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A fundamental text of rabbinic literature, Bereshit Rabbah is again available to Italian readers. Originally translated into Italian many years ago by Rabbi Alfredo Ravenna z.l., the work was first published as part of a series by UTET collecting classic texts from various traditions and has recently been reprinted by Giuntina with updated editorial criteria and an introduction by the Chief Rabbi of Rome, Riccardo Di Segni.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is \u201ca text as fascinating as it is complex to fully understand\u2014 but if it were too simple, there would be no joy in immersing oneself in its study,\u201d writes Rabbi Di Segni, in his youth a student of Rabbi Ravenna whose \u201cpioneering work\u201d came at a time when Italian translations of fundamental rabbinic texts were limited to Vittorio Castiglioni\u2019s classic version of the Mishnah, later completed by Emilio Schreiber.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSome midrashim systematically follow the biblical text on which they comment; others take as their starting point the portion recited in the synagogue. But every occasion is appropriate for discourse: in homes, synagogues, schools, on Shabbat and holidays, and at key moments in public and private life,\u201d Ravenna explained, underscoring the centrality of the midrash in Judaism, whether illustrative-narrative or legal-normative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bereshit Rabbah is the oldest midrash (a rabbinic mode of interpretation which often involves storytelling) in the Rabbot collection and focuses on the stories of Genesis. Rabbi Ravenna, who was born in Ferrara in 1899 and died in Rome in 1981, devoted enormous energy to this translation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
To convey the magnitude of this work, Di Segni notes that today the translation of such a complex work typically \u201crequires teams of experts, including not only translators but also content and language editors. It is also possible to use specialized software, as is currently being done for the Italian translation of the Babylonian Talmud.\u201d In addition, a system of annotations can be added to \u201chelp navigate the text\u2019s secrets.\u201d None of these resources, however, were available when his teacher undertook the translation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The result is a text of fundamental importance but also one \u201cto be handled with care, pausing to reflect on each lesson.\u201d Ideally, Rabbi Di Segni suggests, this study should be accompanied by someone more experienced who can offer guidance and support.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"