Finding the “common language of fire”: Jerzy Ficowski on Jewish mysticism (prolegomena) Cover Image

Odnajdując „wspólny język ognia”: Jerzy Ficowski wobec mistycyzmu żydowskiego (prolegomena)
Finding the “common language of fire”: Jerzy Ficowski on Jewish mysticism (prolegomena)

Author(s): Ewa Goczał
Subject(s): Jewish studies, Studies of Literature, Polish Literature
Published by: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Komisji Edukacji Narodowej w Krakowie
Keywords: contemporary Polish poetry; Jerzy Ficowski; Jewish mysticism; Kabbalah; Hasidism;

Summary/Abstract: This article is an attempt to outline the relationship between the work of Jerzy Ficowski and the Jewish mystical thought that was brought in this paper to a kabbalistic element – a synthesis of components considered basic for two great currents of the non-orthodox Judaism: Kabbalah and Hasidism. At the level of content they consist of the motifs of the Book, Word and Letter, Angels and Light, the messianic topos of the Just, cosmogonic and eschatological myths, as well as specific, non-linear recognition of time – which are strongly present in the poetry of the author of the Regions of the Great Heresy. At the level of structure there are noticeable the emanation model and the duality of language and imagination, of matter and spirituality – diametrically different elements, yet gravitating toward the ultimate unity. The text, containing references to translation and “Schulzian” output of Jerzy Ficowski, is focused on his poetry and is an introduction to its aspectual monograph.

  • Issue Year: 2016
  • Issue No: 16
  • Page Range: 121-133
  • Page Count: 13
  • Language: Polish