What a gorgeous thing this is, even in English, as a long column insisting given to us given to us. It reads like a prayer, which we need. I love the quiet too. Thank you Aviya.
Thank you for bringing Zelda to my attention. I had not read or heard of her before! And I grew up Chassidic. Reading both the Hebrew and English side by side makes a huge difference because in Hebrew the language (words too!) contains references to texts not familiar to English readers. I'm thinking for example of the poem "al tashlichenu" (trans: "Cast Me Not Away") which takes off from phrases of high holiday liturgy.
Thank you!! And I hope it moves you You'll recognize the Yishayahu¡!! On Zelda, Marcus Falk translated what I believe is the Selected, not a Collected. The book info is just beneath her translation, in this post..
I love this poem, Aviya; I so wish I could read it in Hebrew. Today, in this time of such deep brokenness, I feel the power and prescience of Marcia Falk’s stanza breaks. They give me time to catch my breath and let my tears have their space.
Yes--I think the line breaks are such an interesting choice, and they give us readers room to process the deep brokenness. I also like reading Marcia Falk's descriptions of meeting Zelda! Here is a link from Poetry International: Translation as the art of intimacy - Poetry International
I decided to try my hand at translating it. Some of it are references which I’m sure a Chassidim woman would understand. Some are , admittedly, my own slight additions. So here goes:
To Every Man There is a Name
To every man there is a name
That was given by God
That was given by his father and his mother
To every man there is a name
That was given by his story and his smile,
That was given by the fabric that he wears
To every man there is a name
That was given by the mountains
That was given by the walls which enclose him
To every man there is a name
That was given by his fortunes
That was given by the neighbours who surround him
To every man there is a name
That was given by his flaws
That was given by the yearnings of his hidden self
Wow! I think it's so interesting to see how every translation is a reading. With "to every man," you are grappling with the translation challenge of how to translate "ish". Is it a man, a human, a human being, a person, or as Carmi and Falk suggest, a "one of us" or "each of us"? You can see this challenge in many translations of the Tanach.
I divided my version up into threes, because I thought the threes were relevant to each other. It didn’t come out like that when I see it in the comments section. I don’t know how to change it.
Yes. It literally means person or man. I think that “person” is not so poetic. Also, I believe that Zelda would not be afraid of “man” as we are today. It’s obvious that man means all of us, not just the male version of us.
There is definitely a lot of darkness and difficulty and loss in Zelda's life and work, and in her thought.
While it is a fact that she was directly related to the Lubavitcher Rebbe, that does not mean she agreed with everything he said, or with his every view of the world. I don't know if you're referring to Zelda's ending of a friendship with the poet Yona Wallach, because of her pain over the famous tefillin poem, which another newsletter reader wrote me about, when you write "the dark and difficult."
But many poets have written about Zelda's kindness and friendships with people of various backgrounds. Here is Marcia Falk in the Jewish Women's Archive, on Zelda's position between worlds:
"Five years after she was widowed, Zelda left Geulah, which had become increasingly religious and insular, and moved to a street on the border between the Orthodox area known as Sha’arei Hesed and the religiously mixed neighborhood of Rehaviah. Situated at the boundary between two worlds, Zelda’s new location was more open to the many nonreligious friends who were among her frequent guests. The change proved felicitous in another way as well: the new apartment let in more daylight, which, as the poems reveal, was a healing presence for her." I recommend the documentary for a close look at Zelda.
Thanks for the link! That's an intriguing poem I have not seen before. With any poet, a single poem is hardly the whole story....glad you are also writing about Zelda.
What a gorgeous thing this is, even in English, as a long column insisting given to us given to us. It reads like a prayer, which we need. I love the quiet too. Thank you Aviya.
The power of Zelda comes through! Thank you for this lovely comment, Marlena.
Thank you for bringing Zelda to my attention. I had not read or heard of her before! And I grew up Chassidic. Reading both the Hebrew and English side by side makes a huge difference because in Hebrew the language (words too!) contains references to texts not familiar to English readers. I'm thinking for example of the poem "al tashlichenu" (trans: "Cast Me Not Away") which takes off from phrases of high holiday liturgy.
I agree! Many layers, references, and plenty of depth in Zelda. Happy to introduce her to you -- get her complete poems!!
And you're welcome!
I just ordered your book of poems from Orison. Is there a complete poems in English?
https://press.huc.edu/spectacular-difference-selected-poems-of-zelda/
This is the selected in translation. I don't think there is a Collected in translation, but Shirei Zelda (in Hebrew) is definitely worth owning.
Thank you!! And I hope it moves you You'll recognize the Yishayahu¡!! On Zelda, Marcus Falk translated what I believe is the Selected, not a Collected. The book info is just beneath her translation, in this post..
Oooh! Realized autocorrect made Marcia into Marcus. The translator is Marcia Falk.
I love this poem, Aviya; I so wish I could read it in Hebrew. Today, in this time of such deep brokenness, I feel the power and prescience of Marcia Falk’s stanza breaks. They give me time to catch my breath and let my tears have their space.
Yes--I think the line breaks are such an interesting choice, and they give us readers room to process the deep brokenness. I also like reading Marcia Falk's descriptions of meeting Zelda! Here is a link from Poetry International: Translation as the art of intimacy - Poetry International
Thank you.
I decided to try my hand at translating it. Some of it are references which I’m sure a Chassidim woman would understand. Some are , admittedly, my own slight additions. So here goes:
To Every Man There is a Name
To every man there is a name
That was given by God
That was given by his father and his mother
To every man there is a name
That was given by his story and his smile,
That was given by the fabric that he wears
To every man there is a name
That was given by the mountains
That was given by the walls which enclose him
To every man there is a name
That was given by his fortunes
That was given by the neighbours who surround him
To every man there is a name
That was given by his flaws
That was given by the yearnings of his hidden self
To every man there is a name
That was given by his foes
That was given by the one who loves him
To every man there is a name
That was given by his holy days
That was given by the handiwork of his every day
To every man there is a name
That was given by the seasons
That was given by what he does not see
To every man there is a name
That was given by the ocean
That was given by the undertow of his death.
Wow! I think it's so interesting to see how every translation is a reading. With "to every man," you are grappling with the translation challenge of how to translate "ish". Is it a man, a human, a human being, a person, or as Carmi and Falk suggest, a "one of us" or "each of us"? You can see this challenge in many translations of the Tanach.
I divided my version up into threes, because I thought the threes were relevant to each other. It didn’t come out like that when I see it in the comments section. I don’t know how to change it.
I'm not sure how to handle the spacing challenge! I know that sometimes when I quote poems the lineation changes, without my changing it.
Yes. It literally means person or man. I think that “person” is not so poetic. Also, I believe that Zelda would not be afraid of “man” as we are today. It’s obvious that man means all of us, not just the male version of us.
Your translation gives it the music of Ecclesiastes!
Exactly! Not a mistake!
Why do you have to write a PC version, hide the dark and the difficult that goes with the role of a poet? Might as well be a Chabad shill.
There is definitely a lot of darkness and difficulty and loss in Zelda's life and work, and in her thought.
While it is a fact that she was directly related to the Lubavitcher Rebbe, that does not mean she agreed with everything he said, or with his every view of the world. I don't know if you're referring to Zelda's ending of a friendship with the poet Yona Wallach, because of her pain over the famous tefillin poem, which another newsletter reader wrote me about, when you write "the dark and difficult."
But many poets have written about Zelda's kindness and friendships with people of various backgrounds. Here is Marcia Falk in the Jewish Women's Archive, on Zelda's position between worlds:
"Five years after she was widowed, Zelda left Geulah, which had become increasingly religious and insular, and moved to a street on the border between the Orthodox area known as Sha’arei Hesed and the religiously mixed neighborhood of Rehaviah. Situated at the boundary between two worlds, Zelda’s new location was more open to the many nonreligious friends who were among her frequent guests. The change proved felicitous in another way as well: the new apartment let in more daylight, which, as the poems reveal, was a healing presence for her." I recommend the documentary for a close look at Zelda.
thank you for the film link, i will watch it
I am suggesting you concentrate on the darkness, it is more real and interesting. Surely, as far as Zelda's life is concerned. For example:
https://mentalblog.substack.com/p/temptations-by-zelda
(these upbeat posts are not doing a poet justice)
Thanks for the link! That's an intriguing poem I have not seen before. With any poet, a single poem is hardly the whole story....glad you are also writing about Zelda.