2008 Woodie Awards
The Mosaic Complex: Confessions of a Servant of God
Menachem Wecker
Issue date: 12/27/04 Section: Arts & Culture
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Moses: A Memoir
By Joel Cohen
Hardcover. 192 pages. June 1, 2003.
Paulist Press. 0809105586. $19.95.
http://www.paulistpress.com/
While still a bestseller after three millennia and change, and while serving as a cornerstone for the trinity of Western religions, the Bible-as far as literary endowment goes-seems far more interested in dictating law and ethics than it does in attending to style. Certainly within the Orthodox tradition, even the more literary books of the Bible-Song of Songs, Psalms and others-find themselves interpreted metaphorically by the rabbinate. Thus, Joel Cohen's "Moses: A Memoir"-which does just what it promises, tells the tale of Moses through his own eyes-comes as a breath of fresh literary air, in a stylistically stifling arena of cold, logical directives.
To Cohen, Moses "never explains himself." This might derive from his inability to do so ("I am mute of tongue") or from his lack of desire to editorialize (a bane of our existence here at the Commentator too), or most likely from the Bible simply denying him such a platform. Does Moses ever scratch his back? What color is his favorite turban?
Cohen does not quite answer these questions, but "Moses" offers meditations on a much more personal Moses. This Moses announces "I am about to die," matter-of-factly to open the book. His body shriveled, but he speaks clearly, almost accusingly. "The heightening rock formation is unforgiving to my legs, as is the Almighty to my sin at the waters of Meribath." Some find these sorts of questions and observations heretical (like "Maybe it is simply the fear of a lonely man about to die, tormented by his inescapable fate"), precisely because they are unproductive and speculative. These iconoclasts (literally) argue that law ought to occupy us, as we must know how long our willow branches must be and whether we fulfill the obligation with a stolen esrog, but overly discussing a metaphor here or simile there generally wastes our time. Not only that, but many would be appalled at the notion that Moses' legs ever ached or that he was somewhat apprehensive about dying.
By Joel Cohen
Hardcover. 192 pages. June 1, 2003.
Paulist Press. 0809105586. $19.95.
http://www.paulistpress.com/
While still a bestseller after three millennia and change, and while serving as a cornerstone for the trinity of Western religions, the Bible-as far as literary endowment goes-seems far more interested in dictating law and ethics than it does in attending to style. Certainly within the Orthodox tradition, even the more literary books of the Bible-Song of Songs, Psalms and others-find themselves interpreted metaphorically by the rabbinate. Thus, Joel Cohen's "Moses: A Memoir"-which does just what it promises, tells the tale of Moses through his own eyes-comes as a breath of fresh literary air, in a stylistically stifling arena of cold, logical directives.
To Cohen, Moses "never explains himself." This might derive from his inability to do so ("I am mute of tongue") or from his lack of desire to editorialize (a bane of our existence here at the Commentator too), or most likely from the Bible simply denying him such a platform. Does Moses ever scratch his back? What color is his favorite turban?
Cohen does not quite answer these questions, but "Moses" offers meditations on a much more personal Moses. This Moses announces "I am about to die," matter-of-factly to open the book. His body shriveled, but he speaks clearly, almost accusingly. "The heightening rock formation is unforgiving to my legs, as is the Almighty to my sin at the waters of Meribath." Some find these sorts of questions and observations heretical (like "Maybe it is simply the fear of a lonely man about to die, tormented by his inescapable fate"), precisely because they are unproductive and speculative. These iconoclasts (literally) argue that law ought to occupy us, as we must know how long our willow branches must be and whether we fulfill the obligation with a stolen esrog, but overly discussing a metaphor here or simile there generally wastes our time. Not only that, but many would be appalled at the notion that Moses' legs ever ached or that he was somewhat apprehensive about dying.