A dozen postcards and two autograph letters, sent by the author and philosopher Josef Berdyczewski to the scholar Avraham Kahana. Sent from Charlottenburg (Berlin) and Breslau to Zhitomir and Kiev, 1900-1906; one letter from 1913.
The postcards and letters concern mainly the biblical commentary on which Kahana worked as well as matters of literature and research. In his letters Berdyczewski criticizes the scholarly work of Kahana, expresses some friendly advice and his consent to participate in a memorial book for Zhitomir victims (murdered during the riots following the 1905 revolution), mentions various literary enterprises, confirms with thanks receipt of books, or asks about Kahana's well-being. In one of the letters Berdyczewski writes: "biblical criticism is virgin soil for us and we are not prepared for it… this generation is orphan. Periodicals are rotten and they prefer to hear about Zangwil's daughter in law or about a Zionist speech in Vienna or Paris…" (Hebrew). Most letters are signed "Dr. M.J. Berdyczewski"; some are signed in initials.
Works by the author and philosopher Micha Josef Berdyczewski (Ben Gurion, 1865-1921) were defined by Chaim Nachman Bialik as "the deep and inner center of the generation's thought and feelings". Berdyczewski is considered an author who created new writing patterns in Hebrew literature and challenged the traditional literature as well as rabbinical tradition, through his call to change values in the conception of Judaism, the tradition and Jewish-national history.
About the recipient of the letters, the author and scholar Avraham Kahana, see introduction to this chapter, p. 204
Enclosed: two original postal envelopes and a copy (in pencil) of a letter from Berdyczewski to his father (in which he mentions Bereshit with Kahana's commentary).
Average size: 9X14 cm. Good overall condition. Filing holes to two postcards. One of the letters was torn by Berdyczewski, by mistake (when it was returned by the post), and was repaired.
Provenance: Collection of Ben Zion Kahana.