem – A serendipitous literary finding.
In addition Mark Podwal discusses his career, creative process, and work for Elie Wiesel’s poem The Tale of a Niggun with Ada Brunstein in a Jewish Book Council interview.
“In a ghetto, on the evening before Purim, in a nondescript place (“somewhere in the East,” we’re told, because this nightmare could have occurred in any number of places), a rabbi faces a harrowing choice. The “enemy,” also unnamed, but with little doubt of its identity, will hang ten Jews on Purim to avenge the death of Haman’s sons. Which ten is up to the rabbi and, if he doesn’t choose, the whole community dies.
Throughout the night the rabbi searches for guidance. He turns to his bookshelf and “from book to book, from century to century, from guide to guide,” he consults the spirits of the rabbis who came before him.”
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The book is available online, and at Pomeranz Bookseller, 5 Be’eri St., Jerusalem.
Pomeranz delivers all over Israel. Call 02-623-5559 for details.
