The Remnant: Franz Kafka's Letter

As a Jew, Kafka received nothing in inheritance from his father. Nevertheless, throughout his oeuvre, subtly, remnants of Jewish words can be deciphered. Hence, the question at the heart of this book: what remains when what's left is a 'nothing of Judaism' (Letter to the Father)? This question necessitates a philosophical and Jewish reading of his work, prompting a reconsideration of the intricate relationships between the Jew and the West and the Jew and modernity. Thus, this book proposes an examination of Kafka's oeuvre to uncover what remains Jewish therein - at the heart of Europe, amidst modernity - where nothing remains: the enigma of the Letter.

Auteur

Eli Schonfeld, Shalem College, Jerusalem, Israel.