Agnon, Balfour and the Righteous Paths

S.Y. Agnon’s story ”Paths of Righteousness, or The Vinegar Maker” – appears in “A Book That Was Lost” (Toby Press); in Hebrew: “Ma’aglei Tzedek” – raised a bit of controversy when first published in 1923, based upon differing interpretations of what Agnon was trying to say with it. In a rare statement about the meaning of his work, in later life he claimed the story is a parable about the Balfour Declaration. If so, what is he trying to say? Rabbi Jeffrey Saks explores the story in a video lecture (delivered at Agnon House, March 11, 2012).