The imagination where it all began: The Persian-Jewish poet bringing Genesis to life | Dr. Benjamin Yakobian
Dr. Benjamin Yakobian presents the 14th-century Persian-Jewish poet Shahin Shirazi and his epic work "Bereshit-Namah." The article examines how Shahin gave the creation story Persian epic dimensions, emphasizing the struggle between fire and earth, pride and imagination, offering a perspective on identity, tradition, and Israeli culture in the year 2026.
Dr. Benjamin Yakobian writes about the Persian-Jewish poet Shahin Shirazi, who was active in Persia in the 14th century, and his epic work "Bereshit-Namah." The article presents Shahin as a creator who built an entire cultural space: Jewish in its roots, Persian in its artistic language, and Eastern in its horizon of imagery. Yakobian describes how Shahin took the artistic tools of his environment and placed them at the service of Jewish memory, confident that Judaism could enter the great cultural space of Iran and speak in its own voice. The article focuses on the idea of the struggle between fire and earth: Azazel, created from fire and light, looks at man made from dust and concludes that matter testifies to his value, but Shahin reverses the perspective and shows that the earth is what holds, receives, grows, and carries life. Yakobian argues that this is an important lesson about pride and vision, and that Shahin reminds us that Judaism can be deep without being closed, faithful to itself without being anxious, and Eastern without apologizing. The article also mentions the organization "Bama Tova" and the Ganji and Mahafar families working to preserve the Persian-Jewish heritage.