24 Comments
User's avatar
Nick Borodinov's avatar

Happy New year! Out of curiosity - how do you manage bilingualism?

Portia's avatar

I'm pretty sure Konstantin is trilingual, Nick. He's a man of many talents. Happy New Year!

Chen Rafaeli's avatar

minimum 4 I think. Кто больше? :)

Konstantin Asimonov's avatar

My German really sucks, so I wouldn't count it.

Chen Rafaeli's avatar

My Russian really sucks, but who'd dare denying I know it:)

Konstantin Asimonov's avatar

I think, if you write poems in it, it doesn't suck :)

Konstantin Asimonov's avatar

I speak decent Hebrew, but it's rusty from underuse.

Chen Rafaeli's avatar

They all come to life when needed

Konstantin Asimonov's avatar

My private life is like 90% in Russian, and my professional life is 95% in English, so it's easy to compartmentalize.

Happy New Year!

Nick Borodinov's avatar

That sounds familiar. I’d say my entertainment is split 50/50 and so is my friendship circle

Konstantin Asimonov's avatar

MY books are probably 50/50, but I watch mainly in English.

Portia's avatar

Your translation's excellent, you managed to maintain the poem's rhythm and breathlessness. I love both recordings, and it's great to hear your voice.

Happy New Year, Konstantin, may your pen be still mighty and agile in 2026!✍🏻

Chen Rafaeli's avatar

I couldn't hear the voice:( Very quiet. Otherwise fully agree with Portia (that happens often ❤️)

Chen Rafaeli's avatar

Oh don't be sorry, I bet it's my stupid microphone settings. I'll try again

Chen Rafaeli's avatar

...very good. I managed to listen - very good indeed.

Thank you!- and I wish more folks'd listen to it, or read.

Konstantin Asimonov's avatar

Thank you, Portia!

Much luck in the new year!

Chen Rafaeli's avatar

Эмейзинг сказал я. The translation is my favorite, might be because I didn't click on all the links just yet. Honestly though, just mindblowing work. Congrats, Konstantin, if you ever are interested in whatever I thoughт but didn't comment about the third way to read the Tanach- обрашайтесь:) а то я то домового хороню, то ведьму замуж выдаю, и короче не пишу, или невовремя.

תשתהיה שנה מדהימה בכל המובנים

Happy New Year to you and yours! Wishing peace, health, love and luck.

PS it seems I get your posts randomly, for example never seen the one you've linked to. Fed up with the platform. Oh well. Going to check out.

And-keep us in the know as per the novel!!!

Chen Rafaeli's avatar

PS wth, I restacked two times, can see none. Fiends.

Konstantin Asimonov's avatar

Thanks! and happy New Year!

Sure, what did you think?

Chen Rafaeli's avatar

Happy New Year!

I don't remember all the threads of my magnificent whatever tapestry of the thought , but it is one of the well-known interpretations..the Book as a metaphor for the relationship, actually most of it is indeed about the relationship, and even the parts that are about relationship between a man and a woman as in "Songs of Songs" are considered by many an allegory to the relationship between Gd and people, which you've probably heard of.

Only I thought-it's the other way around, as G-d must be a "woman". Or, rather, humanity must be a "man".

The reversal of the roles.

I need to recall all my inner arguments for such an interpretation, clearly, because I almost had a "counter" mini essay in my head, upon reading yours.

Now though I have only half of my morning caffeine.

But it is a very interesting topic. Thank you! I find it all fascinating to interpret, granted I should have known more and better.

By the way I also think Christianty externalizes the "woman" part more, but there, I'm even less of an expert.

In what format did you read? Tanach, or The Old Testament? I heard these two are slightly different. Can't vouch for it because I never have read the second yet, only the first.

Konstantin Asimonov's avatar

For this one, I read the King James version of the Old Testament in English. I have to say, of all the versions I've read (Hebrew, Russian) I liked it the most in almost every way. It is, among other things, just a brilliant piece of literature.

The role reversal is very interesting. This relationship is, of course, abusive, and I think men are more often in the abuser role, but I can see the merit of the other view as well.