.jpg?fit=crop&w=220&h=132&auto=format)
92NY’s Center for Children and Family provides an exceptional array of programs designed to support children at every stage of their development.
at The 92nd Street Y, New York. Supported by The Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity
Oct 09, 1980
The first lecture in a series on the antihero in ancient and modern literature, Professor Wiesel asks: “Who is a hero and how does one become a hero? And how does the hero cease to be a hero?” He reads and rereads the book, first viewing Jonah as initiating no action except his escape. But, following the Talmud’s portrait of Jonah as a Just Man, Professor Wiesel sees behind Jonah’s refusal his model love of Israel and his wish to spare his people embarrassment. The fact that Jonah ultimately fulfills his mission links the book to Yom Kippur and its message of repentance, of “beginning again and again.” Finally, only this scriptural book has the distinction of ending with a question, God’s question--“and that is what leaves us astonished and deeply affected and moved.”
Explore The Book of Jonah on Sefaria, a living library of Torah.
© 2025 The Young Men’s and Young Women’s Hebrew Association
All Rights Reserved.
All material accessed via the 92NY website (“content”) is protected by copyright under U.S. Copyright laws and is the property of The Young Men’s and Young Women’s Hebrew Association or the party credited as the provider of the content. You may not copy, reproduce, distribute, publish, display, perform, modify, create derivative works, transmit, or in any way exploit any such content, nor may you distribute any part of this content over any network, including a local area network, sell or offer it for sale, or use such content to construct any kind of database. You may not alter or remove any copyright or other notice from copies of the content accessed via 92NY’s website. Copying or storing any content except as provided above is expressly prohibited without prior written permission of 92NY or the copyright holder identified in the individual content’s copyright notice.
