17 May 89 JUDAIC STUDIES #16 12 Iyar 49 BS"D Connecting geographically & otherwise disparate groups with a common interest in the study of Judaica. Edited by Y. Greenbaum CONTENTS 1) Conference Impressions 2) Jewish Food 1) Conference Impressions The Annenberg Research Institute (ARI) Research Colloquium: Translation of Scriptures, exemplified some of the best features of a group meeting, which contrasted markedly with an interactive computer conference (in a different field) which I encountered upon my return to New York. The meeting develops a certain cohesiveness and spontaneity which result from a myriad of unspoken ideas (communicated thru gestures and the like) not easily, if at all, expressable in words. The conference, on the other hand, forces the participants into terse, succinct and, above all, carefully considered statements (one is reminded of the observation, appropriately attributed to the Chofetz Chaim, that telegraphs remind us of the value of each word). As T.H. Gaster, son of that inspired translator Dr. Moses Gaster, pointed out in his remarks, all words are only translations of the thoughts behind them. Ephraim Isaac put forward the question of the root of "targum" being related not only to the Hebrew for "stone" but also the Ethiopic for "curse". The matter was raised a second time while discussing the Tafsir of R' Saadiah Gaon on Iyov. Alford Welch was the first of a number of speakers to thank ARI for including the Qur'an within the framework of Scripture. Pietro Rossano's lecture served to remind us of the many nonscientific uses of translation; and Leonard Goodman reminded us of the many nonscientific underpinnings of what is often considered scientific (Romantic ideas about the primitive past, 19th century Positivism and notions of what might be considered a "respectable" position to take). Emanuel Tov was the first (in my notes) to raise the question "Who is a Jewish Idea?" Edward Greenstein's translation of Esther became the basis of a two-sided debate: do translations represent the source language in terms familiar to the target language, or ought they enrich the target language with new ideas from the source language. Lawrence Rosenwald extended this last to consideration of a translation as a work of literature in its own right. Peter Schaefer noted that the Buber-Rosenzweig translation enjoys popularity among German Christian circles today. I may have heard incorrectly, but I've recorded the following: "Rabbinic exegesis compromises (sic) the bulk of Jewish tradition" (not Ibn Caspi). Nahum Sarna told me that especially Psalms of the new JPS translation was an attempt at retaining the ambiguity inherent in the original text. Emanuel Tov applauded the wisdom of basing a translation exclusively on a single version. Eugene Nida mentioned the extensive literature concerning translation put out by the American Bible Society. Herbert Paper mentioned a few ways in which translations preserve remnants of older linguistic elements. 2) Jewish Food First Annual Oxford Symposium on Jewish Food Oxford Centre for Hebrew Studies, Yarnton Manor, Yarnton, Oxford 18 June 1989 Timed to take place in the proximity of the Oxford Food Symposium... four sections: religion, history, culture and cuisine. Symposium Conveners: Professor Gerald Mars, Mrs. Valerie Mars (tel- London 01-794-4442) and Dr. Jonathan Webber.