What Christopher Nolan's 'The Odyssey' can teach Jewish readers about Homer and the Bible- opinion

Christopher Nolan's upcoming film adaptation of Homer's "The Odyssey" is sparking renewed interest in the ancient Greek epic. Jacob Howland, a philosopher and classicist, highlights the relevance of "The Odyssey" to Jewish readers and its connections with the Hebrew Bible. Howland, who has explored the "conversation between Athens and Jerusalem," argues that both texts "illuminate the enduring questions of human life." He notes that while Homer's narrative emphasizes confronting a "wounding reality" through individual cunning, the Hebrew Bible centers on trust in an Almighty Creator and the formation of community. A key difference is seen in Odysseus's solitary, pain-inflicting journey, contrasted with God's desire to build community starting with Abraham.