A Zoharic Island in the Talmudic Narrative Stream: Israel Al-Nakawa Recounts a Cycle of Stories from Tractate Shabbat

Menorat Ha-Maor is an anthology of rabbinic Aggadah compiled by Rabbi Israel Al-Nakawa in 14^th century Spain. It stands out as a unique anthology in its method of presenting the Aggadic material to the reader: it is sorted thematically. Inspired by the form of the Temple Menorah, it was divided into several `candles`, each made of a few chapters. Each chapter is constructed by several stories followed by moral interpretations. This method of edition enabled Al-Nakawa to form a rich moral discussion based on the literal thread.

My lecture will discuss a unique adaptation of stories originally compiled in the Babylonian Talmud (tractate Shabbat, 156-b). Al-Nakawa shapes the rabbinic stories freely: he translates them from Aramaic to Hebrew, switches their order and even takes only two out of the three from the original Babylonian compilation. Furthermore, he combines the late antique stories with a mediaeval one - taken from the Zohar (also translated to Hebrew), creating a unique compilation.

While adapting the stories he inserts them with a leading word, connecting them in new ways and creating strong inter-textuality to a biblical story. He also arranges the stories in an order that leads the reader through a gradually opening space – from a secluded room, to a workplace and as far away as the wide desert. This movement in space helps the reader understand that God and charity know no limit. My analysis will thus reveal some of the literal techniques served Al-Nakawa in negotiating rabbinical lore in Menorat Ha-Maor.