Tuesday, November 12, 2019
6 – 7:30 pm
The Jewish Museum Shop

Meet artist Mark Podwal as he signs copies of his latest collaborative project Hebrew Melodies, a volume of poetry by nineteenth century German poet Heinrich Heine. Podwal will be joined by poet and translator Jack Prelutsky.

“A witty American retelling, in word and in image, of Heinrich Heine’s inside-out, topsy-turvy satiric art.” — Cynthia Ozick

About Hebrew Melodies
Illustrated by Mark Podwal, Hebrew Melodies is a volume of poetry by Heinrich Heine, one of the most important German poets of the nineteenth century. Heine was a convert without conviction. He chose Christianity over Judaism as a means of securing an academic career, but when his conversion failed to yield the hoped-for job opportunities, he devoted himself to writing instead. This volume presents a new translation of Hebrew Melodies, the third cycle of poems in Heine’s late masterwork, Romanzero, which many critics have interpreted as Heine’s return to his Jewish roots. As Elisheva Carlebach explains in her foreword, Heine’s “return to God” in his final years was motivated not by faith but by a deep admiration of the Jewish people - a sentiment that is clearly reflected in the poems that make up Hebrew Melodies. This edition presents the original German alongside new English translations by Stephen Mitchell, widely known for his ability to make old classics thrillingly new, and Jack Prelutsky, the author of more than fifty poetry collections for children and adults. Mark Podwal’s illustrations beautifully portray the joyous, playful elements of Jewish tradition and hint at what Carlebach calls the “menacing edges of history’s nightmares,” echoing Heine’s position as a poet “caught between worlds.”

Mark Podwal known for his innovative ink drawings and paintings of the Jewish experience, has illustrated numerous books in collaboration with such luminaries as Elie Wiesel and Harold Bloom.

Free with RSVP
Copies of the hardcover book will be available for purchase: $20 ($18 Members)