The Book of Deeds

This collection of stories, published over the course of 20 years, is one of Agnon's defining works. In them, he conjures up a world of old Jewish nostalgia, confronting the complexity of what it means to deal with modernity as a traditional Jew. In this lecture, Rabbi Saks suggests that Agnon's portrayal of Jewish life can help readers of all backgrounds think about their connection to the past and their path in the future.