Encoding and decoding secret signs in the stories of Rabbi Joseph Hayyim of Baghdad

This article discusses two stories by R. Joseph Hayyim of Baghdad (1835–1909) recast from tales that were integrated in an oral sermon into written form. The written stories are embedded with clues pointing to the fact that the protagonist is, in fact, the author: R. Joseph Hayyim. It is my assertion that the transformation from oral storytelling to the written version creates a new dialogue with a broader audience that the author sought to reach. Moreover, the transition created a new poetic strategy, which is part of the artistic mimesis that reflects real-life existence. The discourse created by this possibility began with R. Joseph Hayyim’s pupils, and continues to this day among his readers.