Monthly Archives: April 2014

Philosophy Under Glass (At the New York Antiquarian Book Fair) (2014)

Posted on April 11, 2014 by zjb

The guys look good behind glass at the New York Antiquarian Book Fair. Walter Benjamin might have told you, they now enjoy a particular “exhibition value.” Athena Rare Books specializes in first edition, history of philosophy. William Schaberg graciously permitted me … Continue reading →

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On Hannah Arendt’s Reading of Rahel Varnhagen and the Schlemiel – Take One

Posted on April 11, 2014 by zjb

A much more thorough reading of Arendt on Varnhagen by Menachem Feuer, at The Home of Schlemiel Theory

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Schlemiel & Society (Rahel Varnhagen Unhappy Jewess)

Posted on April 11, 2014 by zjb

Finishing up preparations for a talk on Mendelssohn, I turned to Hannah Arendt’s Rahel Varnhagen: Life of a Jewish Woman). I think it was Lilliana Weissberg who pointed out the original subtitle was Life of A Jewess, but I may … Continue reading →

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משנתו של מאו טס טונג (Rare Hebrew Book at the New York Antiquarian Book Fair) (2014)

Posted on April 10, 2014 by zjb

This little red book caught my eye at the booth run by Battledore Ltd of Kingston, NY at this year’s New York Antiquarian Book Fair.

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Foetor Judaicus (The Other Jewish Question) (Jay Geller)

Posted on April 10, 2014 by zjb

Preparing a talk on Moses Mendelssohn, I turned to Jay Geller’s recent The Other Jewish Question: Indentifying the Jew and Making Sense of Modernity. Persistence of the Jews in the endurance of the Jewish body, what Abraham Geiger called the … Continue reading →

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“And, Poof, That Was Sort Of The Moment”

Posted on April 9, 2014 by zjb

“Or as a senior Palestinian official put it: ‘The only thing the Israelis have put on the negotiating table was limited to a biscuit and a glass of juice.’”

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Nazi Montage (Eric Chaim Kline at the New York Antiquarian Book Fair) (2014)

Posted on April 9, 2014 by zjb

Whenever I go visit my mother at her booth at the New York Antiquarian Book Fair, I stop by to say hello to friend Eric Chaim Kline. He has a vast inventory, including photography, architecture, Judaism, Weimar German and Third … Continue reading →

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Hotel Lobby Mementos (Duke University)

Posted on April 9, 2014 by zjb

Just back from Duke University where I presented a paper, “What’s Human? Whose Right? Moses Mendelssohn and the Jewish Enlightenment.” The paper was part of lecture on Judaism and Human Rights, meant to celebrate the opening of the Heschel Archives … Continue reading →

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Blue Devil Genocide Memorial Event (Duke University)

Posted on April 8, 2014 by zjb

I don’t understand Duke University. At a ceremony reading out the names of victims of genocide, this Blue Devil got into the act. Maybe the strangest thing I’ve seen in a spell, it was, I’m sure, meant as an act … Continue reading →

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Atheist Mysticism in NYT (Barbara Ehrenreich)

Posted on April 7, 2014 by zjb

I’m always fascinated by the appearance of religion and Judaism in the secular medium of the New York Times. This week what caught my interest was a confessional piece by Barbara Ehrenreich. A committed atheist, part of the piece roots … Continue reading →

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