Five Biblical Portraits

Elie Wiesel brings ancient religious leaders to literary life, framing his commentary with pressing and enduring questions as a survivor and witness to the Holocaust. Five Biblical Portraits is a sequel to Elie Wiesel's Messengers of God, continuing the work of bringing religious figures to life and studying their place in the text and in our lives. Wiesel reflects on his own life and the tragedy of the Holocaust as he discusses each figure and adds personal framing and insight into the religious study. Through sensitive readings of the scriptures and Talmudic and Hasidic sources, Wiesel illuminates Joshua, Elijah, Saul, Jeremiah, and Jonah. This new edition of Five Biblical Portraits includes a new text design, cover, and introduction by Ariel Burger, examining how Wiesel's post-Holocaust Midrash teaches us to read the Bible and read the world.

Format: Hardback
Length: 190 pages
Publication date: 31 October 2023
Publisher: University of Notre Dame Press

Elie Wiesel, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, vividly brings ancient religious leaders to life in his commentary, framing his insights as a survivor and witness to the Holocaust. Five Biblical Portraits, a sequel to Elie Wiesel's Messengers of God, adopts an innovative approach to Jewish textual commentary. This captivating sequel continues the work of bringing religious figures to life, exploring their significance within the text and in our daily lives. Wiesel delves into his own experiences and the tragic events of the Holocaust as he discusses each figure, offering personal perspectives and insights into the study of religion. Through meticulous readings of the scriptures, Talmudic and Hasidic sources, Wiesel sheds light on the lives of Joshua, Elijah, Saul, Jeremiah, and Jonah. Rather than seeking simplistic answers, he aims to provide comprehensive responses to the profound questions of human suffering. Originally published in 1981, this new edition of Five Biblical Portraits features a refreshed text design, a captivating cover, and an introduction by Ariel Burger. Burger's introduction examines how Wiesel's post-Holocaust Midrash offers valuable lessons on how to interpret the Bible and understand the world around us.

Dimension: 216 x 140 x 13 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780268207311
Edition number: Expanded Edition