Hasidic master and religious thinker R. Nachman of Braslav (1772-1810) lived in a time of extraordinary change, when imperial modernization was transforming Eastern Europe. In his new book, ‘A Permanent Beginning,’ Duke Kunshan professor Yitzhak Lewis argues that Nachman’s narrative response to his ever-evolving surroundings was a major departure for Jewish literary modernity.
‘Nachman has held a place in the Jewish popular imagination for more than two centuries,’ said Lewis, assistant professor of humanities. ‘Some see him as the Messiah, others as the forerunner of modern Jewish literature. Existing studies struggle between these dueling readings, largely ignoring questions of aesthetics and politics in his work.’
Over 200 pages, ‘A Permanent Beginning’ places Nachman’s tales and teachings in the context of the social, legal and intellectual history of the time, and lays out a new paradigm for understanding a creative genius and his formative influence on Jewish literary modernity.
Lewis joined Duke Kunshan in 2019 from Columbia University. His research interests include comparative literature in Hebrew and Spanish, literary theory, transnational writing, and world literature.
