Q&A: The Lost Treasures Series by Eyal Cohen
The Lost Treasures Series by Eyal Cohen
Question
Have a good week, Rabbi,
I know Bible study doesn’t interest you, but still, a question on the subject:
A man named Eyal Cohen published a series of books called The Lost Treasures, in which he basically rewrites the stories of the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh) in contemporary, prose language.
He also works midrashim and aggadic tales into the stories, but he doesn’t indicate when something is midrash or aggadah (and of course doesn’t provide sources), and in effect everything is written as one long story.
Do you think there is any place for something like that?
I’m not asking whether you would read it (the answer is obvious), but rather whether in your opinion it’s a good thing, a bad thing, or harmless and everyone can read whatever makes them feel good.
I’m asking for your opinion because I have a kind of uneasy feeling about it.
On the one hand, it could connect more people to the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh), but it also feeds people a story with interpretations mixed in, and supposedly doesn’t allow the “choice” of which interpretation to follow or “connect” to.
Answer
As you wrote, I have no opinion on the matter. Let everyone do whatever they want regarding this unimportant issue.