The Final Age Testament: Introduction to The Five Books Of Laurence
– By Rabbi Edwin A Shone
The Final Age Testament critically revises but does not replace the Original. The Bible is a vast and diverse library and these Five Books of Laurence may be thought of as the opening of a new wing.
I asked Rabban to write his own introduction, which proceeds book one. The fullest version of this bible of course, begins again, in Genesis and finishes in the final fifth book of this Testament. Final Kabballah is a final recasting of all the teachings, and this end is also a beginning for readers who wish to start there. Consider Me A Dream; a film biography of the life of Franz Kafka is both coda and key to the Final Age Testament, an End and a beginning.
These Five Books are not a replacement scripture; they are a continuation of the story. In the retelling, this is for latter day saints and sinners. Joseph Smith discovered golden plates here in the hills of Upstate New York. Latter day legend has it that the original biblical oracle, the Urim and Tumim were found with the ancient script that the oracle would translate into the Book of Mormon. They are lost once again so I shall have to put on the Priestly Breastplate and be the Light and Completion of this Final Age Testament.
I discovered these Five Books on the hard drive of our Rabbis Apple. They are self-edited. I have made only minor scribal corrections.
– You’re Scribe, R
I awkwardly introduce myself as R. Redactor. Rabbi. My name is Edwin A. Shone and I am a professor of literature at Sylvan College, a Kafka specialist who came to the Rabbinate rather late in life. I have no desire to ever fill a pulpit and I remain President of the synagogue where Ari Rabbied.
I worked together with the Ari for years before his untimely death. We had the usual tensions between rabbis and Presidents of synagogues. I sat through over one thousand of the Rabbis sermons over the years until I was converted. I made the Ari my Mentor and Rebbe and began saving my notes and commentary and even the articles the Rabbi contributed to our Temple bulletin.
Rabban published the first two of these five books in one volume in a limited “proem” edition. The critics could not get beyond the “Rabbinic pornography” The Rabbis notes make it clear that he was telling the story of a human messiah. The Book was presented as a Bible, which it is, and that also offended. The book wears black clerical garb to make a point. I have reports that some volumes were burned. Discouraged Ari gave up plans to publish books three four and five and the screenplay. They were edited and ready on his Apple.
I am astonished that many readers and critics did not grasp the concept and humor of the Final Testament. One day the Rabbi was throwing box after box into the dumpster, and I offered to help. We were trashing his notes and copies of Final Testament. He smiled and said “and now the trees of the field may rejoice,” and “to the making of ends there are no books.” I was about to correct him when I finally understood.
What if he never wanted any of this to be published? I br(o)od on this daily.
I worked with Ari on the adaptation of his film to the stage when our students performed Consider Me a Dream. The play has endless possibilities, being a stream of dreams Kafka has in the final moments of his life. If Dr. Scholem is right that Kafka put the K in Kabballah, you may want to start there.
Finally, at least for today, I do not think this publication a betrayal. The final judgment is yours.