Jewish Book World Summer 2012 by Naomi Firestone

Jewish Book World The Quarterly Publication of the Jewish Book Council

Summer 2012/5772 Vol. 30 No. 2

Sami Rohr Prize for Jewish Literature

2012 Winner

Abigail Green Choice Award

Ruth Franklin Finalist

Jonathan B. Krasner Finalist

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James Loeffler Finalist

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HIGHLIGHTS • SPRING 2012

Now Available

bo, jenny, and i

By Huguette Herrmann ISBN 978-1-936235-73-5 (cloth) $59.00, 220 pp.

Bo, Jenny and I is a memoir describing the life of a young woman growing up in unusual circumstances, as well as a discussion of political and sociological effects of troubled times upon “ordinary people.” After an early childhood in pre-war Antwerp, the author, her formidable grandmother, and her young, unconventional working mother fled to England in 1940, upon Germany’s invasion of Belgium. As refugees, the family adapted to its changed circumstances and to life in World War II England. The political upheavals of the times are reflected in the life of this small family and its remarkable experiences.

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A Study of Survival in Extreme and Day-to-Day Situations: The Inside View of a Holocaust Survivor By Eli Pfefferkorn Now Available in Paper!

Survival and Trials of Revival

Psychodynamic Studies of Holocaust Survivors and Their Families in Israel and the Diaspora By Hillel Klein ISBN 978-1-936235-89-6 (cloth) $85.00, 375 pp.

“It is with much satisfaction that we publish Hillel Klein’s Survival and Trials of Revival: Psychodynamic Studies of Holocaust Survivors and Their Families in Israel and the Diaspora as the first book of our new series. Hillel Klein, himself a Holocaust survivor, was a pioneer psychoanalyst investigator of Holocaust survivors and their families. His reconceptualization of the experience of guilt as a positive rather than a pathological emotion was a vitally important contribution that has implications far beyond the role of “survivor guilt.” Klein’s own life and work, and his legacy as expressed in this book, ably edited by Alex Holder, serve as a model for the rich intersection of psychoanalysis and Jewish life.” —Lewis Aron, New York University, Psychoanalysis and Jewish Life Series Editor

ISBN 978-1-618111-57-9 (paperback) $29.00, 244 pp.

“Pfefferkorn’s experience and his memoir about it are both unusual in the field of Holocaust studies. He experienced the Shoah and survived it, played a crucial role in the establishment of the United States Holocaust Museum, and has made substantial academic contributions as well. His memoir is well done, and will make an important contribution to the field of Holocaust studies.” —John K. Roth, Edward Sexton Professor Emeritus of Philosophy, Claremont McKenna College

Biography and Memory

The Generational Experience of the Shoah Survivors By Kaja Kazmierska ISBN 978-1-936235-78-0 (cloth) $109.00, 400 pp.

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Jewish Book World the quarterly publication of the Jewish Book Council

features

on the cover

emerging voices

Sami Rohr Prize for Jewish Literature

Adam Wilson Joseph Winkler

interviews 27

Nathan Englander

Bob Goldfarb

Jonathan Safran Foer Maron L. Waxman

book & author profiles Jewish Jane Austen 21 AHoward Jacobson’s comic and penetrating sensibility shines in two new books Bob Goldfarb

The Pianist Celebrating Alice Herz-Sommer, the 108year-old pianist and Holocaust survivor Claire Rudin Carol Poll

The Fabulist Magical realism from the great Brazilian Jewish writer Moacyr Scliar Sydelle Shamah

Men at Shul As women claim larger roles in many Orthodox synagogues, men’s roles are changing, too Arnold D. Salman Carol Poll

Are Syd Hoff 's Books Jewish? Hoff ’s focus on underdogs speaks volumes Dina Weinstein

departments summer 5772/2012: vol. 30 no. 2

4 60 66 72

Editor’s Note Children’s Booknotes Index

14 JBW Book Club Recommendations 70 Contributors *[e] denotes e-book is available children's books recommended by PJ Library

The Sami Rohr Library

RI recorded

Yiddish Books

Available from the Jewish Book Council The historic compilation of Yiddish classics, read aloud by native Yiddish speakers at Montrealâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Jewish Public Library, and presented by the National Yiddish Book Center, preserves complete, unabridged books on CD. Thirty titles are now available, including works by: Sholem Aleichem, Sholem Asch, I.L. Peretz, Mendele Moykher Sforim, and I.B. Singer, among others. For more information, call 212-201-2920 or email jbc@jewishbooks.org

Only $160 (plus shipping) for 30 titles on 215 CDs with liner notes, valued at $1200. A perfect gift for loved ones or donation for a local synagogue or senior citizen home. 7KLV SURMHFW LV VXEVLGL]HG E\ D JHQHURXV JUDQW IURP WKH 5RKU IDPLO\ RI 0LDPL

review highlights fiction 18

ALL THAT I AM Anna Funder Reviewed by Miriam Bradman Abrahams

HHhH Laurent Binet Sam Taylor, trans. Reviewed by Erika Dreifus

JEWISH GENTLE AND OTHER STORIES OF GAY-JEWISH LIVING Daniel M. Jaffe ZĞǀŝĞǁĞĚ ďǇ tĂǇŶĞ ,ŽīŵĂŶ

WHAT WE TALK ABOUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ANNE FRANK: STORIES Nathan Englander Reviewed by Bob Goldfarb

nonfiction american jewish studies

WHEN GENERAL GRANT EXPELLED THE JEWS Jonathan D. Sarna Reviewed by Maron L. Waxman

ĂŶƚŚŽůŽŐŝĞƐ Θ ĐŽůůĞĐƟŽŶƐ

PORTRAITS IN LITERATURE: THE JEWS OF POLAND Hava Bromberg Ben-Zvi, ed. & trans. Reviewed by Robert Moses Shapiro

autobiography & memoir

MAN SEEKS GOD: MY FLIRTATIONS WITH THE DIVINE Eric Weiner Reviewed by Eric Ackland

biography

CROSSING THE BORDERS OF TIME: A TRUE STORY OF WAR, EXILE, AND LOVE RECLAIMED Leslie Maitland Reviewed by Renita Last

contemporary jewish life & ƉƌĂĐƟĐĞ

38 32

BEYOND THE SLING: A REAL-LIFE GUIDE TO RAISING CONFIDENT, LOVING CHILDREN THE ATTACHMENT PARENTING WAY Mayim Bialik; Jay Gordon, intro. Reviewed by Amanda Pogany NEW AMERICAN HAGGADAH Jonathan Safran Foer, ed. Nathan Englander, trans. Reviewed by Maron L. Waxman

cooking & food

THE BAIS YAAKOV COOKBOOK Batsheva Weinstein, ed. Reviewed by Danièle Gorlin Lassner

INSIDE THE JEWISH BAKERY: RECIPES AND MEMORIES FROM THE GOLDEN AGE OF JEWISH BAKING Stanley Ginsberg & Norman Berg Reviewed by Barbara M. Bibel

history

modern jewish thought & experience

MOSES MENDELSSOHN: WRITINGS ON JUDAISM, CHRISTIANITY AND THE BIBLE Michah Gottlieb, ed.; Curtis Bowman, Elias Sacks & Allan Arkush, trans. Reviewed by Peter L. Rothholz

A PROPHETIC PEACE: JUDAISM, RELIGION AND POLITICS Alick Isaacs Reviewed by Micah D. Halpern

THE ALEPPO CODEX: A TRUE STORY OF OBSESSION, FAITH, AND THE PURSUIT OF AN ANCIENT BOOK

scholarship

Matti Friedman Reviewed by Ray Katz

holocaust

A BOY IN TEREZIN: THE PRIVATE DIARY OF PAVEL WEINER, APRIL 1944-APRIL 1945 Pavel Weiner Reviewed by Mimi Frank

humor

CRAP AT MY PARENTS’ HOUSE Joel Dovev Reviewed by Jaclyn Trop

israel studies

A HIGH PRICE: THE TRIUMPHS AND FAILURES OF ISRAELI COUNTERTERRORISM

Daniel Byman Reviewed by Micah D. Halpern

THE PARANOID APOCALYPSE: A HUNDRED-YEAR RETROSPECTIVE ON THE PROTOCOLS OF THE ELDERS OF ZION Richard Landes & Steven T. Katz, eds. Reviewed by Jack Fischel

visual arts

ABOUT LOVE: PHOTOGRAPHS AND FILMS 1973-2011 Anne Wilkes Tucker Gay Block, photographer Reviewed by Eric Ackland

women’s studies

THE JPS BIBLE COMMENTARY: RUTH Tamara Cohn Eskenazi & Tikva FrymerKensky, eds. Reviewed by Hara E. Person

editor’s note

hat does it mean to write a Jewish ŶŽǀĞů ƚŽĚĂǇ͍ WĞƌŚĂƉƐ ǁĞ ĂƌĞ Ăůů ƐƟůů ŝŶŇƵĞŶĐĞĚ ďǇ ƚŚĞ ƐŚŽĐŬ ǁĞ ĨĞůƚ ǁŚĞŶ ǁĞ ĮƌƐƚ read the works of the Jewish novelist Philip Roth? tŚĞŶ ƚŚŝƐ ƋƵĞƐƟŽŶ ǁĂƐ ƉŽƐĞĚ ƚŽ ĮǀĞ ǇŽƵŶŐ American Jewish writers recently on a panel held at the Housing Work’s Bookstore Café in EĞǁ zŽƌŬ ŝƚǇ ĞŶƟƚůĞĚ ͞dŚĞ EĞǁ zŝĚĞƌĂƟ͗ ZĞĚĞĮŶŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ǆƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞ ŝŶ >ŝƚĞƌĂƚƵƌĞ͕͟ ƚŚĞŝƌ ƚŚŽƵŐŚƞƵů ƌĞƐƉŽŶƐĞƐ ƌĞǀĞĂůĞĚ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞǇ are very much engaged with the idea of what ŝƚ ŵĞĂŶƐ ƚŽ ďĞ :ĞǁŝƐŚ͕ ďƵƚ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞǇ ĚŽŶ͛ƚ appreciate the publishing industry’s use of the ůĂďĞů ͚:ĞǁŝƐŚ ŶŽǀĞů͛ ĂƐ Ă ŵĂƌŬĞƟŶŐ ƚŽŽů͕ Žƌ ƚŚĞ ĂƵĚŝĞŶĐĞƐ Ăƚ ďŽŽŬ ƐŝŐŶŝŶŐƐ ĐĂƐƟŐĂƟŶŐ ƚŚĞŵ ĨŽƌ ǁƌŝƟŶŐ ĐŚĂƌĂĐƚĞƌƐ ƚŚĂƚ ůĂĐŬ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ǀĂůƵĞƐ͘ They also agreed that there isn’t one kind ŽĨ :Ğǁ͕ ƚŚĞƌĞ ŝƐŶ͛ƚ ŽŶĞ ŬŝŶĚ ŽĨ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ŶŽǀĞů͕ and a Jewish character shouldn’t be regarded ĂƐ ƌĞƉƌĞƐĞŶƟŶŐ ƚŚĞ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ƉĞŽƉůĞ͘ dŚƌĞĞ ŽĨ those authors’ books—Ăůů ĮƌƐƚ ŶŽǀĞůƐ͕ Ăůů ĞǆƵďĞƌĂŶƚ͕ ŚŝŐŚůǇ ĚŝƐƟŶĐƟǀĞ ǁŽƌŬƐ—are reviewed in this issue of JBW. What do these secular literary works have to tell us about the role of Judaism in the cultural and spiritual landscape of young Jewish adults today? How are they ĐĂƌƌǇŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ŶĂƌƌĂƟǀĞ ĨŽƌǁĂƌĚ͍ For the privileged young New Yorkers in DŝĐŚĞůůĞ ,ĂŝŵŽī͛Ɛ ŶŽǀĞů͕ These Days Are Ours͕ ǁŚŽ ĂƌĞ ƚƌǇŝŶŐ ƚŽ ĮŶĚ ƚŚĞŝƌ ƐƚƌŝĚĞ ŝŶ Ă ƐĐĂƌĞĚ ĂŶĚ ŐƌŝĞǀŝŶŐ ƉŽƐƚ ϵͬϭϭ ǁŽƌůĚ͕ ďĞŝŶŐ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ŵĞĂŶƐ ďĞůŽŶŐŝŶŐ ƚŽ Ă ƐŽĐŝĂů ƐĞƚ ĚĞĮŶĞĚ ďǇ ĐĞƌƚĂŝŶ ĐƵůƚƵƌĂů ĂƐƐƵŵƉƟŽŶƐ͘ ,Ğƌ ĐŚĂƌĂĐƚĞƌƐ ƚĂŬĞ ĂƐ Ă ŐŝǀĞŶ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞǇ ǁŝůů ͞ŵĂƌƌǇ :ĞǁŝƐŚ͕͟ ǇĞƚ ƚĞůůŝŶŐůǇ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŶŽǀĞů ƚŚĞ ŵŽƐƚ Jewish reference at the Passover seder is to ĐŚŽĐŽůĂƚĞ ĐŽǀĞƌĞĚ ŵĂĐĂƌŽŽŶƐ͘ Ǉ ĐŽŶƚƌĂƐƚ͕ Ă ƐǇŶĂŐŽŐƵĞ ŝƐ ƚŚĞ ƐĞƫŶŐ ĨŽƌ ŵƵĐŚ ŽĨ :Ğī Oliver’s comic novel Failure to Thrive—though not a lot of what goes on at this shul is holy. In ƚŚĞ ŶĞƌǀŽƵƐ ǇŽƵŶŐ ŚĞƌŽ͛Ɛ ĨƵŶŶǇ͕ ĨƌĞŶĞƟĐ ƌĂĐĞ

Jewish Book World

ƚŽ ĮŐŚƚ ĨĂƚĞ͕ ŵŝƐĨŽƌƚƵŶĞ͕ ĂŶĚ ŚŝƐ ŽǁŶ ĂƌƌĞƐƚĞĚ development is his quest to raise his baby son to be a mentsch. Jewish above all is Oliver’s schlemazeldik comedy. Jewishness has a more complicated presence in Adam Wilson’s bleakly funny and ŽƌŝŐŝŶĂů ŶŽǀĞů͕ Flatscreen. Wilson’s slacker ŚĞƌŽ͕ ǁŚŽƐĞ ĨƌĂŵĞ ŽĨ ƌĞĨĞƌĞŶĐĞ ŝƐ ŵĂŝŶůǇ ŵĞŵŽƌĂďůĞ ds ĂŶĚ ŵŽǀŝĞ ŵŽŵĞŶƚƐ͕ ŝƐ ĂŶ ŝŶͲǇŽƵƌͲĨĂĐĞ ƚƌĂŶƐŐƌĞƐƐŝŶŐ ĚƌŽƉ ŽƵƚ͕ ŽĐĐƵƉŝĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ ƐŚĂƩĞƌŝŶŐ ŝůůƵƐŝŽŶƐ ĂŶĚ ƉŝĞƟĞƐ ŝŶ ĚƌƵŐ and sex obsessed bursts of astoundingly cynical insights. But powerful old-school Jewish guilt has its claws in his shoulders in the form of other memories—of a robustly Jewish ƵƉďƌŝŶŐŝŶŐ͕ ďĞĨŽƌĞ ŚŝƐ ƉĂƌĞŶƚƐ͛ ĚŝǀŽƌĐĞ ƌĞŶƚ ŚŝƐ ĨĂŵŝůǇ ĂƐƵŶĚĞƌ ĂŶĚ ůĞŌ Śŝŵ ƵŶŚŝŶŐĞĚ ĨƌŽŵ his own life. /Ŷ ŽƵƌ ƵƉĐŽŵŝŶŐ ŝƐƐƵĞ͕ ĂǀĂŝůĂďůĞ ŽŶůŝŶĞ ŶŽǁ͕ ŝƐ Ă ƌĞǀŝĞǁ ŽĨ Ă ƉĂƌƟĐƵůĂƌůǇ ĂƐƚŽŶŝƐŚŝŶŐ͕ ŚĂƵŶƟŶŐ ĮƌƐƚ ŶŽǀĞů͘ ZĂŵŽŶĂ ƵƐƵďĞů͛Ɛ No One is Here Except All of Us is a new work that seems to have emanated from an old Yiddish ƐŽƵů͕ ĂƐ ŝĨ ƵƐƵďĞů͛Ɛ ŐŝŌĞĚ ǇŽƵŶŐ ŝŵĂŐŝŶĂƟŽŶ is channeling the likes of Sholom Aleichem and Marc Chagall to portray a remote RoŵĂŶŝĂŶ ƐŚƚĞƚů ŝŶ ϭϵϯϵ ƚƌǇŝŶŐ ƚŽ ƉƵůů Žī ƚŚĞ ƵůƟŵĂƚĞ ĞƐĐĂƉĞ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŵŝŶŐ ĚĞǀĂƐƚĂƟŽŶ ďǇ ƐƚĂƌƟŶŐ ƚŚĞŝƌ ǁŽƌůĚ ŽǀĞƌ͕ ĚĞŶǇŝŶŐ ǁŚĂƚ ƚŚĞǇ ŬŶŽǁ ǁŝůů ŚĂƉƉĞŶ ĂŶĚ ƌĞƚƌĞĂƟŶŐ ŝŶƚŽ Ă fable-like existence. Also reviewed in this issue is stunning new ǁŽƌŬ ďǇ ƚŚŽƐĞ ͞ǀĞƌǇ͟ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ǁƌŝƚĞƌƐ EĂƚŚĂŶ ŶŐůĂŶĚĞƌ͕ ^ŚĂůŽŵ ƵƐůĂŶĚĞƌ͕ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ h<͛Ɛ ,ŽǁĂƌĚ :ĂĐŽďƐŽŶ͕ Ăůů ƐƟůů ƉƵƐŚŝŶŐ ĂŐĂŝŶƐƚ ƚŚĞ ďŽƵŶĚĂƌŝĞƐ ŽĨ ͞ŐŽŽĚ ƚĂƐƚĞ͟ ĂŶĚ ĐŚĂůůĞŶŐŝŶŐ ŽƵƌ ƌĞĐĞŝǀĞĚ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ƉŝĞƟĞƐ͘ dŚĞƌĞ ŝƐ ŶŽƚŚŝŶŐ ŶĞǁ ƵŶĚĞƌ ƚŚĞ ƐƵŶ͕ ǁĞ ƌĞĂĚ ŝŶ <ŽŚĞůĞƚ͕ ďƵƚ ŝŶ ĞǀĞƌǇ ŐĞŶĞƌĂƟŽŶ͕ ǁƌŝƚĞƌƐ ĮŶĚ ŶĞǁ ǁĂǇƐ ŽĨ ƐĂǇŝŶŐ ŝƚ͘ dŽ ĐŽŵĞ ĨƵůů ĐŝƌĐůĞ͕ ŝŶ ƚŚŝƐ ŝƐƐƵĞ ǁĞ ŝŶƚƌŽĚƵĐĞ Ă ƉĂƌƚŶĞƌƐŚŝƉ ǁŝƚŚ W: >ŝďƌĂƌǇ͕ ƚŚĞ ǁŽŶĚĞƌĨƵů ƉƌŽŐƌĂŵ sponsored by the Harold Grinspoon FoundaƟŽŶ͕ ǁŚŝĐŚ ƉƵƚƐ ĨƌĞĞ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ƚŚĞŵĞĚ ďŽŽŬƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŚĂŶĚƐ ŽĨ ƐŽŵĞ ϭϬϬ͕ϬϬϬ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ŬŝĚƐ ĞĂĐŚ ŵŽŶƚŚ͘ >ŽŽŬ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ƐǇŵďŽů ĚĞŶŽƟŶŐ ƚŚĞŝƌ books. I hope that you agree that this carries the :ĞǁŝƐŚ ŶĂƌƌĂƟǀĞ ĨŽƌǁĂƌĚ͕ ĂŶĚ / ŚŽƉĞ ƚŚĂƚ ǇŽƵ will enjoy your summer reading.

summer 5772/2012

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Jewish Book Council is a not-for-profit organization founded in 1943 to promote the publishing, writing, and reading of quality books of Jewish interest. In sponsoring Jewish Book World the Council aims to meet the need for a journal devoted to providing thoughtful reviews of new Jewish books and features on the author and literary scene. It is our hope that Jewish Book World will be a valued resource in navigating today’s exciting Jewish literary scene. The Council is also the sponsor of Jewish Book Month, the National Jewish Book Awards, the Jewish Book NETWORK, the Sami Rohr Prize for Jewish Literature, and other programs and activities.

^ƚĂī Carol E. Kaufman Editor Naomi Firestone-Teeter Managing Editor Michal Malen Children’s Book Editor Dani Crickman Art Director

Jewish Book Council President Vice-President Secretary Honorary Chairman of the Board Director Carolyn Starman Hessel Miri R. Pomerantz Dauber Program Director JBC Network Associate Joyce Lit Program Associate Sharon Bruce Intern Samuel Liebmann Lawrence J. Krule Judith Lieberman Mimi S. Frank Henry Everett (z”l)

Board of Directors Elisa Spungen Bildner Dan Levine Tracy Brown William Liss-Levinson Edith Everett Stuart Matlins Paul A. Flexner Deborah Miller Ellen Frankel Marcia W. Posner Samuel G. Freedman Julie Potiker Ari L. Goldman Austin Ratner Blu Greenberg Josh Rolnick Stephan Gross Steven Siegel (z”l) Rae Gurewitsch A.A. Steinberger Miriam Holmes Livia S. Straus Altie Karper Joseph Telushkin Francine Klagsbrun Jonathan Tepperman Myra Kraft (z”l) Alan J. Wiener Carmel R. Krauss Bernard Weinflash Ruth Legow Jane Weitzman Jewish Book World (ISSN: 1083-8341) is published quarterly by the Jewish Book Council, 520 8th Avenue, 4th floor, New York, NY 10018, (212)201-2920; jewishbookcouncil.org; email: jbc@jewishbooks.org. The subscription rate is $36.00 a year or $12.50 for an individual issue. Copyright © 2012, by Jewish Book Council. Postmaster: Please send address changes to Jewish Book Council, 520 8th Avenue, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10018. The articles and opinions expressed herein do not necessarily represent the view of the Board of Directors, or any member thereof, or any particular editor or staff member. Advertising in Jewish Book World does not necessarily imply editorial endorsement. To advertise in Jewish Book World, please email naomi@jewishbooks.org or call (212) 201-2921. Claims on orders that have not been received must be made within two months of the date of publication.

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2012 SAMI ROHR PRIZE CREATING A LITERARY COMMUNITY FOR JEWISH LITERATURE

201212

Sami Rohr Prize Pr P for

Jewish Literature

Creating Community

Gal Beckerman wins $100,000 Prize I

Ŷ &ĞďƌƵĂƌǇ͕ ƚŚĞ Jewish Book Council named Gal Beckerman the ǁŝŶŶĞƌ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ϮϬϭϮ ^Ăŵŝ ZŽŚƌ WƌŝǌĞ ĨŽƌ :ĞǁŝƐŚ >ŝƚĞƌĂƚƵƌĞ͕ ǁŚŝĐŚ ƌĞĐͲ ognizes the important role of emerging writers in examining the Jewish ĞǆƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞ͘ dŚĞ ĂǁĂƌĚ ŽĨ ΨϭϬϬ͕ϬϬϬ—one of the largest Jewish literary prizes in the world—ŚŽŶŽƌƐ Ă ƐƉĞĐŝĮ Đ ǁŽƌŬ ĂƐ ǁĞůů ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ĂƵƚŚŽƌ͛Ɛ ƉŽƚĞŶƟ Ăů ƚŽ ŵĂŬĞ ƐŝŐŶŝĮ ĐĂŶƚ ĐŽŶƚƌŝďƵƟ ŽŶƐ ƚŽ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ůŝƚĞƌĂƚƵƌĞ͘ dŚĞ ZŽŚƌ WƌŝǌĞ͕ ƵŶĚĞƌ ƚŚĞ ĂƵƐƉŝĐĞƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ŽŽŬ ŽƵŶĐŝů͕ ŚĂƐ ďĞĞŶ ŐŝǀĞŶ ĂŶŶƵĂůůǇ ƐŝŶĐĞ ϮϬϬϳ ĂŶĚ ĐŽŶƐŝĚĞƌƐ ǁŽƌŬƐ ŽĨ Į ĐƟ ŽŶ ĂŶĚ ŶŽŶͲ Į ĐƟ ŽŶ ŝŶ ĂůƚĞƌŶĂƟ ŶŐ ǇĞĂƌƐ͘ dŚŝƐ ǇĞĂƌ͛Ɛ ƉƌŝǌĞ ŝƐ ĨŽƌ ŶŽŶͲĮ ĐƟ ŽŶ͘ 'Ăů ĞĐŬĞƌŵĂŶΖƐ ďŽŽŬ͕ When They Come for Us We’ll Be Gone: The Epic Struggle to Save Soviet Jewry ;,ŽƵŐŚƚŽŶ Dŝŋ ŝŶ ,ĂƌĐŽƵƌƚͿ͕ ŝƐ Ă ĐŽŵƉƌĞŚĞŶƐŝǀĞ ĂŶĚ ĞŶƚŚƌĂůůͲ ing chronicle of the history of the Soviet Jewry movement. The judges ďĞůŝĞǀĞ ĞĐŬĞƌŵĂŶ͛Ɛ ǁŽƌŬ ƐŚŽǁƐ ͞ŚŝƐ ĐůĞĂƌ ĐŽŵŵŝƚŵĞŶƚ ƚŽ ďĞĐŽŵŝŶŐ Ă ƐƚŽƌǇƚĞůůĞƌ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ƉĞŽƉůĞ͘͟ dŚŝƐ ŝƐ ŚŝƐ Į ƌƐƚ ďŽŽŬ͘ ^ĞĐŽŶĚ ƉƌŝǌĞ͕ ƚŚĞ ŚŽŝĐĞ ǁĂƌĚ͕ ŐŽĞƐ ƚŽ KǆĨŽƌĚ ůĞĐƚƵƌĞƌ ďŝŐĂŝů 'ƌĞĞŶ͕ ĨŽƌ ŚĞƌ ďŝŽŐƌĂƉŚǇ͕ DŽƐĞƐ DŽŶƚĞĮ ŽƌĞ͗ :ĞǁŝƐŚ >ŝďĞƌĂƚŽƌ͕ /ŵƉĞͲ rial Hero ; ĞůŬŶĂƉ WƌĞƐƐ ŽĨ ,ĂƌǀĂƌĚ hŶŝǀĞƌƐŝƚǇͿ͘ ^ŚĞ ƌĞĐĞŝǀĞƐ Ă ΨϮϱ͕ϬϬϬ prize. Gal Beckerman and Abigail Green were honored at a gala ceremony in Jerusalem on April 11th.

dŚĞ Į ŶĂůŝƐƚƐ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ƐŝǆƚŚ ĂŶŶƵĂů ^Ăŵŝ ZŽŚƌ WƌŝǌĞ ĨŽƌ :ĞǁŝƐŚ >ŝƚĞƌĂƚƵƌĞ ĂƌĞ͗ Ruth Franklin — dŚŽƵƐĂŶĚ ĂƌŬŶĞƐƐĞƐ͗ >ŝĞƐ ĂŶĚ dƌƵƚŚ ŝŶ ,ŽůŽĐĂƵƐƚ &ŝĐƟ ŽŶ ;KǆĨŽƌĚ hŶŝǀĞƌƐŝƚǇ WƌĞƐƐͿ Jonathan B. Krasner — The Benderly Boys and American Jewish ĚƵĐĂƟ ŽŶ ; ƌĂŶĚĞŝƐ hŶŝǀĞƌƐŝƚǇ WƌĞƐƐͬhŶŝǀĞƌƐŝƚǇ WƌĞƐƐ ŽĨ EĞǁ ŶŐůĂŶĚͿ :ĂŵĞƐ >ŽĞŋ Ğƌ —dŚĞ DŽƐƚ DƵƐŝĐĂů EĂƟ ŽŶ͗ :ĞǁƐ ĂŶĚ ƵůƚƵƌĞ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ >ĂƚĞ ZƵƐƐŝĂŶ ŵƉŝƌĞ ;zĂůĞ hŶŝǀĞƌƐŝƚǇ WƌĞƐƐͿ Ǉ ǀŝƌƚƵĞ ŽĨ ďĞŝŶŐ ŶĂŵĞĚ Ă ^Ăŵŝ ZŽŚƌ WƌŝǌĞ Į ŶĂůŝƐƚ͕ ƚŚĞƐĞ ǁƌŝƚĞƌƐ ĂƌĞ ǁĞůĐŽŵĞĚ ŝŶƚŽ ƚŚĞ ĨĞůůŽǁƐŚŝƉ ŽĨ Ă ĚŝƐƟ ŶŐƵŝƐŚĞĚ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ůŝƚĞƌĂƌǇ ĐŽŵŵƵͲ ŶŝƚǇ͘ dŚĞ ǁŝŶŶĞƌƐ͕ Į ŶĂůŝƐƚƐ͕ ũƵĚŐĞƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ĂĚǀŝƐŽƌǇ ďŽĂƌĚ ŵĞŵďĞƌƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ Sami Rohr Prize for Jewish Literature meet biennially at the Sami Rohr :ĞǁŝƐŚ >ŝƚĞƌĂƌǇ /ŶƐƟ ƚƵƚĞ͕ Ă ĨŽƌƵŵ ĚĞǀŽƚĞĚ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŶƟ ŶƵŝƚǇ ŽĨ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ůŝƚͲ ĞƌĂƚƵƌĞ͘ dŚĞ /ŶƐƟ ƚƵƚĞ͕ ĐŽŽƌĚŝŶĂƚĞĚ ďǇ ƚŚĞ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ŽŽŬ ŽƵŶĐŝů͕ ĐƌĞĂƚĞƐ an environment in which established and emerging writers can meet ĂŶĚ ĞǆĐŚĂŶŐĞ ŝĚĞĂƐ ĂŶĚ ƉĞƌƐƉĞĐƟ ǀĞƐ͘ tŝƚŚŝŶ Ă ƐŚŽƌƚ ƉĞƌŝŽĚ ŽĨ Ɵ ŵĞ͕ ƚŚĞ ^Ăŵŝ ZŽŚƌ :ĞǁŝƐŚ >ŝƚĞƌĂƌǇ /ŶƐƟ ƚƵƚĞ ŚĂƐ ďĞĐŽŵĞ ĂŶ ŝŵƉŽƌƚĂŶƚ ŵĞĞƟ ŶŐ place for the leading lights of the American Jewish literary world.

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summer 5772/2012

Jewish Book World

2012 sami rohr prize winner

Tapping Into the Epic by Gal Beckerman

efore I had any awareness of a Jewish ŝĚĞŶƟƚǇ͕ / ŬŶĞǁ ƚǁŽ ƐƚŽƌŝĞƐ ǀĞƌǇ ǁĞůůͶ ŽŶĞ Ă ŶŝŐŚƚŵĂƌĞ͕ ƚŚĞ ŽƚŚĞƌ Ă ĨĂŶƚĂƐǇ͕ ĂŶĚ both episodes from what could only be ĐĂůůĞĚ ƚŚĞ ĞƉŝĐ ŽĨ ƚǁĞŶƟĞƚŚ ĐĞŶƚƵƌǇ :ĞǁŝƐŚ history. The Holocaust was introduced to me through my grandmother’s account of surviving part of the war by living in a ŚŽůĞ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŐƌŽƵŶĚ͕ ǁŚĞƌĞ ƐŚĞ ǁĂƐ ŚŝĚĚĞŶ together with her mother and sister and ƉƌŽƚĞĐƚĞĚ ďǇ Ă WŽůŝƐŚ ĨĂƌŵĞƌ͘ / ĂďƐŽƌďĞĚ ƚŚĞ ƐƚŽƌǇ ƚŚĞ ǁĂǇ Ă ĐŚŝůĚ ǁŽƵůĚ͕ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚ ƚŚĞ ŚŽƌƌŝĨǇŝŶŐ ĚĞƚĂŝůƐͶŚŽǁ ƐŚĞ ĐŽƵůĚ ŽŶůǇ ƐǁŝƚĐŚ ƉŽƐŝƟŽŶƐ ĞǀĞƌǇ ĨĞǁ ŚŽƵƌƐ͕ ŚŽǁ ƵƉŽŶ ĞŵĞƌŐŝŶŐ ƐŚĞ ǁĂƐ ďůŝŶĚĞĚ ĨŽƌ ĚĂǇƐ ďǇ ŚĞƌ ĮƌƐƚ ƐŝŐŚƚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƐƵŶ͕ ŚŽǁ ƐŚĞ ŚĂĚ ƚŽ ƌĞͲůĞĂƌŶ ƚŽ ǁĂůŬ ĂŐĂŝŶ͘ Then there was the story of my parents ŵĞĞƟŶŐ ŝŶ /ƐƌĂĞů Ăƚ ƚŚĞ ĂŐĞ ŽĨ ϭϰ͕ ŝŶ dĞů ǀŝǀ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ϭϵϲϬƐ͕ ďĞĨŽƌĞ ƚŚĞ ^ŝǆ ĂǇ tĂƌ͕ told with nostalgia for an age of innocence ǁŚĞƌĞ ƚŚĞǇ ƉůĂǇĞĚ Ăůů ĚĂǇ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƐƚƌĞĞƚƐ͕ ůŝǀĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞŝƌ ƐĐŽƵƚƐ͛ ƵŶŝĨŽƌŵƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ďƵŝůƚ ďŽŶĮƌĞƐ ĞǀĞƌǇ ǁĞĞŬĞŶĚ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ďĞĂĐŚ͘ Amos Oz says that to his mind the birth of ŵŽĚĞƌŶ ,ĞďƌĞǁ ŽĐĐƵƌƌĞĚ ǁŚĞŶ͕ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ĮƌƐƚ ƟŵĞ ƐŝŶĐĞ ƚŚĞ ƐĞǀĞŶƚĞĞŶƚŚ ĐĞŶƚƵƌǇ͕ Ă ďŽǇ ĂŶĚ Ă Őŝƌů ƐĂŝĚ ͞/ ůŽǀĞ ǇŽƵ͟ ƚŽ ĞĂĐŚ other in the long-dead language. When I ƌĞĂĚ ƚŚŝƐ͕ / ĐŽƵůĚ ƐĞĞ ƚŚĞ ďŽǇ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ Őŝƌů perfectly. I’m sure they were my parents. To grow up with these stories and know them before any other meant that narƌĂƟǀĞ ŝƚƐĞůĨ ǁĂƐ ĂůǁĂǇƐ ƚĂŶŐůĞĚ ƵƉ ǁŝƚŚ something that seemed to come out of the Jewish experience. It’s not hard now to see ǁŚĂƚ ǁĂƐ ƐŽ ĂƩƌĂĐƟǀĞ͕ ƐŽ ŝƌƌĞƐŝƐƟďůĞ ƚŽ Ă storyteller about the last hundred years of Jewish history. All the great mythic tropes ĂƌĞ ƚŚĞƌĞͶĚĞĂƚŚ ĂŶĚ ƌĞďŝƌƚŚ͕ ƌĞǀŽůƵƟŽŶ ĂŶĚ ƌĞĚĞŵƉƟŽŶ͕ Ă ƉĞŽƉůĞ ƐŽ ĨĂŵŝůŝĂƌ with the weight of history on top of them suddenly feeling themselves struggling to ĐŽŶƚƌŽů ŝƚƐ ĚŝƌĞĐƟŽŶ͘ I wanted to tell the history of the Soviet Jewry movement because ŝƚ ŐĂǀĞ ŵĞ Ă ĐŚĂŶĐĞ ƚŽ ƚĂƉ ŝŶƚŽ ƚŚŝƐ ĞƉŝĐ ĂŶĚ Įůů ŝŶ Ă ĐƌŝƟĐĂů ƉŝĞĐĞ ƚŚĂƚ seemed to be missing. To get from death to rebirth a catharsis was ŶĞĐĞƐƐĂƌǇ͗ ŝƚ ďĞĐĂŵĞ ĐůĞĂƌ ƚŽ ŵĞ͕ ĂŌĞƌ ŵĂŶǇ ǇĞĂƌƐ ŽĨ ƌĞƐĞĂƌĐŚŝŶŐ ŝŶ ĂƌĐŚŝǀĞƐ ĂŶĚ ƚĂůŬŝŶŐ ǁŝƚŚ ŚƵŶĚƌĞĚƐ ŽĨ ĂĐƟǀŝƐƚƐ ŝŶǀŽůǀĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ŵŽǀĞŵĞŶƚ͕ ƚŚĂƚ ŝƚ ǁĂƐ ƉĂƌƚůǇ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚ ƚŚĞ ƐƚƌƵŐŐůĞ ŽĨ ^ŽǀŝĞƚ :ĞǁƐ ƚŽ ůĞĂǀĞ ƚŚĞŝƌ ƚŽƚĂůŝƚĂƌŝĂŶ ĞŵƉŝƌĞ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ĞīŽƌƚ ŽĨ ŵĞƌŝĐĂŶƐ ĂŶĚ /ƐƌĂĞůŝƐ ƚŽ ŐĞƚ them out that this process took place. The story of the movement was one I knew about only very vaguely ǁŚĞŶ / ďĞŐĂŶ͘ /ƚ ǁĂƐ ŝŶ ƐŽŵĞ ǁĂǇƐ Ă ǀŝĐƟŵ ŽĨ ŝƚƐ ŽǁŶ ƐƵĐĐĞƐƐͶƚŚĞ Ğŵŝ-

Jewish Book World

summer 5772/2012

ŐƌĂƟŽŶ ĂŶĚ ĂďƐŽƌƉƟŽŶ ŽĨ ŶĞĂƌůǇ Ă ŵŝůůŝŽŶ ĂŶĚ Ă ŚĂůĨ :ĞǁƐ ŽǀĞƌƚŽŽŬ ĂŶĚ ƐĞĞŵĞĚ ƚŽ ŽďƐĐƵƌĞ ƚŚĞ ŚŝƐƚŽƌǇ ŽĨ Ă ƚŚŝƌƚǇͲǇĞĂƌ ĞīŽƌƚ͘ KǀĞƌ Ăůů ƚŚĂƚ ƟŵĞ͕ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ ĞĂƌůǇ ϭϵϲϬƐ ƵŶƟů ƚŚĞ ůĂƐƚ ĚĂǇƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŽůĚ tĂƌ͕ ƚŚĞ ĞŶĚ ǁĂƐ ƵŶĐĞƌƚĂŝŶ͕ ďƵƚ ƚŚĞ ƐƚƌƵŐŐůĞ ŝƚƐĞůĨ ƉƌŽǀŝĚĞĚ ƐƵƐƚĞŶĂŶĐĞ ƚŽ ĂŶ ŵĞƌŝĐĂŶ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ĐŽŵŵƵŶŝƚǇ ĮŶĚŝŶŐ ŝƚƐ ŽǁŶ ǀŽŝĐĞ ĂŶĚ ƚŽ ^ŽǀŝĞƚ :ĞǁƐ͕ ǁŚŽ ƚŚƌĞĞ ŐĞŶĞƌĂƟŽŶƐ ƌĞŵŽǀĞĚ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ ŽůƐŚĞǀŝŬ ƌĞǀŽůƵƟŽŶ ǁĞƌĞ ƐƟůů ƌĞŐĂƌĚĞĚ ĂƐ Ă ĨŽƌĞŝŐŶ ĞůĞŵĞŶƚ͕ ŶŽƚ ĂůůŽǁĞĚ ƚŽ ŝŶƚĞŐƌĂƚĞ ĨƵůůǇ Žƌ ƚŽ ůĞĂǀĞ͘ KŶĐĞ ƚŚĞ ƐƚŽƌǇ ŚĂĚ ŵĞ͕ / ǁĂƐ ĚƌĂǁŶ ŝŶ ďǇ Ăůů ŝƚƐ ŵĂŶǇ ĐŽŵƉůĞǆŝƟĞƐ ĂŶĚ ƚĞŶƐŝŽŶƐ͘ KŶ ƚŚĞ ŵĞƌŝĐĂŶ ƐŝĚĞ͕ ƚŚĞƌĞ ǁĞƌĞ ĚŝǀŝƐŝŽŶƐ ŽǀĞƌ ǁŚĞƚŚĞƌ ƚŽ ĞŵƉůŽǇ ƚŚĞ ŐƵĞƌŝůůĂ ƚĂĐƟĐƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŐƌĂƐƐƌŽŽƚƐ Žƌ ƚŽ ůŝƐƚĞŶ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ĞƐƚĂďůŝƐŚŵĞŶƚ ĚĞŵĂŶĚƐ ĨŽƌ ƌĞƐƉŽŶƐŝďůĞ ĂĐƟŽŶ͖ ǁŚĞƚŚĞƌ ƚŽ ƚĂŬĞ ŝŶƚŽ ĐŽŶƐŝĚĞƌĂƟŽŶ ƚŚĞ ŝŽŶŝƐƚ ŝŵƉĞƌĂƟǀĞƐ ƚŚĂƚ Ăůů ^ŽǀŝĞƚ :ĞǁƐ ǁŚŽ ŐŽƚ ŽƵƚ ďĞ ĨƵŶŶĞůĞĚ ƚŽǁĂƌĚ /ƐƌĂĞů Žƌ ƌĞŵĂŝŶ ƚƌƵĞ͕ ĮƌƐƚůǇ͕ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ŵĞƌŝĐĂŶ ĐŽŶĐĞƉƚ ŽĨ ĨƌĞĞĚŽŵ ŽĨ ŵŽǀĞŵĞŶƚ͖ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĂƚ ŵĂƩĞƌ͕ ǁŚĞƚŚĞƌ ƚŽ ĐŽŶĐĞŝǀĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĐĂƵƐĞ as a universal human rights struggle or as a ƉĂƌƟĐƵůĂƌŝƐƟĐ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ŽŶĞ͘ And that was just the Americans. The ĂĐƟǀŝƐƚƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ DŽƐĐŽǁ ĂŶĚ >ĞŶŝŶŐƌĂĚ ƵŶĚĞƌŐƌŽƵŶĚ ŚĂĚ ƚŚĞŝƌ ŽǁŶ ŝŶƚĞƌŶĂů ďĂƩůĞƐ͕ and great drama on their side as well. One of the highlights of my six years of research was when I got to know the men and women who tried to carry out a hijacking ŝŶ ϭϵϳϬ ŝŶ ŽƌĚĞƌ ƚŽ ĞƐĐĂƉĞ ƚŚĞ ^ŽǀŝĞƚ hŶŝŽŶ and publicize the problems of Soviet Jews. They seemed to encapsulate perfectly the ŚƵŵĂŶ ĞůĞŵĞŶƚ ŝŶ ƚŚŝƐ ƐƚŽƌǇ͕ ƚŚĞ ĚĞƐƉĞƌĂƟŽŶ ƚŽ ůĞĂǀĞ ;ǀĞƌŐŝŶŐ ŚĞƌĞ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ŶĞĂƌůǇ ƐƵŝĐŝĚĂůͿ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ďŽƵŶĚůĞƐƐ ŚŽƉĞĨƵůŶĞƐƐ ĨŽƌ Ă ďĞƩĞƌ͕ ŵŽƌĞ ĐŽŵƉůĞƚĞ ůŝĨĞ ŝŶ /ƐƌĂĞů͘ Here were individuals willing to risk everything to challenge an oppressive status quo and reconnect with Jewish history. ǀĞŶ ĂŌĞƌ Ăůů ƚŚĞ ǇĞĂƌƐ ƐƉĞŶƚ ǁŽƌŬŝŶŐ ŽŶ ƚŚŝƐ ƉƌŽũĞĐƚ͕ / ĐŽŶƟŶƵĞ ƚŽ ďĞ ĞŶƚŚƌĂůůĞĚ ďǇ that epic Jewish experience. My interest ŝƐ ŶŽƚ ũƵƐƚ ƉĞƌƐŽŶĂů ďƵƚ Ă ĨƵŶĐƟŽŶ͕ ƐŝŵƉůǇ͕ ŽĨ ďĞŝŶŐ ĚƌĂǁŶ ďĂĐŬ͕ ĂŐĂŝŶ ĂŶĚ ĂŐĂŝŶ͕ to a great story. As opinion editor at the &ŽƌǁĂƌĚ͕ /͛ŵ ĞŶŐĂŐŝŶŐ ĞǀĞƌǇ ĚĂǇ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ďŝŐ ƋƵĞƐƟŽŶƐ ƚŚĂƚ ƚƌŽƵďůĞ ĂŶĚ ĨĂƐĐŝŶĂƚĞ :ĞǁƐͶ/ƐƌĂĞů ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ DŝĚĚůĞ ĂƐƚ͕ ĨĞĂƌƐ ŽĨ ĂƐƐŝŵŝůĂƟŽŶ͕ ŽƌƚŚŽĚŽǆǇ ǀĞƌƐƵƐ ŵŽĚĞƌŶŝƚǇ͕ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ƉŽůŝƟĐĂů ƉŽǁĞƌ͘ ŶĚ / Ăŵ ĂůǁĂǇƐ ůŽŽŬŝŶŐ ĨŽƌ Ă ŶĂƌƌĂƟǀĞ ĂƉƉƌŽĂĐŚ ƚŽ ƚĂůŬŝŶŐ ĂďŽƵƚ ƚŚĞƐĞ ŝƐƐƵĞƐ͕ ŽŶĞ ƚŚĂƚ ůŝŶŬƐ ƚŚĞŵ ƵƉ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ƵŶŝǀĞƌƐĂů ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ƉĂƌƟĐƵůĂƌ͘ dŚĞ ďĞƐƚ ǁĂǇ /͛ǀĞ ĨŽƵŶĚ ŝƐ ƚŽ ƚĞůů Ă ŚƵŵĂŶ ƐƚŽƌǇ͕ ĂƐ / ƚƌŝĞĚ ƚŽ ĚŽ ĞǀĞŶ ǁŚĞŶ approaching the vast history of the Soviet Jewry movement. It’s a principle that I know will guide me in my works to come.

www.jewishbookcouncil.org

2012 sami rohr prize choice award

Looking for Montefiore by Abigail Green

ǁŝŶĚŵŝůů͕ Ă ĐĂƌĞ ŚŽŵĞ ŝŶ ƵƐƚƌĂůŝĂ͕ Ă ƋƵĂƌƚĞƌ ŽĨ :ĞƌƵƐĂůĞŵ͕ Ă ŚŽƐƉŝƚĂů ŝŶ EĞǁ zŽƌŬ͗ ůŝƩůĞ ŶŽǁ ƌĞŵĂŝŶƐ ŽĨ ^ŝƌ DŽƐĞƐ DŽŶƚĞĮŽƌĞ͕ ƚŚĞ ƉƌĞͲĞŵŝŶĞŶƚ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ĮŐƵƌĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŶŝŶĞƚĞĞŶƚŚ ĐĞŶƚƵƌǇ͕ ĂůƚŚŽƵŐŚ ŵǇ ĨĂŵŝůǇ ƐƟůů cherishes his memory with pride. Yet MonteĮŽƌĞ ǁĂƐ Ă ŐƌŽƵŶĚďƌĞĂŬŝŶŐ ŚƵŵĂŶŝƚĂƌŝĂŶ ĂŶĚ ƉŚŝůĂŶƚŚƌŽƉŝƐƚ͕ ǁŚŽƐĞ ŝŶƚĞƌŶĂƟŽŶĂů ĐĂŵƉĂŝŐŶƐ ĨŽƌ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ǀŝĐƟŵƐ ŽĨ ƉĞƌƐĞĐƵƟŽŶ ĂŶĚ ĨĂŵŝŶĞ ĐĂƉƚƵƌĞĚ ƚŚĞ ŝŵĂŐŝŶĂƟŽŶ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ǁŽƌůĚ͘ ,ŝƐ missions on behalf of oppressed Jewry took Śŝŵ ƐĞǀĞŶ ƟŵĞƐ ƚŽ WĂůĞƐƟŶĞ͕ ƚŽ ŐǇƉƚ͕ ZƵƐƐŝĂ͕ ZŽŵĞ͕ dƵƌŬĞǇ͕ DŽƌŽĐĐŽ͕ ĂŶĚ ZŽŵĂŶŝĂ͕ ǁŚĞƌĞ ŚĞ ŝŶƚĞƌĐĞĚĞĚ ŽŶ ƚŚĞŝƌ ďĞŚĂůĨ ǁŝƚŚ ƉĂƐŚĂƐ͕ ƐƵůƚĂŶƐ͕ ĞŵƉĞƌŽƌƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ƉŽƉĞƐ͘ KƉĞƌĂƟŶŐ ĂƐ ĂŶ ƵŶŽĸĐŝĂů ĂŵďĂƐƐĂĚŽƌ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ƉĞŽƉůĞ͕ DŽŶƚĞĮŽƌĞ ƉŝŽŶĞĞƌĞĚ Ă ĚŝƉůŽŵĂƟĐ ĂƉƉƌŽĂĐŚ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ƉƌŽďůĞŵ ŽĨ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ƉĞƌƐĞĐƵƟŽŶ ƚŚĂƚ ŚĞůƉĞĚ ĐĂƌǀĞ Ă ŶĞǁ ƉůĂĐĞ ĨŽƌ Jews in the modern world. DǇ ŵŽƚŚĞƌ ǁĂƐ ďŽƌŶ Ă DŽŶƚĞĮŽƌĞ͕ ƐŽ ƚŚŝƐ story has always resonated in my life. A portrait of Sir Moses’s mother hung in the hallway of my ŐƌĂŶĚƉĂƌĞŶƚƐ͛ ŚŽƵƐĞ ĂůŽŶŐƐŝĚĞ ƚŚĞ DŽŶƚĞĮŽƌĞ family arms. Every Pesach we read an extract ĨƌŽŵ DŽŶƚĞĮŽƌĞ͛Ɛ ĚŝĂƌǇ ĚĞƐĐƌŝďŝŶŐ ŚŝƐ ŵŝƌĂĐƵlous escape from a watery grave upon throwing Ă ƉŝĞĐĞ ŽĨ ĂĮŬŽŵĞŶ ŝŶƚŽ ƐƚŽƌŵǇ ƐĞĂƐ ƐŽƵƚŚ ŽĨ DĂůƚĂ͘ KŶĐĞ͕ ĂƐ Ă ƚĞĞŶĂŐĞƌ͕ / ĂƩĞŶĚĞĚ Ă ŵĂƐƐŝǀĞ ĨĂŵŝůǇ ůƵŶĐŚ ƚŽ ŵĂƌŬ ŚŝƐ ďŝĐĞŶƚĞŶĂƌǇ ŝŶ ϭϵϴϰͲϱ͘ We solemnly perused copies of the family tree and trekked out to an obscure museum on the ĨƌŝŶŐĞƐ ŽĨ >ŽŶĚŽŶ͕ ǁŚĞƌĞ Ă ƐŵĂůů ĐŽŵŵĞŵŽƌĂƟǀĞ ĞǆŚŝďŝƟŽŶ ǁĂƐ ŚĞůĚ͘ tŚĞŶ / ďĞŐĂŶ ǁŽƌŬ ŽŶ DŽŶƚĞĮŽƌĞ͕ / ƚǇƉŝcally encountered two responses. Historians outside the world of Jewish studies hadn’t heard of him and couldn’t understand why an Oxford don would abandon a ‘safe’ career studyŝŶŐ 'ĞƌŵĂŶ ŶĂƟŽŶĂůŝƐŵ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ďŝŽŐƌĂƉŚǇ ŽĨ Ă ƐĞĞŵŝŶŐůǇ ŽďƐĐƵƌĞ :Ğǁ͘ sŝĞǁĞĚ ƉƌŽĨĞƐƐŝŽŶĂůůǇ͕ ƚŚĞ ĨĂŵŝůǇ ĐŽŶŶĞĐƟŽŶ ǁĂƐ͕ ŝĨ ĂŶǇƚŚŝŶŐ͕ Ă ůŝƩůĞ ĞŵďĂƌƌĂƐƐŝŶŐ͘ DĞĂŶǁŚŝůĞ͕ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ŚŝƐƚŽƌŝĂŶƐ ǁĂƌŶĞĚ ŵĞ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞƌĞ ǁĞƌĞ ŶŽ ƐŽƵƌĐĞƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ŶŽƚŚŝŶŐ ŶĞǁ ƚŽ ƐĂǇ͘ ŽŵŝŶŐ ĨƌĞƐŚ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ĮĞůĚ͕ / ǁĂƐ ŶĂŢǀĞ ĞŶŽƵŐŚ ƚŽ ŝŐŶŽƌĞ ƚŚĞŵ͘ /Ŷ ƚƌƵƚŚ͕ ƚŚĞ ƉƌŽũĞĐƚ ƉŽƐĞĚ ŚƵŐĞ ĚŝĸĐƵůƟĞƐ͗ ĂƌĐŚŝǀĂů ŵĂƚĞƌŝĂůƐ ŝŶ ĞůĞǀĞŶ ĐŽƵŶƚƌŝĞƐ ĂŶĚ ŶŝŶĞ ůĂŶŐƵĂŐĞƐ ĚĞŵĂŶĚĞĚ ůŝŶŐƵŝƐƟĐ ĂŶĚ ƉĂůĞŽŐƌĂƉŚŝĐ ƐŬŝůůƐ / ƐŝŵƉůǇ ĚŝĚŶ͛ƚ ŚĂǀĞ͘ Ƶƚ ĂƐ / ǁŽƌŬĞĚ ŵǇ ǁĂǇ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚ ŶĞǁƐƉĂƉĞƌƐ͕ ĚŝĂƌŝĞƐ͕ ƉĞƌƐŽŶĂů ŵĞŵŽƌĂďŝůŝĂ͕ ĂŶĚ ŐŽǀĞƌŶŵĞŶƚ ĚŽĐƵŵĞŶƚƐ͕ ǀŝƐŝƟŶŐ ĐŽƌŶĞƌƐ ŽĨ Ă ůŽƐƚ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ǁŽƌůĚ ĨƌŽŵ <ŽǀŶŽ ƚŽ DŽŐĂĚŽƌ͕ / ƌĞĂůŝǌĞĚ ƚŚĂƚ ƵŶĚĞƌƉŝŶŶŝŶŐ DŽŶƚĞĮŽƌĞ͛Ɛ ƌĞŵĂƌŬĂďůĞ ůŝĨĞͲƐƚŽƌǇ ǁĂƐ Ă ĨĂƌ ŵŽƌĞ ŝŵƉŽƌƚĂŶƚ ƐƚŽƌǇ ǁĂŝƟŶŐ ƚŽ ďĞ ƚŽůĚ͘ / ŬŶĞǁ͕ ŽĨ ĐŽƵƌƐĞ͕ ƚŚĂƚ DŽŶƚĞĮŽƌĞ͛Ɛ ůŝĨĞ ĞŶĐĂƉƐƵůĂƚĞĚ ƚŚĞ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ŶŝŶĞƚĞĞŶƚŚ ĐĞŶƚƵƌǇ͘ ŽƌŶ ďĞĨŽƌĞ ƚŚĞ &ƌĞŶĐŚ ƌĞǀŽůƵƟŽŶ ďƌŽƵŐŚƚ ƚŚĞ ŚŽƉĞ ŽĨ ĞŵĂŶĐŝƉĂƟŽŶ͕ ŚĞ ůŝǀĞĚ ƚŽ ƐĞĞ ƚŚĞ ƚƌĂŐĞĚǇ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƉŽŐƌŽŵƐ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ĨĂůƚĞƌŝŶŐ ďĞŐŝŶŶŝŶŐƐ ŽĨ ŝŽŶŝƐŵ͘ ^ƵƉĞƌĮĐŝĂůůǇ͕ DŽŶƚĞĮŽƌĞ͛Ɛ ůŝĨĞ ĚŽǀĞƚĂŝůĞĚ

ŶĞĂƚůǇ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ƐƟƌƌŝŶŐ ďƵƚ ƐůŝŐŚƚůǇ ŚĂĐŬŶĞǇĞĚ ŶĂƌƌĂƟǀĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ƚƌĂŶƐŝƟŽŶ ƚŽ ŵŽĚĞƌŶŝƚǇ͘ zĞƚ ƚŚŝƐ ǁĂƐ Ă ŶĂƌƌĂƟǀĞ ŝŶ ǁŚŝĐŚ DŽŶƚĞĮŽƌĞ͛Ɛ ĞǆƚƌĂŽƌĚŝŶĂƌǇ ĐŽŶƚƌŝďƵƟŽŶ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ŚŝƐƚŽƌǇ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ƉĞŽƉůĞ ĂŶĚ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ŚƵŵĂŶŝƚĂƌŝĂŶ ƚƌĂĚŝƟŽŶƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ tĞƐƚ ŚĂĚ ƐŽŵĞŚŽǁ ĚŝƐĂƉƉĞĂƌĞĚ from view. >ŽŽŬŝŶŐ ĨŽƌ DŽŶƚĞĮŽƌĞ ƌĞƋƵŝƌĞĚ ŵĞ ƚŽ ĚŝŐ Ă ůŝƩůĞ ĚĞĞƉĞƌ͘ /ƚ ƚƵƌŶĞĚ ŽƵƚ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞƌĞ ǁĞƌĞ ůŽƚƐ ŽĨ ďŽŽŬƐ ĂďŽƵƚ :ĞǁƐ ŝŶ ƉĂƌƟĐƵůĂƌ ƉůĂĐĞƐ͕ ďƵƚ nobody had really thought about the parallel experiences of Jews in ƉůĂĐĞƐ ůŝŬĞ ŶŐůĂŶĚ͕ ZƵƐƐŝĂ͕ WĂůĞƐƟŶĞ͕ ĂŶĚ DŽƌŽĐĐŽ ŝŶ Ă ǁĂǇ ƚŚĂƚ ƌĞŇĞĐƚĞĚ ƚŚĞ ĚŝīĞƌĞŶĐĞƐ ďƵƚ ĂůƐŽ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŶŶĞĐƟŽŶƐ ďĞƚǁĞĞŶ ƚŚĞŵ͕ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ fact that these experiences were happening simultaneously. Because of DŽŶƚĞĮŽƌĞ͛Ɛ ŚƵŵĂŶŝƚĂƌŝĂŶ ĐŽŶĐĞƌŶƐ͕ ŝŶƚĞƌŶĂƟŽŶĂů ŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƚƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ƐƚƌŽŶŐ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ƟĞƐ͕ ĞǆƉůŽƌŝŶŐ ŚŝƐ ůŝĨĞ ƐƚŽƌǇ ĞŶĂďůĞĚ ŵĞ ƚŽ ĐŽŶŶĞĐƚ ƚŚĞ ĚŽƚƐ ŽĨ Jewish history in new ways. /Ŷ ϭϴϳϭ͕ ĨŽƌ ŝŶƐƚĂŶĐĞ͕ Ă ƚĞƌƌŝďůĞ ƉŽŐƌŽŵ ůĞŌ ϰϬϬϬ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ĨĂŵŝůŝĞƐ ĚĞƐƟƚƵƚĞ ŝŶ ZƵƐƐŝĂŶ KĚĞƐƐĂ͕ ũƵƐƚ as famine threatened Persian Jewry with starvaƟŽŶ ĂŶĚ ĚĞĂƚŚ ŽŶ ĂŶ ĞƉŝĐ ƐĐĂůĞ͘ dŚĞƐĞ ƚƌĂŐĞĚŝĞƐ ƐĞĞŵĞĚ ƵŶĐŽŶŶĞĐƚĞĚ͕ ďƵƚ ƚŚĞǇ ǁĞƌĞŶ͛ƚ͗ :ĞǁƐ ŝŶ >ŽŶĚŽŶ ůŝŬĞ DŽŶƚĞĮŽƌĞ ůĞĂƌŶĞĚ ĂďŽƵƚ ƚŚĞŵ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ ƐĂŵĞ ƟŵĞ͘ hŶĂďůĞ ƚŽ ĂŐƌĞĞ ŽŶ Ă ǁĂǇ ĨŽƌǁĂƌĚ͕ they launched rival fund-raising campaigns that ĂƩƌĂĐƚĞĚ ĚŽŶĂƟŽŶƐ ĨƌŽŵ :ĞǁƐ ŝŶ ƉůĂĐĞƐ ĂƐ ĨĂƌ ŇƵŶŐ ĂƐ >ŝƚŚƵĂŶŝĂ͕ 'ĞƌŵĂŶǇ͕ ĂŶĚ EŽƌƚŚ ŵĞƌŝĐĂ͕ ƌĂŝƐŝŶŐ ŵŝůůŝŽŶƐ ŝŶ ƚŽĚĂǇ͛Ɛ ŵŽŶĞǇ ŽŶ ďĞŚĂůĨ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ǀŝĐƟŵƐ͘ Episodes like this illuminate the birth of an internaƟŽŶĂů :ĞǁŝƐŚ ƉƵďůŝĐ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ŐůŽďĂůŝǌĂƟŽŶ ŽĨ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ĐŽŶƐĐŝŽƵƐŶĞƐƐ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ĮƌƐƚ ƟŵĞ͘ Nor was this just a Jewish story. Reading about the famine and humanitarian disasters that galvaŶŝǌĞĚ DŽŶƚĞĮŽƌĞ͕ / ǁĂƐ ƌĞƉĞĂƚĞĚůǇ ƐƚƌƵĐŬ ďǇ ƉĂƌĂůlels with our contemporary world. Disaster news is ĚŝƐƚƌĞƐƐŝŶŐůǇ ĨĂŵŝůŝĂƌ ŶŽǁĂĚĂǇƐ͕ ďƵƚ ŝŶ DŽŶƚĞĮŽƌĞ͛Ɛ ĂŐĞ ŝƚ ǁĂƐ ƐŽŵĞƚŚŝŶŐ ŶĞǁ ĂŶĚ ĞǆƚƌĂŽƌĚŝŶĂƌǇ͘ tĂƌ͕ ƐƚĂƌǀĂƟŽŶ͕ ĂŶĚ ŶĂƚƵƌĂů ĐĂƚĂƐƚƌŽƉŚĞƐ ĂƌĞ ƐƚĂƉůĞƐ ŽĨ ŚƵŵĂŶ ĞǆŝƐƚĞŶĐĞ͕ ǇĞƚ ĨŽƌ ĐĞŶƚƵƌŝĞƐ ŶŽ ŽŶĞ ĐĂƌĞĚ ďĞǇŽŶĚ ƚŚŽƐĞ ŝŵŵĞĚŝĂƚĞůǇ ĂīĞĐƚĞĚ͕ ƋƵŝƚĞ ƐŝŵƉůǇ ďĞĐĂƵƐĞ ŶŽďŽĚǇ ŬŶĞǁ͘ dŚĂŶŬƐ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ƚĞůĞŐƌĂƉŚ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ŶĞǁƐƉĂƉĞƌ͕ ƐƵĚĚĞŶůǇ ƚŚĞǇ ĚŝĚ͘ ŶĚ ďĞĐĂƵƐĞ ƚŚŝƐ ǁĂƐ Ă ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚĂů ĂŐĞ ŽĨ ƉƌŽĨŽƵŶĚ ƌĞůŝŐŝŽƵƐ ĂŶĚ ŵŽƌĂů ĐŽŶǀŝĐƟŽŶƐ ƚŚĞƌĞ ǁĞƌĞ ŵĂŶǇ͕ ƉĂƌƟĐƵůĂƌůǇ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ tĞƐƚ͕ ǁŚŽ ƌĞĨƵƐĞĚ ƚŽ ůŽŽŬ ĂǁĂǇ͘ DŽŶƚĞĮŽƌĞ͛Ɛ ĐĂŵƉĂŝŐŶƐ ŽŶ ďĞŚĂůĨ ŽĨ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ƌĞĨƵŐĞĞƐ ĂŶĚ ĨĂŵŝŶĞ ǀŝĐƟŵƐ ǁĞƌĞ ƉĂƌƚ ĂŶĚ ƉĂƌĐĞů ŽĨ ƚŚŝƐ ƉŚĞŶŽŵĞŶŽŶͶďĞĐĂƵƐĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞŝƌ ŐůŽďĂů ƐĐĂůĞ͕ ĂŶĚ ďĞĐĂƵƐĞ ƚŚĞǇ ĐŽŵďŝŶĞĚ ƌĞůŝŐŝŽŶ ǁŝƚŚ ŚƵŵĂŶŝƚĂƌŝĂŶŝƐŵ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ĞǆŽƟĐ ĂƐƚ ŝŶ Ă ǁĂǇ ƚŚĂƚ ƌĞƐŽŶĂƚĞĚ ǁĞůů ďĞǇŽŶĚ ƚŚĞ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ǁŽƌůĚ͘ >ŽŽŬŝŶŐ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚ ƚŚĞ ůŝƐƚƐ ŽĨ ƚŚŽƐĞ ǁŚŽ ŐĂǀĞ ŵŽŶĞǇ ƚŽ DŽŶƚĞĮŽƌĞ͕ / ǁĂƐ ĂŵĂǌĞĚ ƚŽ ĮŶĚ ƌĞǀĞƌĞŶĚƐ͕ ĐŽƵŶƚĞƐƐĞƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ƌĂŝůǁĂǇ ǁŽƌŬĞƌƐ͕ ďŝƐŚŽƉƐ ĂŶĚ Australian radicals. This was not just the story of the birth of modern ǁŽƌůĚ :ĞǁƌǇ͖ ŝƚ ǁĂƐ ĂůƐŽ ƚŚĞ ƐƚŽƌǇ ŽĨ ŚŽǁ ƚŚĞ ƉƌŽƚĞĐƟŽŶ ŽĨ ĞƚŚŶŝĐ ĂŶĚ ƌĞůŝŐŝŽƵƐ ŵŝŶŽƌŝƟĞƐ ĐĂŵĞ ƚŽ ďĞ ƐĞĞŶ ĂƐ Ă ďĞŶĐŚŵĂƌŬ ŽĨ tĞƐƚĞƌŶ ͚ĐŝǀŝůŝǌĂƟŽŶ͘Ζ /ƚ ǁĂƐ͕ ŝŶ ƐŚŽƌƚ͕ ƚŚĞ ƐƚŽƌǇ ŽĨ ŚŽǁ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ĂĐƟǀŝƐƚƐ͕ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ĐŽŶĐĞƌŶƐ͕ ĂŶĚ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ǀĂůƵĞƐ ƐŚĂƉĞĚ ƚŚĞ ƚǁŝŶ ƚƌĂĚŝƟŽŶƐ ŽĨ ůŝďĞƌĂůŝƐŵ ĂŶĚ ŚƵŵĂŶ ƌŝŐŚƚƐ ƚŚĂƚ ĚĞĮŶĞ tĞƐƚĞƌŶ ƉŽůŝƟĐĂů ĐƵůƚƵƌĞ͘

www.jewishbookcouncil.org

summer 5772/2012

Jewish Book World

2012 sami rohr prize finalist

Out of Atrocity, Art by Ruth Franklin

Ŷ ϭϵϵϱ͕ ĮŌǇ ǇĞĂƌƐ ĂŌĞƌ ƚŚĞ ĞŶĚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ǁĂƌ͕ a new Holocaust memoir was published to great acclaim. Its author was compared to :ĞĂŶ ŵĠƌǇ͕ WĂƵů ĞůĂŶ͕ ĂŶĚ WƌŝŵŽ >Ğǀŝ͘ /ƚ ǁĂƐ ĐŚĂŵƉŝŽŶĞĚ ǀŝƌƚƵĂůůǇ ƵŶĂŶŝŵŽƵƐůǇ ďǇ ĐƌŝƟĐƐ͕ ŽŶĞ ŽĨ ǁŚŽŵ ĐĂůůĞĚ ŝƚ ͞ƐŽ ŵŽƌĂůůǇ ŝŵƉŽƌƚĂŶƚ͕ ĂŶĚ ƐŽ ĨƌĞĞ ĨƌŽŵ ůŝƚĞƌĂƌǇ ĂƌƟĮĐĞ ŽĨ ĂŶǇ ŬŝŶĚ Ăƚ Ăůů͕ ƚŚĂƚ / ǁŽŶĚĞƌ ŝĨ / ĞǀĞŶ ŚĂǀĞ ƚŚĞ ƌŝŐŚƚ ƚŽ ƚƌǇ ƚŽ ŽīĞƌ ƉƌĂŝƐĞ͘͟ The book was Fragments͕ ďǇ ŝŶũĂŵŝŶ Wilkomirski. You know the rest of the story. © Curtis Martin The author was quickly revealed as an imƉŽƐƚĞƌ͘ ,ŝƐ ƵŶŵĂƐŬŝŶŐ ŵĂĚĞ ĐƌŝƟĐƐ ĂŶĚ ĂĐĂĚĞŵŝĐƐ ĂůŝŬĞ ǁƌŝŶŐ ƚŚĞŝƌ ŚĂŶĚƐ͘ ,Žǁ͕ ƚŚĞǇ ǁŽŶĚĞƌĞĚ͕ ĐŽƵůĚ ƚŚŝƐ ŚĂǀĞ ďĞĞŶ allowed to happen? But the real wonder is that it did not happen sooner. For Wilkomirski’s fraud was the inevitable consequence of the way Holocaust literature has been read and understood in the decades since the war—the focus of my ďŽŽŬ͕ dŚŽƵƐĂŶĚ ĂƌŬŶĞƐƐĞƐ͗ >ŝĞƐ ĂŶĚ dƌƵƚŚ ŝŶ ,ŽůŽĐĂƵƐƚ &ŝĐƟŽŶ. ͞dŽ ǁƌŝƚĞ Ă ƉŽĞŵ ĂŌĞƌ ƵƐĐŚǁŝƚǌ ŝƐ ďĂƌďĂƌŝĐ͗͟ Theodor Adorno’s famous dictum generated a fog ŽĨ ƐƵƐƉŝĐŝŽŶ ŽǀĞƌ ƚŚĞ ǀĞƌǇ ƉŽƐƐŝďŝůŝƚǇ ŽĨ ĐƌĞĂƟŶŐ art in the wake of atrocity. His remark has been ƵŶĐƌŝƟĐĂůůǇ ƌĞĐĞŝǀĞĚ ĂƐ Ă ŐĞŶĞƌĂů ƉƌŽŚŝďŝƟŽŶ ĂŐĂŝŶƐƚ ŝŵĂŐŝŶĂƟǀĞ ůŝƚĞƌĂƚƵƌĞ ĂďŽƵƚ ƚŚĞ ,ŽůŽĐĂƵƐƚ͕ ǁŚŝĐŚ ŝƐ ƐĂŝĚ ƚŽ ďĞ ďĞǇŽŶĚ ƌĞƉƌĞƐĞŶƚĂƟŽŶ͘ ͞ ŶŽǀĞů ĂďŽƵƚ ƵƐĐŚǁŝƚǌ ŝƐ ĞŝƚŚĞƌ ŶŽƚ Ă ŶŽǀĞů͕ Žƌ ŝƚ ŝƐ ŶŽƚ ĂďŽƵƚ ƵƐĐŚǁŝƚǌ͕͟ ůŝĞ tŝĞƐĞů ŚĂƐ ǁƌŝƚƚĞŶ͕ ĂƌŐƵŝŶŐ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŽ ĮĐƟŽŶĂůŝǌĞ ͞ŝŶƐƵůƚƐ ƚŚĞ ĚĞĂĚ͘͟ dŚŽƐĞ ǁŚŽ ǁŝƐŚ ƚŽ ůĞĂƌŶ ĂďŽƵƚ ƚŚĞ ,ŽůŽĐĂƵƐƚ͕ tŝĞƐĞů ǁƌŝƚĞƐ͕ ƐŚŽƵůĚ ƌĞĂĚ ƚĞƐƟŵŽŶŝĞƐ ĂŶĚ ǁĂƚĐŚ ĚŽĐƵŵĞŶƚĂƌŝĞƐ͘ EŽƚ ƐƵƌƉƌŝƐŝŶŐůǇ͕ ĐƌŝƟĐƐ ǁŚŽ address themselves to this body of work have ƚĞŶĚĞĚ ƚŽ ĨĞĞů͕ ĂƐ tŝůŬŽŵŝƌƐŬŝ͛Ɛ ƌĞǀŝĞǁĞƌƐ ĚŝĚ͕ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞǇ ŚĂƌĚůǇ ŚĂǀĞ ƚŚĞ ƌŝŐŚƚ ƚŽ ŽīĞƌ ƉƌĂŝƐĞ͕ ŵƵĐŚ ůĞƐƐ ĐƌŝƟĐŝƐŵ͘ /Ɛ ŝƚ ŶŽƚ ƐƵƉĞƌŇƵŽƵƐ ƚŽ ĂƉƉůǇ ůŝƚĞƌĂƌǇ ĐƌŝƚĞƌŝĂ ƚŽ ǁŽƌŬƐ ƚŚĂƚ ƚĞƐƟĨǇ ƚŽ ƐŽŵĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŐƌĞĂƚĞƐƚ ďƌƵƚĂůŝƟĞƐ ŝŶ ŚŝƐƚŽƌǇ͍ zĞƚ ŝĨ ƌĞĂĚĞƌƐ ĂƵƚŽŵĂƟĐĂůůǇ ƐƵƐƉĞŶĚ ƚŚĞŝƌ ĐƌŝƟĐĂů ĨĂĐƵůƟĞƐ ǁŚĞŶ ŝƚ ĐŽŵĞƐ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ,ŽůŽĐĂƵƐƚ͕ ƚŚĞ ŝŶĞǀŝƚĂďůĞ ĐŽŶƐĞƋƵĞŶĐĞ ǁŝůů ďĞ ĨƌĂƵĚƐ ůŝŬĞ tŝůŬŽŵŝƌƐŬŝ͛Ɛ͕ ǁŚŝĐŚ ƉƌŽůŝĨĞƌĂƚĞĚͶŶŽƚ ďǇ ĂĐĐŝĚĞŶƚͶŽǀĞƌ ƚŚĞ ůĂƐƚ ĨĞǁ ĚĞĐĂĚĞƐ͘ ƚ ƚŚĞ ƐĂŵĞ ƟŵĞ͕ ŝĨ ĮĚĞůŝƚǇ ƚŽ ŚŝƐƚŽƌŝĐĂů ĨĂĐƚ ďĞĐŽŵĞƐ ƚŚĞ ŽŶůǇ ďĞŶĐŚŵĂƌŬ ďǇ ǁŚŝĐŚ ƚŽ ũƵĚŐĞ ,ŽůŽĐĂƵƐƚ ǁƌŝƟŶŐ͕ ǁĞ ŽǀĞƌůŽŽŬ ƚŚĞ ĐƌƵĐŝĂů ƌŽůĞ ƚŚĞ ĐƌĞĂƟǀĞ ŝŵĂŐŝŶĂƟŽŶ ƉůĂǇƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŐƌĞĂƚĞƐƚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞƐĞ ǁŽƌŬƐ͘ ƵƚŚŽƌƐ ůŝŬĞ dĂĚĞƵƐǌ ŽƌŽǁƐŬŝ ǁĞƌĞ ǁƌŝƟŶŐ ƉŽĞƚƌǇ ĂďŽƵƚ ƚŚĞŝƌ ĞǆƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞƐ ǁŚŝůĞ ƐƟůů ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĐĂŵƉƐ͘ ŶĚ ĞǀĞŶ ƚŚĞ ƚĞƐƟŵŽŶŝĞƐ ƚŚĂƚ ĨĞĞů ƚŚĞ ŵŽƐƚ ĂƵƚŚĞŶƟĐͶ ŶŶĞ &ƌĂŶŬ͛Ɛ ĚŝĂƌǇ͕ Žƌ ůŝĞ tŝĞƐĞů͛Ɛ NighƚͶǁĞƌĞ ǁƌŝƩĞŶ ĂŶĚ ƌĞͲǁƌŝƩĞŶ ǁŝƚŚ ĂŶ ĞǇĞ ƚŽ ŝŶĐƌĞĂƐŝŶŐ ƚŚĞŝƌ ŝŵƉĂĐƚ͘ dŚĞŝƌ ͞ůŝƚĞƌĂƌǇ ĂƌƟĮĐĞ͟ ŝƐŶ͛ƚ Ă ĨĂƚĂů ŇĂǁ͗ ŝƚ͛Ɛ ƉĂƌƚ ŽĨ ǁŚĂƚ ŵĂŬĞƐ ƚŚĞƐĞ ďŽŽŬƐ ďŽƚŚ ŵĞŵŽƌĂďůĞ and important. /Ɛ ƚŚĞƌĞ ĂŶ ĞƐƐĞŶƟĂů ĚŝīĞƌĞŶĐĞ ďĞƚǁĞĞŶ ǁƌŝƟŶŐ Ă ŶŽǀĞů ĂďŽƵƚ ƚŚĞ ,ŽůŽĐĂƵƐƚ ĂŶĚ ĨĂďƌŝĐĂƟŶŐ Ă ŵĞŵŽŝƌ͍ Ž ,ŽůŽĐĂƵƐƚ ŶĂƌƌĂƟǀĞƐ ŚĂǀĞ Ă

Jewish Book World

summer 5772/2012

ƐƉĞĐŝĂů ŽďůŝŐĂƟŽŶ ƚŽ ďĞ ƚƌƵƚŚĨƵůͶƚŚĂƚ ŝƐ͕ ĨĂŝƚŚĨƵů ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ĨĂĐƚƐ ŽĨ ŚŝƐƚŽƌǇ͍ ŶĚ ǁŚǇ ĂƌĞ ƚŚĞǇ ƐŽ ŽŌĞŶ ƚŚŽƵŐŚƚ ƚŽ ďĞ ĞǆĞŵƉƚ ĨƌŽŵ ĐƌŝƟĐŝƐŵ ĂŶĚ ŝŶƚĞƌƉƌĞƚĂƟŽŶ͍ dŚĞƐĞ ĂƌĞ ƐŽŵĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƋƵĞƐƟŽŶƐ / ĞǆƉůŽƌĞ ŝŶ A Thousand Darknesses͕ ǁŚŝĐŚ ŝŶǀĞƐƟŐĂƚĞƐ ƚŚĞ ƚĞŶƐŝŽŶ ďĞƚǁĞĞŶ ĨĂĐƚ ĂŶĚ ĮĐƟŽŶ͕ ƚĞƐƟŵŽŶǇ ĂŶĚ ŝŵĂŐŝŶĂƟŽŶ͕ ŝŶ ŵĂũŽƌ ǁŽƌŬƐ ŽĨ ,ŽůŽĐĂƵƐƚ ůŝƚĞƌĂƚƵƌĞͶĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ ƐƵƌǀŝǀŽƌ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚƐ ŽĨ tŝĞƐĞů ĂŶĚ WƌŝŵŽ >Ğǀŝ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ Įůŵ Schindler’s >ŝƐƚ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ĮĐƟŽŶĂů ǁƌŝƟŶŐƐ ŽĨ t͘'͘ ^ĞďĂůĚ ĂŶĚ ĞƌŶŚĂƌĚ ^ĐŚůŝŶŬ͘ ^ŽŵĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞƐĞ ďŽŽŬƐ ĂƌĞ ĂƐƐƵŵĞĚ ƚŽ ďĞ ŵĞŵŽŝƌƐ͖ ŽƚŚĞƌƐ͕ ůŝŬĞ :ĞƌǌǇ Kosinski’s The Painted Bird͕ ǁĞƌĞ ŽŶĐĞ ƚŚŽƵŐŚƚ ƚŽ ďĞ ƚƌƵĞ ĂŶĚ ŚĂǀĞ ƐŝŶĐĞ ďĞĞŶ ƉƌŽǀĞĚ ĨĂůƐĞ͘ Ƶƚ / ĚŝƐĐŽǀĞƌĞĚ ƚŚĂƚ ƐƵĐŚ ĚĞƐŝŐŶĂƟŽŶƐ ĂƌĞ ǀŝƌƚƵĂůůǇ ŵĞĂŶŝŶŐůĞƐƐ͕ ďĞĐĂƵƐĞ ĞǀĞƌǇ ĐĂŶŽŶŝĐĂů ǁŽƌŬ ŽĨ ,ŽůŽĐĂƵƐƚ ůŝƚĞƌĂƚƵƌĞ ŝŶǀŽůǀĞƐ ƐŽŵĞ ŐƌĂǇŝŶŐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ůŝŶĞ ďĞƚǁĞĞŶ ĮĐƟŽŶ ĂŶĚ ƌĞĂůŝƚǇ͘ ^ƵĐŚ ĐƌĞĂƟǀĞ ůŝĐĞŶƐĞ ĚŽĞƐŶ͛ƚ ŝŶƐƵůƚ ƚŚĞ ĚĞĂĚ͖ ƌĂƚŚĞƌ͕ ŝƚ ĞůĞǀĂƚĞƐ ƚŚĞƐĞ ǁŽƌŬƐ into art. A Thousand Darknesses grew out of a series of reviews I wrote for dŚĞ EĞǁ ZĞƉƵďůŝĐ͕ ǁŚŝĐŚ ǁĞůĐŽŵĞĚ ŵĞ ƚŽ ŝƚƐ ƐƚĂī ŝŶ ϭϵϵϵ͘ ;/ƚ͛Ɛ Ă ƐĞƌŝŽƵƐ ďŽŽŬ͕ ďƵƚ ŶŽƚ Ă ƐĐŚŽůĂƌůǇ ŽŶĞ͗ ĂƐ Ă ũŽƵƌŶĂůŝƐƚ͕ / ǁƌŝƚĞ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ŐĞŶĞƌĂů ƌĞĂĚĞƌ͘Ϳ DǇ ĐŽŶŶĞĐƟŽŶ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ,ŽůŽĐĂƵƐƚ ƌƵŶƐ ĚĞĞƉ͗ / ŐƌĞǁ ƵƉ ŚĞĂƌŝŶŐ ŵǇ ŵĂƚĞƌŶĂů ŐƌĂŶĚƉĂƌĞŶƚƐ͕ ďŽƚŚ ƐƵƌǀŝǀŽƌƐ͕ ƚĞůů ŚĂƌƌŽǁŝŶŐ ƐƚŽƌŝĞƐ over the dinner table. But I came to this subject ĂůƐŽ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚ ďŽŽŬƐ͘ ŶŶĞ &ƌĂŶŬ͛Ɛ ŝĐŽŶŝĐ ĚŝĂƌǇ͖ Wiesel’s Night͕ ǁŚŝĐŚ / ƐƟůů ŚĂǀĞ ŝŶ Ă ŶŽǁͲĐƌƵŵďůŝŶŐ ƉĂƉĞƌďĂĐŬ ŐŝǀĞŶ ƚŽ ŵĞ ǁŚĞŶ / ǁĂƐ ƚĞŶ͖ ƚŚĞ ƚĞƌƌŝĨǇŝŶŐ ĐŽůůĞĐƟŽŶ ŽĨ ƉŽĞŵƐ ĂŶĚ ĚƌĂǁŝŶŐƐ ďǇ ĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶ ŝŶ Terezín called / EĞǀĞƌ ^Ăǁ ŶŽƚŚĞƌ ƵƩĞƌŇǇ—these are among my earliest reading memories. I sought ŝŶ ƚŚĞƐĞ ďŽŽŬƐ͕ / ŶŽǁ ƌĞĂůŝǌĞ͕ ǁŚĂƚ ǁĞ ƐĞĞŬ ŝŶ Ăůů ůŝƚĞƌĂƚƵƌĞ͗ ŝŵĂŐŝŶĂƟǀĞ ĂĐĐĞƐƐ ƚŽ Ă ǁŽƌůĚ ŶŽƚ ŽƵƌ own. Later I studied Polish in Krakow and German ŝŶ ĞƌůŝŶ͖ ŝŶ ŵǇ ŐƌĂĚƵĂƚĞ ǁŽƌŬ͕ / ƚƌŝĞĚ ƚŽ ƌĞĐŽŶĐŝůĞ the beauty of these literary languages with the ĂƚƌŽĐŝƟĞƐ ƉĞƌƉĞƚƌĂƚĞĚ ďǇ ƚŚĞŝƌ ƐƉĞĂŬĞƌƐ͘ I used to joke that my next book would be about a cheerier subject—perhaps tulips or puppies. ^ŽŵĞ ĐĂƵƟŽŶĞĚ ƚŚĂƚ ŝƚ ŵŝŐŚƚ ďĞ ŚĂƌĚ ƚŽ ůĞĂǀĞ ƚŚĞ ,ŽůŽĐĂƵƐƚ ďĞŚŝŶĚ͕ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞǇ ǁĞƌĞ ƌŝŐŚƚ͘ /Ŷ ƚŚĞ ĨƵƚƵƌĞ / ƉůĂŶ ƚŽ ĐŽŵƉůĞƚĞ Ă ƚƌĂŶƐůĂƟŽŶ ŽĨ dĂĚĞƵƐǌ ŽƌŽǁƐŬŝ͛Ɛ ƉŽĞƚƌǇ͕ ǁŚŝĐŚ /͛ǀĞ ďĞĞŶ ǁŽƌŬŝŶŐ ŽŶ ĨŽƌ ƐĞǀĞƌĂů ǇĞĂƌƐ͕ as well as undertake a new biography of the poet Paul Celan. My current ƉƌŽũĞĐƚ͕ Ă ďŝŽŐƌĂƉŚǇ ŽĨ ^ŚŝƌůĞǇ :ĂĐŬƐŽŶ͕ ŝƐ ůĂƌŐĞůǇ ƚŚĞ ƐƚŽƌǇ ŽĨ :ĂĐŬƐŽŶ͛Ɛ ŵĂƌƌŝĂŐĞ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ƐĞŵŝŶĂů :ĞǁŝƐŚ ůŝƚĞƌĂƌǇ ĐƌŝƟĐ ^ƚĂŶůĞǇ ĚŐĂƌ ,ǇŵĂŶ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŵƉůĞǆŝƟĞƐ ŽĨ ƐƵĐŚ Ă ƵŶŝŽŶ ŝŶ ƉŽƐƚǁĂƌ ŵĞƌŝĐĂ͘ ͞dŚĞ >ŽƩĞƌǇ͕͟ :ĂĐŬƐŽŶ͛Ɛ ŵŽƐƚ ĨĂŵŽƵƐ ƐŚŽƌƚ ƐƚŽƌǇ͕ ŵĂǇ ŚĂǀĞ ďĞĞŶ ŝŶƐƉŝƌĞĚ ďǇ ƚŚĞ ĂŶƟͲ ^ĞŵŝƟƐŵ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞ ĐŽƵƉůĞ ĞǆƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞĚ ĂŌĞƌ ŵŽǀŝŶŐ ƚŽ ĂŶ ŝŶƐƵůĂƌ EĞǁ England town. Jackson devoted much of her work to exploring the cruelĞƌ ĂƐƉĞĐƚƐ ŽĨ ŚƵŵĂŶ ŶĂƚƵƌĞ͕ ƉĂƌƟĐƵůĂƌůǇ ƌĞůŝŐŝŽƵƐ ĂŶĚ ƌĂĐŝĂů ƉƌĞũƵĚŝĐĞ͘ ^ƉĞĂŬŝŶŐ ƉĞƌƐŽŶĂůůǇ͕ /͛ǀĞ ĂůǁĂǇƐ ĨĞůƚ Ă ŵŽƌĂů ŝŵƉĞƌĂƟǀĞ ƚŽ ĐŽŵŵĞŵŽƌĂƚĞ ƚŚĞ ,ŽůŽĐĂƵƐƚ ĂƐ ǁĞůů ĂƐ ĂŶ ŝŶƚĞůůĞĐƚƵĂů ĚƌŝǀĞ ƚŽ ŝŶǀĞƐƟŐĂƚĞ its sources and consequences. I’m deeply moved that A Thousand DarkͲ nesses ŚĂƐ ďĞĞŶ ƐĞůĞĐƚĞĚ ĂƐ Ă ĮŶĂůŝƐƚ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ^Ăŵŝ ZŽŚƌ WƌŝǌĞ͕ ŚŽŶŽƌŝŶŐ these dual commitments.

www.jewishbookcouncil.org

2012 sami rohr prize finalist

On the Shoulders of Giants by Jonathan B. Krasner

ŚŽƌƚůǇ ĂŌĞƌ ĐŽŵƉůĞƟŶŐ ŵǇ ĚŝƐƐĞƌƚĂƟŽŶ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ƌĞƉƌĞƐĞŶƚĂƟŽŶ ŽĨ ŝŶƐŝĚĞƌƐ ĂŶĚ ŽƵƚƐŝĚĞƌƐ ŝŶ ŵĞƌŝĐĂŶ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ƐĐŚŽŽůďŽŽŬƐ͕ / ƌĞĐĞŝǀĞĚ ĂŶ unusual but welcome piece of fan mail from Dr. 'ŝů 'ƌĂī͕ ƚŚĞ ĞǆĞĐƵƟǀĞ ĚŝƌĞĐƚŽƌ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƵƌĞĂƵ ŽĨ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ĚƵĐĂƟŽŶ ŝŶ >ŽƐ ŶŐĞůĞƐ͘ /ƚ ŝƐ ĂůǁĂǇƐ ŐƌĂƟĨǇŝŶŐ ƚŽ ŚĞĂƌ ƚŚĂƚ ǇŽƵƌ ǁŽƌŬ ŚĂƐ ĨŽƵŶĚ Ă ƌĞĐĞƉƟǀĞ ĂƵĚŝĞŶĐĞ͕ ƐŽ / ǁĂƐ ŵŽƌĞ ƚŚĂŶ ŚĂƉƉǇ ƚŽ ĂĐĐĞƉƚ 'ŝůΖƐ ŝŶǀŝƚĂƟŽŶ ƚŽ ũŽŝŶ Śŝŵ ĨŽƌ ĐŽīĞĞ ĚƵƌŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ƵƉĐŽŵŝŶŐ ƐƐŽĐŝĂƟŽŶ ĨŽƌ :ĞǁŝƐŚ Studies Conference in L.A. Gil was working on Ă ŚŝƐƚŽƌǇ ŽĨ ŵĞƌŝĐĂŶ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ĞĚƵĐĂƟŽŶ͕ ƐŽ ǁĞ naturally found a lot to discuss. As we talked shop on ƚŚĞ ƉĂƟŽ ŽĨ Ă ĞŶƚƵƌǇ ŝƚǇ ^ƚĂƌďƵĐŬƐ͕ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŶǀĞƌƐĂƟŽŶ ƚƵƌŶĞĚ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ŽƵƚƐŝǌĞĚ ŝŵƉĂĐƚ ŽŶ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ĞĚƵĐĂƟŽŶ ŽĨ ƌ͘ ^ĂŵƐŽŶ ĞŶĚĞƌůǇ ĂŶĚ ŚŝƐ ƐƚƵĚĞŶƚƐ͘ ĞŶĚĞƌůǇ͕ ƚŚĞ ǁƵŶĚĞƌŬŝŶĚ ĨƌŽŵ ^ĂĨĞĚ͕ ƉƌŽĨĞƐƐŝŽŶĂůŝǌĞĚ ŵĞƌŝĐĂŶ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ĞĚƵĐĂƟŽŶ ĂŶĚ ƚƌĂŶƐĨŽƌŵĞĚ ƚŚĞ dĂůŵƵĚ dŽƌĂŚͶƚŚĞ ĂŌĞƌŶŽŽŶ ,ĞďƌĞǁ ƐĐŚŽŽů ͲͲ ŝŶƚŽ Ă ŵŽĚĞƌŶ͕ ŵĞƌŝĐĂŶŝǌĞĚ ŝŶƐƟƚƵƟŽŶ͘ &ƌŽŵ ŚŝƐ ƉĞƌĐŚ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ ƵƌĞĂƵ ŽĨ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ĚƵĐĂƟŽŶ ŝŶ EĞǁ zŽƌŬ͕ ǁŚĞƌĞ ŚĞ ƐĞƌǀĞĚ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ĨŽƵŶĚŝŶŐ ĚŝƌĞĐƚŽƌ ĨƌŽŵ ϭϵϭϬͲϭϵϯϵ͕ ĞŶĚĞƌůǇ ƌĂŝƐĞĚ Ă ŐĞŶĞƌĂƟŽŶ ŽĨ ĚŝƐĐŝƉůĞƐ͘ dŚĞƐĞ ŵĞŶ ĂŶĚ ǁŽŵĞŶ͕ ŬŶŽǁŶ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ Η ĞŶĚĞƌůǇ ŽǇƐ͕Η ĚŽŵŝŶĂƚĞĚ ƚŚĞ ĮĞůĚ ŽĨ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ĞĚƵĐĂƟŽŶ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ŶĞǆƚ ŚĂůĨͲĐĞŶƚƵƌǇ͕ ĚŝƌĞĐƟŶŐ ĞĚƵĐĂƟŽŶ ďƵƌĞĂƵƐ͕ ŽƉĞƌĂƟŶŐ ƐĐŚŽŽůƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ĨŽƵŶĚŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ĮƌƐƚ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ĐƵůƚƵƌĞ ĐĂŵƉƐ͘ ŶŝŵĂƚĞĚ ďǇ the desire to bring about an American Jewish ƌĞŶĂŝƐƐĂŶĐĞ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ĞĚƵĐĂƟŽŶ͕ ƚŚĞǇ ǁĞƌĞ ŝŶƐƉŝƌĞĚ ŝŶ ĞƋƵĂů ŵĞĂƐƵƌĞƐ ďǇ ƚŚĞ ĐƵůƚƵƌĂů ŝŽŶŝƐŵ ŽĨ ĞŶĚĞƌůǇ͕ ƚŚĞ ZĞĐŽŶƐƚƌƵĐƟŽŶŝƐŵ ŽĨ ZĂďďŝ DŽƌĚĞĐĂŝ <ĂƉůĂŶ͕ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ƉƌŽŐƌĞƐƐŝǀĞ ĞĚƵĐĂƟŽŶĂů ƚŚĞŽƌŝĞƐ ŽĨ ƉŚŝůŽƐŽƉŚĞƌ :ŽŚŶ ĞǁĞǇ͘ >ŽƐ ŶŐĞůĞƐ͕ ŝŶ ƉĂƌƟĐƵůĂƌ͕ ŚĂĚ ĨĞůƚ ƚŚĞ ŝŶŇƵĞŶĐĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĞŶĚĞƌůǇ ƌĞǀŽůƵƟŽŶ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚ ƚŚĞ ƉĞƌƐŽŶĂůŝƚǇ ŽĨ ƌ͘ ^Ăŵ ŝŶŝŶ͕ ǁŚŽ ǁĂƐ ŝŶƐƚƌƵŵĞŶƚĂů ŝŶ ďƵŝůĚŝŶŐ ƵƉ ŝŶƐƟƚƵƟŽŶĂů ƉŝůůĂƌƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŵŵƵŶŝƚǇ͕ ŝŶĐůƵĚŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ : ͕ ƚŚĞ hŶŝǀĞƌƐŝƚǇ ŽĨ :ƵĚĂŝƐŵ ;ŶŽǁ :hͿ͕ ĂŵƉ ZĂŵĂŚ ŝŶ KũĂŝ͕ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ >ŽƐ ŶŐĞůĞƐ ,ĞďƌĞǁ ,ŝŐŚ ^ĐŚŽŽů͘ KŶĞ ƟĚďŝƚ ŽĨ ŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƟŽŶ ƚŚĂƚ 'ŝů ƐŚĂƌĞĚ ǁĂƐ ƉĂƌƟĐƵůĂƌůǇ ŝŶƚƌŝŐƵŝŶŐ͘ ŝĚ / ŬŶŽǁ͕ ŚĞ ĂƐŬĞĚ͕ ƚŚĂƚ ^Ăŵ ŝŶŝŶ ǁĂƐ ĂůŝǀĞ ĂŶĚ ůƵĐŝĚ ĂŶĚ ůŝǀŝŶŐ ŵŝŶƵƚĞƐ ĂǁĂǇ ŝŶ tĞƐƚǁŽŽĚ͕ ŶĞĂƌ h > ͍ /Ĩ / ǁĂŶƚĞĚ ƚŽ ƚĂůŬ ǁŝƚŚ Śŝŵ / ƐŚŽƵůĚŶΖƚ ǁĂŝƚ͘ ŝŶŝŶ ŚĂĚ ũƵƐƚ ĐĞůĞďƌĂƚĞĚ ŚŝƐ ŽŶĞ ŚƵŶĚƌĞĚƚŚ ďŝƌƚŚĚĂǇ͘ ĨĞǁ ǁĞĞŬƐ ůĂƚĞƌ / ǁĂƐ ƐŝƫŶŐ ŝŶ ŝŶŝŶΖƐ ůŝǀŝŶŐ ƌŽŽŵ͘ ,Ğ ǁĂƐ Ă ĨƌĂŝů ďƵƚ ŐĞŶŝĂů ŚŽƐƚ͘ / ŚĂĚ ĚŽŶĞ ŵǇ ŚŽŵĞǁŽƌŬ͕ ƌĞĂĚ ǀŝƌƚƵĂůůǇ ĞǀĞƌǇƚŚŝŶŐ ŚĞ ŚĂĚ ƉƵďůŝƐŚĞĚ ŝŶ ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞ͕ ĂŶĚ ǁĂƐ ĂƌŵĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ ĚŽǌĞŶƐ ŽĨ ƋƵĞƐƟŽŶƐ͘ / ǁŝƐŚ I could say that he regaled me with stories about his glory days in New zŽƌŬ ĂŶĚ > ͕ ĂŶĚ ƉƌŽǀŝĚĞĚ ŵĞ ǁŝƚŚ ŐƌĞĂƚ ŝŶƐŝŐŚƚƐ ŝŶƚŽ ŚŝƐ ŵĞŶƚŽƌƐ ĂŶĚ ĐŽůůĞĂŐƵĞƐ͕ ďƵƚ ƚŚĞ ƚƌƵƚŚ ǁĂƐ ƚŚĂƚ ŚŝƐ ŵĞŵŽƌǇ ǁĂƐ Ěŝŵ͖ ƚŚĞ ƐƚŽƌŝĞƐ ŚĞ ƚŽůĚ ǁĞƌĞ ĂůƌĞĂĚǇ ĨĂŵŝůŝĂƌ ƚŽ ŵĞ͕ ĂŶĚ ŚĞ ƟƌĞĚ ĞĂƐŝůǇ͘ Ǉ ƚŚĞ ƐĞĐŽŶĚ ŚŽƵƌ ŽĨ ŵǇ ǀŝƐŝƚ / ǁĂƐ ďĞŐŝŶŶŝŶŐ ƚŽ ƐƋƵŝƌŵ͘ DƵĐŚ ĂƐ / ĞŶũŽǇĞĚ ŵĞĞƟŶŐ Śŝŵ͕ /

could not help but feel like my visit ended up being about paying homage and providing an elderly gentleman with some welcome company. :ƵƐƚ ǁŚĞŶ / ǁĂƐ ĂďŽƵƚ ƚŽ ǁƌŝƚĞ Žī ƚŚĞ ǀŝƐŝƚ ŝŶ ŵǇ ŵŝŶĚ͕ / ĂƐŬĞĚ Ă ƋƵĞƐƟŽŶ ĂďŽƵƚ ŚŝƐ ĞīŽƌƚƐ ƚŽ ƉƌŽŵŽƚĞ ƚŚĞ ƐƚƵĚǇ ŽĨ ŵŽĚĞƌŶ ,ĞďƌĞǁ ƵƐŝŶŐ /ǀƌŝƚ ďΖ/ǀƌŝƚ͕ ƚŚĞ ƐŽͲĐĂůůĞĚ ŶĂƚƵƌĂů Žƌ ĚŝƌĞĐƚ ŵĞƚŚŽĚ ŽĨ ƚĞĂĐŚŝŶŐ ,ĞďƌĞǁ language. Did not his opponents in the 1930s have a point when they ĐŚĂƌŐĞĚ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞ ĞŶĚĞƌůǇ ŽǇƐΖ ƐŝŶŐůĞͲŵŝŶĚĞĚ͕ ĂůŵŽƐƚ ĨĂŶĂƟĐĂů ĚĞǀŽƟŽŶ ƚŽ ŵŽĚĞƌŶ ,ĞďƌĞǁ ŶŽƚ ŽŶůǇ ĨĂŝůĞĚ ƚŽ ƉƌŽĚƵĐĞ ƚŚĞ ĚĞƐŝƌĞĚ ĞĚƵĐĂƟŽŶĂů ŽƵƚĐŽŵĞƐ ďƵƚ ĚŝǀĞƌƚĞĚ ƚŚĞŵ ĨƌŽŵ ĐŽŶƐŝƐƚĞŶƚůǇ ĂŶĚ ǁŚŽůĞŚĞĂƌƚĞĚůǇ ƌĞƐŚĂƉŝŶŐ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ĞĚƵĐĂƟŽŶ ĂůŽŶŐ ƚŚĞ ƉƌŽŐƌĞƐƐŝǀĞ ůŝŶĞƐ ĞƐƉŽƵƐĞĚ by John Dewey? Dinin abruptly sat up and looked me in the eye. It was ĂƐ ŝĨ ƚŚĞ ƐŵŽůĚĞƌŝŶŐ ĞŵďĞƌƐ ŚĂĚ ƐƵĚĚĞŶůǇ ƌĞŝŐŶŝƚĞĚ͖ ƚŚĞ ŵŝůĚͲŵĂŶŶĞƌĞĚ ŵĂŶ ŝŶ ĨƌŽŶƚ ŽĨ ŵĞ ǁĂƐ ŵŽŵĞŶƚĂƌŝůǇ ƚƌĂŶƐĨŽƌŵĞĚ͘ ͞>Ğƚ ŵĞ ƚĞůů ǇŽƵ ƐŽŵĞƚŚŝŶŐ͕͟ ŚĞ ďĞŐĂŶ͘ ͞dŚĞ ŵĞŶ ǁŚŽ ŵĂĚĞ ƚŚĂƚ charge were traitors to the cause of Jewish educaƟŽŶ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ƌĞďŝƌƚŚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ƉĞŽƉůĞ͘ tĞ ŬŶĞǁ ƚŚĞŶ ƚŚĂƚ ,ĞďƌĞǁ ĂŶĚ ŝŽŶŝƐŵ ǁĞƌĞ ƚŚĞ ŬĞǇƐ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ĨƵƚƵƌĞ͕ ŝŶ ŵĞƌŝĐĂ ĂƐ ǁĞůů ĂƐ ŝŶ Eretz Yisrael͘͟ dŚĞƐĞ ĐƌŝƟĐƐ ǁĞƌĞ ΗĂƐƐŝŵŝůĂƟŽŶŝƐƚƐ͕Η ŚĞ ƐƉƵƩĞƌĞĚ͕ ƐƉŝƫŶŐ ŽƵƚ ƚŚĞ ǁŽƌĚ ůŝŬĞ Ă ĐƵƌƐĞ͘ ŌĞƌ Ă ĨĞǁ ŵŽƌĞ ŵŝŶƵƚĞƐ ŽĨ ĂŶŝŵĂƚĞĚ ĐŽŶǀĞƌƐĂƟŽŶ͕ ŝŶŝŶ ƐĂŶŬ back into his armchair and his placid demeanor ƌĞƚƵƌŶĞĚ͘ ;dŚŝƐ ůĂƐƚ ƐƵƌǀŝǀŝŶŐ ŵĞŵďĞƌ ŽĨ ĞŶĚĞƌůǇΖƐ ĐŽƚĞƌŝĞ ĚŝĞĚ ŽĨ ŶĂƚƵƌĂů ĐĂƵƐĞƐ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ ĂŐĞ ŽĨ ϭϬϯ͕ ŝŶ ĞĐĞŵďĞƌ ϮϬϬϱ͘ DĂǇ ŚŝƐ ŵĞŵŽƌǇ ďĞ Ă ďůĞƐƐŝŶŐ͘Ϳ ^ŚŽƌƚůǇ ƚŚĞƌĞĂŌĞƌ͕ / ŐŽƚ ŝŶƚŽ ŵǇ ƌĞŶƚĂů ĐĂƌ ĂŶĚ drove to Santa Monica. As I walked along the beach / ƌĞŇĞĐƚĞĚ ŽŶ ŵǇ ŵĞĞƟŶŐ ǁŝƚŚ ŝŶŝŶ͘ / ǁĂƐŶΖƚ ƐƵƌĞ ǁŚĞƚŚĞƌ / ĂŐƌĞĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ Śŝŵ ĂďŽƵƚ ƚŚĞ ĞĸĐĂĐǇ ŽĨ /ǀƌŝƚ ďΖ/ǀƌŝƚ ;ƉĂƌƟĐƵůĂƌůǇ ŝŶ Ă ƐƵƉƉůĞŵĞŶƚĂƌǇ ƐĐŚŽŽů ƐĞƫŶŐͿ Žƌ ƚŚĞ ŵŽƟǀĞƐ ŽĨ ŚŝƐ ĚĞƚƌĂĐƚŽƌƐ͕ ďƵƚ / ǁĂƐ ƐƟƌƌĞĚ ďǇ ŚŝƐ ƉĂƐƐŝŽŶ͘ ĞŶĚĞƌůǇ ĂŶĚ ŚŝƐ ĚŝƐĐŝƉůĞƐ were on a holy mission to safeguard the future of ƚŚĞ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ƉĞŽƉůĞ ŝŶ ŵĞƌŝĐĂ Ăƚ Ă ƟŵĞ ŽĨ ŐƌĞĂƚ ĚŝƐůŽĐĂƟŽŶ ĂŶĚ ĐŚĂŶŐĞ͘ dŚĞŝƌ ĐŽŶǀŝĐƟŽŶ ĨƵĞůĞĚ Ă ǀĞƌŝƚĂďůĞ ƌĞǀŽůƵƟŽŶ ƚŚĂƚ ƌĞŵĂĚĞ ƚŚĞ ůĂŶĚƐĐĂƉĞ ŽĨ ŵĞƌŝĐĂŶ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ĞĚƵĐĂƟŽŶ͘ ŶĚ ƚŚĞ ĚŝůĞŵŵĂƐ ƚŚĞǇ ĐŽŶĨƌŽŶƚĞĚ ĂƌĞ ƐƟůů ǀĞƌǇ ŵƵĐŚ ǁŝƚŚ ƵƐ ƚŽĚĂǇ͗ /Ɛ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ĞĚƵĐĂƟŽŶ ĂŶ ŝŶĚŝǀŝĚƵĂů :ĞǁŝƐŚ ƌŝŐŚƚ͕ Ă ĐŽŵŵƵŶŝƚǇ ƌĞƐƉŽŶƐŝďŝůŝƚǇ͍ ^ŚŽƵůĚ ŽƵƌ ĞĚƵĐĂƟŽŶ ƐǇƐƚĞŵ ĨŽĐƵƐ ŽŶ training future leaders or infusing Yiddishkeit in the amcha͕ ƚŚĞ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ĨŽůŬ͍ ĂŶ Ă ďŽŽŬͲĐĞŶƚĞƌĞĚ ĐƵůƚƵƌĞ ďĞ ƚƌĂŶƐŵŝƩĞĚ ƵƟůŝǌŝŶŐ ĐŚŝůĚͲĐĞŶƚĞƌĞĚ ĞĚƵĐĂƟŽŶĂů ŵĞƚŚŽĚŽůŽŐŝĞƐ͍ ŶĚ͕ ĮŶĂůůǇ͕ ƐŚŽƵůĚ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ĞĚƵĐĂƟŽŶ ĞŵƉŚĂƐŝǌĞ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ƉĞŽƉůĞŚŽŽĚ ĂŶĚ ƵŶŝƚǇ Žƌ ĐĞůĞďƌĂƚĞ ƉůƵƌĂůŝƐŵ͕ ĚĞŶŽŵŝŶĂƟŽŶĂůŝƐŵ͕ ĂŶĚ ŝŶĚŝǀŝĚƵĂů :ĞǁŝƐŚ ĞǆƉƌĞƐƐŝŽŶ͍ &ƌŽŵ ϭϵϭϬ ƚŽ ϭϵϲϳ͕ ƚŚĞ ĞŶĚĞƌůǇ ŽǇƐ ;ĂŶĚ ŐŝƌůƐͿ ǁĞƌĞ ƚŚĞ ĚŽŵŝŶĂŶƚ ĨŽƌĐĞ ŝŶ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ĞĚƵĐĂƟŽŶ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ hŶŝƚĞĚ ^ƚĂƚĞƐͶďŽƚŚ ĨŽƌŵĂů ĂŶĚ ŝŶĨŽƌŵĂůͶǇĞƚ ƚŚĞŝƌ ƐƚŽƌǇ ŚĂĚ ŶŽƚ ĂĚĞƋƵĂƚĞůǇ ďĞĞŶ ƚŽůĚ͘ Ǉ ƚŚĞ ƟŵĞ I returned to my hotel that evening I was determined to remedy that ŽŵŝƐƐŝŽŶ͘ tŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ƉƵďůŝĐĂƟŽŶ ŽĨ The Benderly Boys & American Jewish ĚƵĐĂƟŽŶ͕ / ŚŽƉĞ ƚŚĞ ǀŽŝĐĞƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞƐĞ ƉŝŽŶĞĞƌƐ ǁŝůů ŝŶĨŽƌŵ ŽƵƌ ƚǁĞŶƚǇͲ ĮƌƐƚ ĐĞŶƚƵƌǇ ĐŽŶǀĞƌƐĂƟŽŶƐ ĂďŽƵƚ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ĞĚƵĐĂƟŽŶ͘

www.jewishbookcouncil.org

summer 5772/2012

Jewish Book World

2012 sami rohr prize finalist

Old Voices, New Questions Reflections on Music in Jewish Life, Past and Present ďǇ :ĂŵĞƐ >ŽĞŋĞƌ

ne September morning in 2003 I opened a folder in a deserted library room in Kiev and found something that wasn’t supposed to ďĞ ƚŚĞƌĞ͗ Ă ŵĂŶƵƐĐƌŝƉƚ ŽĨ Ă :ĞǁŝƐŚ ƐǇŵƉŚŽŶǇ͕ composed a century earlier. I’d gone to the ůŝďƌĂƌǇ ĞǆƉĞĐƟŶŐ ƚŽ ĮŶĚ ŵŝƐƐŝŶŐ ƉĂŐĞƐ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ ĂƐƚ ƵƌŽƉĞĂŶ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ŵƵƐŝĐĂů ƉĂƐƚ͘ dŽ ŵĞ͕ that meant the vanished traces of musical folkůŽƌĞͶŬůĞǌŵĞƌ ƚƵŶĞƐ͕ ,ĂƐŝĚŝĐ ĐŚĂŶƚƐ͕ zŝĚĚŝƐŚ ballads. What I found instead was an unknown chapter in European classical music. That Russian Jews were composing Jewish art music ŝŶ ϭϵϬϬ ĐĂŵĞ ĂƐ Ă ƐƵƌƉƌŝƐĞ ĞǀĞŶ ƚŽ ŵĞ͖ ƐƟůů ŵŽƌĞ surprising was that this wasn’t a rare excepƟŽŶ͘ &ŽůĚĞƌ ĂŌĞƌ ĨŽůĚĞƌ ƌĞǀĞĂůĞĚ ƚŚĞ ǁŽƌŬƐ ŽĨ ŚƵŶĚƌĞĚƐ ŽĨ ZƵƐƐŝĂŶ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ĐŽŵƉŽƐĞƌƐ͕ ĨŽƌŵŝŶŐ a chain that stretched from the late nineteenth century all the way into the black years of the ϭϵϰϬƐ ĂŶĚ ĞĂƌůǇ ϭϵϱϬƐ͘ ZĞĂĚŝŶŐ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚ ƚŚĞƐĞ ŵƵƐŝĐĂů ŵĂŶƵƐĐƌŝƉƚƐ͕ / realized that the lost world of Jewish music had to be told as a story not only about the music ŝƚƐĞůĨ͕ ďƵƚ ƚŚĞ ŵƵƐŝĐŝĂŶƐ ďĞŚŝŶĚ ŝƚ͘ dŚĞ ƟŵĞ ŚĂĚ ĐŽŵĞ͕ / ĐŽŶĐůƵĚĞĚ͕ ƚŽ ůĞĂǀĞ ďĞŚŝŶĚ Fiddler on the ZŽŽĨ ĂŶĚ ĮŶĚ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŵƉŽƐĞƌƐ ǁŚŽ ĂĐƚƵĂůůǇ ũŽŝŶĞĚ ŚĂŐĂůů͕ WĞƌĞƚǌ͕ ĂŶĚ ŽƚŚĞƌƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞŝƌ ŵŽĚĞƌŶŝƐƚ reimaginings of the culture of the shtetl. Rather ƚŚĂŶ ĂŶ ĂĐƚ ŽĨ ĐƵůƚƵƌĂů ƐĂůǀĂŐĞ͕ / ĚĞĐŝĚĞĚ ƚŽ ǁƌŝƚĞ Ă ďŽŽŬ ƚŚĂƚ ǁŽƵůĚ ďƌŝŶŐ ƚŽ ůŝĨĞ ƚŚĞ ĮƌƐƚ ƚǁŽ ŐĞŶĞƌĂƟŽŶƐ ŽĨ ZƵƐƐŝĂŶ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ŵƵƐŝĐŝĂŶƐ ǁŚŽ ƐŽƵŐŚƚ ƚŽ ĨŽƌŐĞ Ă ŵŽĚĞƌŶ Jewish music. This was a story of Jews who believed art could bridge the ŐƌŽǁŝŶŐ ŐĂƉƐ ďĞƚǁĞĞŶ ƐĞĐƵůĂƌ ĂŶĚ ƌĞůŝŐŝŽƵƐ͕ ŶĂƟŽŶĂů ĂŶĚ ĐŽƐŵŽƉŽůŝƚĂŶ͕ ZƵƐƐŝĂŶ ĂŶĚ :Ğǁ͘ dŚĞŝƌ ŵƵƐŝĐĂů ƌĞŶĂŝƐƐĂŶĐĞ ǁĂƐ ƉƌĞŵŝƐĞĚ ŽŶ ůŽĐĂƟŶŐ ĂŶ ĞůƵƐŝǀĞ ĞƋƵŝůŝďƌŝƵŵ ďĞƚǁĞĞŶ ƚŚĞ ĂĞƐƚŚĞƟĐ ŝĚĞĂůƐ ŽĨ ŵŽĚĞƌŶ ƵƌŽƉĞĂŶ Ăƌƚ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ƉĂƐƐŝŽŶĂƚĞ ĞǆƉƌĞƐƐŝǀĞŶĞƐƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƐŚŬĞŶĂǌŝ ĨŽůŬ ƚƌĂĚŝƟŽŶ͘ ƚ ƚŚĞŝƌ ďĞƐƚ͕ ƚŚĞǇ ƉƌŽĚƵĐĞĚ ĐŚĂŵďĞƌ ǁŽƌŬƐ͕ ƐǇŵƉŚŽŶŝĞƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ŽĚĚ opera that blurred the sonic borderlines between shtetl klezmer and EuƌŽƉĞĂŶ ŵŽĚĞƌŶŝƐŵ͕ ƌĞĨƵƐŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ĚĞŵĂŶĚ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞǇ ĐŚŽŽƐĞ ŽŶĞ ĐƵůƚƵƌĞ over the other.

Jewish Book World

summer 5772/2012

The musical story of Jewish Russia did not end cleanly with triumph Žƌ ƚƌĂŐĞĚǇ͘ dŚĞ ƉŽƐƚͲϭϵϭϳ ĚĞƐƟŶŝĞƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞƐĞ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ĐŽŵƉŽƐĞƌƐ ĚŝǀĞƌŐĞĚ ŵĂƌŬĞĚůǇ ĂĐƌŽƐƐ ƚŚĞ ^ŽǀŝĞƚ hŶŝŽŶ͕ /ƐƌĂĞů͕ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ hŶŝƚĞĚ ^ƚĂƚĞƐ͘ &Žƌ ŵĂŶǇ͕ ĨĂŵĞ ǇŝĞůĚĞĚ ƚŽ ŽďƐĐƵƌŝƚǇ͖ ŽƚŚĞƌƐ ĨŽƵŶĚ ƚŚĞŵƐĞůǀĞƐ ĐĂƵŐŚƚ ƵƉ in the maelstrom of war and Holocaust. Most poignant was the fate of those musicians who believed in the promise of a Soviet Jewish cultural ŵĞĐĐĂ͕ ǁŚĞƌĞ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ŵƵƐŝĐ ǁŽƵůĚ ĨŽƌŵ ƉĂƌƚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŐƌĂŶĚ ĞǆƉĞƌŝŵĞŶƚ ŽĨ ƌĞǀŽůƵƟŽŶĂƌǇ Ăƌƚ͘ dŚĞƐĞ ĐŽŵƉŽƐĞƌƐ ĞŶĚĞĚ ƵƉ ŝŶ Ă ƐƚĂƚĞ ŽĨ ƚŽƌƚƵƌĞĚ ƐŝůĞŶĐĞ͕ ĐŽŵƉŽƐŝŶŐ ͞ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ĚĞƐŬ ĚƌĂǁĞƌ͕͟ ŵƵƚĞ ƐƵƌǀŝǀŽƌƐ ŝŶ Ă ^ŽǀŝĞƚ musical world that passed them by. At the same ƟŵĞ͕ ŝŶ Ă ƐƚƌĂŶŐĞ ƚǁŝƐƚ ŽĨ ĨĂƚĞ͕ ƚŚĞ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ǀŽŝĐĞ ĐŽŶƟŶƵĞĚ ŽŶ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŵƵƐŝĐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŵŽƐƚ ZƵƐƐŝĂŶ ŽĨ Ăůů ^ŽǀŝĞƚ ĐŽŵƉŽƐĞƌƐ͕ ŵŝƚƌŝŝ ^ŚŽƐƚĂŬŽǀŝĐŚ͘ / ďĞŐĂŶ ǁƌŝƟŶŐ dŚĞ DŽƐƚ DƵƐŝĐĂů EĂƟŽŶ to recover a side of Russian Jewish life we rarely hear ĂďŽƵƚ͕ ďƵƚ ǁŚŝĐŚ ƐŚĂƉĞĚ ƚŚĞ ĐŚĂƌĂĐƚĞƌ ŽĨ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ĐƵůƚƵƌĂů ŝĚĞŶƟƚǇ ŝŶ ZƵƐƐŝĂ ĚŽǁŶ ƚŚĞ ƚǁĞŶƟĞƚŚ ĐĞŶƚƵƌǇ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ƉƌĞƐĞŶƚ͘ Ǉ ƚŚĞ ƟŵĞ / ŚĂĚ ĮŶŝƐŚĞĚ ƚŚĞ ďŽŽŬ͕ / ŚĂĚ ĐŽŵĞ ƚŽ ƌĞĂůŝǌĞ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚŝƐ ůŽƐƚ ŵƵƐŝcal chapter actually spoke to a dilemma in today’s Jewish cultural world. Like the Russian Jewish ĐŽŵƉŽƐĞƌƐ ŽĨ Ă ĐĞŶƚƵƌǇ ĂŐŽ͕ ǁĞ ƚŽŽ ůŝǀĞ ŝŶ ĂŶ ĂŐĞ of Jewish cultural renaissance. Every year brings Ă ƐůĞǁ ŽĨ ŶĞǁ ƌĞĐŽƌĚŝŶŐƐ ƚŚĂƚ ŽīĞƌ ƵƉ ƚŚĞ ƐŽƵŶĚƐ ŽĨ ƐŚŬĞŶĂǌ ĂŶĚ ^ĞƉŚĂƌĂĚ͕ ŽŌĞŶ ĂĚŽƌŶĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ the latest musical fashions of our day. Music has ďĞĐŽŵĞ ĂŶ ĞŵďůĞŵ ŽĨ ŝĚĞŶƟƚǇͶĂŶĚ ĂŶ ĂǀĞŶƵĞ ŽĨ ĂƌƟƐƟĐ ĂĐŚŝĞǀĞŵĞŶƚͶĨŽƌ ŵĞƌŝĐĂŶ ĂŶĚ /ƐƌĂĞůŝ :ĞǁƐ͘ zĞƚ ƚŚĞ ĞǆƉůŽƐŝŽŶ ŽĨ ĐŽŶƚĞŵƉŽƌĂƌǇ ĐƌĞĂƟǀŝƚǇ has not prevented a stock set of aural images—the ƐĐŚůŽĐŬǇ͕ ƐĂĐĐŚĂƌŝŶĞ ďŽƵŶĐĞ ŽĨ ,ĂǀĂ EĂŐŝůĂ͕ ƚŚĞ ƋƵŝĞƚ ƉŝŽƵƐ ŵŽĂŶ ŽĨ <Žů EŝĚƌĞ͕ ƚŚĞ ŝŶĚŝƐƟŶĐƚ ŵƵƌŵƵƌ ŽĨ >ĂĚŝŶŽ ƐŽŶŐ ʹ ĨƌŽŵ ĚŽŵŝŶĂƟŶŐ ŽƵƌ ŶŽƟŽŶ ŽĨ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ŵƵƐŝĐĂů Ăƌƚ͘ tŚŝůĞ ǁĞ ƌĞǀĞů ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŵƉůĞǆŝƚǇ ĂŶĚ ƐŽƉŚŝƐƟĐĂƟŽŶ ŽĨ ĐŽŶƚĞŵƉŽƌĂƌǇ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ůŝƚĞƌĂƚƵƌĞ͕ :ĞǁŝƐŚ music remains trapped in the realm of parochial nostalgia. Somehow our fealty to &ŝĚĚůĞƌ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ZŽŽĨ ;ĂŶĚ ŝƚƐ ŶŽŶͲ ƐŚŬĞŶĂǌŝĐ ĐŽƵŶƚĞƌƉĂƌƚƐͿ absolves us of any responsibility to dig further into the rich heritage of Jewish sonic expression. It is my hope that my book will spark a larger ĐŽŶǀĞƌƐĂƟŽŶ ĂďŽƵƚ ƚŚĞƐĞ ŝƐƐƵĞƐ ŽĨ Ăƌƚ ĂŶĚ ŝĚĞŶƟƚǇ͘ /Ŷ ƚŚĞ ŵĞĂŶƟŵĞ͕ the full spectrum of sounds from the Jewish musical past remains waiting to be discovered.

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No One is Here Except All of Us by Ramona Ausubel ϭ͘ /Ŷ ƚŚĞ ŽƉĞŶŝŶŐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŶŽǀĞů͕ >ĞŶĂ ƐĂǇƐ ƚŽ ŚĂǇĂ ŝŶ ŚĞƌ ůĞƩ Ğƌ ͞ŵĂǇďĞ͕ ǁŚĞŶ ƚŚĞ ǁŽƌůĚ ďĞŐĂŶ͕ ĞǀĞƌǇƚŚŝŶŐ ŚĂĚ ďĞĞŶ ĐůĞĂŶ ĂŶĚ ƉƵƌĞ͘͟ tŚĞŶ ƚŚĞ ǀŝůůĂŐĞƌƐ ƐƚĂƌƚ ƚŚĞŝƌ ǁŽƌůĚ ŽǀĞƌ͕ ĚŽĞƐ ƚŚĞ ǁŽƌůĚ ďĞŐŝŶ ͞ĐůĞĂŶ ĂŶĚ ƉƵƌĞ͟ Žƌ ĂƌĞ ƚŚĞ ƐĞĞĚƐ ŽĨ ŝƚƐ ĚĞƐƚƌƵĐͲ Ɵ ŽŶ ďƵŝůƚ ŝŶƚŽ ŝƚƐ ĨŽƵŶĚŝŶŐ͍ 2. When the villagers start their world ŽǀĞƌ͕ ƚŚĞǇ ďĞŐŝŶ ǁŝƚŚ ƐƚŽƌǇƚĞůůŝŶŐ͘ tŚĂƚ importance does storytelling have for the novel? What is its power? How do each of the characters employ storytelling? What do these uses tell you about each character? 3. One of the bonds that is the most transient in the novel is that between parent and child. How does the author depict this bond? Think ĂďŽƵƚ ƚŚĞ ƐŝƚƵĂƟ ŽŶƐ ŝŶ ǁŚŝĐŚ ĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶ ĂƌĞ ƚƌĂŶƐĨĞƌƌĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŶŽǀĞů͗ ĚŽ you think the parents were right to let their children be adopted by othĞƌƐ͍ tŚĂƚ ĚŽ ǇŽƵ ƚŚŝŶŬ ĂďŽƵƚ ƚŚĞ ŵŽƟ ǀĂƟ ŽŶƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĂĚŽƉƟ ǀĞ ƉĂƌĞŶƚƐ͍ ϰ͘ tŚĂƚ ŝƐ ƚŚĞ ƐƚƌĂŶŐĞƌ͛Ɛ ƌŽůĞ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƌĞͲĐƌĞĂƟ ŽŶ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ǁŽƌůĚ͍ Ž ǇŽƵ think the villagers could have done it without her? Why do you think she decides to help protect the village from the outside world? What eventually makes her allow it back in?

ϲ͘ tŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ƌĞŝŶǀĞŶƟ ŽŶ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ǁŽƌůĚ͕ Ɵ ŵĞ ŐĞƚƐ ƵƉĞŶĚĞĚ͘ >ĞŶĂ ŝƐ made to grow up at an unusual rate. Do you think she really does age faster? Do you think she and the other villagers realize the truth but allow Hersh and Kayla to believe their own story? What about when Lena does get married and bears a child—has the story about her aging ƉƌŽĐĞƐƐ ŚĂĚ Ă ƌĞĂů ĂŶĚ ĂĐƚƵĂů Ğī ĞĐƚ͍ 7. How do you think Lena knows what happened to the other characƚĞƌƐ͍ ŽŶƐŝĚĞƌŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ƌŽůĞ ƚŚĂƚ ŝŵĂŐŝŶĂƟ ŽŶ ĂŶĚ ƐƚŽƌǇƚĞůůŝŶŐ ƉůĂǇ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŶŽǀĞů͕ ĚŽĞƐ ŝƚ ŵĂƩ Ğƌ ǁŚĞƚŚĞƌ >ĞŶĂ ŚĂƐ ŽƵƚƐŝĚĞ ŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƟ ŽŶ͍ tŽƵůĚ that make her version any more or less true? ϴ͘ DĂŶǇ ƵŶĨĂŝƌ ƚŚŝŶŐƐ ŚĂƉƉĞŶ ƚŽ >ĞŶĂ ĚƵƌŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ĐŽƵƌƐĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ďŽŽŬ͕ ĨƌŽŵ ŚĞƌ ƉĂƌĞŶƚƐ ŐŝǀŝŶŐ ŚĞƌ ĂǁĂǇ͕ ƚŽ ůŽƐŝŶŐ ŚĞƌ ƐŽŶƐ͘ ,Žǁ ĚŽĞƐ ƐŚĞ cope? Do you think she forgives the other characters? What role does forgiveness play in the novel? ϵ͘ tŚĂƚ ĚŽ ǇŽƵ ƚŚŝŶŬ ƚŚĞ Ɵ ƚůĞ No One is Here Except All of Us means? ϭϬ͘ ƚ ƚŚĞ ĞŶĚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ďŽŽŬ͕ >ĞŶĂ ǁƌŝƚĞƐ ƚŽ ŚĂǇĂ͕ ͞^ŽŵĞĚĂǇ͕ ǇŽƵƌ ĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶ ǁŝůů ĂƐŬ ǁŚĂƚ ŚĂƉƉĞŶĞĚ͕ ĂŶĚ ǇŽƵ ǁŝůů ƚĞůů Ă ŶĞǁ ǀĞƌƐŝŽŶ͕ ĂŶĚ ŝŶ ƚŚŝƐ ǁĂǇ͕ ƚŚĞ ƐƚŽƌǇ ǁŝůů ŬĞĞƉ living. Truth is not in facts. The truth is in the ƚĞůůŝŶŐ͘͟ tŚĂƚ ĚŽ ǇŽƵ ƚŚŝŶŬ ƐŚĞ ŵĞĂŶƐ ďǇ ƚŚŝƐ͍ /Ɛ ƚŚĞƌĞ Ă Ěŝī ĞƌĞŶĐĞ ďĞƚǁĞĞŶ ƚƌƵƚŚ ĂŶĚ accuracy?

ϱ͘ /ŐŽƌ ŝƐ ƚŚĞ ŽŶůǇ ĐŚĂƌĂĐƚĞƌ ǁŚŽ ŐĞƚƐ ĐĂƉƚƵƌĞĚ͕ ǇĞƚ ŚŝƐ ŝŵƉƌŝƐŽŶŵĞŶƚ ĞŶĚƐ ƵƉ ŝŶƐƵƌŝŶŐ ŚŝƐ ƐĂĨĞƚǇ͕ ǁŚŝůĞ ƚŚĞ ĐŚĂƌĂĐƚĞƌƐ ǁŚŽ ƌĞŵĂŝŶ ͞ĨƌĞĞ͟ ŵƵƐƚ Į ŐŚƚ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞŝƌ ŽǁŶ ƐƵƌǀŝǀĂů͘ tŚĂƚ ĚŽĞƐ ƚŚŝƐ ƐĂǇ ĂďŽƵƚ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŶĐĞƉƚ ŽĨ ĨƌĞĞĚŽŵ͍ /Ŷ ƚŚŝƐ ŶŽǀĞů͕ ŝƐ ƉĞƌƐŽŶĂů ĐŚŽŝĐĞ Ă ŐŝŌ ͕ Ă ďƵƌĚĞŶ͕ Žƌ ďŽƚŚ͍ © Twin Lens Images

Jewish Book World

summer 5772/2011

www.jewishbookcouncil.org

for book clubs

The Aleppo Codex by Matti Friedman See review on p. 43

1. At the heart of The Aleppo Codex is a trial over ownership of the codex—but also over who owns Jewish history. Did ƚŚĞ ^ƚĂƚĞ ŽĨ /ƐƌĂĞů ŚĂǀĞ Ă ůĞŐŝƟ ŵĂƚĞ ĐůĂŝŵ to the manuscript? Should anyone or any group own historical treasures? Can they? 2. The Aleppo Codex ŵĂŬĞƐ ŵĞŶƟ ŽŶ of the Dead Sea Scrolls and the desert ĨŽƌƚƌĞƐƐ Ăƚ DĂƐĂĚĂ ĂƐ ƉŽƚĞŶƚ ŶĂƟ ŽŶĂů symbols. What did the codex symbolize for the new Jewish state? And what role in general did myths and symbols play in the founding of Israel? How is this reůĂƚĞĚ ƚŽ ǁŚǇ /ƐƌĂĞů͛Ɛ ŐŽǀĞƌŶŵĞŶƚ͕ ĂŶĚ ƉĂƌƟ ĐƵůĂƌůǇ ƚŚĞ ƉƌĞƐŝĚĞŶƚ͕ ǁĂŶƚĞĚ the codex so badly? 3. Why are the Dead Sea Scrolls famous while the Aleppo Codex has ďĞĞŶ ůĂƌŐĞůǇ ĨŽƌŐŽƩ ĞŶ͍ ϰ͘ tŚĂƚ ĐĂŶ ǁĞ ůĞĂƌŶ ƚŽĚĂǇ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ :ĞǁƐ ŽĨ ƌĂď ĐŽƵŶƚƌŝĞƐͶĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞŝƌ ĐĞŶƚƵƌŝĞƐ ŽĨ ĞǆŝƐƚĞŶĐĞ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ůĂŶĚƐ ŽĨ /ƐůĂŵ͕ ĂŶĚ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞŝƌ ĐŽŵͲ ŵƵŶŝƟ ĞƐΖ ďŝƩ Ğƌ ĞŶĚ͍

ϱ͘ KŶĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŚŝƐƚŽƌŝĐĂů Į ŐƵƌĞƐ ǁŚŽ ŵĂŬĞƐ Ă ĐĂŵĞŽ ĂƉƉĞĂƌĂŶĐĞ ŝŶ The Aleppo Codex ŝƐ DŽƐĞƐ DĂŝŵŽŶŝĚĞƐ͕ ƚŚĞ ŐƌĞĂƚ ƉŚǇƐŝĐŝĂŶ ĂŶĚ ƉŚŝůŽƐŽͲ ƉŚĞƌ ǁŚŽ͕ ƉĞƌŚĂƉƐ ŵŽƌĞ ƚŚĂŶ ĂŶǇ ŽƚŚĞƌ ƉĞƌƐŽŶ͕ ĞŵďŽĚŝĞĚ :ĞǁŝƐŚ life under Islam. What importance does Maimonides have for Jewish history? 6. What does it mean that Jews are called the "people of the book" and ŚŽǁ ĚŽĞƐ ƚŚĞ ŚŝƐƚŽƌǇ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĐŽĚĞǆ Į ƚ ŝŶƚŽ ƚŚĂƚ ĚĞƐĐƌŝƉƟ ŽŶ͍ 7. Why is the codex also referred to as the Crown? What purpose did it serve for Jews in the Diaspora? ϴ͘ dŚĞ ĐŽĚĞǆ ƉƌŽǀŝĚĞƐ ƚŚĞ ŝŶƐƚƌƵĐƟ ŽŶƐ ĨŽƌ how to read the Hebrew Bible. Jews believe ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞƌĞ ŝƐ ŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƟ ŽŶ ŝŶ ŝďůŝĐĂů ƚĞǆƚ ƚŚĂƚ is beyond our understanding. Why is it so ŝŵƉŽƌƚĂŶƚ ƚŚĂƚ ǁĞ ŶŽƚ ůŽƐĞ ĞǀĞŶ Ă Ɵ ŶǇ ǀŽǁĞů ƐŝŐŶ͕ ŽŶĞ ƚŚĂƚ ƉƌŽůŽŶŐƐ ƚŚĞ ƐǇůůĂďůĞ ͞ĂŚ͟ ŝŶƚŽ ͞ĂĂŚ͕͟ ĨŽƌ ĞǆĂŵƉůĞ͍ ϵ͘ &Žƌ ŵŝůůĞŶŶŝĂ͕ :ĞǁƐ ŚĂǀĞ ƐĂŶĐƟ Į ĞĚ ƐĂĐƌĞĚ ďŽŽŬƐ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ĂĐƚ ŽĨ ǁƌŝƟ ŶŐ ĂŶĚ ƌĞĂĚŝŶŐ ƚŚĞŵ͘ ,Žǁ ǁŝůů ƚŚĞ ĂŐĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĞͲƌĞĂĚĞƌ Ăī ĞĐƚ ƚŚŽƐĞ ƚƌĂĚŝƟ ŽŶƐ͍

www.jewishbookcouncil.org

summer 5772/2012

Jewish Book World

emerging voices a conversation with

Adam Wilson

by Joseph Winkler

Adam Wilson is a master of many trades, in a way. A teacher at NYU, an accomplished screen writer of a humorous trailer, an editor and co-founder at the Faster Times, a short story writer of import (see his Paris Review story), a onetime book-clerk, and now a critically acclaimed novelist. Here, we sit down with the busy but always generous, funny, and intelligent Wilson to discuss his fantastic debut novel, Flatscreen (reviewed on p. 17).

Joseph Winkler: DǇ Į ƌƐƚ ƌĞĂĐƟ ŽŶ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ďŽŽŬ͕ ďĞƐŝĚĞƐ ƵŶĐŽŶĚŝƟ ŽŶĂů ůŽǀĞ͕ ǁĂƐ Ă ǁŽƌƌǇ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞ ůĂďĞů ďĞŝŶŐ ĂƩ ĂĐŚĞĚ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ďŽŽŬ ;͞ ƐůĂĐŬĞƌ ŶŽǀĞů ƚŽ ĞŶĚ Ăůů ƐůĂĐŬĞƌ ŶŽǀĞůƐ͟Ϳ ǁŽƵůĚ ůŝŵŝƚ ŚŽǁ ƚŚĞ ďŽŽŬ ǁŽƵůĚ ďĞ ƌĞĐĞŝǀĞĚ͘ ŝĚ ǇŽƵ ǁŽƌƌǇ ĂďŽƵƚ ƚŚĂƚ͍ Adam Wilson: / ĚĞĮ ŶŝƚĞůǇ ƐĞĞ ǇŽƵƌ ƉŽŝŶƚ͕ ďƵƚ ƚŚĂƚ ǁĂƐ Ă ŵĂƌŬĞƟ ŶŐ ƚŽŽů͕ ĂŶĚ ŚŽƉĞĨƵůůǇ ĂŶ Ğī ĞĐƟ ǀĞ ŽŶĞ͘ >ŽŽŬ͕ ŝƚ ŝƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƚƌĂĚŝƟ ŽŶ ŽĨ Ă ƐůĂĐŬĞƌ ŶŽǀĞů͕ ǁŚĂƚĞǀĞƌ ƚŚĂƚ ŝƐ͕ ďƵƚ ƉĂƌƚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ďŽŽŬ ŝƐ ĂŶ ĂƩ ĞŵƉƚ ƚŽ ĐƌĞĂƚĞ Ă ďŽŽŬ ƚŚĂƚ ŝƐ ƐĞůĨͲĂǁĂƌĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƚƌŽƉĞƐ ƚŚĂƚ ŝƚ ŝƐ ĨĂůůŝŶŐ ŝŶƚŽ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞŶ Į ŐŚƚ ĂŐĂŝŶƐƚ ƚŚĞŵ͘ / ƚŚŝŶŬ ƚŚĂƚ ĨŽƌ ŵŽƐƚ ƉĞŽƉůĞ ǁŚŽ ƌĞĂĚ ƚŚĞ ďŽŽŬ͕ ŶŽŶĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĞǆƚĞƌŶĂů ƐƚƵī ǁŝůů ŵĂƩ Ğƌ͕ ďĞ ŝƚ ƚŚĞ ďŽŽŬ ƚƌĂŝůĞƌ Žƌ ƚŚĞ ďůƵƌďƐ͘ JW: ǀĞŶ ƚŚŽƵŐŚ ǇŽƵ ƉůĂĐĞ ǇŽƵƌƐĞůĨ ǁŝƚŚŝŶ Ă ƐƉĞĐŝĮ Đ ƚƌĂĚŝƟ ŽŶ ŽĨ ǁŚĂƚ ŵŝŐŚƚ ďĞ ĞĂƐŝůǇ ĐĂƚĞŐŽƌŝǌĞĚ ĂƐ Ă ƐůĂĐŬĞƌ͕ ůŝ͕ ƚŚĞ ƉƌŽƚĂŐŽŶŝƐƚ͕ ŚĂƌďŽƌƐ ŶŽ ƉƌĞƚĞŶƐŝŽŶƐ ƚŽ ůŝǀŝŶŐ Ă ŐŽŽĚ ůŝĨĞ͘ ,Ğ ĞĂƐŝůǇ ƐĞĞƐ ŚŝƐ ƉĂŝŶ͕ ĂŶĚ ĚŽĞƐŶΖƚ ƉƌĞƚĞŶĚ ƚŽ ŚŝĚĞ ŚŝƐ ĚĞƐƉĂŝƌ͘ dŚŝƐ ŝƐ ǀĞƌǇ Ěŝī ĞƌĞŶƚ ƚŚĂŶ ƚŚŝƐ ǁŚŽůĞ ƚƌĂĚŝͲ Ɵ ŽŶ ŽĨ ƐůĂĐŬĞƌƐ͕ ŶŽ͍ AW: / ƚŚŽƵŐŚƚ Ă ůŽƚ ĂďŽƵƚ ƚŚĂƚ͕ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĂƚ ĨĞůƚ ǀĞƌǇ ĐŽŶƚĞŵƉŽƌĂƌǇ͕ ƚŚŝƐ character who has seen enough movies to know what all the clichés ĂƌĞ͕ ďƵƚ ĚŽĞƐŶΖƚ ŬŶŽǁ ĞŶŽƵŐŚ ƚŽ ĂǀŽŝĚ ƚŚĞŵ͘ ŶĚ ƉĂƌƚ ŽĨ ƚŚĂƚ ƉƌŽďůĞŵ is that he has no models or reference outside of his broken family or ƚŚĞ ds ĂŶĚ ŵŽǀŝĞƐ͘ ,Ğ͛Ɛ ƚƌǇŝŶŐ ƚŽ ƵŶĚĞƌƐƚĂŶĚ ŚŽǁ ƚŽ ůŝǀĞ͕ ŚŽǁ ƚŽ ďĞ Ă ƉĞƌƐŽŶ͖ ŚĞ ŚĂƐ Ăůů ƚŚĞƐĞ ƌĞĨĞƌĞŶĐĞƐ ƚŚĂƚ ĂƌĞ ĐůŝĐŚĠƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ŚĞ͛Ɛ ŶŽƚ ƐƵƌĞ ŝĨ ŵĞƌŝĐĂŶ ůŝĨĞ ŝƐ ĂŶǇƚŚŝŶŐ ŽƚŚĞƌ ƚŚĂŶ ĂŶ ŝŵŝƚĂƟ ŽŶ ŽĨ ƚŚĞƐĞ ĐůŝĐŚĠƐ͘ ,Ğ ŚĂƐ Ă ĨĞĞůŝŶŐ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞƌĞ ŵŝŐŚƚ ďĞ ƐŽŵĞƚŚŝŶŐ ĞůƐĞ͕ ǁŚŝĐŚ ŚĞ ƚŚŝŶŬƐ ŚĞ ƐĞĞƐ ŝŶ <ĂŚŶ͕ ďƵƚ ŚĞ͛Ɛ ŶŽƚ ƐƵƌĞ͘ dŚĂƚ͛Ɛ ƉĂƌƚ ŽĨ ŚŝƐ ŵĂŝŶ ƐƚƌƵŐŐůĞ͘

Jewish Book World

summer 5772/2011

JW: zŽƵƌ ďŽŽŬ ůĂĐŬƐ ǁŚĂƚ ƉĞŽƉůĞ ǁŽƵůĚ ĞǆƉĞĐƚ ŽĨ Ă ƐůĂĐŬĞƌ ŶŽǀĞů͕ ŵĂŝŶůǇ Ă ŚƵŐĞ͕ ůŝĨĞ ĐŚĂŶŐŝŶŐ ĞƉŝƉŚĂŶǇ͘ /ŶƐƚĞĂĚ ǁĞ ƐĞĞ͕ Ăƚ ďĞƐƚ͕ ƐŵĂůů ĐŚĂŶŐĞƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ŝŶ ƉĂƌƟ ĐƵůĂƌ͕ / Ăŵ ƚŚŝŶŬŝŶŐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĞǆĐŚĂŶŐĞ ďĞƚǁĞĞŶ ůŝ ĂŶĚ ŚŝƐ ŵŽƚŚĞƌ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŚŽƐƉŝƚĂů͘͘͘ AW: / ǁĂƐ ƐƚĂƌƟ ŶŐ ƚŽ ĨĞĞů ƚŚĂƚ ůŝ ǁĂƐ ĐŽŵŝŶŐ Žī ĂƐ ǀĞƌǇ ĐůĂƵƐƚƌŽƉŚŽďŝĐ͕ ƐƚƵĐŬ ŝŶ ŚŝƐ ƌŽŽŵ ĂŶĚ ŚĞĂĚ͘ ,Ğ͛Ɛ ǀĞƌǇ ƐĞůĨͲĐĞŶƚĞƌĞĚ͖ ŚĞ ŚĂƐ ƚƌŽƵďůĞ ǁŝƚŚ ĞŵƉĂƚŚǇ͕ ĂŶĚ ŚĂƐ ƚƌŽƵďůĞ ŝŵĂŐŝŶŝŶŐ ƉĞŽƉůĞ ĂƐ ƉĞŽƉůĞ͕ ŽƵƚƐŝĚĞ ŽĨ ŚŽǁ they treat him. His mother gets a bad rap from him throughout the ďŽŽŬ͕ ǁĞ ŐĞƚ Ă ĐĂƌŝĐĂƚƵƌĞ ŽĨ ŚĞƌ ĂƐ Ă ĚƌƵŶŬĞŶ ŵĞƐƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ǁŚĂƚ / ǁĂŶƚĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚŝƐ ŚŽƐƉŝƚĂů ƐĐĞŶĞ͕ ǁŚĞƌĞ ƐŚĞ ŐĞƚƐ Ă ŵŽŶŽůŽŐƵĞ͕ ĂŶĚ ŚĞ ĐĂŶΖƚ ŝŶƚĞƌͲ ƌƵƉƚ͕ ǁĂƐ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ƌĞĂĚĞƌ ƚŽ ƐĞĞ ƚŚĂƚ ŚĞΖƐ ƚƌŝĐŬĞĚ ƵƐ͕ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞǇ ĚŝĚŶΖƚ ŐĞƚ ƚŚĞ ĨƵůů ƉŝĐƚƵƌĞ͕ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚŝƐ ƉĞƌƐŽŶ ŝƐ ŵƵĐŚ ŵŽƌĞ ĐŽŵƉůŝĐĂƚĞĚ͘ WĞŽƉůĞ ŚĂǀĞ ĐŽŵƉůĂŝŶĞĚ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞ ĐŚĂƌĂĐƚĞƌ ĚŽĞƐŶΖƚ ĐŚĂŶŐĞ Žƌ ŐƌŽǁ͘ / ĚŽŶΖƚ ƚŚŝŶŬ ŝƚΖƐ ƚƌƵĞ͕ ŚĞ ŐƌŽǁƐ ŝŶ ƐŵĂůů ŝŶĐƌĞŵĞŶƚƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ĨŽƌ ŵĞ ƚŚŝƐ ǁĂƐ Ă ŚƵŐĞ ŵŽŵĞŶƚ͕ ƚŚĂƚ ŚĞ ƚŚĞŶ ŐŝǀĞƐ ŚŝƐ ŵŽƚŚĞƌ Ă ŶĂŵĞ͕ ĂŶĚ ƐŚĞΖƐ ŚĞƌ ŽǁŶ ŚƵͲ man being to him. JW: /͛ŵ ƐƵƌĞ ǇŽƵ ŶŽƟ ĐĞĚ͕ ďƵƚ ŶŽ ŽŶĞ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ďŽŽŬ ŝƐ ĂĐƚƵĂůůǇ ŚĂƉƉǇ͘ /Ŷ Ă ƐĞŶƐĞ͕ ƚŚĞ ďŽŽŬ ĨĞĞůƐ ƐƚƵĐŬ ŝŶ Ă ƉŽƐƚͲŵŽĚĞƌŶ ƚƌĂƉ ŽĨ ͞ďĞĞŶ ƚŚĞƌĞ ƐĞĞŶ ƚŚĂƚ͕͟ ĂŶĚ ŝƚ ĚŽĞƐŶ͛ƚ ǁŽƌŬ͘ EĂƌƌĂƟ ǀĞƐ͕ ŵĞƚĂͲŶĂƌƌĂƟ ǀĞƐ ƚŚĂƚ ƉƌŽŵŝƐĞ ƚŽ ƉƌŽǀŝĚĞ ĂŶƐǁĞƌƐ ĚŽ ŶŽƚ ǁŽƌŬ͕ ƐŽ ǁŚĞƌĞ ĚŽ ǁĞ ŐŽ ĨƌŽŵ ŚĞƌĞ͍ AW: dŚĂƚ ŝƐ ƐŽƌƚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŵĂŝŶ ƋƵĞƐƟ ŽŶ͘ / ƚŚŝŶŬ ŝŶ ƐŽŵĞ ǁĂǇƐ ůŝ͛Ɛ ƐƚƌƵŐŐůĞ ǁĂƐ Ă ǀĞƌǇ ƐŝŵŝůĂƌ ƐƚƌƵŐŐůĞ ĨŽƌ ŵĞ ĂƐ Ă ǁƌŝƚĞƌ͕ ƚŽ ǁƌŝƚĞ Ă ŶĞǁ ĐŽŵŝŶŐͲŽĨͲ ĂŐĞ ƐƚŽƌǇ ŝŶ Ă ǁĂǇ ƚŚĂƚ ŚĂĚŶΖƚ ďĞĞŶ ĚŽŶĞ ďĞĨŽƌĞ͘ / ƐƚƌƵŐŐůĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ ĐƌĞĂƚͲ ŝŶŐ ŵǇ ŽǁŶ ƐƚŽƌǇ ĂŶĚ Žī ĞƌŝŶŐ Ă ŶĞǁ ƚĂŬĞ ŽŶ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ƐƵďƵƌďŝĂ͕ ďĞĐĂƵƐĞ

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emerging voices ŚŽǁ ĐŽƵůĚ ǇŽƵ ǁƌŝƚĞ ĂďŽƵƚ ŝƚ ĂŌ Ğƌ WŚŝůŝƉ ZŽƚŚ͍ ZŽƚŚ͕ ŚŽǁĞǀĞƌ͕ ĚŝĚŶΖƚ ŚĂǀĞ ŝŶƚĞƌŶĞƚ ƉŽƌŶ͕ ĂŶĚ ĚŝĚŶ͛ƚ ŐƌŽǁ ƵƉ ĞŶŐŽƌŐĞĚ ŽŶ ds ĂŶĚ ĐƵůƚƵƌĞ ůŝŬĞ ŵǇ ŐĞŶĞƌĂƟ ŽŶ͘ / ǁĂƐ ǀĞƌǇ ĐŽŶƐĐŝŽƵƐ ĂďŽƵƚ ƚŚĂƚ ŝŶ ǁƌŝƟ ŶŐ ƚŚĞ ďŽŽŬ͘ JW: dŚĞ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ĂƐƉĞĐƚƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ďŽŽŬ ĂƌĞ ŶŽƚ ƉƌŽŵŝŶĞŶƚ͕ ďƵƚ ĂŵďŝĞŶƚ͘ tŚĂƚ ƌŽůĞ ĚŽĞƐ :ƵĚĂŝƐŵ ƉůĂǇ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ďŽŽŬ͍ AW: Judaism is used in the beginning of the novel to set up the overall ƐƉŝƌŝƚƵĂů ǀŽŝĚ ŝŶ ůŝ͛Ɛ ůŝĨĞ͕ ĞǀĞŶ ƚŚŽƵŐŚ ŝƚ͛Ɛ ŶŽƚ ƚŚĞ ŽŶůǇ ƉůĂĐĞ ƚŚĂƚ ŚĂƐŶ͛ƚ provided him meaning. The Jewish components show that he is searchŝŶŐ ĨŽƌ ƐŽŵĞƚŚŝŶŐ ŐƌĂŶĚ ĂŶĚ ƉŽĞƟ ĐĂůůǇ ǀĂŐƵĞ͕ ƐŽŵĞƚŚŝŶŐ ŽƵƚƐŝĚĞ ŽĨ himself. The moments help the reader to understand where he is comŝŶŐ ĨƌŽŵ͕ ƚŚĂƚ ŚŝƐ ĨĂŵŝůǇ ĂŶĚ ĐŽŵŵƵŶŝƚǇ ƵƐĞ ƌĞůŝŐŝŽŶ ĂƐ ƐŽĐŝĂů ŐůƵĞ͘ ,ŝƐ ĞǆƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞ ǁŝƚŚ ƌĞůŝŐŝŽŶ ŝƐ ƐŽŵĞƚŚŝŶŐ ŝŵƉƵƌĞ͕ ĂŶĚ ŵŽƌĞ Ɵ ĞĚ ƚŽ ŵŽŶĞǇ ĂŶĚ ĚĞĐĂĚĞŶĐĞ ƚŚĂŶ ƐƉŝƌŝƚƵĂů ĨƵůĮ ůůŵĞŶƚ͕ ĂŶĚ ŝƚ͛Ɛ ƚŚŝƐ ƵŐůŝŶĞƐƐ ƚŚĂƚ repels him. / ƉƵƌƉŽƐĞĨƵůůǇ ǁĂŶƚĞĚ ůŝ ƚŽ ŵĞĞƚ <ĂŚŶ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ƐĞĐŽŶĚ Ɵ ŵĞ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ ƐǇŶĂŐŽŐƵĞ͕ ďĞĐĂƵƐĞ / ǁĂŶƚĞĚ <ĂŚŶ ƚŽ Žī Ğƌ ƐŽŵĞƚŚŝŶŐ ŵǇƐƟ ĐĂů ƚŽ ůŝ͕ something this form of Judaism couldn’t provide. Kahn believes in ƚŚŝŶŐƐ͕ ĚĞĞƉ ƚŚŝŶŐƐ͕ ĞǀĞŶ ŝĨ ƚŚĞƐĞ ƚŚŝŶŐƐ ĚŽŶ͛ƚ ŶĞĐĞƐƐĂƌŝůǇ ĐŽŶĨŽƌŵ ƚŽ ǁŚĂƚ͛Ɛ ƉŽůŝƟ ĐĂůůǇ ĐŽƌƌĞĐƚ Žƌ ĂƉƉƌŽƉƌŝĂƚĞ͖ ŚŽǁĞǀĞƌ͕ ƚŚĞƐĞ ĂƌĞ ƚŚĞ ƚŚŝŶŐƐ that Eli can believe in. JW: /Ŷ ƚĞƌŵƐ ŽĨ ƐƚǇůĞ͕ ůŝ͛Ɛ ǀŽŝĐĞ ƐĞĞŵƐ ǁŚŽůůǇ ŶĞǁ͘ ,Ğ ƐƉĞĂŬƐ ŝŶ ƐƚĂĐĐĂƚŽ ůŝŬĞ ƉŚƌĂƐĞƐ͕ ǁŝƚŚŽƵƚ ƉƌŽŶŽƵŶƐ͕ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƐƚǇůĞ ŽĨ ƚǁĞĞƚƐ͕ ƐŽƵŶĚ ďŝƚĞƐ͕ ĂŶĚ &ĂĐĞďŽŽŬ ƐƚĂƚƵƐĞƐ͘ ŝĚ ǇŽƵ ŚĂǀĞ ƚƌŽƵďůĞ ĐƌĞĂƟ ŶŐ ƚŚŝƐ ǀŽŝĐĞ͍ AW: I had the most trouble with it being consistent throughout the ďŽŽŬ͕ ǁŚŝĐŚ ƚŽŽŬ ŵĞ ǇĞĂƌƐ ƚŽ ŝƌŽŶ ŽƵƚ͕ ĂŶĚ ƐŽŵĞƟ ŵĞƐ / ǁĂƐ ƌĞĂĚŝŶŐ sŝƌŐŝŶŝĂ tŽŽůĨ͕ ĂŶĚ ƐŽŵĞƟ ŵĞƐ / ǁĂƐ ƌĞĂĚŝŶŐ >ǇĚŝĂ ĂǀŝƐ͕ Žƌ ƌĞĂĚŝŶŐ War and Peace or /ŶĮ ŶŝƚĞ :ĞƐƚ ǁŚŝůĞ / ǁĂƐ ǁƌŝƟ ŶŐ ƚŚĞ ďŽŽŬ͘ / ĂůƐŽ ƌĞĂĚ Ă ŵŝůͲ lion blogs. All of those things contributed to the voice. JW: dŚĞƌĞ ĂƌĞ ŵĂŶǇ ƐƚǇůŝƐƟ Đ ŶŽǀĞůƟ ĞƐ ŝŶ ǇŽƵƌ ďŽŽŬ͘ KŶĞ ƚŚĂƚ ĐŽŵĞƐ ƚŽ ŵŝŶĚ ŝƐ ƚŚĂƚ ǇŽƵ ůŝƐƚ ĐĞƌƚĂŝŶ ĨĂĐƚƐ ĂďŽƵƚ ĐŚĂƌĂĐƚĞƌƐ ŝŶƐƚĞĂĚ ŽĨ ƉƌŽǀŝĚŝŶŐ ďĂĐŬƐƚŽƌǇ͘ dŚŝƐ ƐĞĞŵĞĚ ƚŽ ǁŽƌŬ ƌĞĂůůǇ ǁĞůů ďĞĐĂƵƐĞ ƚŚĞǇ ĂůůŽǁĞĚ ĨŽƌ Ă ƐůŽǁĞƌ ƉĂĐĞ ĂŶĚ Ă ŵĞĚŝƚĂƟ ǀĞ ƐƉĂĐĞ͕ ŶŽƚ ũƵƐƚ ďĞĐĂƵƐĞ ƚŚĞǇ ĂƌĞ ƉĞƌĨĞĐƚ

ĚĞƚĂŝůƐ Žƌ ĐŚĂƌĂĐƚĞƌ ƐŬĞƚĐŚĞƐ͘ dŚĞǇ ĂůůŽǁ ƐƉĂĐĞ ƚŽ ƚŚŝŶŬ͙ AW: tĞůů͕ ďĞĐĂƵƐĞ ƚŚĞ ǀŽŝĐĞ ŽĨ ůŝ ŝƐ ĂůǁĂǇƐ ƌƵŶŶŝŶŐ͕ / ǁĂƐ ůŽŽŬŝŶŐ ƚŽ ĂůůŽǁ ƚŚĞ ƌĞĂĚĞƌ ƚŽ ƚĂŬĞ Ă ďƌĞĂƚŚ ĂŶĚ ƚŽ ƉƵŶĐƚƵĂƚĞ ƚŚĞ ŽƚŚĞƌ ƐĞĐƟ ŽŶƐ͘ / ǁĂƐ ĂůƐŽ ƚƌǇŝŶŐ ƚŽ Į ŐƵƌĞ ŽƵƚ Ă ǁĂǇ ƚŽ ĐŽŶǀĞǇ ĐĞƌƚĂŝŶ ŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƟ ŽŶ ǁŝƚŚŽƵƚ ŐĞƫ ŶŐ ďŽŐŐĞĚ ĚŽǁŶ ŝŶ ďĂĐŬ ƐƚŽƌǇ͕ Žƌ ŐĞƫ ŶŐ ďŽŐŐĞĚ ĚŽǁŶ ŝŶ Ă ĐŚĂƌĂĐƚĞƌ ƚŚĂƚ ǁĂƐ ũƵƐƚ ƚŚŝŶŬŝŶŐ͘ dŚĞƌĞ ǁĂƐ ĂŶ ĞĂƌůŝĞƌ ĚƌĂŌ ƚŚĂƚ ǁĂƐ Ă ŚƵŶĚƌĞĚ ƉĂŐĞƐ ůŽŶŐĞƌ͕ ǁŚŝĐŚ ŝŶĐůƵĚĞĚ ůŝ ƚŚŝŶŬŝŶŐ ĂďŽƵƚ ŚŝƐ ĨĂƚŚĞƌΖƐ ĐŚŝůĚŚŽŽĚ͕ ĂŶĚ ŝƚ ĨĞůƚ ƐůŽǁ ƚŽ ŵĞ͕ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ƐƚŽƌǇ ǁĂƐŶΖƚ ŵŽǀŝŶŐ ƋƵŝĐŬůǇ ĞŶŽƵŐŚ͘ / ƌĞĂůŝǌĞĚ ƚŚĞ ĐŚĂƌĂĐƚĞƌ ƐŚŽƵůĚ ďĞ͕ ĂŶĚ ǁŽƵůĚ ďĞ͕ ƚŚŝŶŬŝŶŐ ŝŶ ƐŚŽƌƚ ďƵƌƐƚƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ŝƚ ĂůůŽǁĞĚ ŵĞ ŵŽƌĞ ĐƌĞĂƟ ǀŝƚǇ ƚŽ ĐƌĞĂƚĞ ŝĚĞĂƐ ůŝŬĞ ƚŚĞ ƐƵƌƌĞĂů ƌĞĐŝƉĞƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ŵŽǀŝĞ ĞŶĚŝŶŐƐ͘ dŚŽƐĞ ǁĞƌĞ ƚŚĞ ŵŽƐƚ ĨƵŶ chapters to write. JW: /Ŷ ƚŚĂƚ ǀĞŝŶ͕ ǇŽƵ ĐůĞǀĞƌůǇ ŚĂǀĞ ůŝ ŝŵĂŐŝŶĞ ŵĂŶǇ Ěŝī ĞƌĞŶƚ ĞŶĚŝŶŐƐ ƚŽ ŚŝƐ ůŝĨĞ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚ ƚŚĞ ƉƌŝƐŵ ŽĨ ŚŽǁ ŝƚ ǁŽƵůĚ ƉůĂǇ ŽƵƚ ŝŶ Ěŝī ĞƌĞŶƚ ŵŽǀͲ ŝĞƐ ĨƌŽŵ ĚŝƐƟ ŶĐƚ ƐƚƵĚŝŽƐ͘ tŚĂƚ ǁĞƌĞ ǇŽƵ ƚƌǇŝŶŐ ƚŽ ĂĐĐŽŵƉůŝƐŚ ƚŚĞƌĞ͍ AW: Literally the character is trying to imagine what he will do with his ůŝĨĞ͕ ďƵƚ ŚŝƐ ŝŵĂŐŝŶĂƟ ŽŶ ŚĂƐ ďĞĞŶ ĐŽŵƉƌŽŵŝƐĞĚ͕ ďĞĐĂƵƐĞ ŚĞ ĐĂŶ ŽŶůǇ ŝŵĂŐŝŶĞ ĐŚĞĞƐǇ ĐůŝĐŚĠƐ͘ zĞƚ͕ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŶƐĞƋƵĞŶƚ ĐŚĂƉƚĞƌƐ ďƵƌǇ ƚŚĞ ƉƌĞǀŝŽƵƐ possible endings. The great trope of all these types of movies or books ŝƐ ƚŚĂƚ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ ĞŶĚ ƚŚĞ ŐƵǇ ŐĞƚƐ ŝŶƚŽ ŚŝƐ ĐĂƌ ĂŶĚ ĚƌŝǀĞƐ ŝŶƚŽ Ă ƐƵŶƐĞƚ͕ ĂŶĚ ǁĞ ŬŶŽǁ ŚĞΖƐ ŐŽŝŶŐ ƚŽ ďĞ ŽŬĂǇ͘ / ŬŶĞǁ / ĐŽƵůĚŶ͛ƚ ĨŽůůŽǁ ƚŚĂƚ ĨŽƌŵƵůĂ͕ but what I could do was think of all the endings I couldn’t do. I wanted to have this character defy these endings.*

Joseph Winkler is a freelance writer living in New York City. He writes ĨŽƌ sŽůϭ ƌŽŽŬůǇŶ͕ dŚĞ ,Ƶĸ ŶŐƚŽŶ WŽƐƚ͕ :ĞǁĐǇ͕ ĂŶĚ ŽƚŚĞƌ ƐŝƚĞƐ͘ tŚŝůĞ ŶŽƚ ǁƌŝƟ ŶŐ͕ :ŽĞ ŝƐ ŐĞƫ ŶŐ Ă DĂƐƚĞƌƐ ŝŶ ŶŐůŝƐŚ >ŝƚĞƌĂƚƵƌĞ Ăƚ ŝƚǇ ŽůůĞŐĞ͘ dŽ ƐƵƉƉŽƌƚ ŚŝƐ ĞǆƚƌĂǀĂŐĂŶƚ ůŝĨĞƐƚǇůĞ͕ :ŽĞ ĂůƐŽ ƚƵƚŽƌƐ ĂŶĚ ƵŶĂďĂƐŚĞĚůǇ ďĂďǇͲ ƐŝƚƐ͘ ŚĞĐŬ ŽƵƚ ŚŝƐ ďůŽŐ Ăƚ ŶŽĐŽŶǀĞƌƐĂƟ ŽŶůĞŌ ďĞŚŝŶĚ͘ďůŽŐƐƉŽƚ͘ĐŽŵ *A longer version of this article can be found online at www.jewishbookcouncil.org

review Flatscreen Adam Wilson Harper Perennial, 2012 Paperback 326 pp. $14.99 [e] ISBN: 978-0-06-209033-1

ebut author Adam Wilson’s slacker novel Flatscreen tells the ƐƚŽƌǇ ŽĨ ůŝ ^ĐŚǁĂƌƚǌ͕ Ă ũŽďůĞƐƐ ƚǁĞŶƚǇͲǇĞĂƌͲŽůĚ͕ ŵŽŶƚŚƐ ŽƵƚ ŽĨ ŚŝŐŚ ƐĐŚŽŽů ĂŶĚ ƐƟ ůů ůŝǀŝŶŐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ďĂƐĞŵĞŶƚ ŽĨ ŚŝƐ ŵŽƚŚĞƌ͛Ɛ ŚŽƵƐĞ͘ ^Ğƚ ŝŶ Ă ƐĞĐƵůĂƌ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ƐƵďƵƌďĂŶ ƚŽǁŶ ŝŶ DĂƐƐĂĐŚƵƐĞƩ Ɛ͕ ůŝ͛Ɛ ƐƚŽƌǇ ŝƐ ĐŚŽĐŬ ĨƵůů ŽĨ ƚĞĞŶĂŐĞ ĂŶŐƐƚ͕ ĨƌŽŵ ŶĂǀŝŐĂƟ ŶŐ ŚŝƐ ƚŽǁŶ͛Ɛ ĐŽŵƉůŝĐĂƚĞĚ ƐŽĐŝĂů ƐĐĞŶĞ͕ ƚŽ ĂǁŬǁĂƌĚ ƐĞǆƵĂů ĞŶĐŽƵŶƚĞƌƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ĚĞĂůŝŶŐ ǁŝƚŚ ŚŝƐ ƉĂƌĞŶƚƐ͛ ĚŝǀŽƌĐĞ ĂŶĚ ŽůĚĞƌ ďƌŽƚŚĞƌ͛Ɛ ƐƵĐĐĞƐƐ͘ ƚ Ɵ ŵĞƐ ƐƚĂŐŐĞƌŝŶŐůǇ ĚĂƌŬ͕ ĂŶĚ Ăƚ ŽƚŚĞƌƐ ŝŶĐƌĞĚŝďůǇ ŐƌĂƉŚŝĐ͕ ƚŚĞ ŶŽǀĞů ŝƐ ĂŶ ĞŵŽƟ ŽŶĂů ƌŽůůĞƌ ĐŽĂƐƚĞƌ ĨƵŶŶǇ ĞŶŽƵŐŚ ƚŽ ŚĂǀĞ ǇŽƵ ŝŶ Į ƚƐ ŽĨ ůĂƵŐŚƚĞƌ͘ Ɛ ůŝ ĚƌŝŌ Ɛ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚ ŚŝƐ ůŝĨĞ ŽĨ ĚƌƵŐ ĂĚĚŝĐƟ ŽŶ ĂŶĚ ĂůĐŽŚŽůŝƐŵ͕ ŚĞ Į ŶĚƐ ƐŽůĂĐĞ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĨƌŝĞŶĚƐŚŝƉ ŽĨ Ă ĨĞůůŽǁ ŽƵƚĐĂƐƚ͕ ŚĂŶĚŝĐĂƉƉĞĚ ĞǆͲĂĐƚŽƌ ^ĞǇŵŽƵƌ <ŚĂŶ͘ tŝƚŚ ƐĞǆͲĂĚĚŝĐƚĞĚ <ŚĂŶ ĂƐ Ă ŵŽƌĂů ŐƵŝĚĞ͕ ďŽƚŚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞŝƌ ůŝǀĞƐ spiral deeper into depravity.

Besides being riddled with awkward ŵŽŵĞŶƚƐ͕ ĚƌƵŐ ŝŶĚƵĐĞĚ ŚĂǌĞƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ƐƚƌĞƐƐĨƵů ĨĂŵŝůǇ ŐĂƚŚĞƌŝŶŐƐ͕ Flatscreen ŝƐ ŝŶƚĞƌƐƉĞƌƐĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ ǀŝŐŶĞƩ ĞƐ ĨƌŽŵ ůŝ͛Ɛ ŵŝŶĚ ƚŚĂƚ Žī Ğƌ ĂŶ ĞǀĞŶ ĚĞĞƉĞƌ ƵŶĚĞƌͲ standing of his psyche. These include imaginary scenarios that Eli plays out ŝŶ ŚŝƐ ŚĞĂĚ͕ Ă ůŝƐƚ ŽĨ ƐĞǆƵĂů ĞǆƉĞƌŝĞŶĐͲ ĞƐ͕ Ň ĂƐŚďĂĐŬƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ŵĂŶǇ ŽƚŚĞƌƐ͘ tŝůƐŽŶƐ͛Ɛ ƐŚĂƌƉ͕ ŚĞĂƌƚƌĞŶĚŝŶŐ ƉƌŽƐĞ ŝƐ ĐĂƉƟ ǀĂƟ ŶŐ ĂŶĚ ĐŽŵŝĐĂůůǇ ůĂĐĞĚ͕ ĂŶĚ ĂŶ ƵůƟ ŵĂƚĞůǇ ƐĂƟ ƐĨǇŝŶŐ read. SL

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summer 5772/2012

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fiction ĚĞĂƚŚ͕ Ă 'ĞƌŵĂŶ ƉƌŽƉĞƌƚǇ ĐůĂŝŵ ĂŶĚ Ă ƐŵĂůů ĨƌĂŐŵĞŶƚ ŽĨ Į ůŵ ŝŶƐƉŝƌĞ ,ŽůůǇ͛Ɛ ŽǁŶ ƌĞƚƵƌŶ ƚŽ Berlin. They become the engines that propel ƚŚĞ ƉůŽƚ͕ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ŵĞĐŚĂŶŝƐŵ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚ ǁŚŝĐŚ

All That I Am Anna Funder HarperCollins, 2012 Hardcover $25.95 384 pp. [e] ISBN: 978-0-06-207756-1

A lyrical, interwoven composition of thirteen voices: Jews, non-Jews, survivors, descendants, Nazis, Communists, and residents of the "new" Berlin.

ƌŶƐƚ dŽůůĞƌ͕ ŽŶĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŶĂƌƌĂƚŽƌƐ ŽĨ All That / ŵ͕ ŝƐ ǀŝƐŝƟ ŶŐ EĞǁ zŽƌŬ ŝŶ ϭϵϯϵ ǁŚĞŶ news breaks that the ^^ ^ƚ͘ >ŽƵŝƐ has been turned back from Havana Harbor to Europe ǁŝƚŚ ŝƚƐ ĨƵůů ůŽĂĚ ŽĨ ƉĂƐƐĞŶŐĞƌƐ Ň ĞĞŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ EĂǌŝƐ͘ ,Ğ ŝƐ ĚŝĐƚĂƟ ŶŐ ƚŚĞ ƐƚŽƌǇ ŽĨ ŚŝƐ ĐŽŵƌĂĚĞͲ ŝŶͲĂƌŵƐ ĂŶĚ ƚƌƵĞ ůŽǀĞ͕ ŽƌĂ͕ ƚŽ ŚŝƐ ƐĞĐƌĞƚĂƌǇ͘ ZƵƚŚ ĞĐŬĞƌ͕ ƚŚĞ ŶŽǀĞů͛Ɛ ŽƚŚĞƌ ŶĂƌƌĂƚŽƌ͕ ŝƐ ůŝǀŝŶŐ ŝŶ ŽŶĚŝ͕ ƵƐƚƌĂůŝĂ ŝŶ ϮϬϭϭ͘ YƵŝƚĞ ŝůů͕ ƐŚĞ spends her long days remembering details of her past life in Berlin and London in the ϭϵϮϬƐ ĂŶĚ ΖϯϬƐ͘ ^ŚĞ ǁĂƐ ƉĂƌƚ ŽĨ Ă Ɵ ŐŚƚ ĐŝƌĐůĞ ŽĨ ƉŽůŝƟ ĐĂů ĂĐƟ ǀŝƐƚƐ ůĞĚ ďǇ ŚĞƌ ĐŽƵƐŝŶ ŽƌĂ ĂŶĚ ŝŶĐůƵĚĞĚ dŽůůĞƌ ĂŶĚ ZƵƚŚ͛Ɛ ŚƵƐďĂŶĚ͕ Ă ĚĂƐŚŝŶŐ ǇŽƵŶŐ ũŽƵƌŶĂůŝƐƚ͘ ŽƌĂ ǁĂƐ Ă Į ƌĞďƌĂŶĚ ǁŚŽƐĞ Ğī ŽƌƚƐ ďĞŐĂŶ ǁŝƚŚ ŚĞƌ ǁŽƌŬ ƚŽ ƌĞůĞĂƐĞ 'ƌĞĂƚ War hero Toller from prison. The four friends ǁĞƌĞ ĞĂƌůǇ ŚĞƌŽĞƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƌĞƐŝƐƚĂŶĐĞ͕ Į ŐŚƟ ŶŐ against the rise of Hitler while in Berlin and ĐŽŶƟ ŶƵŝŶŐ ƚŚĞŝƌ Ğī ŽƌƚƐ ƚŽ ďƌŝŶŐ Śŝŵ ĚŽǁŶ when they became exiles in London. They took on incredibly dangerous missions with only their small circle and a few others within their trust. Funder describes the tragic story ŽĨ ƚŚĞƐĞ ĨŽƵƌ ŝĚĞĂůŝƐƚƐ͕ ƌŝĐŚůǇ ƉĂŝŶƟ ŶŐ ĨŽƌ ƵƐ ƚŚĞŝƌ ůŽĐĂƟ ŽŶƐ ĂŶĚ ĞŵŽƟ ŽŶƐ͘ /ƚ ǁĂƐ Ěŝĸ ĐƵůƚ ƚŽ ŬĞĞƉ ƵƉ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ĂůƚĞƌŶĂƟ ŶŐ ŶĂƌƌĂƚŽƌƐ ĐĂƐƵĂůůǇ switching their reminiscences from the present ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ƉĂƐƚ͕ ďƵƚ ǁĞůů ǁŽƌƚŚ ƚŚĞ Ğī Žƌƚ͕ ĂƐ ƚŚŝƐ ŝŶƚĞůůŝŐĞŶƚ͕ ďĞĂƵƟ ĨƵůůǇ ǁƌŝƩ ĞŶ ďŽŽŬ Žī ĞƌƐ ĚĞĞƉ insight into an important piece of history. MBA

Berlin Cantata Jeffrey Lewis Haus Publishing, 2012 Paperback 240 pp. $15.00 [e] ISBN: 978-1-907822-43-8

ǁĞ ŵĞĞƚ ƚŚĞ ƉůĂǇĞƌƐ͘ tĞ ƌĞĂĚ ŽĨ ƐĞĐƌĞƚƐ ŬĞƉƚ͕ ĚĞĂůƐ ĞǆĞĐƵƚĞĚ͕ ŵǇƐƚĞƌŝĞƐ ƵŶĐŽǀĞƌĞĚ͕ ŝŵƉŽƐͲ ƐŝďůĞ ůŽǀĞ͕ ĂŶĚ͕ ĂůǁĂǇƐ͕ ůŽƐƐ͘ tŝƚŚ ŽƵƚƐƚĂŶĚŝŶŐ ĐƌĂŌ :Ğī ƌĞǇ >ĞǁŝƐ ĞǆĂŵŝŶĞƐ ƚŚĞ ƉŽůŝƟ ĐĂů ƐĞŶƟ ŵĞŶƚƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ĞǀĞƌǇ ƉŽƐƐŝďůĞ͕ ƉƌŽďĂďůĞ͕ ĂŶĚ ǁƌĞŶĐŚŝŶŐ ĞŵŽƟ ŽŶ we might imagine. The novel begs to be read ŵŽƌĞ ƚŚĂŶ ŽŶĐĞ͕ ƚŽ ƐĂǀŽƌ ĞǀĞƌǇ ŶƵĂŶĐĞ ŽĨ ĞǆͲ ƉƌĞƐƐŝŽŶ͕ ŝŶŶĞƌ ĐŽŶŇ ŝĐƚ͕ ĂŶĚ ƌĞƐŽůƵƟ ŽŶ͘ PGM

Blood in the Promised Land Eliot Sefrin iUniverse, 2011 Paperback 320 pp. $19.95 [e] ISBN: 978-4620-2611-1

ŚŝƐ ŚŝƐƚŽƌŝĐĂů ŶŽǀĞů͕ ƐĞƚ ŝŶ ϭϵϰϯ͕ ƚĞůůƐ ƚŚĞ ƉĂƌĂůůĞů ƐƚŽƌŝĞƐ ŽĨ ƚǁŽ ǀĞƌǇ Ěŝī ĞƌĞŶƚ ŵĞŶ͘ Jacob Perlman is a Jewish doctor in Vienna who ŝƐ ĨŽƌĐĞĚ ƚŽ Ň ĞĞ ǁŚĞŶ ƚŚĞ EĂǌŝƐ ƚĂŬĞ ŽǀĞƌ ŚŝƐ city. Roosevelt Turner is a poor black migrant ǁŽƌŬĞƌ ĨƌŽŵ 'ĂŝŶĞƐǀŝůůĞ͕ &ůŽƌŝĚĂ ǁŚŽ ŚĂƐ ďĞĞŶ ƚƌĂƵŵĂƟ ǌĞĚ ďǇ ƚŚĞ ŚŽƌƌŝĮ Đ ůŽƐƐ ŽĨ ŚŝƐ ĨĂŵŝůǇ ĂŶĚ ŝƐ ƐůŽǁůǇ ŵĂŬŝŶŐ ŚŝƐ ǁĂǇ ŶŽƌƚŚ͕ ĂǁĂǇ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ :ŝŵ ƌŽǁ ^ŽƵƚŚ͘ ŽƚŚ ŵĞŶ ĚƌĞĂŵ ŽĨ ŐĞƫ ŶŐ ƚŽ WŝƩ ƐďƵƌŐŚ͕ Ă ƉůĂĐĞ ƚŚĂƚ ŵĂǇ ƐĂǀĞ ƚŚĞŵ ĨƌŽŵ their nightmarish lives. World War II is raging ĂŶĚ WŝƩ ƐďƵƌŐŚ Žī ĞƌƐ ŽƉƉŽƌƚƵŶŝƟ ĞƐ ĨŽƌ ďůĂĐŬ ůĂďŽƌĞƌƐ ĂŶĚ ĨŽƌ ŝŵŵŝŐƌĂŶƚƐ͕ ŝĨ ŽŶůǇ ƚŚĞǇ ĐĂŶ get there. Eventually the two men’s paths meet and their lives become enmeshed in a way

he Berlin visitor program began in 1969. dŽ ĚĂƚĞ͕ ŵŽƌĞ ƚŚĂŶ ϭϱ͕ϬϬϬ ĨŽƌŵĞƌ ĞƌůŝŶͲ ĞƌƐ͕ ŵŽƐƚůǇ :ĞǁŝƐŚ͕ ƉůƵƐ ĂŶ ĞƋƵĂů ŶƵŵďĞƌ ŽĨ ĨĂŵŝůǇ ŵĞŵďĞƌƐ͕ ŚĂǀĞ ďĞĞŶ ŝŶǀŝƚĞĚ ďĂĐŬ Ăƚ German taxpayer expense. The Berlin Wall fell ŝŶ ϭϵϴϵ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ h^^Z ĐŽůůĂƉƐĞĚ ŝŶ ϭϵϵϭ͘ Berlin Cantata͕ :Ğī ƌĞǇ >ĞǁŝƐ͛Ɛ ŶŽǀĞů ƐĞƚ ĂŌ Ğƌ ƚŚĞƐĞ ĞǀĞŶƚƐ͕ ŝƐ Ă ůǇƌŝĐĂů͕ ŝŶƚĞƌǁŽǀĞŶ ĐŽŵƉŽƐŝƟ ŽŶ ŽĨ ƚŚŝƌƚĞĞŶ ǀŽŝĐĞƐ͗ :ĞǁƐ͕ ŶŽŶͲ:ĞǁƐ͕ ƐƵƌǀŝǀŽƌƐ͕ ĚĞͲ ƐĐĞŶĚĂŶƚƐ͕ EĂǌŝƐ͕ ŽŵŵƵŶŝƐƚƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ƌĞƐŝĚĞŶƚƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ͞ŶĞǁ͟ ĞƌůŝŶ͘ ĂĐŚ ŵĞŵďĞƌ ŽĨ ƚŚŝƐ ͞ĐŚŽŝƌ͟ ŚĂƐ Ă ƚĂůĞ ƚŽ ƚĞůů͕ Ă ũŽƵƌŶĞǇ ƚŽ ƌĞůŝǀĞ͕ ĂŶĚ Ă ĐŚĂůůĞŶŐĞ ƚŽ ĐŽŶƟ ŶƵĞ Ă ǀŝĂďůĞ ůŝĨĞ͘ ,ŽůůǇ ŶŚŽůƚ͕ ŵĞƌŝĐĂŶ ďŽƌŶ͕ ĂĐĐŽŵƉĂŶŝĞĚ her mother Dorothy on her return visit to BerůŝŶ͘ ŽƌŽƚŚǇ ƚĞůůƐ ƵƐ ƌŝŐŚƚ Žī ƚŚĂƚ ƐŚĞ͕ Ă ƐƵƌǀŝͲ ǀŽƌ͕ ŝƐ ĂƐŚĂŵĞĚ͘ Ƶƚ͕ ƐŚĞ ƐĂǇƐ͕ ͞/ Ăŵ ĂƐŚĂŵĞĚ ŽĨ ǁŚĂƚ / Ăŵ ĂƐŚĂŵĞĚ ŽĨ͘͟ hƉŽŶ ŚĞƌ ŵŽƚŚĞƌ͛Ɛ

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they never could have imagined. This story ĂďŽƵƚ ƐƵī ĞƌŝŶŐ͕ ƐƵƌǀŝǀĂů͕ ŚĞƌŽŝƐŵ͕ ƌĂĐŝƐŵ͕ ƚŚĞ ďŽŶĚ ďĞƚǁĞĞŶ ďůĂĐŬƐ ĂŶĚ :ĞǁƐ͕ ƚŚĞ ͞ ŵĞƌŝͲ ĐĂŶ ƌĞĂŵ͟ ĂŶĚ ŵŽƌĞ ĐŽŶƚĂŝŶƐ ĨĂƐĐŝŶĂƟ ŶŐ details about the beginnings of the civil rights ŵŽǀĞŵĞŶƚ͕ ƚŚĞ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ĐŽŵŵƵŶŝƚǇ ŽĨ ^ŽƐƵĂ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŽŵŝŶŝĐĂŶ ZĞƉƵďůŝĐ͕ ĂŶĚ ĂďŽƵƚ ǁĂƌƟ ŵĞ ŝŶĚƵƐƚƌǇ ŝŶ WŝƩ ƐďƵƌŐŚ͘ ůƚŚŽƵŐŚ Ăƚ Ɵ ŵĞƐ ƚŚĞ ŶĂƌƌĂƟ ǀĞ ǁĂƐ Ă ďŝƚ ƌĞƉĞƟ Ɵ ǀĞ͕ ƚŚĞ ĚĞƐĐƌŝƉƟ ŽŶƐ ǁĞƌĞ ǀŝǀŝĚ ĂŶĚ ŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƟ ǀĞ͘ dŚĞ ũƵǆƚĂƉŽƐŝƟ ŽŶ of these two protagonists with completely Ěŝī ĞƌĞŶƚ ďĂĐŬŐƌŽƵŶĚƐ ǁĂƐ ƵŶŝƋƵĞ͘ dŚŝƐ ďŽŽŬ ŝƐ suitable for young adults too. MBA

Children of Wrath Paul Grossman St. Martin’s Press, 2012 Hardcover 323 pp. $25.99 [e] ISBN: 978-0-312-60191-1

ƚ͛Ɛ KĐƚŽďĞƌ͕ ϭϵϮϵ ŝŶ ĞƌůŝŶ͘ /ƚ͛Ɛ Ă Ɵ ŵĞ ŽĨ ďŽƚŚ ĞĐŽŶŽŵŝĐ ƌĞĐŽǀĞƌǇ ĂŶĚ ƉŽůŝƟ ĐĂů unrest. Berliners become increasingly uneasy ĂƐ ƉĞŽƉůĞ ƐƚĂƌƚ ĚǇŝŶŐ ĨƌŽŵ ĞĂƟ ŶŐ ƚĂŝŶƚĞĚ ƐĂƵƐĂŐĞƐ͕ ƐŽŵĞŽŶĞ ŝƐ ŵƵƌĚĞƌŝŶŐ ŚŽŵĞůĞƐƐ ďŽǇƐ ĂŶĚ ĐƌĞĂƟ ŶŐ ƐĐƵůƉƚƵƌĞ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞŝƌ ďŽŶĞƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ƐƚŽĐŬ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĐƌĂƐŚĞƐ ŝŶ EĞǁ zŽƌŬ ŝƚǇ͕ sending shockwaves through Europe. ĞƚĞĐƟ ǀĞ tŝůůŝ <ƌĂƵƐ ŝƐ ĂŶ ŽĚĚŝƚǇ͕ ŽŶĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĨĞǁ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ƉŽůŝĐĞ Žĸ ĐĞƌƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĐŝƚǇ͘ ,Ğ ŝƐ ƚŚĞ ƚĂƌŐĞƚ ŽĨ ĂŶƟ Ͳ^ĞŵŝƟ Đ ũŽŬĞƐ ĂŶĚ ĐƵƌƌĞŶƚůǇ

Detective Willi Kraus is an oddity, one of the few Jewish police officers in the city. without a partner as most of the junior ofĮ ĐĞƌƐ ĂƌĞ ƵŶǁŝůůŝŶŐ ƚŽ ǁŽƌŬ ǁŝƚŚ Ă :Ğǁ͘ /ŶƐƚĞĂĚ ŽĨ ďĞŝŶŐ ĂƐƐŝŐŶĞĚ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ƐĞƌŝĂů ŵƵƌĚĞƌ ĐĂƐĞ͕ ŚĞ ŝƐ ƐŚƵŶƚĞĚ Žī ƚŽ ƐĂƵƐĂŐĞ ĚƵƚǇ͕ ŵĂŬŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ƌŽƵŶĚƐ ŽĨ ĨĂĐƚŽƌŝĞƐ ĂŶĚ ƐƚŽĐŬǇĂƌĚƐ͕ ǁŚŝůĞ becoming increasingly obsessed with the case he lost. Ɛ ŵŽƌĞ ďĂŐƐ ŽĨ ďŽŶĞƐ ĂƉƉĞĂƌ ĂŶĚ ůŝƩ ůĞ

Want to have your favorite author at your next book club meeting? ǡ ͚͙͚͘ǡ ơ live chat with authors!

͛͘͘ ǡ Ǥ writing that chapter? Where did the idea for the book come from? Which character was based on a real person? Ƥ Ǩ

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fiction ^ƚĞŝŶ͛Ɛ ďŽŽŬ ŝƐ ůŝŐŚƚͲŚĞĂƌƚĞĚ͕ ĞǀĞŶ ŝŶ ŝƚƐ ĚĂƌŬĞƐƚ ŵŽŵĞŶƚƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ŽŌ ĞŶ ůĂƵŐŚͲŽƵƚͲůŽƵĚ funny. Its dual plot line feels unnecessary (a cutesy re-telling of Narnia with a baby panda ŵĞĂŶƚ ƚŽ ƌĞƉƌĞƐĞŶƚ ƐƚŚĞƌ͛Ɛ ŽǁŶ ĞǆƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞƐͿ͕ ďƵƚ ƚŚĞƐĞ ƐĞĐƟ ŽŶƐ ĂƌĞ ĞĂƐǇ ĞŶŽƵŐŚ ƚŽ ĨŽƌŐŝǀĞ ǁŝƚŚŝŶ ƚŚĞ ůĂƌŐĞƌ͕ ĞŶƚĞƌƚĂŝŶŝŶŐ ŶĂƌƌĂƟ ǀĞ͘ The &ĂůůďĂĐŬ WůĂŶ isn’t the most profound comingŽĨͲĂŐĞ ƐƚŽƌǇ ĞǀĞƌ ƚŽůĚ͕ ďƵƚ ŝƚ ƌĞŵĂŝŶƐ ŚŽŶĞƐƚ throughout. SB

The Flame Alphabet

ƉƌŽŐƌĞƐƐ ŝƐ ŵĂĚĞ ůŽĐĂƟ ŶŐ ƚŚĞ ŬŝůůĞƌ͕ tŝůůŝ ŝƐ Į ŶĂůůǇ ŐŝǀĞŶ ƚŚĞ ĐĂƐĞ ĂŶĚ ƉƌŽǀŝĚĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ ĂŶ ĂƐƐŝƐƚĂŶƚ͘ ,Ğ ƐĞƚƐ Žī ŽŶ Ă ǁŝŶĚŝŶŐ͕ ĐŽŵƉůŝͲ cated path full of bizarre characters and eerie ůŽĐĂƟ ŽŶƐ͘ tŝůůŝ ĞǀĞŶƚƵĂůůǇ ƚƌŝƵŵƉŚƐ ĂŶĚ ŝƐ rewarded by being promoted from Sergeant ƚŽ &Ƶůů /ŶƐƉĞĐƚŽƌ͕ ďƵƚ ŚŝƐ ũŽǇ ŝƐ ƐŚŽƌƚ ůŝǀĞĚ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ĞĐŽŶŽŵǇ ĐƌƵŵďůĞƐ͕ ĂŶ ĞůĞĐƟ ŽŶ ŝƐ ŚĞůĚ ĂŶĚ the Nazi party increases its numbers in the legislature from twelve to one hundred and ƐĞǀĞŶ͘ dŚŝƐ ŝƐ Ă ĐŽŵƉůĞǆ͕ ŵƵůƟ ͲůĂǇĞƌĞĚ͕ ĂŶĚ ďĞĂƵƟ ĨƵůůǇ ǁƌŝƩ ĞŶ ŶŽǀĞů ƚŚĂƚ ĚŽĞƐ ĂŶ ĞƋƵĂůůǇ Į ŶĞ ũŽď ŽĨ ƚĞůůŝŶŐ Ă ƚĂůĞ ĂŶĚ ƉƌŽǀŝĚŝŶŐ ŚŝƐƚŽƌŝͲ cal context. NT

Jeff Oliver DC Books, 2012 Paperback 160 pp. $18.95 ISBN: 978-1897190753

f there is one word that is synonymous with ͞ƌĞĂůŝƚǇ͟ ds ŝƚ ŝƐ ŚǇƉĞƌďŽůĞ͕ ĐƌĂŵŵĞĚ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ŐĞŶƌĞ ŝƐ ǁŝƚŚ ƌŝĚŝĐƵůŽƵƐ ͞ǇŽƵ͛ǀĞ ŐŽƚ ƚŽ ďĞ ŬŝĚĚŝŶŐ ŵĞ͊͟ ŵŽŵĞŶƚƐ͘ ǀĞŶ ƚŚŽƵŐŚ ŝƚ ƚĂŬĞƐ ŵŽƌĞ ĂŶĚ ŵŽƌĞ ƚŽ ƚƌƵůǇ ĂƉƉĂůů ƵƐ ŶŽǁĂĚĂǇƐ͕ ŝƚ ƐƟ ůů ŚĂƉƉĞŶƐ͘ /Ŷ Ă ŵĂƩ Ğƌ ŽĨ Ă ĨĞǁ ƉĂŐĞƐ ŽĨ Failure to Thrive͕ :Ğī KůŝǀĞƌ͛Ɛ ĚĞďƵƚ ŶŽǀĞů͕ :ŽŶĂƚŚĂŶ &Ăƌď ;Ă ĂŶĂĚŝĂŶ ƌĞĂůŝƚǇ ds ƉƌŽĚƵĐĞƌ͕ ŶĂƚƵƌĂůůǇͿ ĚŝƐĐŽǀĞƌƐ ŚĞ ŚĂƐ Ă ƉŽƐƐŝďůǇ ĚĞĂĚůǇ ďƌĂŝŶ ƚƵŵŽƌ͕ ĐĂƚĐŚĞƐ ŚŝƐ ǁŝĨĞ ĐŚĞĂƟ ŶŐ ǁŝƚŚ ŚĞƌ ŵŝĚĚůĞ ĂŐĞĚ ŽďƐƚĞƚƌŝĐŝĂŶ͕ ĂŶĚ ƚĂŬĞƐ ŚŝƐ Į ǀĞͲ ŵŽŶƚŚͲŽůĚ ƐŽŶ͕ ůůŝŽƚ͕ ƚŽ Ă ƐƚƌŝƉ ĐůƵď ƚŽ ĐůĞĂƌ his thoughts of all that has just happened. At ƚŚŝƐ ƉŽŝŶƚ ǇŽƵ ŵŝŐŚƚ ďĞ ƚŚŝŶŬŝŶŐ͕ ͞ƚŚŝƐ ĐŽƵůĚ ŶĞǀĞƌ ŚĂƉƉĞŶ͘͟ ,ŽǁĞǀĞƌ͕ / ĐĂŶ ƌĞůĂƚĞ ƐŽŵĞͲ what to the protagonist. In a two week span / ǁĂƐ Į ƌĞĚ ĨƌŽŵ ŵǇ Į ƌƐƚ ũŽď ŽƵƚ ŽĨ ĐŽůůĞŐĞ͕ rear-ended someone in a car accident ($1000 ĚĞĚƵĐƟ ďůĞ ƚŚĂƚ / ŚĂĚ ƚŽ ďŽƌƌŽǁ ĨƌŽŵ ŵǇ ƉĂƌĞŶƚƐͿ͕ ĂŶĚ ǁĂƐ ĚƵŵƉĞĚ ďǇ ŵǇ ŐŝƌůĨƌŝĞŶĚ͕ for whom I had moved cross-country. Needless ƚŽ ƐĂǇ͕ Ă ůŽƚ ŽĨ ďĂĚ ƚŚŝŶŐƐ ĐĂŶ ŚĂƉƉĞŶ ŝŶ Ă ƐŚŽƌƚ ĂŵŽƵŶƚ ŽĨ Ɵ ŵĞ͘ Ƶƚ͕ ǁŚĞŶ ĨĂĐĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ any amount of adversity it’s all about how you recover and move forward.

Jewish Book World

The Fallback Plan Leigh Stein Melville House, 2012 Paperback 224 pp. $14.95 [e] ISBN: 978-1612190426

Failure to Thrive

&Ăƌď ƌĞĐŽǀĞƌƐ ďǇ ƐĞƫ ŶŐ ŽƵƚ ŽŶ Ă ƋƵĞƐƚ͘ Trying to rapidly raise Elliot to manhood (think ŝŶĨĂŶƚ ďĂƌ ŵŝƚǌǀĂŚͿ ďĞĨŽƌĞ ŚŝƐ Ɵ ŵĞ ǁŝŶĚƐ ƚŽ Ă ĐůŽƐĞ͕ &Ăƌď ŝƐ ƚŚĞ ŚĞƌŽ ŽĨ Ă ĨƌĞŶĞƟ ĐĂůůǇ ƉĂĐĞĚ͕ ŚǇƉĞƌďŽůŝĐ ďŝůĚƵŶŐƐƌŽŵĂŶ ĐŽŵƉƌŝƐĞĚ ŽĨ ƐĐĞŶĞƐ ƚŚĂƚ ŚĂƌĚůǇ ƐĞĞŵ ƉŽƐƐŝďůĞ͘ ,ŽǁĞǀĞƌ͕ ƚŚĞ ĐƵůŵŝŶĂƟ ŽŶ ŽĨ Ăůů ƚŚĞ ƵŶďĞůŝĞǀĂďůĞ ŵŽͲ ments is that Farb creates an environment in which Elliot learns many life lessons and truly begins to thrive the way his father envisioned. EZ

ƐƚŚĞƌ <ŽŚůĞƌ͕ ƉƌŽƚĂŐŽŶŝƐƚ ŽĨ >ĞŝŐŚ ^ƚĞŝŶ͛Ɛ dŚĞ &ĂůůďĂĐŬ WůĂŶ͕ ŚĂƐ ũƵƐƚ ŐƌĂĚƵĂƚĞĚ ĨƌŽŵ college and moved back home. The drama degree she worked so hard to obtain (even ƐƵī ĞƌŝŶŐ Ă ƉƐǇĐŚŽƟ Đ ďƌĞĂŬĚŽǁŶ ŝŶ ĂŶ ĂƩ ĞŵƉƚ to become Blanche from A Streetcar Named DesireͿ͕ ŚĂƐ ǇĞƚ ƚŽ ŚĞůƉ ŚĞƌ ŽďƚĂŝŶ Ă ƌĞĂů ũŽď͘ tŚĞŶ ŚĞƌ ŵŽŵ ŐĞƚƐ ƐƚŚĞƌ Ă ŐŝŐ ďĂďǇƐŝƫ ŶŐ Ă ŶĞŝŐŚďŽƌ͛Ɛ ǇŽƵŶŐ ĚĂƵŐŚƚĞƌ͕ ƐƚŚĞƌ ŝƐ ƵŶǁŝƚͲ Ɵ ŶŐůǇ ƉůĂĐĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƌŽůĞ ŽĨ ͞ĂĚƵůƚ͕͟ ĨŽƌĐĞĚ ƚŽ ĨĂĐĞ ͞ƐŽŵĞ ƵŶƟ ĚǇ ƚƌƵƚŚƐ ĂďŽƵƚ ĂĚƵůƚ ůŝĨĞ͘͟ tŚŝůĞ ƉůĂǇŝŶŐ ďĂďǇƐŝƩ Ğƌ ƚŽ ůŝƩ ůĞ DĂǇ͕ ƐƚŚĞƌ ŵƵƐƚ ĂůƐŽ ĂĐƚ ƚŚĞ ƉĂƌƚ ŽĨ ĐŽŶĮ ĚĂŶƚĞ to May’s mother as she slides into a more ĐŽŵƉůŝĐĂƚĞĚ ƌĞůĂƟ ŽŶƐŚŝƉ ǁŝƚŚ DĂǇ͛Ɛ ĨĂƚŚĞƌ͘ Ɛ ŵƵĐŚ ĂƐ ƐƚŚĞƌ ǁĂŶƚƐ ƚŽ ͞ŐƌŽǁ ƵƉ͟ ĂŶĚ ůĞĂǀĞ ŚĞƌ ĐŚŝůĚŚŽŽĚ ŚŽŵĞ͕ ƐŚĞ ĂůƐŽ ǁŽƵůĚŶ͛ƚ ŵŝŶĚ ͞Ă ĐŚƌŽŶŝĐ ŝůůŶĞƐƐ ƚŚĂƚ ǁŽƵůĚ ĞŶƟ ƚůĞ ŵĞ ƚŽ ŵŽŶƚŚůǇ ĐŚĞĐŬƐ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ ŐŽǀĞƌŶŵĞŶƚ͕ ƚĞŶĚĞƌ ƐǇŵƉĂƚŚǇ ĨƌŽŵ ŵǇ ůŽǀĞĚ ŽŶĞƐ͕ ĂŶĚ Ă ŐŽŽĚ ĚĞĂů ŽĨ Ɵ ŵĞ ŝŶ ďĞĚ͙͟ tĂůŬŝŶŐ ŚĞĂĚͲĮ ƌƐƚ ŝŶƚŽ the troubles of the adults closest to her does ŶŽƚ ĞǆĂĐƚůǇ ŵĂŬĞ ƐƚŚĞƌ ƌƵŶ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ŚŝůůƐ͕ ďƵƚ neither does she put up the most valiant of efforts to change her life or anyone else’s. She’s not an unlikeable narrator (in fact she’s quite ĨƵŶŶǇ͕ ĂŶĚ ĐŽŶƐŝƐƚĞŶƚůǇ ƐĞůĨͲĚĞƉƌĞĐĂƟ ŶŐͿ͕ ďƵƚ she’s not out to win any merit badges either.

summer 5772/2012

www.jewishbookcouncil.org

Ben Marcus Knopf, 2012 Hardcover 304 pp. $25.95 [e] ISBN: 978-0307379375

ŚĞ &ůĂŵĞ ůƉŚĂďĞt by Ben Marcus reads ůŝŬĞ Ă ďĂĚ ĚƌĞĂŵ͘ EŽƚ Ă ďĂĚ ďŽŽŬ͕ ďƵƚ Ă ŶŝŐŚƚŵĂƌĞ͘ EŽƚ Ă ŶŝŐŚƚŵĂƌĞ ƚŽ ĐŽŵƉƌĞŚĞŶĚ͕ but a nightmare to imagine. Confused yet? Just be glad these words are only temporarily ƐĐƌĂŵďůŝŶŐ ǇŽƵƌ ďƌĂŝŶ͗ ŝŶ DĂƌĐƵƐ͛Ɛ ǁŽƌůĚ͕ ƚŚĞǇ ǁŽƵůĚ ďĞ ĐĂƵƐŝŶŐ ĨĂĐŝĂů ƐŚƌŝŶŬĂŐĞ͕ ŚĂŝƌ ůŽƐƐ͕ ďůŝŶĚŶĞƐƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ǁŽƌƐĞ͘ With dŚĞ &ůĂŵĞ ůƉŚĂďĞƚ͕ DĂƌĐƵƐ ĐŽŶũƵƌĞƐ ƵƉ ƚŚĞ ǁŽƌůĚ͛Ɛ Į ƌƐƚ ůŝƚĞƌĂƌǇ ĞƉŝĚĞŵŝĐ͘ dŚĞ sound of children’s speech has become lethal ƚŽ ĞǀĞƌǇŽŶĞ ŽǀĞƌ ƚŚĞ ĂŐĞ ŽĨ ĞŝŐŚƚĞĞŶ͕ ĂŶĚ ĐŚŝůͲ dren are wielding their newfound powers with ŚĞůůŝƐŚ ĞĐƐƚĂƐǇ͘ ǀĞŶƚƵĂůůǇ͕ ŝƚ ŝƐ Ăůů ůĂŶŐƵĂŐĞ͕ ǁƌŝƩ ĞŶ ĂŶĚ ƐƉŽŬĞŶ͕ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚƌĞĂƚĞŶƐ ƚŽ ĚĞƐƚƌŽǇ mankind. The outbreak of lethal speech begins with Jewish children—or so the news feeds claim.

The sound of children's speech has become lethal to everyone over the age of eighteen, and children are wielding their newfound powers with hellish ecstasy. Eventually, it is all language, written and spoken, that threatens to destroy mankind. dŚĞ :ĞǁƐ ĂƌĞ Ă ƚƌŝĐŬǇ ŐƌŽƵƉ ƚŽ ƉŝŶ ĚŽǁŶ͕ ŚŽǁĞǀĞƌ͕ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ƌĞůŝŐŝŽŶ ŚĂƐ ĚŝƐƉĞƌƐĞĚ ŝŶ such a way that no one knows who is JewŝƐŚ ĂŶǇŵŽƌĞ͘ :ĞǁƐ ƉƌĂǇ ĂůŽŶĞ͕ ĐŽŶĐĞĂůĞĚ ŝŶ ŚƵƚƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ǁŽŽĚƐ͕ ůŝƐƚĞŶŝŶŐ ƚŽ ƵŶĚĞƌŐƌŽƵŶĚ broadcasts of sermons barely comprehensible through an orange radio wiring that sprouts from a hole in the ground and disappears again. /Ŷ ƚŚŝƐ ƚĞƌƌŝďůĞ ĨƵƚƵƌĞ͕ ĨĂŵŝůŝĞƐ ĂƌĞ ƐůŽǁůǇ being destroyed by parents’ repulsion to ;ƚŚĞŝƌ ĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶ͛ƐͿ ǁŽƌĚƐ͘ dŽ ďƌŝŶŐ ƚŚŝƐ ŵŽƟ Ĩ ƚŽ ůŝĨĞ͕ DĂƌĐƵƐ ǁŽƌŬƐ ƚŽ ĚĞƐƚƌŽǇ ƚŚĞ ƚƌĂĚŝƟ ŽŶĂů ŶĂƌƌĂƟ ǀĞ ĂƐ ǁĞ ŬŶŽǁ ŝƚ͘ ,ŝƐ ŶĂƌƌĂƚŽƌ͕ ^Ăŵ͕ ŝƐ DĂƌĐƵƐ͛Ɛ ŵŽƵƚŚƉŝĞĐĞ ĨŽƌ ĐŝƌĐƵůĂƌ͕ ŽŌ ĞŶ ƌĞƉĞƟ Ͳ Ɵ ǀĞ͕ ŚĂƌĚ ƚŽ ŐƌĂƐƉ ůĂŶŐƵĂŐĞ͘ ^Ăŵ ŝƐ ĚĞĂůŝŶŐ ĂƐ

fiction

A Jewish Jane Austen 2011 Man Booker prize winner Howard Jacobson’s comic and penetrating sensibility shine in his new novel and volume of collected essays. No More Mr. Nice Guy Howard Jacobson Bloomsbury USA, 2011 Paperback 260 pp. $16.00 [e] ISBN: 978-1-60819-687-6

Ğƚ ŽƵƚ͊͟ ƐŚŽƵƚƐ ƚŚĞ ǁŽŵĂŶ ŚĞ ůŝǀĞƐ ǁŝƚŚ͕ ĂŶĚ ƌŝƚĂŝŶ͛Ɛ ƌŽĂĚĐĂƐƟ ŶŐ ƌŝƟ Đ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ Year takes to the road for what he expects to be the greatest ride of his life. With no ƐƉĞĐŝĂů ƉƵƌƉŽƐĞ Žƌ ĚĞƐƟ ŶĂƟ ŽŶ ŝŶ ŵŝŶĚ͕ &ƌĂŶŬ Zŝƚǌ Į ŶĚƐ ŚŝŵƐĞůĨ ŝƌƌĞƐŝƐƟ ďůǇ ĚƌĂǁŶ ƚŽ ƌĞǀŝƐŝƟ ŶŐ ƉůĂĐĞƐ ŚĞ ƌĞŵĞŵďĞƌƐ ĨŽŶĚůǇͶĂŶĚ ǁŚĂƚ ŚĞ ƌĞŵĞŵďĞƌƐ ŝƐ ƐĞǆ͕ ůŽƚƐ ŽĨ ŝƚ͕ ĚŽǁŶ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ůĂƐƚ anatomical detail. Frank savors the memory of his avid couplings and ƚŚĞ ǁŽŵĞŶ ŚĞ ĞŶũŽǇĞĚ ƚŚĞŵ ǁŝƚŚ͕ ƚŚĞŝƌ ƉĞƌƐŽŶĂů ĂŶĚ ƐĞǆƵĂů ƋƵŝƌŬƐ ĂƐ vivid to him now as they were decades before. It would be easy to mistake this journey for a self-indulgent revĞƌŝĞ ŝŶƚĞƌƌƵƉƚĞĚ ďǇ ŽĐĐĂƐŝŽŶĂů ƚƌǇƐƚƐ ǁŝƚŚ ƉƌŽƐƟ ƚƵƚĞƐ͘ DŽƌĞ ƚŚĂŶ ĂŶ ĞǆƚĞŶĚĞĚ ĞƐĐĂƉĂĚĞ ŽĨ ůĞĐŚĞƌǇ ĂŶĚ ůŝďŝĚŽ͕ &ƌĂŶŬ͛Ɛ ǁĂŶĚĞƌŝŶŐƐ ĂƌĞ ĂůƐŽ a kind of pilgrim’s progress. His encounters with his past make his ŵŝƐƚĂŬĞƐ Ăůů ƚŽŽ ƉĂůƉĂďůĞ͕ ĂŶĚ ŚĞ ďĞŐŝŶƐ ƚŽ ƐĞĞ ƚŚĞ ŐŽŽĚ ƐŝĚĞ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĚĞŵĂŶĚƐ ŽĨ ŚŝƐ ƌĞůĂƟ ŽŶƐŚŝƉ͘ dŚŝƐ ĐĂƚĂůŽŐƵĞ ŽĨ ĐŽŶĐƵƉŝƐĐĞŶĐĞ ƚƵƌŶƐ ŽƵƚ to be fundamentally a moral fable about a vividly imagined character who epitomizes the testosterone-driven male of the species. Seasoned ǁŝƚŚ ,ŽǁĂƌĚ :ĂĐŽďƐŽŶ͛Ɛ ĞǆƵďĞƌĂŶƚ ƐĞŶƐĞ ŽĨ ŚƵŵŽƌ ĂŶĚ ďƵƌƐƟ ŶŐ ǁŝƚŚ ůŽĐĂů ĐŽůŽƌ͕ ŝƚ ŝƐ ĚĞĞƉůǇ ƐǇŵƉĂƚŚĞƟ Đ ƚŽ ŚƵŵĂŶ ĨƌĂŝůƚǇ͕ ĨĂůůŝďŝůŝƚǇ͕ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ possibility of forgiveness.

/ŶĚĞƉĞŶĚĞŶƚ͕ ĂƐ ĐŽůůĞĐƚĞĚ ŚĞƌĞ͕ ƚŚĞ ƋƵŽƟ ĚŝĂŶ ŝƐ ũƵƐƚ Ă ƐƚĂƌƟ ŶŐ ƉŽŝŶƚ ĨŽƌ ƉŽŶĚĞƌŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ŚƵŵĂŶ ĐŽŶĚŝƟ ŽŶ͘ tŚŝůĞ ǀĂĐĂƟ ŽŶŝŶŐ͕ ĨŽƌ ŝŶƐƚĂŶĐĞ͕ ŚĞ ĐŽŵĞƐ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŶĐůƵƐŝŽŶ ƚŚĂƚ ͞ŽŶ holiday couples get to reacquaint themselves with one another and ĚŝƐĐŽǀĞƌ ŚŽǁ ůŝƩ ůĞ ƚŚĞƌĞ ŝƐ ůĞŌ ƚŽ ƚĂůŬ ĂďŽƵƚ͘͟ ĐŚĂŶĐĞ ĞŶĐŽƵŶƚĞƌ ǁŝƚŚ a nineteenth-century gravestone prompts Jacobson to ponder how a ƚĞĂĐŚĞƌ ǁŚŽ ĚŝĞĚ Ăƚ ĂŐĞ ƚŚŝƌƚǇͲƐŝǆ ĐĂŵĞ ƚŽ ďĞ ŵĞŵŽƌŝĂůŝǌĞĚ ĂƐ ͞Ă ŵĂŶ ŐƌĞĂƚůǇ ďĞůŽǀĞĚ͘͟ ƚ Ă ďĂƚ ŵŝƚǌǀĂŚ ŝƚ ƐƚƌŝŬĞƐ Śŝŵ͕ ŝƌƌĞǀĞƌĞŶƚůǇ͕ ƚŚĂƚ ͞ďĞŝŶŐ Ă ƌĂďďŝ ŝƐ ůŝŬĞ ďĞŝŶŐ Ă ůŝƚĞƌĂƌǇ ĐƌŝƟ Đ͗ ǇŽƵ ƉŝĐŬ Ăƚ ƚĞǆƚƐ͕ Ăī ĞĐƚ Ă ĚĞƌĂĐŝŶĂƚͲ ĞĚ ĞŶƚƌĂů ƵƌŽƉĞĂŶ ĂĐĐĞŶƚ ĂŶĚ ƚĞůů ƉĞŽƉůĞ ŚŽǁ ƚŽ ůŝǀĞ͘͟ ^ŽŵĞƟ ŵĞƐ :ĂĐŽďƐŽŶ ƌĞĂĐƚƐ ƚŽ ĨƌŽŶƚͲƉĂŐĞ ŶĞǁƐ͕ ĂƐ ǁŚĞŶ ƐƵŝĐŝĚĞ ďŽŵďŝŶŐƐ ƉƌŽŵƉƚ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŶĐůƵƐŝŽŶ ƚŚĂƚ ͞ƌĞƐŝƐƚĂŶĐĞ͕ ƌĞƚĂůŝĂƟ ŽŶ͕ ƌĞǀĞŶŐĞ ĐĂŶŶŽƚ ĞǀĞƌ ďĞ ĂŶǇƚŚŝŶŐ ďƵƚ Ă ƉƌŝǀŝůĞŐŝŶŐ ŽĨ ǇŽƵƌƐĞůĨ͘͟ DŽƌĞ ŽŌ ĞŶ͕ ƚŚŽƵŐŚ͕ ƚŚĞ ŶŽǀĞůŝƐƚ ŝƐ ǀĞǆĞĚ ďǇ ƚƌĂŶƐŐƌĞƐƐŝŽŶƐ ĂŐĂŝŶƐƚ ĐƵůƚƵƌĞ ĂŶĚ ůĂŶͲ ŐƵĂŐĞ͕ ĂƐ ǁŚĞŶ ŚĞ ĚĞƉůŽƌĞƐ ͞ƌĞůĂƟ ǀŝƐŝŶŐ ŬŶŽǁůĞĚŐĞ ĨŽƌ ĨĞĂƌ ŽĨ ƉƌŝǀŝůĞŐͲ ŝŶŐ ƚƌƵƚŚ͘͟ ĚĚƌĞƐƐŝŶŐ ďƵƌĞĂƵĐƌĂƚƐ ǁŚŽ ƚŚŝŶŬ ůŝƚĞƌĂƚƵƌĞ ƐŚŽƵůĚ ͚ǀĂůŝĚĂƚĞ ŽŶĞ͛Ɛ ŝĚĞŶƟ ƚǇ͛ ĂŶĚ ďĞ ͚ƌĞĂĚĂďůĞ͕͛ ŚĞ ĂƐƐĞƌƚƐ͗ ͞ ĐƵůƚƵƌĞ ƚŚĂƚ ĐĂŶ͛ƚ express its peculiar vitality without worrying how much upset it might ďĞ ĐĂƵƐŝŶŐ ŝƐŶ͛ƚ Ă ĐƵůƚƵƌĞ Ăƚ Ăůů͘͟ There are enough quotable one-liners here to deserve a chapter in ĂƌƚůĞƩ ͛Ɛ͘ ͞WƵƌŝƚǇ ŚĂƐ ŝƚƐ ĂƩ ƌĂĐƟ ŽŶƐ͕͟ ŚĞ ƌĞŵĂƌŬƐ͕ ͞ďƵƚ ŽŶůǇ ŵĂĚŵĞŶ ůŝǀĞ ďǇ ŝƚ͘͟ Kƌ͗ ͞/Ŷ ǁĂƌ ǁĞ ĐĂŶ ƐĂǇ ǁŚĂƚ ǁĞ ĐĂŶŶŽƚ ƐĂǇ ŝŶ ƉĞĂĐĞ͘͟ ŶͲ ŽƚŚĞƌ͗ ͞EŽŶĞ ŽĨ ƵƐ ƚŚŝŶŬ ĂŶǇŽŶĞ ĞůƐĞ ĐĂŶ ƐĞĞ ǁŚĂƚ ǁĞ ƐĞĞ͘͟ ^ŽŵĞ ŽĨ ŚŝƐ ŵŽƐƚ Ăī ĞĐƟ ŶŐ ĞƐƐĂǇƐ ƉĂǇ ƚƌŝďƵƚĞ ƚŽ ĂƌƟ ƐƚƐ ŚĞ ĂĚŵŝƌĞƐ͗ ŚŝƐ ĨƌŝĞŶĚƐ ^ŝŵŽŶ 'ƌĂǇ ĂŶĚ ,ĂƌŽůĚ WŝŶƚĞƌ͕ ƚŚĞ ƉŽĞƚ ĂŶĚ ĐŽŵƉŽƐĞƌ >ĞŽŶͲ ĂƌĚ ŽŚĞŶ͘ :ĂĐŽďƐŽŶ ƉƌŝǌĞƐ ƚŚĞ ŐĞŶŝƵƐ ŽĨ DŽǌĂƌƚ ĂƐ ͞ƚŚĞ ŝůůƵŵŝŶĂƟ ŽŶ ŽĨ ĂŶŽƚŚĞƌ ǁĂǇ ŽĨ ƐĞĞŝŶŐ͕ ƚŚĞ ƐƵĚĚĞŶ ƚƵƌŶŝŶŐ ŽĨ ĂŶ ĂĐƟ ŽŶ ŽŶ ŝƚƐ ŚĞĂĚ͕ ŶŽƚ ƚŽ ŵĂŬĞ ůŝŐŚƚ ŽĨ ŝƚ ďƵƚ ƚŽ ĞŶƌŝĐŚ ŝƚ͘͟ dŚĞƐĞ ƐƵƌƉƌŝƐŝŶŐ͕ ǁŝƩ Ǉ͕ ĂŶĚ ĞŶůŝŐŚƚͲ ening aperçus of the human comedy by Howard Jacobson work the very same kind of magic.

Whatever It Is, I Don’t Like It Howard Jacobson Blomsbury USA, 2012 Paperback 368 pp. $18.00 [e] ISBN: 978-1608197989

Žď 'ŽůĚĨĂƌď ŝƐ ĚŝƌĞĐƚŽƌ ŽĨ ŵĂƌŬĞƟ ŶŐ ĂŶĚ ĂƵĚŝĞŶĐĞ ĚĞǀĞůŽƉŵĞŶƚ Ăƚ The Jewish Daily Forward and the president of the Center for Jewish Culture ĂŶĚ ƌĞĂƟ ǀŝƚǇ͘ ,Ğ ůŝǀĞƐ ŝŶ EĞǁ zŽƌŬ͘

ŚĞƌĞ ŝƐ ŶŽ ĨŽůůǇ ƐŽ ƉĂƌƟ ĐƵůĂƌ ƚŚĂƚ ŝƚ ĚŽĞƐŶ͛ƚ ƐŚĞĚ ůŝŐŚƚ ŽŶ ĨŽůůǇ ŝŶ ŐĞŶĞƌĂů͕͟ ǁƌŝƚĞƐ ,ŽǁĂƌĚ :ĂĐŽďƐŽŶ͕ ĂŶĚ ŝƚ ŵŝŐŚƚ ďĞ ŚŝƐ ŵŽƩ Ž͘ /Ŷ ŚŝƐ ^ƵŶĚĂǇ ĐŽůƵŵŶƐ ŝŶ ƌŝƚĂŝŶ͛Ɛ

best he can considering his daughter is killing ŚŝŵͶǇĞƚ ŝƚ ŝƐ ŚĂƌĚ ƚŽ ĨĞĞů ĞŵƉĂƚŚĞƟ Đ͕ ĂƐ DĂƌĐƵƐ ĐůŽƵĚƐ ^Ăŵ͛Ɛ ƐƉĞĞĐŚ ǁŝƚŚ ŵĞƚĂƉŚŽƌ͕ ĚĞƐĐƌŝďĞƐ ƐŝŶŐůĞ ŵŽŵĞŶƚƐ ŝŶ ĞǆĐĞƐƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ƚƵƌŶƐ ĂĐƟ ŽŶ ŝŶƚŽ ŝŶĂĐƟ ŽŶ ďĞĨŽƌĞ ĂŶǇ ŽŶĞ ŵŽŵĞŶƚ becomes too tangible. The detachment the

reader feels from the text therefore unfortunately extends itself to the characters as well. ƚ Ɵ ŵĞƐ͕ ŝƚ ĐĂŶ ďĞ ĂƐ ƚƌǇŝŶŐ ƚŽ ŝŶŐĞƐƚ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ reader as one imagines it is for the characters living the story. ^Ɵ ůů͕ ĞŶ DĂƌĐƵƐ ŝƐ ĐůĞĂƌůǇ ƐĞƫ ŶŐ ŚŝŵƐĞůĨ

www.jewishbookcouncil.org

up to become a force in the realm of experiŵĞŶƚĂů Į ĐƟ ŽŶ͘ tŚŝůĞ dŚĞ &ůĂŵĞ ůƉŚĂďĞƚ feels ŵŽƌĞ ůŝŬĞ Ă ƚĞƐƟ ŶŐ ŐƌŽƵŶĚ͕ ƚŚĞƌĞ ŝƐ Ă ĨĞƌǀŽƌ ŝŶ DĂƌĐƵƐ͛Ɛ ǁƌŝƟ ŶŐ ƚŚĂƚ ĐŽƵůĚ ĐĞƌƚĂŝŶůǇ͕ ŝŶ ĨƵƚƵƌĞ ǁŽƌŬƐ͕ ůĞĂĚ ƚŽ ƚƌƵůǇ ĞǆƉůŽƐŝǀĞ ;ďƵƚ ŚŽƉĞĨƵůůǇ ŶŽƚ ĂƉŽĐĂůǇƉƟ ĐͿ ƌĞƐƵůƚƐ͘ SB

summer 5772/2012

Jewish Book World

fiction HHhH

ǁĞůů ŝŶ ƚŚĞ hŶŝƚĞĚ ^ƚĂƚĞƐ͘ Ƶƚ ƚŚŝƐ ƌĞĂĚĞƌ ƐƵƌĞ hopes that it does. ED

Laurent Binet; Sam Taylor, trans. Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 2012 Hardcover 336 pp. $26.00 [e] ISBN: 978-0-374-16991-6

ŚŝƐ ŶŽǀĞů͛Ɛ ŵǇƐƚĞƌŝŽƵƐ Ɵ ƚůĞ ƐƚĂŶĚƐ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ 'ĞƌŵĂŶ ǁŽƌĚƐ ͞,ŝŵŵůĞƌƐ ,ŝƌŶ ŚĞŝƐƐƚ ,ĞǇĚƌŝĐŚ͕͟ Žƌ ͞,ŝŵŵůĞƌ͛Ɛ ďƌĂŝŶ ŝƐ ĐĂůůĞĚ ,ĞǇĚƌŝĐŚ͘͟ Ʃ ƌŝďƵƚĞĚ ƚŽ ,ĞŝŶƌŝĐŚ ,ŝŵŵůĞƌ͛Ɛ ŽǁŶ Žĸ ĐĞƌƐ͕ ƚŚĞ ĚŝƐƚƵƌďŝŶŐ ƉŚƌĂƐĞ ŶŽƚ ŽŶůǇ ŚŝŶƚƐ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ ƚĞƌƌŝĨǇŝŶŐ ƉŽǁĞƌ ĂŶĚ ŝŶŇ ƵĞŶĐĞ ŽĨ ZĞŝŶŚĂƌĚ ,ĞǇĚƌŝĐŚ͕ ƚŚĞ ŝŶĨĂŵŽƵƐ ^^ 'ĞŶĞƌĂů ĂŶĚ ĂƌĐŚŝƚĞĐƚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ &ŝŶĂů ^ŽůƵƟ ŽŶ͘ /ƚ ĂůƐŽ emphasizes Heydrich’s centrality to the book. Ƶƚ ƚŚĞ Į ƌƐƚͲƉĞƌƐŽŶ͕ ƚǁĞŶƚǇͲĮ ƌƐƚͲĐĞŶƚƵƌǇ narrator is at least equally interested in two ŽƚŚĞƌ ƚƌƵĞ ŚŝƐƚŽƌŝĐĂů Į ŐƵƌĞƐ͘ dŚĞƐĞ ŵĞŶ ĂƌĞ :ŽƐĞĨ 'ĂďēşŬ ĂŶĚ :ĂŶ <ƵďŝƓ͕ ŵĞŵďĞƌƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ Czech army-in-exile in London who parachuted back into their homeland as part of KƉĞƌĂƟ ŽŶ ŶƚŚƌŽƉŽŝĚ͗ Ă ŵŝƐƐŝŽŶ ƚŽ ĂƐƐĂƐƐŝͲ nate Heydrich. The narrator wants to reconstruct their ƐƚŽƌǇ͕ ĂŶĚ ŚĞ ŝƐ ĚĞƚĞƌŵŝŶĞĚ ƚŽ ĚŽ ƐŽ ŝŶ ŶŽǀĞů form. HHhH ŝƐ ƚŚĞƌĞĨŽƌĞ ĂƐ ŵƵĐŚ ŵĞƚĂĮ ĐƟ ŽŶ ĂƐ ŚŝƐƚŽƌŝĐĂů Į ĐƟ ŽŶ͕ ƌĞƚƵƌŶŝŶŐ ĨƌĞƋƵĞŶƚůǇ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ƐƵďũĞĐƚ ŽĨ Į ĐƟ ŽŶ ǁƌŝƟ ŶŐ͘ ĂƌůǇ ŽŶ͕ ĨŽƌ ŝŶƐƚĂŶĐĞ͕ ƚŚĞ ŶĂƌƌĂƚŽƌ ƌĞŇ ĞĐƚƐ ŽŶ ŚŝƐ ƌĞƐĞĂƌĐŚ͗ ͞dŚĞ ǀĂƐƚŶĞƐƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƟ ŽŶ / ĂŵĂƐƐ ĞŶĚƐ up frightening me. I write two pages for every ƚŚŽƵƐĂŶĚ / ƌĞĂĚ͘ ƚ ƚŚŝƐ ƌĂƚĞ͕ / ǁŝůů ĚŝĞ ǁŝƚŚŽƵƚ ĞǀĞŶ ŚĂǀŝŶŐ ŵĞŶƟ ŽŶĞĚ ƚŚĞ ƉƌĞƉĂƌĂƟ ŽŶƐ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ĂƩ ĂĐŬ͘͟ dŚƵƐ͕ ƚŚĞ ďŽŽŬ ǁŝůů ĐĂƉƚƵƌĞ ƌĞĂĚĞƌƐ͛ ĂƩ ĞŶͲ Ɵ ŽŶ ŶŽƚ ŽŶůǇ ĨŽƌ ǁŚĂƚ ŝƚ ŝŵƉĂƌƚƐ ĂďŽƵƚ ƚŚĞ ŚŝƐƚŽƌǇ ŽĨ tŽƌůĚ tĂƌ //͕ ƚŚĞ ,ŽůŽĐĂƵƐƚ͕ ĂŶĚ KƉĞƌĂƟ ŽŶ ŶƚŚƌŽƉŽŝĚ͘ /ƚ ǁŝůů ƌĞƐŽŶĂƚĞ ĂůƐŽ among all who may concur with the narrator ǁŚĞŶ ŚĞ ŽƉŝŶĞƐ ƚŚĂƚ ŽŌ ĞŶ͕ ͞Į ĐƟ ŽŶ ǁŝŶƐ ŽƵƚ ŽǀĞƌ ŚŝƐƚŽƌǇ͕͟ ĂŶĚ ǁŚŽ ǁŽŶĚĞƌ ĂďŽƵƚ ƚŚĞ Ăƌƚ ĂŶĚ ĐƌĂŌ ďĞŚŝŶĚ ƚŚŽƐĞ ƚƌŝƵŵƉŚƐ͘ HHhH has already won the Prix Goncourt du WƌĞŵŝĞƌ ZŽŵĂŶ͕ ƉĞƌŚĂƉƐ ƚŚĞ ŚŝŐŚĞƐƚ ŚŽŶŽƌ ĨŽƌ Ă ĚĞďƵƚ ŶŽǀĞů ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĂƵƚŚŽƌ͛Ɛ ŶĂƟ ǀĞ &ƌĂŶĐĞ͘ /ƚ ŝƐ Ěŝĸ ĐƵůƚ ƚŽ ƉƌĞĚŝĐƚ ŝĨ ƚŚĞ ďŽŽŬ ǁŝůů ĨĂƌĞ ĂƐ

Hope: A Tragedy Shalom Auslander Riverhead, 2012 Hardcover 292 pp. $26.95 [e] ISBN: 978-1-59448-838-2

ŚĞ Ɵ ƚůĞ ŽĨ ^ŚĂůŽŵ ƵƐůĂŶĚĞƌ͛Ɛ ŶĞǁ ŶŽǀĞů is no joke. The fate of its hapless protagoŶŝƐƚ͕ ^ŽůŽŵŽŶ <ƵŐĞů͕ ŵĂŬĞƐ Ă ƐƚƌŽŶŐ ĐĂƐĞ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ĨŽůůǇ ŽĨ ŽƉƟ ŵŝƐŵ͕ ƚŚĞ ĚĞĐĞƉƟ ŽŶƐ ŽĨ ůŝĨĞ͕ and the comfort of death. <ƵŐĞů ŽŌ ĞŶ ƚŚŝŶŬƐ ĂďŽƵƚ ĚǇŝŶŐ͘ tŚĞŶ ǁĞ Į ƌƐƚ ŵĞĞƚ Śŝŵ ŚĞ ŝƐ ĚƌĞĂŵŝŶŐ ŽĨ ǁŚĂƚ ŝƚ ǁŽƵůĚ ďĞ ůŝŬĞ ƚŽ ƐƵī ŽĐĂƚĞ ƚŽ ĚĞĂƚŚ ŝŶ Ă ŚŽƵƐĞ Į ƌĞ͘ He collects the dying words of the famous and ŝŶĨĂŵŽƵƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ĐŽŶƐŝĚĞƌƐ ƐĂƌĚŽŶŝĐ ĞƉŝƚĂƉŚƐ ĨŽƌ ŚŝƐ ŽǁŶ ŐƌĂǀĞ͘ dŽ <ƵŐĞů͕ ůŝĨĞ ůĂƌŐĞůǇ Žī ĞƌƐ

"Nobody wants a live Anne Frank," her publisher told her when she made her way to Amsterdam after the war. "They want a martyr." ĨĂůƐĞŶĞƐƐ͕ ĨĞĂƌ͕ ĂŶĚ ĚŝƐĂƉƉŽŝŶƚŵĞŶƚ͘ ǀĞŶ ŚŝƐ beloved three-year-old son sees the appeal of ĚĞĂƚŚ͘ ͞/͛Ě ƌĂƚŚĞƌ ďĞ ĚĞĂĚ ƚŚĂŶ ůŽƐƚ͕͟ ƐĂǇƐ ƚŚĞ ďŽǇ͕ ͞ďĞĐĂƵƐĞ ŝĨ /͛ŵ ĚĞĂĚ / ǁŽŶ͛ƚ ŬŶŽǁ ŝƚ͘͟ An octogenarian Anne Frank—having surǀŝǀĞĚ ĞƌŐĞŶ ĞůƐĞŶ ĂŌ Ğƌ ĂůůͶƚƵƌŶƐ ƵƉ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ Ăƫ Đ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŚŽƵƐĞ ƚŚĞ <ƵŐĞůƐ ŚĂǀĞ ũƵƐƚ ďŽƵŐŚƚ͘ ͞EŽďŽĚǇ ǁĂŶƚƐ Ă ůŝǀĞ ŶŶĞ &ƌĂŶŬ͕͟ ŚĞƌ ƉƵďͲ lisher told her when she made her way to AmƐƚĞƌĚĂŵ ĂŌ Ğƌ ƚŚĞ ǁĂƌ͘ ͞dŚĞǇ ǁĂŶƚ Ă ŵĂƌƚǇƌ͘͟ To have lived is her curse. Meanwhile Kugel’s ŵŽƚŚĞƌ Į ŶĚƐ Ă ƐŽƌƚ ŽĨ ƌĞĨƵŐĞ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ,ŽůŽĐĂƵƐƚ͘ ^ŚĞ ĐůŽĂŬƐ ŚĞƌ ůŝĨĞ͛Ɛ ďŝƩ ĞƌŶĞƐƐ ŝŶ ĂŶ ĞŶƟ ƌĞůǇ ĨĂďƌŝĐĂƚĞĚ ǀŝĐƟ ŵŚŽŽĚ ĂƐ Ă ĐŽŶĐĞŶƚƌĂƟ ŽŶͲ ĐĂŵƉ ƐƵƌǀŝǀŽƌ͕ ŶŽƚǁŝƚŚƐƚĂŶĚŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ĨĂĐƚ ƚŚĂƚ ƐŚĞ ǁĂƐ ďŽƌŶ ŝŶ ƌŽŽŬůǇŶ ŝŶ ϭϵϰϱ͘

The tutelary deity presiding over this ďĂƌƌĞŶ ǁŽƌůĚ͕ <ƵŐĞů͛Ɛ ƚŚĞƌĂƉŝƐƚ WƌŽĨĞƐƐŽƌ :ŽǀĞ͕ ƉƌĞĂĐŚĞƐ ƚŚĂƚ ŽƉƟ ŵŝƐŵ ŝƐ ƚŚĞ ƌŽŽƚ ŽĨ Ăůů ƵŶŚĂƉƉŝŶĞƐƐ͘ Ǉ ŚŝƐ ůŝŐŚƚƐ͕ ďĞůŝĞǀŝŶŐ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚŝŶŐƐ ĐĂŶ ŐĞƚ ďĞƩ Ğƌ ůĞĂĚƐ ŽŶůǇ ƚŽ ĚŝƐĂƉƉŽŝŶƚͲ ment. Kugel’s failing is therefore that he takes ƉŝƚǇ ŽŶ ƚŚŽƐĞ ĂƌŽƵŶĚ Śŝŵ͕ ďĞĐŽŵŝŶŐ ĐŽŵƉůŝĐŝƚ in his mother’s delusions and in Anne Frank’s dream to write a blockbuster novel. He tries to shield his innocent son from the harshness ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ǁŽƌůĚ͘ /Ŷ ƚŚŝƐ ĂůƚĞƌŶĂƚĞ ƵŶŝǀĞƌƐĞ͕ ƐƵĐŚ cardinal sins must be punished with Euripidean inevitability. Shalom Auslander writes with phenomenal ĐƌĂŌ ͘ ŵĂƐƚĞƌůǇ ůŝƚĞƌĂƌǇ ŝŶƚĞůůŝŐĞŶĐĞ ƵŶĚĞƌůŝĞƐ ŚŝƐ ďƌĞĞǌǇ ůĂŶŐƵĂŐĞ͖ ŚŝƐ ƐĞŶƚĞŶĐĞƐ ďƵƌƐƚ ǁŝƚŚ sly allusions to writers from Tadeusz Borowski ƚŽ ^ĂŵƵĞů ĞĐŬĞƩ ͘ ,Ğ ĂůƐŽ ŵĂŬĞƐ ĐĂŶŶǇ use of details. A cat with the cheerful name Sunshine is killed and eaten. Kugel’s mother ƉůĂĐĞƐ ƐŵĂůů ǁƌŝƩ ĞŶ ŶŽƚĞƐ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ǁĞƐƚĞƌŶ ǁĂůů ŽĨ ŶŶĞ &ƌĂŶŬ͛Ɛ Ăƫ Đ ƌŽŽŵ͕ ŚĞƌ ŽǁŶ ƉƌŝǀĂƚĞ Kotel. Auslander orchestrates the storytelling ŝŶ ƉƌĞĐŝƐĞ ƌŚǇƚŚŵƐ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚŽƵƚ͕ ŶŽƚ ůĞĂƐƚ ŝŶ ŚŝƐ many punchlines. dƌƵĞ ƚŽ ŝƚƐ ŶĂŵĞ͕ Hope: A Tragedy depicts a ƐĂĚ͕ ĚŝƐŵĂů ǁŽƌůĚ ǁŚĞƌĞ ƚŚĞ ĚĞƐŝƌĞ ĨŽƌ ĂƚŽŶĞͲ ŵĞŶƚ ĐĂŶ ŶĞǀĞƌ ďĞ ĂĐŚŝĞǀĞĚ͖ ǁŚĞƌĞ ŽŶůǇ ƚŚĞ ĨŽŽůŝƐŚ ŚĂǀĞ ŚŽƉĞ͕ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞǇ ƉĂǇ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŶƐĞͲ quences. A reader can only wish that it is not the world in which Shalom Auslander actually lives. BG

Hot Pink Adam Levin McSweeney’s, 2012 Hardcover 256 pp. $22.00 [e] ISBN: 978-1936365210

ŚŝƐ ĐŽůůĞĐƟ ŽŶ ŽĨ ƚĞŶ ƐŚŽƌƚ ƐƚŽƌŝĞƐ ŵĂǇ ďĞ unlike any other. Author Adam Levin has a ŐŝŌ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ŐƌŽƚĞƐƋƵĞ͕ ƚŚĞ ǀŝůĞ͕ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ĂďƐƵƌĚ͕ packaged as our darkest but truest impulses. The anthology opens with the tale of a faŶĂƟ ĐĂů ĨĂƚŚĞƌ ĚĞƚĞƌŵŝŶĞĚ ƚŽ ƉĞƌĨĞĐƚ Ă ďƵůŝŵŝĐ ƚŽǇ ĚŽůů ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ŐƌĞĂƚĞƌ ŐŽŽĚ͘ tŚŝƩ ůŝŶŐ ĂǁĂǇ

Author Adam Levin has a gift for the grotesque, the vile, and the absurd, packaged as our darkest but truest impulses. ŚŝƐ ƐĂǀŝŶŐƐ͕ ŚĞĂůƚŚ͕ ĂŶĚ ĨĂŵŝůǇ Ɵ ĞƐ ƚƌǇŝŶŐ ƚŽ ƉůĞĂƐĞ ƚŚĞ ĚĞŵĂŶĚŝŶŐ ƚŽǇ ĐŽŵƉĂŶǇ ŚĞΖƐ ƉŝƚĐŚŝŶŐ ;ƚŚĞ ĚŽůůΖƐ ďŝůĞ ŝƐ ƚŽŽ ƌĞĂůŝƐƟ Đ͕ ƚŚĞŶ ŶŽƚ ƌĞĂůŝƐƟ Đ ĞŶŽƵŐŚͿ͕ ŚĞ ĞǀĞŶƚƵĂůůǇ ΗŐŽĞƐ ǁŝƚŚ ,ĂƐďƌŽ ĨŽƌ ƐŽŵĞƚŚŝŶŐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ůŽǁ ƐĞǀĞŶͲĮ ŐƵƌĞ range" and lives with his wife and three sons ďŝǌĂƌƌĞůǇ ďƵƚ ŚĂƉƉŝůǇ ĞǀĞƌ ĂŌ Ğƌ͘ ŶŽƚŚĞƌ ƐƚŽƌǇ͕ Η ŽŶƐŝĚĞƌŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ŝƩ ĞƌƐǁĞĞƚ ŶĚ ŽĨ ^ƵƐĂŶ &ĂůůƐ͕Η ĨĞĂƚƵƌĞƐ Ă Į Ō ĞĞŶͲǇĞĂƌͲ

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Praise for Dora Levy Mossanen “Crackles with tension and imagination… Mossanen mines an emotional landscape, rich in myth and characterization, offering an innovative perspective on what may have happened to the Romanovs.”

— Steve Berry, author of The Jefferson Key and The Columbus Affair “Deeply rooted in an exotic time and place… For those of us who have been waiting for Mossanen’s next book with pleasure and anticipation, our patience has now been rewarded.”

—Jonathan Kirsch, Book Editor, Jewish Journal

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fiction works as a maid in the suburbs and moves ƚŚĞŵ ƵƉǁĂƌĚ ƚŽ ƌŽǁŶ ,ĞŝŐŚƚƐ͕ ŚŽƉŝŶŐ ƚŚĂƚ ŚĞƌ ƐŽŶ ǁŝůů ŐĞƚ ĂŶ ĞĚƵĐĂƟ ŽŶ ĂŶĚ ďĞĐŽŵĞ successful. As these three people and their ĨĂŵŝůŝĞƐ ďĞĐŽŵĞ ŝŶƚĞƌƚǁŝŶĞĚ͕ ǁĞ ƌĞĂĚ ĂďŽƵƚ ĚĞĞƉ ĨĂŵŝůŝĂů ůŽǀĞ ĂŶĚ ŚŽƉĞůĞƐƐ ƌŽŵĂŶƟ Đ ůŽǀĞ͕ ĂďŽƵƚ ĚĞƐƉĞƌĂƟ ŽŶ ĂŶĚ ĂĐĐĞƉƚĂŶĐĞ͘ tĞ learn about the Lubavitch way of life and the leadership struggle within that community. The author interweaves vivid details of realůŝĨĞ ƚƌĂŐŝĐ ĞǀĞŶƚƐ ǁŝƚŚ Į ĐƟ ŽŶ ƚŽ ĞǆƉůĂŝŶ ƚŚĞ struggle of the Black community. The story’s Ɵ ŵĞůŝŶĞ ƐƉĂŶƐ ĨŽƵƌ ĚĞĐĂĚĞƐ ŝŶ Ă ŶĞŝŐŚďŽƌŚŽŽĚ plagued by racial tensions which have only just ďĞŐƵŶ ƚŽ ĞĂƐĞ ĂƐ ŽƉƉŽƐŝŶŐ ĐŽŵŵƵŶŝƟ ĞƐ Į ŶĚ ǁĂǇƐ ƚŽ ďĞƩ Ğƌ ĐŽŵŵƵŶŝĐĂƚĞ ĂŶĚ ůŝǀĞ ƚŽŐĞƚŚĞƌ͘ dŚŝƐ ŝƐ Ă Į ŶĞ ŶŽǀĞů ĂďŽƵƚ Ă ƉŝĞĐĞ ŽĨ EĞǁ zŽƌŬ ŚŝƐƚŽƌǇ ƚŚĂƚ ŝƐ ƐƟ ůů ƵŶĨŽůĚŝŶŐ͘ MBA ŽůĚ ƉƌŽĚŝŐǇ ǁŚŽ͕ ĚĞǀĂƐƚĂƚĞĚ ďǇ ƚŚĞ ĚĞĂƚŚ ŽĨ ŚĞƌ ƚƵƌƚůĞ͕ ǁŚŝĐŚ ƐŚĞ ŬŝůůĞĚ ǁŚĞŶ ƚĞƐƟ ŶŐ ƚŚĞ ƐƚƌĞŶŐƚŚ ŽĨ ŝƚƐ ƐŚĞůů ǁŝƚŚ ŚĞƌ ŵŽƵŶƚĂŝŶ ďŝŬĞ͕ throws herself in front of a car and loses her legs. dŚĞ ƐƚŽƌŝĞƐ ǁŝůů ŵĂŬĞ ǇŽƵ ǁŝŶĐĞ ĂŶĚ ƐƋƵŝƌŵ͕ ďƵƚ ŝƚΖƐ Ěŝĸ ĐƵůƚ ƚŽ ŬĞĞƉ ĨƌŽŵ ƚƵƌŶŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ƉĂŐĞ ƚŽ ƐĞĞ ǁŚĂƚ ĐŽŵĞƐ ŶĞǆƚ͗ >ĞǀŝŶ ŐŽĞƐ ƉůĂĐĞƐ ǁŚĞƌĞ ŵŽƐƚ ŽĨ ƵƐ ǁŽƵůĚŶΖƚ ĚĂƌĞ ůĞƚ ŽƵƌ ŵŝŶĚ wander. JT

Jewish Gentle and Other Stories of Gay-Jewish Living Daniel M. Jaffe White Crane Books, 2011 Paperback 247 pp. $15.00 [e] ISBN: 978-1-59021-187-8

s the canon of gay-Jewish literature ŐƌŽǁƐʹĞŶĐŽŵƉĂƐƐŝŶŐ ŶŽǀĞůƐ͕ ƉůĂǇƐ͕ ƉŽĞƚƌǇ͕ ŵĞŵŽŝƌƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ŶŽŶĮ ĐƟ ŽŶʹ ĂŶŝĞů D͘ :Ăī Ğ ĂĚĚƐ ƚŚŝƐ ĐŽůůĞĐƟ ŽŶ ŽĨ ƐŚŽƌƚ ƐƚŽƌŝĞƐ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ůŝƐƚ͘ dŚĞ ƐƵďũĞĐƚƐ ŚĞ ĂĚĚƌĞƐƐĞƐ ŚĂǀĞ͕ ďǇ ŶŽǁ͕

Jaffe's choice of the short story as his medium allows him to focus on specific, thorny issues facing gay Jews, as well as the broader Jewish community, with unique intensity. ŽŌ ĞŶ ďĞĞŶ ĐŽǀĞƌĞĚ ďǇ ŽƚŚĞƌƐ͗ ƌĞůĂƟ ŽŶƐŚŝƉƐ ĂŶĚ ŝŶĮ ĚĞůŝƚǇ͕ ĐŽŵŵƵŶŝƚǇ ĂŶĚ ƌĞũĞĐƟ ŽŶ͕ ĨĂŝƚŚ ĂŶĚ ŝĚĞŶƟ ƚǇ͘ Ƶƚ :Ăī Ğ͛Ɛ ĐŚŽŝĐĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƐŚŽƌƚ story as his medium allows him to focus on ƐƉĞĐŝĮ Đ͕ ƚŚŽƌŶǇ ŝƐƐƵĞƐ ĨĂĐŝŶŐ ŐĂǇ :ĞǁƐ͕ ĂƐ ǁĞůů ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ďƌŽĂĚĞƌ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ĐŽŵŵƵŶŝƚǇ͕ ǁŝƚŚ ƵŶŝƋƵĞ ŝŶƚĞŶƐŝƚǇ͘ ,ŝƐ ƚĂůĞƐ ĂƌĞ ĐŽŶĐŝƐĞ͕ ĐůĞĂƌůǇ ǁƌŝƩ ĞŶ͕ ĂŶĚ ǁŝĚĞůǇ ĂĐĐĞƐƐŝďůĞ͘ ,ŝƐ ĐŚĂƌĂĐƚĞƌƐ ĂƌĞ ƐǇŵƉĂƚŚĞƟ Đ ǇĞƚ Ň ĂǁĞĚ͖ ƚŚĞŝƌ ĞŵŽƟ ŽŶĂů ƵŶĚĞƌĐƵƌƌĞŶƚƐ ĂƌĞ ǀƵůŶĞƌĂďůĞ ĂŶĚ ƌŽŵĂŶƟ Đ Ăƚ ŚĞĂƌƚ͕ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞŝƌ ƌĞůŝŐŝŽƐŝƚǇ ĚĞĞƉůǇ ŝŶŐƌĂŝŶĞĚ͕

Jewish Book World

while their sexuality is frequently frank but never vulgar. The two dozen stories in Jewish Gentle ;ŵĂŶǇ ƉƌĞǀŝŽƵƐůǇ ƉƵďůŝƐŚĞĚ ŝŶ ŵĂŐĂǌŝŶĞƐ͕ ũŽƵƌŶĂůƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ůŝƚĞƌĂƌǇ ĂŶƚŚŽůŽŐŝĞƐͿ ƐŚĂƌĞ ĐŽŵͲ ŵŽŶ ƚƌĂŝƚƐ͕ ďƵƚ ŶĞĞĚŶ͛ƚ ďĞ ƌĞĂĚ Ăůů Ăƚ ŽŶĐĞ͕ ƐĞƋƵĞŶƟ ĂůůǇ͘ /Ŷ ĨĂĐƚ͕ ĐŚĞƌƌǇͲƉŝĐŬŝŶŐ Ă ĨĞǁ Ăƚ Ă Ɵ ŵĞ ƉƌŽǀĞƐ ŵŽƌĞ ƌĞǁĂƌĚŝŶŐ͘ ͞ ƚ ůƵŵďĞƌŐ Θ &ŽŶŐ͛Ɛ͟ ĞǆƉĞƌƚůǇ ǁĞĂǀĞƐ Ă ƚĂůĞ ŽĨ ĂĚŽůĞƐͲ ĐĞŶƚ ůŽŶŐŝŶŐ ĂƌŽƵŶĚ ƌĞĐŽůůĞĐƟ ŽŶƐ ŽĨ Ă ĨĂŵŝůǇ ƚƌŝƉ ƚŽ /ƐƌĂĞů͕ ǁŚŝůĞ ͞/Ŷ ƚŚĞ ĂŶŽĞ͟ ĂĚĚƐ ĂŶ ƵŶĞǆƉĞĐƚĞĚ ĞŶĚŝŶŐ ƚŽ Ă ŶĂƌƌĂƟ ǀĞ ĂďŽƵƚ / ^͘ dŚĞƌĞ ĂƌĞ ƚĞƌƌŝĮ Đ ƚĂůĞƐ͕ ƚŽŽ͕ ĂďŽƵƚ ƐĞǆ ;ƚŚĞ ƌĞĨƌĞƐŚŝŶŐůǇ ŵĂƩ ĞƌͲŽĨͲĨĂĐƚ ͞dŚĞ &ŽƵƌ ŽĨ hƐ͕͟ ƉůƵƐ ƚŚĞ ƚŚŽƵŐŚƞ Ƶů Ɵ ƚůĞ ƐƚŽƌǇͿ͕ ĐŽŵŝŶŐ ŽƵƚ ĂƐ Ă ŐĂǇ :Ğǁ ;͞&ŝŶĚŝŶŐ ,ŽŵĞ͟Ϳ͕ ĂŶĚ ĚĞĂůŝŶŐ ǁŝƚŚ ĨĂŵŝůǇ ;͞dĞůůŝŶŐ ĂĚ͟Ϳ͘ dĂŬĞŶ ƚŽŐĞƚŚĞƌ͕ ƚŚŝƐ ŝƐ ƚŚĞ ŵŽƐƚ ƉŽǁĞƌĨƵů ĐŽůůĞĐƟ ŽŶ ŽĨ ƐŚŽƌƚ ƐƚŽƌŝĞƐ about gay Jews since Lev Raphael’s Dancing on Tisha B’Av blazed the trail more than twenty years ago. WH

Joshua: A Brooklyn Tale Andrew Kane Abbott Press, 2011 Paperback $28.99 484 pp. [e] ISBN: 978-1458200747

oshua: A Brooklyn Tale traces the lives ŽĨ ƚŚƌĞĞ ĐŚĂƌĂĐƚĞƌƐ ŝŶ ƌŽǁŶ ,ĞŝŐŚƚƐ͕ ƌŽŽŬůǇŶ ĚƵƌŝŶŐ ƚƵƌďƵůĞŶƚ Ɵ ŵĞƐ͘ ZĂĐŚĞů ŝƐ ƚŚĞ ĚĂƵŐŚƚĞƌ ŽĨ Ă ,ŽůŽĐĂƵƐƚ ƐƵƌǀŝǀŽƌ͕ Ă ƌĂďďŝ ǁŚŽ ŝƐ Ă ĚŝƐĐŝƉůĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ZĞďďĞ͕ DĞŶĂĐŚĞŵ ^ĐŚŶĞĞƌƐŽŶ͕ ůĞĂĚĞƌ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ >ƵďĂǀŝƚĐŚ :ĞǁƐ͘ ^ŚĞ ŝƐ Ă ďƌŝůůŝĂŶƚ͕ ďĞĂƵƟ ĨƵů Őŝƌů͕ ĚĞƐƟ ŶĞĚ ƚŽ ůŝǀĞ ŚĞƌ ůŝĨĞ ƐƚƌŝĐƚůǇ ĨŽůůŽǁŝŶŐ ŚĞƌ ĐŽŵŵƵŶŝƚǇ͛Ɛ ǁĂǇƐ͕ but she yearns for more. Paul was raised in ĂŶ Ăŋ ƵĞŶƚ >ŽŶŐ /ƐůĂŶĚ ƐƵďƵƌď ŝŶ ƐĞĞŵŝŶŐůǇ ƉĞƌĨĞĐƚ ĐŝƌĐƵŵƐƚĂŶĐĞƐ͕ ďƵƚ ŚŝƐ ƉĂƌĞŶƚƐ ĂƌĞ ĐŽůĚ and detached. He longs for the warmth and ĂƩ ĞŶƟ ŽŶ ƉƌŽī ĞƌĞĚ ďǇ ŚŝƐ ƉŝŽƵƐ ďĂƌ ŵŝƚǌǀĂŚ ƚĞĂĐŚĞƌ͕ Ă ,ĂƐƐŝĚŝĐ ƌĂďďŝ ĨƌŽŵ ƌŽŽŬůǇŶ͘ ŶĚ Joshua is growing up in crime-infested East EĞǁ zŽƌŬ͕ ǁŝƚŚ ĂŶ ĂŵďŝƟ ŽƵƐ ŵŽƚŚĞƌ ǁŚŽ

summer 5772/2012

www.jewishbookcouncil.org

Mr. g: A Novel About the Creation Alan Lightman Pantheon, 2012 Hardcover 214 pp. $24.95 [e] ISBN: 978-0307379993

Ō Ğƌ ǁĂŬŝŶŐ ĨƌŽŵ Ă ŶĂƉ͕ Dƌ͘ Ő͕ Ă ƚŚŽƵŐŚƚͲ ĨƵů͕ ƚĞŶƚĂƟ ǀĞ ƌĞƐŝĚĞŶƚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ sŽŝĚ͕ ĚĞĐŝĚĞƐ ƚŽ ĐƌĞĂƚĞ ƚŚĞ ƵŶŝǀĞƌƐĞ͘ Ƶƚ ƚŚŝƐ ŝƐŶΖƚ ƚŚĞ ƐĂŵĞ ƐƚŽƌǇ ǁĞΖǀĞ ŚĞĂƌĚ ĨŽƌ ŵŝůůĞŶŶŝĂ͘ dŚŝƐ ĐƌĞĂƚŽƌ͕ ǁŚŽ ŝƐ ƉĂƌƚ ƐĐŝĞŶƟ Ɛƚ͕ ƉĂƌƚ ƉŚŝůŽƐŽƉŚĞƌ͕ ĂŐŽŶŝǌĞƐ ŽǀĞƌ ŚŝƐ ĐŚŽŝĐĞƐ ŝŶ Ă ǁĂǇ ƚŚĂƚΖƐ recognizably human. How many universes should he create? How many dimensions? (Two might be "unnecessarŝůǇ ĐŽŶĮ ŶŝŶŐΗ ĂŶĚ ĨŽƵƌ Žƌ ŵŽƌĞ ΗĐŽƵůĚ ůĞĂĚ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ŵŝƐƉůĂĐŝŶŐ ŽĨ ƐŵĂůů ŽďũĞĐƚƐ͕Η ŚĞ ƚĞůůƐ ƵƐ͘Ϳ Dƌ͘ Ő ďĞŐŝŶƐ ǁŝƚŚ Ɵ ŵĞ ĂŶĚ ƐƉĂĐĞ͕ ĨŽůůŽǁĞĚ ďǇ ŚŝƐ Į ƌƐƚ ĐƌĞĂƟ ŽŶ ŽĨ ŵĂƩ Ğƌ͗ Ă ĐŚĂŝƌ͘ ĨĞǁ organizing principles provide order for all the

After waking from a nap, Mr. g, a thoughtful, tentative resident of the Void, decides to create the universe. ŵĂƩ Ğƌ ƚŚĂƚ ǁŝůů ĞǀĞŶƚƵĂůůǇ ŝŶŚĂďŝƚ ƚŚĞ ƐƉĂĐĞ͗ ĞůĞĐƚƌŽŶƐ͕ ŶĞƵƚƌŝŶŽƐ͕ ƉůĂŶĞƚƐ͕ ƐƚĂƌƐ͘͘͘ĂŶĚ ĞǀĞŶͲ tually living creatures. dǁŽ ƚƌŝŶŝƟ ĞƐ ĂĐĐŽŵƉĂŶǇ ƵƐ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ƚŽƵƌ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƵŶŝǀĞƌƐĞ͘ dŚĞ ĨŽƌĐĞƐ ŽĨ ŐŽŽĚ ĂƌĞ Dƌ͘ Ő͕ ƵŶƚ WĞŶĞůŽƉĞ͕ ĂŶĚ hŶĐůĞ ĞǀĂ͘ dŚĞ ĨŽƌĐĞƐ ŽĨ ŶŽƚ ƐŽ ŐŽŽĚ ĂƌĞ ĞůŚŽƌ͕ ǁŚŽ ŝƐ Dƌ͘ ŐΖƐ ŝŶƚĞůͲ ůĞĐƚƵĂů ƐƉĂƌƌŝŶŐ ƉĂƌƚŶĞƌ͕ ĂŶĚ ƚǁŽ ĂƉŚŽŵĞƚƐ͕ ƌĞƉƌĞƐĞŶƟ ŶŐ ĨŽůůǇ ĂŶĚ ŵĂůŝĐĞ͘ ,ĂƌĚůǇ ĂŶ ŽďũĞĐƟ ǀĞ ŽďƐĞƌǀĞƌ͕ Dƌ͘ Ő ƐŚĂƌĞƐ ŚŝƐ ŽǁŶ ƌĞĂĐƟ ŽŶƐ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ďĞĂƵƚǇ ŽĨ ŚŝƐ ĐƌĞͲ ĂƟ ŽŶƐ͘ ΗKĐĞĂŶ ǁĂǀĞƐ ǁĞƌĞ ŵƵƐŝĐ ŝŶ ŵĂƚĞƌŝĂů ĨŽƌŵ͕Η ŚĞ ƚĞůůƐ ƵƐ͘ Η ŶĞƌŐǇ Į ĞůĚƐ ůĂǇ ĂĐƌŽƐƐ ƚŚĞ ĐŽƐŵŽƐ ŝŶ ǀĂƐƚ͕ Ň ŽƉƉǇ ďůĂŶŬĞƚƐ͘͘͘Η ,Ğ ŝƐ ŵŽǀĞĚ ĂŶĚ ĞǀĞŶ ĂůƚĞƌĞĚ ďǇ ǁŚĂƚ ŚĞΖƐ ŵĂĚĞ͕ ƉƌŽŵƉƚͲ ŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ƉƌŽĨŽƵŶĚůǇ ůŽĂĚĞĚ ƋƵĞƐƟ ŽŶ͕ Η/Ɛ ŝƚ ƉŽƐͲ

fiction

The Fabulist An acclaimed novel and a newly translated novella reawaken us to the magical realism of the great Brazilian Jewish fabulist Moacyr Scliar. The Centaur in the Garden Moacyr Scliar Margaret A. Neves, trans. Texas Tech University Press, 2011 Paperback 240 pp. $18.95 ISBN: 978-0-89672-730-4

Kafka’s Leopards Moacyr Scliar Thomas O. Beebee, trans. Texas Tech University Press, 2011 Hardcover 152 pp. $26.95 ISBN: 978-0-89672-696-3

braham Abinu is the prototypical ‘stranger in a ƐƚƌĂŶŐĞ ůĂŶĚ͕͛ ƚŚĞ ƐƚƌŽŶŐĞƐƚ ƚŚĞŵĞ ŝŶ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ůŝƚĞƌĂͲ ƚƵƌĞ͘ /Ŷ ŚŝƐ Į ĐƟ ŽŶ͕ DŽĂĐǇƌ ^ĐůŝĂƌ ƵƐĞƐ ĂůŝĞŶŶĞƐƐ ƚŽ ƉĂŝŶƚ ƚŚĞ ƉůŝŐŚƚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŶĞǁ ŝŵŵŝŐƌĂŶƚ͕ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ŶĞǆƚ ŐĞŶĞƌĂͲ Ɵ ŽŶ͖ ƉĞƌŚĂƉƐ ŶĞǀĞƌ ŵŽƌĞ ƐŽ ƚŚĂŶ ŝŶ ŚŝƐ ϭϵϴϬ ĐůĂƐƐŝĐ ŶŽǀĞůůĂ͕ The Centaur in the Garden. The story is narrated ďǇ 'ƵĞĚĂůŝ͕ ƚŚĞ ǇŽƵŶŐĞƐƚ ĐŚŝůĚ ŽĨ ZƵƐƐŝĂŶ ƐĞƩ ůĞƌƐ ŝŶ Ă ƌĞŵŽƚĞ ƌƵƌĂů ƐĞĐƟ ŽŶ ŽĨ ƌĂǌŝů͘ ,Ğ ŝƐ ďŽƌŶ ƉĂƌƚ ďŽǇ͕ ƉĂƌƚ colt. He and his family struggle to adapt. Should he be ŚŝĚĚĞŶ Žƌ ĞǆƉůŽŝƚĞĚ͍ ,Žǁ ĚŽĞƐ ƚŚĞ ƐƉĞĐŝĂů ĐŚŝůĚ Ăī ĞĐƚ ƚŚĞ ĨĂŵŝůǇ ĚǇŶĂŵŝĐ͍ ; ŶŽƚŚĞƌ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ƚŚĞŵĞͶĨĂǀŽƌŝƟ Ɛŵ ĂŶĚ ƐŝďůŝŶŐ ƌŝǀĂůƌǇ͘Ϳ ǀĞŶƚƵĂůůǇ 'ƵĞĚĂůŝ ƵŶĚĞƌŐŽĞƐ ĂŶ ŽƉĞƌĂƟ ŽŶ ƚŽ ƌĞŵŽǀĞ ƚŚĞ ĞƋƵŝŶĞ ŚŝŶĚƋƵĂƌƚĞƌƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ĨŽƌĞůĞŐƐ ŐƌĂĚƵĂůůǇ morph into human legs and feet. But then the author ƐĞĞŵƐ ƚŽ ƐƵŐŐĞƐƚ ŶŽŶĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĂƚ ƌĞĂůůǇ ŚĂƉƉĞŶĞĚ͖ ŚĞ ǁĂƐ ŚƵŵĂŶ Ăůů ĂůŽŶŐ͘ /Ɛ ŝƚ Ă ĚƌĞĂŵ͍ ;Žƌ ŶŝŐŚƚŵĂƌĞͿ͕ ĨĂŶƚĂƐǇ͕ ĨĂďůĞ ͕ ƉĂƌĂďůĞ͕ ĂůůĞŐŽƌǇ͙ ĞƚĐ͍͘ ;zĞƐ͕ ǇĞƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ǇĞƐ͘͘͘Ϳ tŚĂƚ ĚŽĞƐ ŝƚ ŵĂƩ Ğƌ͕ ƐĂǇƐ ^ĐůŝĂƌ͖ ǁĞ ĂƌĞ Ăůů ƐƚƌĂŶŐĞƌƐ͗ ƚŽ ŽƵƌ ĐŽƵŶƚƌǇŵĞŶ͕ ƚŽ ŽƵƌ ĨĂŵŝůŝĞƐ͕ ĞǀĞŶ ŽƵƌ ƐƉŽƵƐĞƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ƵůƟ ŵĂƚĞůǇ ƚŽ ŽƵƌƐĞůǀĞƐ͘ ^ŚĂŵĞůĞƐƐůǇ ďŽƌƌŽǁŝŶŐ ĨƌŽŵ

sible that the created can create its creator?" Ƶƚ ǁŚĂƚ ĂďŽƵƚ ĂŶŝŵĂƚĞ ŵĂƩ Ğƌ͍ dŚŝƐ ƋƵĞƐͲ Ɵ ŽŶ ŐŝǀĞƐ Dƌ͘ Ő ƉĂƵƐĞ ĂŶĚ ŚĞƌĞ ƚŚĞ ŶŽǀĞů ŝƚƐĞůĨ comes alive. Should living creatures have free will? Should they be immortal? Mr. g is deeply ƚƌŽƵďůĞĚ ďǇ ƚŚĞ ƐƵī ĞƌŝŶŐ ĂŵŽŶŐ ůŝǀŝŶŐ ĐƌĞĂͲ tures and grapples with his role in their lives. ůĂŶ >ŝŐŚƚŵĂŶ ŝƐ Ă ƉůĂǇĨƵů ĂŶĚ ŝŵĂŐŝŶĂƟ ǀĞ ĂƵƚŚŽƌ͕ ĂƐ ŚĞ ǁĂƐ ŝŶ ŝŶƐƚĞŝŶΖƐ ƌĞĂŵƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ŚŝƐ

ŵǇƚŚŽůŽŐǇ͕ ĨŽůŬůŽƌĞ͕ zŝĚĚŝƐŚ ůŝƚĞƌĂƌǇ ƚƌĂĚŝƟ ŽŶƐ͕ ƚŚĞ dŽƌĂŚ͕ ƚŚĞ dĂůŵƵĚ͕ ĂŶĚ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ŵǇƐƟ ĐŝƐŵ ĂƐ ǁĞůů ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ƐŚŝŌ ŝŶŐ ƌĞĂůŝƚǇ ŽĨ >ĂƟ Ŷ ŵĞƌŝĐĂŶ ŵĂŐŝĐĂů ƌĞĂůŝƐŵ͕ ^ĐůŝĂƌ ĐƌĂŌ Ɛ Ă ǁŽŶĚĞƌĨƵů͕ ĞŶũŽǇĂďůĞ ƐƚŽƌǇ͕ ĂƐ ǁĞůů ĂƐ ďƌŝůůŝĂŶƚ ŵĞƐƐĂŐĞƐ that transcend the medium. In <ĂŅ Ă͛Ɛ >ĞŽƉĂƌĚƐ͕ Ă ďĞĂƵƟ ĨƵůůǇ ǁƌŝƩ ĞŶ ŵŽĚĞƌŶ ĨĂŝƌǇ ƚĂůĞ ŶŽƚ ƉƌĞǀŝŽƵƐůǇ ƚƌĂŶƐůĂƚĞĚ͕ DŽĂĐǇƌ ^ĐůŝĂƌ ŝƐ ĂŐĂŝŶ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ ƚŽƉ ŽĨ ŚŝƐ ĨŽƌŵ͕ ĞǆƉĂŶĚŝŶŐ ŽŶ ŽŶĞ ŽĨ &ƌĂŶǌ <ĂŅ Ă͛Ɛ most famous parables. That Scliar admires and pays ŚŽŵĂŐĞ ƚŽ <ĂŅ Ă ŚĂƌĚůǇ ŶĞĞĚƐ ƚŽ ďĞ ƐƚĂƚĞĚͲ ŽŶĞ ĐŽƵůĚ ŚĂƌĚůǇ ŝŵĂŐŝŶĞ Ă ďĞƩ Ğƌ ůŝƚĞƌĂƌǇ ŚĞŝƌ͘ <ĂŅ ĂΖƐ ŽƌŝŐŝŶĂů ƚĞǆƚ͕ ƚƌĂŶƐůĂƚĞĚ ŝŶƚŽ ŶŐůŝƐŚ͗ >ĞŽƉĂƌĚƐ ďƌĞĂŬ ŝŶƚŽ ƚŚĞ ƚĞŵƉůĞ ĂŶĚ ĚƌŝŶŬ ƵƉ ƚŚĞ Žī ĞƌŝŶŐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĐŚĂůŝĐĞƐ͖ ƚŚŝƐ ŚĂƉƉĞŶƐ ĂŐĂŝŶ ĂŶĚ ĂŐĂŝŶ͖ Į ŶĂůůǇ͕ ŽŶĞ ĐĂŶ ƉƌĞĚŝĐƚ ƚŚĞŝƌ ĂĐƟ ŽŶ ŝŶ ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞ ĂŶĚ ŝƚ ďĞĐŽŵĞƐ ƉĂƌƚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĐĞƌĞŵŽŶǇ͘ This is a ƐƚƌĂŶŐĞ ƐƚĂƚĞŵĞŶƚ͘ DĂǇďĞ ŝƚ͛Ɛ ŝŶ ĐŽĚĞ͙ ^ĐůŝĂƌ ƚĂŬĞƐ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚŽƵŐŚƚ ĂŶĚ ƌƵŶƐ͕ ĨƌŽŵ Ă ZƵƐƐŝĂŶ ƐŚƚĞƚů ƚŽ ƉŝĐƚƵƌĞƐƋƵĞ WƌĂŐƵĞ ;ĐŝƟ ŶŐ <ĂŅ Ă ĂŶĚ ZĂďďŝ :ƵĚĂŚ >ŽǁǇ͛Ɛ ĨĂŵŽƵƐ 'ŽůĞŵ ĂƐ ǁĞůůͿ͕ ƚŽ ĨĂƌĂǁĂǇ ƌĂǌŝů͕ ǁĞĂǀŝŶŐ Ă ƉŽŝŐŶĂŶƚ͕ ƐŽŵĞƟ ŵĞƐ ĐŽŵŝĐ͕ ƚĂůĞ ŽĨ ŝŶƚƌŝŐƵĞ͕ ƉŽůŝƟ ĐƐ͕ ƌĞǀŽůƵƟ ŽŶ͕ ŵŝƐƵŶĚĞƌƐƚĂŶĚŝŶŐ͕ ŵŝƐŝŶƚĞƌƉƌĞƚĂƟ ŽŶ͕ ƌĞŝŶƚĞƌƉƌĞƚĂƟ ŽŶ͕ ůŽǀĞ͕ ďĞƚƌĂǇĂů͕ ƉƐĞƵĚŽŚŝƐƚŽƌǇ͕ ĂŶĚ Ă ůŽƚ ŵŽƌĞ͘ ůů ƚŚŝƐ͕ ŝŶ such a slim volume. ŽƚŚ ďŽŽŬƐ ŚĂǀĞ ǀĂůƵĂďůĞ͕ ŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƟ ŶŐ ŝŶƚƌŽĚƵĐƟ ŽŶƐ that provide insight and context. In <ĂŅ Ă͛Ɛ >ĞŽƉĂƌĚ͛Ɛ͕ ƚƌĂŶƐůĂƚŽƌ dŚŽŵĂƐ ĞĞďĞĞ ŶŽƚĞƐ ƚŚĂƚ ͞΀/΁ŶƚĞƌĞƐƟ ŶŐůǇ͕ the novella that uses as a character one of the major ŝŶŇ ƵĞŶĐĞƐ ŽŶ ŵĂŐŝĐĂů ƌĞĂůŝƐŵ ĞǆŚŝďŝƚƐ ŶŽƚ Ă ŚŝŶƚ ŽĨ ƚŚĂƚ ƐƚǇůĞ͘͘͘ /ƚ ŝƐ ĂƐ ƚŚŽƵŐŚ ƚŚĞ ƉƌĞƐĞŶĐĞ ŽĨ <ĂŅ Ă ǁĞƌĞ ĞŶŽƵŐŚ͙͘͟ ĞĞďĞĞ ĂůƐŽ ƐŚĞĚƐ ůŝŐŚƚ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŶŶĞĐƟ ŽŶƐ between Centaur and >ĞŽƉĂƌĚƐ. When Moacyr Scliar ĚŝĞĚ ŝŶ ϮϬϭϭ͕ ŶŽƚ ŽŶůǇ ƌĂǌŝů ůŽƐƚ ŝƚƐ ŵĂũŽƌ ĨĂďƵůŝƐƚ͘ tĞ all did.

^ǇĚĞůůĞ ^ŚĂŵĂŚ ŚĂƐ ďĞĞŶ ůĞĂĚŝŶŐ ďŽŽŬ ĐůƵď ĚŝƐĐƵƐƐŝŽŶƐ ĨŽƌ ŵĂŶǇ ǇĞĂƌƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ŝƐ Ă ƉƵďůŝƐŚĞĚ ƐĐŝĞŶĐĞ Į ĐƟ ŽŶ ǁƌŝƚĞƌ͘ ^ŚĞ ǁĂƐ ƉƌĞƐŝĚĞŶƚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ZƵƚŚ ,ǇŵĂŶ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ŽŵŵƵŶŝƚǇ ĞŶƚĞƌ ŽĨ DŽŶŵŽƵƚŚ ŽƵŶƚǇ͕ E:͘

ŽǁŶ ĐƌĞĂƟ ŽŶ͕ ƚŚŝƐ ƋƵŝƌŬǇ ŶŽǀĞů͕ ŝƐ ĂƐ ƉƌŽĨŽƵŶĚ as it is charming. He shows us how the universe is put together from just a few rules and ĞůĞŵĞŶƚƐ͕ ŚŽǁ ĐƌĞĂƟ ŽŶ ƐŚĂƉĞƐ ƚŚĞ ĐƌĞĂƚŽƌ͕ ĂŶĚ ŚŽǁ ƚŽ ŵĂŬĞ ĚƌĞƐƐĞƐ ĨƌŽŵ ŐĂůĂǆŝĞƐ͘ ŶĚ͕ ĐƌƵĐŝĂůůǇ͕ ŚĞ ƌĞŵŝŶĚƐ ƵƐ ƚŚĂƚ ƌĞůĂƟ ǀŝƚǇ ĐĂŶ ĂƉͲ ply to both physics and morality. AB

One More River Mary Glickman Open Road Integrated Media, 2011 Paperback 248 pp. $24.99 [e] ISBN: 978-1-4532-1946-1

T www.jewishbookcouncil.org

ŚĞ Ɵ ƚůĞ ƌĞĨĞƌƐ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ŽůĚ ƐƉŝƌŝƚƵĂů͕ KŶĞ DŽƌĞ ZŝǀĞƌ ƚŽ ƌŽƐƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ƐƚŽƌǇ ůŝƚĞƌĂůůǇ

summer 5772/2012

Jewish Book World

fiction ƚĂŬĞƐ ƉůĂĐĞ ŶĞĂƌ͕ ĂƌŽƵŶĚ͕ ĂŶĚ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ DŝƐƐŝƐͲ ƐŝƉƉŝ ZŝǀĞƌ͘ dǁŽ ŵĞŶ͕ ĨĂƚŚĞƌ ĂŶĚ ƐŽŶ͕ ĞƌŶĂƌĚ >ĞǀǇ ĂŶĚ DŝĐŬĞǇ DŽĞ >ĞǀǇ͕ ĂƌĞ ĞĂĐŚ ĚƌŝǀĞŶ to extremes for the loves of their lives. The ǁŽŵĞŶ͕ Ă ďĞĂƵƟ ĨƵů ďůĂĐŬ ǁŽŵĂŶ ĂŶĚ Ă ǇŽƵŶŐ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ǁŽŵĂŶ͕ ĂƌĞ ƵŶĂƩ ĂŝŶĂďůĞ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ŵĞŶ͕ ďƵƚ ĨŽƌ Ěŝī ĞƌĞŶƚ ƌĞĂƐŽŶƐ͘ &Žƌ ĞƌŶĂƌĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƐŽƵƚŚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ϭϵϯϬƐ ĂŶĚ ϭϵϰϬƐ ŝƚ ŝƐ ŽďǀŝŽƵƐ͖ ĨŽƌ DŝĐŬĞǇ DŽĞ >ĞǀǇ͕ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ϭϵϲϬƐ͕ ůĞƐƐ ƐŽ͘ He must prove to his girlfriend’s parents an acceptable Jewish bloodline to get permission to marry their daughter. Mickey’s family history went to the grave with his father in France during World War II. His quest to uncover the long kept secrets leads him into ĚĂŶŐĞƌŽƵƐ ƚĞƌƌŝƚŽƌǇ ĂŶĚ ƵůƟ ŵĂƚĞůǇ ƌĞǀĞĂůƐ Ă ĨŽƌŵŝĚĂďůĞ͕ ďƌĂǀĞ͕ ĂĚǀĞŶƚƵƌŽƵƐ ĨĂƚŚĞƌ ĂƐ ǁĞůů ĂƐ Ă ĚĞƚĞƌŵŝŶĞĚ͕ ƌĞůŝĂďůĞ ƐŽŶ͘ tŝƚŚ Į ŶĞ ĐƌĂŌ ͕ ƉŝǀŽƟ ŶŐ ďĂĐŬ ĂŶĚ ĨŽƌƚŚ ŝŶ Ɵ ŵĞ͕ ƚŚĞ ĂƵƚŚŽƌ ŝůůƵŵŝŶĂƚĞƐ ͞^ŽƵƚŚĞƌŶ͟ :ĞǁƐ͘ dŚĞǇ ĂƌĞ ƌĞĐŽŐŶŝǌĂďůǇ ƐŽƵƚŚĞƌŶ ŝŶ Ă ƌĞŐŝŽŶĂů͕ ƐĞĐƵůĂƌ ŵĂŶŶĞƌ͕ ĨĂŵŝůŝĂƌ ŝŶ Ă ĐƵůƚƵƌĂů ƐĞŶƐĞ͕ ĂŶĚ͕ Ăůů ƚŽŽ ĨĂŵŝůŝĂƌůǇ͕ ƐĞĞŶ ĂƐ Ă ŐƌŽƵƉ ĂƉĂƌƚ͘ We are with them as their lives precede and then coincide with two of the most fought ŽǀĞƌ ƐŽĐŝĂů ŝƐƐƵĞƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƚǁĞŶƟ ĞƚŚ ĐĞŶƚƵƌǇ͗ ƚŚĞ civil rights movement and the women’s movement. The Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 is both a backdrop for the intriguing plot and a foreshadowing of the enormous change to come to the South and to the country. PGM

Portrait of the Mother as a Young Woman Frederich Christian Delius Jamie Bulloch, trans. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2012 Paperback 128 pp. $13.00 [e] ISBN: 978-0-374-53329-8

ŚĂƚ͛Ɛ ƚƌƵůǇ ĨĂƐĐŝŶĂƟ ŶŐ ĂďŽƵƚ Portrait of the Mother as a Young Woman is &ƌĞĚĞƌŝĐŚ ĞůŝƵƐ͛Ɛ ĂĐĐŽŵƉůŝƐŚŵĞŶƚ ŝŶ ĐƌĂŌ ŝŶŐ Ă ŶŽǀĞů ƐĞƚ ŽŶ Ă ƐŝŶŐůĞ ĚĂǇ͕ ĐŽŵƉŽƐĞĚ ŽŶůǇ ŽĨ

Jewish Book World

Ă ƐŝŶŐůĞ ƐĞŶƚĞŶĐĞ͘ Ɛ ŝŶƟ ŵŝĚĂƟ ŶŐ͕ Ɵ ƌŝŶŐ͕ Žƌ ĞǀĞŶ ŝŶĚƵůŐĞŶƚ ĂƐ ƚŚĂƚ ŵĂǇ ƐĞĞŵ͕ ƚŚĞ ƌĞƐƵůƚ ŝƐ ĂĐĐĞƐƐŝďůĞ͕ ƉŽĞƟ Đ͕ ĂŶĚ ƵůƟ ŵĂƚĞůǇ ŵĞĚŝƚĂƟ ǀĞ͘ Delius’s twenty-one-year-old heroine is alone and heavily pregnant in a foreign country against the backdrop of World War II. Isolated from her family and her German ŚŽŵĞůĂŶĚ͕ ƐŚĞ ŚĂƐ ũŽƵƌŶĞǇĞĚ ƚŽ ŽĐĐƵƉŝĞĚ

A novel set on a single day, composed only of a single sentence. ZŽŵĞ ƚŽ ĂǁĂŝƚ ƚŚĞ ƌĞƚƵƌŶ ŽĨ ŚĞƌ ŚƵƐďĂŶĚ͕ Ă EĂǌŝ ƐŽůĚŝĞƌ͕ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ ĨƌŝĐĂŶ ĨƌŽŶƚ͘ ǀĞƌ ƚŚĞ ƉŝŽƵƐ ŚƌŝƐƟ ĂŶ͕ ƐŚĞ ůŝǀĞƐ ŝŶ Ă ƌĞůŝŐŝŽƵƐ ƐĂĨĞŚĂǀͲ ĞŶ ĐĂƌĞĚ ĨŽƌ ďǇ ŶƵŶƐ͕ ƐĞĐƌĞƚůǇ ĚĞůŝŐŚƟ ŶŐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƉƌŝǀŝůĞŐĞ ŽĨ ĞĂƟ ŶŐ ĨƌƵŝƚƐ͕ ĐŚŽĐŽůĂƚĞ͕ ĂŶĚ ŽƚŚĞƌ ĚĞůŝĐĂĐŝĞƐ ƌĂƟ ŽŶĞĚ ŽƵƚƐŝĚĞ ƚŚĞ ǁĂůůƐ ŽĨ ŚĞƌ ĐŽŶĮ ŶĞƐ͘ ^Ɵ ůů͕ ƐŚĞ ŬŶŽǁƐ ƐŚĞ ŝƐ ďĞƩ Ğƌ Žī ƚŚĂŶ most and prays fervently for the safe return of her beloved and the well-being of her family in 'ĞƌŵĂŶǇ͕ ǁŚŝĐŚ ŽĨ ĐŽƵƌƐĞ͕ ŵĞĂŶƐ Ă ǀŝĐƚŽƌǇ ĨŽƌ the Axis powers. Encouraged by her obstetrician to have a ǁĂůŬ͕ ƐŚĞ ŝƐ ĐŽŶĨƌŽŶƚĞĚ ďǇ ƚŚĞ ũĂƌƌŝŶŐ ĐƵůƚƵƌĂů Ěŝī ĞƌĞŶĐĞƐ ƐŚĞ ǁŝƚŶĞƐƐĞƐ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ƐƚƌĞĞƚƐ ŽĨ ZŽŵĞ͘ dŚĞ ƐĞŶƐƵĂů͕ ŶĂŬĞĚ ďŽĚŝĞƐ ŽĨ ƉĂŐĂŶ ƐƚĂƚƵĞƐ Ăƚ ŽŶĐĞ ŝŶƚƌŝŐƵĞ ĂŶĚ ŝŶƟ ŵŝĚĂƚĞ ŚĞƌ͘ DŽƌĞ ƉƌŽĨŽƵŶĚůǇ͕ ƐŚĞ ŝƐ ĨŽƌĐĞĚ ƚŽ ĨĂĐĞ ƚŚĞ ƉĂŝŶĨƵů ĐŽŶƚƌĂĚŝĐƟ ŽŶ ďĞƚǁĞĞŶ ŚƌŝƐƟ ĂŶŝƚǇ͛Ɛ dictate of brotherly love and Germany’s compliance with the Fuhrer’s radical racist agenda. ĞƐƉŝƚĞ ďĞŝŶŐ ƌĂŝƐĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ dŚŝƌĚ ZĞŝĐŚ͕ ƐŚĞ ŝƐ further appalled by Hitler’s insistence of his alignment with her beloved God. Through his ĐŚĂƌĂĐƚĞƌ͛Ɛ ĐŽŶĨƵƐŝŽŶ ĂŶĚ ƐŝůĞŶƚ ŝŶĚŝŐŶĂƟ ŽŶ͕ Delius builds a portrait of the average German ďǇƐƚĂŶĚĞƌ ĂŶĚ ŵĂŶĂŐĞƐ ƚŽ ĂƩ ĂŝŶ Ă ŵŽĚŝĐƵŵ of sympathy and understanding for her plight. HS

summer 5772/2012

www.jewishbookcouncil.org

The Street Sweeper Elliot Perlman Riverhead Books, 2012 Hardcover 626 pp. $28.95 [e] ISBN: 978-1594488474

ĞůůͲŬŶŽǁŶ ŝŶ ƵƐƚƌĂůŝĂ ĂƐ ƚŚĞŝƌ ŵƵůƟ Ͳ ƉƌŝǌĞ ǁŝŶŶŝŶŐ ŶŽǀĞůŝƐƚ͕ ůůŝŽƚ WĞƌůŵĂŶ has ventured into new literary territory— ŵĞƌŝĐĂ ĂŶĚ ƵƌŽƉĞͶǁŝƚŚ ĂŶ ŝŶƚƌŝŐƵŝŶŐ ǁŽƌŬ͕ The Street Sweeper. Choosing from the many ƉŽƐƐŝďŝůŝƟ ĞƐ ĂǀĂŝůĂďůĞ ŚĞ ŚĂƐ ĨŽĐƵƐĞĚ ŽŶ ƚǁŽ ĚƌĂŵĂƟ Đ ŝƐƐƵĞƐ͗ ƚŚĞ ƌĂĐĞ ƉƌŽďůĞŵ ŝŶ ŵĞƌŝĐĂ and the Holocaust in Europe. Colorful characters keep entering the narƌĂƟ ǀĞ ĂƐ ŝƚ ƉƌŽŐƌĞƐƐĞƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ĨŽƌ ĞĂĐŚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞŵ͕ ůŝĨĞ ŚŽůĚƐ ƐŽŵĞ ƐŽƵƌĐĞ ŽĨ ĞŵŽƟ ŽŶĂů ƉĂŝŶ Žƌ ĚŝƐĐŽŵĨŽƌƚ͘ ĚĂŵ͕ ĨŽƌ ĞǆĂŵƉůĞ͕ ŝƐ Ă :ĞǁͲ ŝƐŚ ŽůƵŵďŝĂ hŶŝǀĞƌƐŝƚǇ ƉƌŽĨĞƐƐŽƌ ǁŚŽ ǁĂƐ ƚƌĂƵŵĂƟ ǌĞĚ ĂƐ Ă ĐŚŝůĚ ďǇ ŚŝƐ ĨĂƚŚĞƌΖƐ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚƐ of the vicious behavior toward blacks by white ĂŶƟ ͲŝŶƚĞŐƌĂƟ ŽŶŝƐƚƐ ĚƵƌŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ĞĂƌůǇ Đŝǀŝů ƌŝŐŚƚƐ ƐƚƌƵŐŐůĞ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ^ŽƵƚŚ͘ EŽǁ͕ ƵŶŶĞƌǀĞĚ͕ ƵŶĂďůĞ ƚŽ Į ŶĚ Ă ƚŽƉŝĐ ĨŽƌ Ă ŶĞǁ ďŽŽŬ ƚŽ ŝŶƐƵƌĞ Ă ǀŽƚĞ ŽĨ ƚĞŶƵƌĞ͕ ŚĞ ďƌĞĂŬƐ Žī ŚŝƐ ůŽǀĞ Ăī Ăŝƌ͘ >ĂŵŽŶƚ͕ Ă ďůĂĐŬ ŚŽƐƉŝƚĂů ũĂŶŝƚŽƌ ƌĞĐĞŶƚůǇ ƌĞůĞĂƐĞĚ ĨƌŽŵ ƉƌŝƐŽŶ͕ ŚĂƐ ůŽƐƚ ĐŽŶƚĂĐƚ ǁŝƚŚ

Deeply moving historical material about the civil rights movement and about the suffering of European Jews during the Hitler regime. ŚŝƐ ĚĂƵŐŚƚĞƌ͘ ,ĞŶƌǇŬ DĂŶĚĞůďƌŽƚ͕ Ă ,ŽůŽĐĂƵƐƚ ƐƵƌǀŝǀŽƌ͕ ĨĞĞůƐ Ă ĐŽŵƉƵůƐŝŽŶ ƚŽ ƚĞůů ǁŚĂƚ ŚĞ ƐĂǁ ƚŽ Ă ǇŽƵŶŐĞƌ ŐĞŶĞƌĂƟ ŽŶ ďĞĨŽƌĞ ŚĞ ĚŝĞƐ ŽĨ ĐĂŶĐĞƌ͘ ĚĂŵΖƐ ďůĂĐŬ ĚĞƉĂƌƚŵĞŶƚ ŚĞĂĚ ĂŶĚ ŚŝƐ ǁŝĨĞ͕ >ĂŵŽŶƚΖƐ ƐƚǇůŝƐŚ ĐŽƵƐŝŶ͕ ĂƌŐƵĞ ĐŽŶƐƚĂŶƚůǇ͘ ƌ͘ ŽƌĚĞƌ͕ ǁŚŽ ƌĞĐŽƌĚĞĚ ŝŶƚĞƌǀŝĞǁƐ ǁŝƚŚ ,ŽůŽĐĂƵƐƚ ƐƵƌǀŝǀŽƌƐ͕ ůĞŌ Ă ďŝƩ Ğƌ ŵĂƌŝƚĂů ƌŝŌ behind in Poland. The book is packed with masses of deeply moving historical material about the civil ƌŝŐŚƚƐ ŵŽǀĞŵĞŶƚ ĂŶĚ ĂďŽƵƚ ƚŚĞ ƐƵī ĞƌŝŶŐ ŽĨ ƵƌŽƉĞĂŶ :ĞǁƐ ĚƵƌŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ,ŝƚůĞƌ ƌĞŐŝŵĞ͘ Ō Ğƌ Ă ĐŽŶƐĐŝĞŶƟ ŽƵƐ ƐĞĂƌĐŚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƚĞǆƚ͕ ƚŚŽƵŐŚ͕ this reviewer must confess to being unable to Į ŶĚ ŽŶĞ ƚŽƉŝĐ ƚŚĂƚ ƐŚŽƵůĚ ďĞ ƚŚĞƌĞͶƚŚĞ ƚƌŝƉƐ South by busloads of white sympathizers who ƐĞƌǀĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĞĂƌůǇ Đŝǀŝů ƌŝŐŚƚƐ ĚĞŵŽŶƐƚƌĂƟ ŽŶƐ͘ ^ŽŵĞ ŽĨ ƚŚŽƐĞ ƉĞŽƉůĞ͕ ƐŽŵĞ :ĞǁŝƐŚ͕ ƉĂŝĚ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞŝƌ ůŝǀĞƐ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞŝƌ ƉĂƌƟ ĐŝƉĂƟ ŽŶ͘ ^ŝŶĐĞ Dƌ͘ Perlman tells interviewers how important it is to him personally that blacks and Jews help ŽŶĞ ĂŶŽƚŚĞƌ ŝŶ Ɵ ŵĞ ŽĨ ƚƌŽƵďůĞ͕ ƚŚĞ ŽŵŝƐƐŝŽŶ͕ ŽďǀŝŽƵƐůǇ ŝŶĂĚǀĞƌƚĞŶƚ͕ ŝƐ ĚŽƵďůǇ ƵŶĨŽƌƚƵŶĂƚĞ͘ ƌŽƉƉĞĚ ŝŶ ůĂƚĞƌ ŝƐ ƚŚĞ ŶĂŵĞ͕ ǁŝƚŚ ŶŽ ŝĚĞŶƟ Į Ͳ ĐĂƟ ŽŶ͕ ŽĨ ŽŶĞ ŽĨ ƚŚŽƐĞ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ĚĞĂĚ͘ ^ĞƌŝŽƵƐ͕ ƉĂƐƐŝŽŶĂƚĞůǇ ǁƌŝƩ ĞŶ͕ ƚŚĞ ŶŽǀĞů ŝƐ ƵŶƐƉĂƌŝŶŐ ŝŶ ŝƚƐ ĞǆƉůŽƌĂƟ ŽŶ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ǁŽƌƐƚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ,ŽůŽĐĂƵƐƚ ĞǆƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞƐ͘ /Ŷ ŵĞƌŝĐĂ͕ ƚŽŽ͕

fiction

ƚŚĞƌĞΖƐ Ă ůŽŶŐ ƉĂƐƐĂŐĞ ŝŶ ǁŚŝĐŚ ŶŽƚŚŝŶŐ ŐŽĞƐ right for anyone. &ŝŶĂůůǇ͕ ƚŚŽƵŐŚ͕ ƚŚĞ ƐƚŽƌǇ ĞŶĚƐ ŚĂƉƉŝůǇ͕ ǁŝƚŚ the help of an astonishing feat of memorizaƟ ŽŶ ĂŶĚ ŽŶĞ ƌĞŵĂƌŬĂďůĞ ĐŽŝŶĐŝĚĞŶĐĞ͘ JW

The Submission Amy Waldman Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2011 Hardcover 320 pp. $26.00 [e] ISBN: 978-0374271565

my Waldman’s dŚĞ ^ƵďŵŝƐƐŝŽŶ is a ǁŽŶĚĞƌĨƵů ŶŽǀĞů ĂŶĚ ĂŶ ŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƟ ŶŐ

ĂĚĚŝƟ ŽŶ ƚŽ ĞǆŝƐƟ ŶŐ ůŝƚĞƌĂƚƵƌĞ ǁŝƚŚ ďŽƚŚ ϵͬϭϭ and immigrant themes. Though not explicitly :ĞǁŝƐŚ ƚŚĞŵĞĚ͕ ƚŚĞ ŶŽƟ ŽŶƐ ŽĨ ǁŚŽ ŝƐ ĂŶ ŵĞƌŝĐĂŶ ĂŶĚ ǁŚĂƚ ŵĞƌŝĐĂŶ ŝĚĞŶƟ ƚǇ ŝƐ Žƌ should be in a post-September 11 era are of interest and concern to Jewish readers. There are a few Jewish characters but it is the themes rather than the characters which hold Jewish interest. Waldman was a reporter for the South Asia bureau of The New York Times and her ability to marshall and accumulate details that supƉŽƌƚ ŚĞƌ ĐŚĂƌĂĐƚĞƌƐ ĂŶĚ ŚĞƌ ƐĞƫ ŶŐƐ ŝƐ ŽŶĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŵĂŝŶ ƐƚƌĞŶŐƚŚƐ ŽĨ ƚŚŝƐ ŶŽǀĞů͕ tĂůĚŵĂŶ͛Ɛ Į ƌƐƚ͘ The book follows the contest to create a memorial at the site of the Twin Towers. The protagonists are the members of the commitƚĞĞ ƚŚĂƚ ǁŝůů ĚĞĐŝĚĞ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ǁŝŶŶĞƌ͖ ƚŚŝƐ ŐƌŽƵƉ ŝŶĐůƵĚĞƐ ƚŚĞ ĨĂŵŝůŝĞƐ ŽĨ ƐƵƌǀŝǀŽƌƐ͕ ĂƌƟ ƐƚƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ĐŚĂŝƌŵĂŶ͕ Ă :Ğǁ ǁŚŽ ŚĂƐ ŚĞůĚ ǀĂƌŝŽƵƐ ƉŽůŝƟ ĐĂů ƉŽƐŝƟ ŽŶƐ͘ dŚĞ ĐŽŵŵŝƩ ĞĞ ŵĂŬĞƐ Ă ĚĞͲ ĐŝƐŝŽŶ ǁŝƚŚŽƵƚ ŬŶŽǁŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ǁŝŶŶĞƌ͛Ɛ ŝĚĞŶƟ ƚǇ͘ It is revealed that the winning design is by a ƐĞĐƵůĂƌ DƵƐůŝŵ ŶĂŵĞĚ DŽŚĂŵŵĞĚ͕ ǁŚŽƐĞ parents tell him that they gave him this name both because it was his pious Muslim grandfaƚŚĞƌ͛Ɛ ŶĂŵĞ ĂŶĚ ďĞĐĂƵƐĞ ŝƚ ǁĂƐ Ă ͞ƐƚĂƚĞŵĞŶƚ of faith in America that we never thought for a moment that your name would hold you back

ŝŶ ĂŶǇ ǁĂǇ͘͟ dŚĞ ƋƵĞƐƟ ŽŶ ŽĨ ŚŽǁ ŵĞƌŝĐĂ ƌĞͲ acts to a Muslim architect occupies this gem of Ă ŶŽǀĞů ƌŝĨĞ ǁŝƚŚ ůŽǀĞůǇ ƐƉĞĐŝĮ Đ ĚĞƚĂŝůƐ ŽŶ EĞǁ zŽƌŬ͕ ƚŚĞ ĂŶŐůĂĚĞƐŚŝ ŝŵŵŝŐƌĂŶƚ ĐŽŵŵƵŶŝƚǇ͕ ĂŶĚ ŝĚĞŶƟ ƚǇ ƉŽůŝƟ ĐƐ͘ BK

These Days Are Ours Michelle Haimoff Grand Central Publishing, 2012 Paperback 304 pp. $13.99 [e] ISBN: 978-1455500291

ƵƐƚ ŵŽŶƚŚƐ ĂŌ Ğƌ ϵͬϭϭ͕ EĞǁ zŽƌŬ ŝƐ ƐƟ ůů ƌĞĞůͲ ing and on the brink of uncertainty. Hailey ŝƐ Ă ƚǁĞŶƚǇͲƚǁŽͲǇĞĂƌͲŽůĚ ŽƐƚŽŶ hŶŝǀĞƌƐŝƚǇ ŐƌĂĚƵĂƚĞ ǁŚŽ ŚĂƐ ƌĞƚƵƌŶĞĚ ŚŽŵĞ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ &ŝŌ Ś ǀĞŶƵĞ ƉĞŶƚŚŽƵƐĞ ŝŶ ǁŚŝĐŚ ƐŚĞ ǁĂƐ ƌĂŝƐĞĚ͕ but for Hailey it’s true that you can never really go home. ZĂŝƐĞĚ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ hƉƉĞƌ ĂƐƚ ^ŝĚĞ ŝŶ Ă ƐĞĐƵůĂƌ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ŚŽƵƐĞŚŽůĚ͕ ,ĂŝůĞǇ ŶŽǁ ǁŝƐŚĞƐ ƐŚĞ could be part of another family’s Passover Seder. Hailey has a mother she longs to be ĐůŽƐĞƌ ƚŽ͕ Ă ĨĂƚŚĞƌ ǁŚŽ ĐĂŶ͛ƚ ƐĞĞŵ ƚŽ ƉƌŽĐĞƐƐ ƚŚĞŝƌ ĚŝǀŽƌĐĞ͕ ĂŶĚ Ă ďƌŽƚŚĞƌ ŝŶ DŝĂŵŝ ǁŝƚŚ whom she’s lost touch. Living in the newly remodeled condo now shared by her mother ĂŶĚ ƐƚĞƉĨĂƚŚĞƌ͕ ďŽƚŚ ŽŶĚĠ EĂƐƚ ĞǆĞĐƵƟ ǀĞƐ͕

Experience a smart and slyly funny debut novel of love, temptation, and family. Set in Temple Fortune, a small, tight-knit Jewish suburb of London, Francesca Segal’s debut novel is a triumphant and beautifully executed recasting of Edith Wharton’s The Age of Innocence.

“Inspired by The Age of Innocence, Segal’s book is warmer, funnier, and paints a more dynamic and human portrait of a functional community that is a wonderful juxtaposition to Wharton’s cold social strata in Gilded Age New York.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review) Available wherever books are sold

www.jewishbookcouncil.org

summer 5772/2012

Jewish Book World

fiction Hailey is insistent on not taking advantage of ŚĞƌ ĨĂŵŝůǇ ĐŽŶŶĞĐƟ ŽŶƐ͘ ^ŚĞ ŚĂůĨͲŚĞĂƌƚĞĚůǇ ƚƌŝĞƐ ƚŽ Į ŶĚ Ă ũŽď͕ ďƵƚ ĞŶĚƐ ƵƉ Į ůůŝŶŐ ŚĞƌ ĚĂǇƐ nursing hangovers and fantasizing about a ĨƵƚƵƌĞ ǁŝƚŚ ůŽŶŐ Ɵ ŵĞ ůŽǀĞ ŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƚ DŝĐŚĂĞů ƌĞŶŶĞƌ͘ dŽƚĂůůǇ ĂŵďŝǀĂůĞŶƚ ĂďŽƵƚ ƚŚĞ ĨƵƚƵƌĞ͕ ,ĂŝůĞǇ ƚĞůůƐ Ă ĨƌŝĞŶĚ͕ ͞dŚĞ ƚŚŝŶŐ ƚŚĂƚ ǁŽƵůĚ ďĞ ĂǁĞƐŽŵĞ ĂďŽƵƚ ŐĞƫ ŶŐ ďůŽǁŶ ƵƉ ďǇ ƚĞƌƌŽƌŝƐƚƐ is that everyone would think we had all this ƵŶƌĞĂůŝǌĞĚ ƉŽƚĞŶƟ Ăů͘͟ tŚĂƚ ƵůƟ ŵĂƚĞůǇ ƐĂǀĞƐ ,ĂŝŵŽī ΖƐ ƉƌŽƚĂŐŽŶŝƐƚ ĨƌŽŵ ďĞĐŽŵŝŶŐ ũƵƐƚ ĂŶŽƚŚĞƌ ƉŽŽƌ ůŝƩ ůĞ ƌŝĐŚ Őŝƌů is Hailey’s spot-on and sardonic sense of

Totally ambivalent about the future, Hailey tells a friend, "The thing that would be awesome about getting blown up by terrorists is that everyone would think we had all this unrealized potential." ŚƵŵŽƌ͘ ĞƐƉŝƚĞ ŚĞƌ ĐŽƌƌŽƐŝǀĞ Ăƫ ƚƵĚĞ ĂŶĚ ůĂĐŬ ŽĨ ĨŽĐƵƐ͕ ƌĞĂĚĞƌƐ ǁŝůů Į ŶĚ ƚŚĞŵƐĞůǀĞƐ ƌŽŽƟ ŶŐ ĨŽƌ ,ĂŝůĞǇ ĂŶĚ ůĂŵĞŶƟ ŶŐ ŚĞƌ ŚƵƌĚůĞƐ͘ dŚĞ ƐƚƌĞŶŐƚŚ ŽĨ ŚĞƌ ŽďƐĞƌǀĂƟ ŽŶƐ ŽŶ DĂŶŚĂƩ ĂŶ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ǁĂŬĞ ŽĨ ϵͬϭϭ ĂŶĚ ŽŶ Ă ŐĞŶĞƌĂƟ ŽŶ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ precipice of an economic recession will ring ƚƌƵĞ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ŵŝůůĞŶŶŝĂů ŐĞŶĞƌĂƟ ŽŶ͘ /Ŷ ƚŚĞ ĞŶĚ͕ ,ĂŝŵŽī ͛Ɛ ,ĂŝůĞǇ ŵĂǇ ũƵƐƚ ƉƌŽǀĞ ĂŶ ĂƉƚ ŚĞƌŽŝŶĞ for a new age. HS

What We Talk About When We Talk About Anne Frank: Stories Nathan Englander Knopf, 2012 Hardcover 201 pp. $24.95 [e] ISBN: 978-0-307-95870-9

ŽŵĞ ƌĞĂĚĞƌƐ ŵŝƐƚĂŬĞ Į ĐƟ ŽŶ ĨŽƌ ĂŶ ĂůůĞŐŽƌǇ ŽĨ ĐƵƌƌĞŶƚ ĞǀĞŶƚƐ͕ ƚŚĞ ƉƌŽƐĞ ĐŽƵŶƚĞƌƉĂƌƚ ƚŽ Ă ƉŽůŝƟ ĐĂů ĐĂƌƚŽŽŶ͘ EĂƚŚĂŶ ŶŐůĂŶĚĞƌ͕ Ă ŵĂƐƚĞƌ ŽĨ ƐŚŽƌƚ Į ĐƟ ŽŶ͕ ǁƌŝƚĞƐ ĂďŽƵƚ tĞƐƚ ĂŶŬ ƐĞƚͲ ƚůĞƌƐ ĂŶĚ KƌƚŚŽĚŽǆ ĨĂŵŝůŝĞƐ͕ ƚŚĞ ,ŽůŽĐĂƵƐƚ ĂŶĚ ŵŝǆĞĚ ŵĂƌƌŝĂŐĞƐ͕ ďƵƚ ŶŽƚ ƚŽ ĞĚŝƚŽƌŝĂůŝǌĞ ĂďŽƵƚ ƚŚĞŵ͘ ,ŝƐ ƌĞĂů ƐƵďũĞĐƚƐ ĂƌĞ ŵĞŵŽƌǇ͕ ŽďƐĞƐͲ ƐŝŽŶ͕ ĐŚŽŝĐĞƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ĐŽŶƐĞƋƵĞŶĐĞƐ͘ ,ŝƐ ĐŚĂƌĂĐƚĞƌƐΖ ĂĐƟ ŽŶƐ ĚĞĨǇ ĞĂƐǇ ũƵĚŐŵĞŶƚƐ͘ /Ŷ ͞,Žǁ tĞ ǀĞŶŐĞĚ ƚŚĞ ůƵŵƐ͕͟ ǇĞƐŚŝǀĂ ďŽǇƐ ĂƌĞ ƚĂƵŶƚĞĚ͕ ŚƵŵŝůŝĂƚĞĚ͕ ĂŶĚ ĂƩ ĂĐŬĞĚ ďǇ Ă ďƵůůǇ ƚŚĞǇ ĐĂůů dŚĞ ŶƟ Ͳ^ĞŵŝƚĞ͘ ͞KƵƌ ƉĂƌĞŶƚƐ ƚŚŽƵŐŚƚ ƵƐ ƐŽŌ ͕͟ ƚŚĞ ŶĂƌƌĂƚŽƌ ĐŽŶĨĞƐƐĞƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ƚĞŶƐŝŽŶ ďĞƚǁĞĞŶ ƚŚĞ ďŽǇƐΖ ŐĞŶƚůĞŶĞƐƐ and their need to defend themselves shapes Ă ƉĂƌĂďůĞ ĂďŽƵƚ ũƵƐƟ ĐĞ ĂŶĚ ŵĞƌĐǇ͘ ƚ ͞ ĂŵƉ ^ƵŶĚŽǁŶ͕͟ Ă ƐƵŵŵĞƌ ĐĂŵƉ ĨŽƌ ƐĞŶŝŽƌƐ͕ ƚŚĞ ǇŽƵŶŐ ĚŝƌĞĐƚŽƌ ĐĂŶΖƚ ƵŶĚĞƌƐƚĂŶĚ ǁŚǇ Ă ŐƌŽƵƉ of Holocaust survivors feels sure that a gentle new camper had been a guard at a concenƚƌĂƟ ŽŶ ĐĂŵƉ͘ Ɛ ŝŶ ĂŶǇ ƚƌĂŐĞĚǇ ƚŚĞǇ ĞĂĐŚ ĚŽ ǁŚĂƚ ƚŚĞǇ ŵƵƐƚ͕ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ƐƚŽƌǇ ĐůŽƐĞƐ ǁŝƚŚ Ă

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breathtaking image of inexorability. &ŽƌŐŝǀĞŶĞƐƐ ĂŶĚ ƌĞƚƌŝďƵƟ ŽŶ ůŝĞ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ ŚĞĂƌƚ ŽĨ ͞&ƌĞĞ &ƌƵŝƚ ĨŽƌ zŽƵŶŐ tŝĚŽǁƐ͘͟ ĨƌƵŝƚ ǀĞŶͲ ĚŽƌ ŝŶ :ĞƌƵƐĂůĞŵΖƐ DĂŚĂŶĞ zĞŚƵĚĂŚ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ŽŌ ĞŶ ŐŝǀĞƐ ĂǁĂǇ ƉƌŽĚƵĐĞ ƚŽ Ă ŵĂŶ ŶĂŵĞĚ dĞŶĚůĞƌ͕ ǁŚŽ ŚĂĚ ƉƵŵŵĞůĞĚ ƚŚĞ ĨƌƵŝƚƐĞůůĞƌ ƐĞͲ verely when they both were soldiers. ExplainŝŶŐ ŚŝŵƐĞůĨ ƚŽ ŚŝƐ ƐŽŶ͕ ƚŚĞ ǀĞŶĚŽƌ ƌĞĐŽƵŶƚƐ two life-or-death decisions that Tendler was ĨŽƌĐĞĚ ƚŽ ŵĂŬĞ͘ tŚĞŶ ƚŚĞ ǇŽƵŶŐ ŵĂŶ͕ ĨƵůů ŽĨ ĐĞƌƚĂŝŶƟ ĞƐ͕ ƉƌŽŶŽƵŶĐĞƐ dĞŶĚůĞƌ ƚŚĞ ŐƵŝůƚǇ ƉĂƌƚǇ͕ ƚŚĞ ĨĂƚŚĞƌ ĐĂŶ ŽŶůǇ ĂƐŬ͕ ͞ ŶĚ ǁŚŽĞǀĞƌ ĂƌĞ ǁĞ͕ ŵǇ ƐŽŶ͕ ƚŽ ĚĞĐŝĚĞ ǁŚŽ ƐŚŽƵůĚ ĚŝĞ͍͟ Reality dissolves into dreams in the stunŶŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ ƐƚƌŝŬŝŶŐůǇ ŽƌŝŐŝŶĂů ͞WĞĞƉ ^ŚŽǁ͟ ǁŚĞŶ Ă ƐƵĐĐĞƐƐĨƵů ůĂǁǇĞƌ Į ŶĚƐ ŚŝŵƐĞůĨ ĚƌĂǁŶ ŝŶƚŽ Ă ƚĂǁĚƌǇ ĞǆŚŝďŝƟ ŽŶ ŽĨ ĨĞŵĂůĞ Ň ĞƐŚ ŝŶ dŝŵĞƐ ^ƋƵĂƌĞ͘ Ŷ ĂƐƐŝŵŝůĂƚĞĚ :Ğǁ͕ ĨĂŝƚŚĨƵů ƚŽ ŚŝƐ ďůŽŶĚ 'ĞŶƟ ůĞ ǁŝĨĞ͕ ŚĞ ĐĂŶΖƚ ƌĞƐŝƐƚ ƚŚĞ ƚĞŵƉƚĂƟ ŽŶ ƚŽ ƐƚĂǇ ĂŶĚ ƐƚĂƌĞ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ ǁŽŵĞŶ ŽŶ ĚŝƐƉůĂǇ͘ tŚĞŶ ŚŝƐ ŵŝŶĚ ĚƌŝŌ Ɛ ƚŽ ŚŝƐ ƌĞďďĞƐ ĨƌŽŵ ǇĞƐŚŝǀĂ ĚĂǇƐ͕ ǀŝƐŝŽŶƐ ŽĨ ƉĂƐƚ ĂŶĚ ƉƌĞƐĞŶƚ ĐŽůůŝĚĞ͘ Ɛ ǁŚĞŶ ŚĞ ǁĂƐ Ă ďŽǇ͕ ŐƵŝůƚ ǀŝĞƐ ǁŝƚŚ ĚĞƐŝƌĞ͕ ĞƐƉĞĐŝĂůůǇ ƚŚĞ ĚĞƐŝƌĞ ĨŽƌ ĂƉƉƌŽǀĂů ĂŶĚ acceptance. Two of these stories probe the need to ǁƌŝƚĞ͘ dŚĞ ŶĂƌƌĂƚŽƌ ŽĨ ͞ ǀĞƌǇƚŚŝŶŐ / <ŶŽǁ ďŽƵƚ DǇ &ĂŵŝůǇ ŽŶ DǇ DŽƚŚĞƌΖƐ ^ŝĚĞ͕͟ ƉƌŽŵƉƚĞĚ ďǇ ŚŝƐ ŐŝƌůĨƌŝĞŶĚ͕ ƐƉĞŶĚƐ ƐŝǆƚǇͲƚŚƌĞĞ ŶƵŵďĞƌĞĚ ƉĂƌĂŐƌĂƉŚƐ ƚĞůůŝŶŐ ƐƚŽƌŝĞƐ͕ ŵŽƐƚůǇ about his grandfather and his great-uncles. &Žƌ ƚŚĞ ŶĂƌƌĂƚŽƌͶ͞ŵĞ͕ Į ĐƟ ŽŶĂůŝǌĞĚ͕͟ ƚŚĞ Į ĐͲ Ɵ ǀĞ ĂƵƚŚŽƌ ĞǆƉůĂŝŶƐͶďĞŝŶŐ ĂďůĞ ƚŽ ƚĞůů ƐƚŽƌŝĞƐ ĂďŽƵƚ ǁŚĂƚ ŵĂƩ ĞƌƐ ŵŽƐƚ ƚŽ Śŝŵ ŝƐ ǁŚĂƚ ŵĂŬĞƐ ƌĞůĂƟ ŽŶƐŚŝƉƐ possible. dŚĞ ĂƐƚŽŶŝƐŚŝŶŐ ƐƚŽƌǇ ͞dŚĞ ZĞĂĚĞƌ͟ Į ŶĚƐ Ă ŽŶĐĞͲĐĞůĞďƌĂƚĞĚ ŶŽǀĞůŝƐƚ ĚƌŝǀͲ ing from city to city to give readings from his new book. Once his appearĂŶĐĞƐ ǁĞƌĞ ŵĂũŽƌ ĞǀĞŶƚƐ͖ ŶŽǁ ŚĞ ŝƐ lucky if anyone shows up at the scenes ŽĨ ŚŝƐ ƉĂƐƚ ƚƌŝƵŵƉŚƐ͘ ͞,Žǁ ŵƵĐŚ ƌŝĐŚĞƌ ĐŽƵůĚ Ă ǁƌŝƟ ŶŐ ůŝĨĞ ďĞ ƚŚĂŶ Į ŶĚŝŶŐ͕ ĞǀĞŶ ĨŽƌ ŽŶĞ ŶŝŐŚƚ͕ ŽŶĞ ƚƌƵĞ ƌĞĂĚĞƌ͍͟ ŚĞ ƌĂͲ Ɵ ŽŶĂůŝǌĞƐ ƚŽ ŚŝŵƐĞůĨ͕ ŵĂŬŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ďĞƐƚ ŽĨ what he feels is the end of his career. He soon discovers that things are not quite ǁŚĂƚ ƚŚĞǇ ƐĞĞŵ͕ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ŵŽƟ ǀĞƐ ŽĨ ŽŶĞ ͞ƚƌƵĞ ƌĞĂĚĞƌ͟ ĂƌĞ ĂŶǇƚŚŝŶŐ ďƵƚ ƐŝŵƉůĞ͘ dŚĞ Ɵ ƚůĞ ƐƚŽƌǇ ďƌŝŶŐƐ ƚŽŐĞƚŚĞƌ ƚǁŽ ĐŽƵƉůĞƐ ǁŚŽ ĐŽƵůĚ ďĞ ƐƚĞƌĞŽƚǇƉĞƐ͗ :ĞǁƐ ŝŶ a Florida suburb and a couple who moved ƚŽ /ƐƌĂĞů ĂŌ Ğƌ ďĞĐŽŵŝŶŐ ƵůƚƌĂͲKƌƚŚŽĚŽǆ͘ It turns out that one of the Floridians is preoccupied with the Holocaust and the HasƐŝĚŝĐ ĐŽƵƉůĞ ŚĂƐ Ă ĨŽŶĚŶĞƐƐ ĨŽƌ ŵĂƌŝũƵĂŶĂ͕ Ă ĐŽŵďŝŶĂƟ ŽŶ ƚŚĂƚ ůĞĂĚƐ ƐƚĞƉ ďǇ ƐƚĞƉ ƚŽ ĂŶ ƵŶĨŽƌĞƐĞĞŶ͕ ƐŚĂƩ ĞƌŝŶŐ ƌĞĂůŝǌĂƟ ŽŶ͘ ŶŐůĂŶĚĞƌΖƐ ǀŽŝĐĞ ĐŚĂŶŐĞƐ ŵĂƌŬĞĚůǇ ŝŶ ͞^ŝƐƚĞƌ ,ŝůůƐ͘͟ &Žƌ ƚŚŝƐ ŵǇƚŚŝĐ ŶĂƌƌĂƟ ǀĞ ŚĞ sets aside colloquial dialogue and textured ŶĂƌƌĂƟ ǀĞ ŝŶ ĨĂǀŽƌ ŽĨ ƐƉĂƌĞ͕ ĞůůŝƉƟ ĐĂů ůĂŶŐƵĂŐĞ reminiscent of the Hebrew Bible. Matriarch Rena Cohen is one of the founders of a West

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ĂŶŬ ƐĞƩ ůĞŵĞŶƚ͕ ŚĞƌ ůŝĨĞ ǀŝƐŝƚĞĚ ƌĞƉĞĂƚĞĚůǇ ďǇ ƚƌĂŐĞĚǇ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ƐĞƩ ůĞŵĞŶƚ ŐƌŽǁƐ ŝŶƚŽ Ă ƚŚƌŝǀŝŶŐ ƚŽǁŶ͘ ^ŚĞ ŝƐ Ă ŵŽĚĞů ŽĨ ƐĞůŇ ĞƐƐŶĞƐƐ ĂŶĚ ĨŽƌͲ Ɵ ƚƵĚĞ ƵŶƟ ů ŚĞƌ ůŝĨĞ ďĞĐŽŵĞƐ ƵŶďĞĂƌĂďůĞ͕ ĂŶĚ for once she uses her formidable intelligence ĂŶĚ ĚĞƚĞƌŵŝŶĂƟ ŽŶ ƚŽ ŐĞƚ ƐŽŵĞƚŚŝŶŐ ĨŽƌ ŚĞƌͲ self—with tragic consequences for others.

Nathan Englander writes about West Bank settlers and Orthodox families, the Holocaust and mixed marriages, but not to editorialize them. His real subjects are memory, obsession, choices, and consequences. ^ƵƉĞƌĮ ĐŝĂů ƌĞĂĚĞƌƐ ŵĂǇ Į ŶĚ ƚƌŝƚĞ ůĞƐƐŽŶƐ ĂďŽƵƚ ƐĞƩ ůĞƌƐ ĂŶĚ WĂůĞƐƟ ŶŝĂŶƐ͕ ǁĂƌ ĂŶĚ ƉĞĂĐĞ͕ ƉƌĞũƵĚŝĐĞ ĂŶĚ ƚŽůĞƌĂŶĐĞ͕ Žƌ ůĞŐĂůŝƐŵ ĂŶĚ ĞŵƉĂƚŚǇ ŝŶ ƚŚŝƐ ƐƚŽƌǇ͕ ďƵƚ ƚŚĂƚ ǁŽƵůĚ ŵŝƐƐ ƚŚĞ ƉŽŝŶƚ͘ /Ŷ EĂƚŚĂŶ ŶŐůĂŶĚĞƌΖƐ ĞǇĞƐ͕ ŚƵŵĂŶ beings make choices for admirable and regretƚĂďůĞ ƌĞĂƐŽŶƐ͕ ǁŝƚŚ ŐŽŽĚ ĂŶĚ ďĂĚ ŽƵƚĐŽŵĞƐ͘ ,ŝƐ ĐŽŵƉĞůůŝŶŐ ƐƚŽƌǇƚĞůůŝŶŐ͕ ŚŝƐ ĐŽŵƉĂƐƐŝŽŶ͕ and his startling originality make Englander an ĞƐƐĞŶƟ Ăů ǁƌŝƚĞƌ͘ dŚŝƐ ĐŽůůĞĐƟ ŽŶ ĐŽŶĮ ƌŵƐ ŚŝƐ ĞǆĐĞƉƟ ŽŶĂů ƚĂůĞŶƚƐ ǇĞƚ ĂŐĂŝŶ͕ ĂŶĚ ŝƚ ŝƐ ŶŽƚ ƚŽ be missed. BG

fiction

Justice, Chaos, Sincerity: Talking with

Nathan Englander by Bob Goldfarb

During his book tour last February, the author of What We Talk About When We Talk About Anne Frank (reviewed on p. 28) spoke to Bob Goldfarb by phone from San Francisco.

Bob Goldfarb: KŶĞ ƚŚĞŵĞ ƚŚĂƚ ƌĞĐƵƌƐ ŝŶ ǇŽƵƌ ƐƚŽƌŝĞƐ ŝƐ ũƵƐƟ ĐĞ ĂŶĚ ƌĞǀĞŶŐĞ͘ /ƚ ŚĂƉƉĞŶƐ ǁŝƚŚ ĐŚĂƌĂĐƚĞƌƐ ůŝŬĞ WƌŽĨ͘ dĞŶĚůĞƌ ŝŶ Η&ƌĞĞ &ƌƵŝƚ ĨŽƌ zŽƵŶŐ tŝĚŽǁƐ͕Η ƚŚĞ ŽůĚĞƌ ĐĂŵƉĞƌƐ ŝŶ Η ĂŵƉ ^ƵŶĚŽǁŶ͕Η ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ŬŝĚƐ ŝŶ Η,Žǁ tĞ ǀĞŶŐĞĚ ƚŚĞ ůƵŵƐ͘Η Nathan Englander: /ƚ ĚŝĚŶ͛ƚ ĐƌŽƐƐ ŵǇ ŵŝŶĚ ĂƐ ƌĞǀĞŶŐĞ͘ /͛ŵ ϰϮ ĂŶĚ / ĐĂŶ͛ƚ ŐĞƚ ŽǀĞƌ ƚŚĞ ĨĂĐƚ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞ ǁŽƌůĚ ŝƐ ƵŶĨĂŝƌ͕ ƵŶũƵƐƚ͕ ŚǇƉŽĐƌŝƟ ĐĂů͕ ĂŶĚ ĚƵƉůŝĐŝƚŽƵƐ͘ tŚĞŶ ƚŚĞ ǁŽƌůĚ ĚŽĞƐŶ͛ƚ ĚĞůŝǀĞƌ ũƵƐƟ ĐĞ͕ ǁŚĂƚ ĚŽ ǇŽƵ ĚŽ͍ tŚĂƚ ǁŽƵůĚ / ĚŽ͍ tŚĂƚ ǁŽƵůĚ ŽƚŚĞƌ ƉĞŽƉůĞ ĚŽ͍ /ƚ͛Ɛ ĂŶ ĞǆƉůŽƌĂƟ ŽŶ ŽĨ the gray with each character. BG: ^ŽŵĞ ŽĨ ǇŽƵƌ ĐŚĂƌĂĐƚĞƌƐ ƐĞĞŵ ƚŽ ďĞůŝĞǀĞ ŽŶĞ ƚŚŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ ĚŽ ĂŶͲ ŽƚŚĞƌ͘ NE: tĞ͛ƌĞ Ăůů ƐƚƵŵďůŝŶŐ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚ ƚŚĞ ǁŽƌůĚ͕ ĂŶĚ ǁŚĂƚ ŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƚƐ ŵĞ ŝƐ ĞǆͲ ƉůŽƌŝŶŐ ƚŚĂƚ͘ /Ŷ ͞^ŝƐƚĞƌ ,ŝůůƐ͟ ŝƚ͛Ɛ ƚŚĞ ŝĚĞĂ ŽĨ ĐŽŶƚƌĂĐƚƐ͕ ŚŽůĚŝŶŐ ƉĞŽƉůĞ ƚŽ ƚŚĞŝƌ ǁŽƌĚ͘ WĞŽƉůĞ ƐƚĂƌƚ ǁŝƚŚ ĐůĞĂƌ ƌĞĂƐŽŶƐ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞŝƌ ĂĐƟ ŽŶƐͶƚŚĞ ŝďůĞ͕ ƚŚĞ ŽŶƐƟ ƚƵƟ ŽŶͶĂŶĚ ĞŶĚ ƵƉ ĚŽŝŶŐ ǁŚĂƚ ĂŵŽƵŶƚƐ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ŽƉƉŽƐŝƚĞ ŽĨ ƚŚŽƐĞ ƉƌŝŶĐŝƉůĞƐ͘ /͛ŵ ŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƚĞĚ ŝŶ ƐŽĐŝĂů ĐŽŶƚƌĂĐƚƐ ĂŶĚ ƌĞƐƉŽŶƐŝďŝůŝƟ ĞƐ ƚŽ the community and decisions. Living with other human beings raises big ƋƵĞƐƟ ŽŶƐ ǁŝƚŚ ďŝŐ ĂŶƐǁĞƌƐ͘ BG: dŚĂƚ ƉĂƌƟ ĐƵůĂƌ ƐƚŽƌǇ ĚĞĂůƐ ǁŝƚŚ ƐĞƩ ůĞƌƐ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ tĞƐƚ ĂŶŬ͘ NE: /͛ŵ ŽďƐĞƐƐĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŵƉůĞǆŝƟ ĞƐ ŽĨ ƐĞƩ ůĞƌƐ͘ ,ŝƐƚŽƌǇ ƵŶĨŽůĚƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĂĐƚƐ ŽĨ ŝŶĚŝǀŝĚƵĂůƐ͘ WĞŽƉůĞ ĂƌĞ ũƵƐƚ ŚƵŵĂŶ ďĞŝŶŐƐ͕ ďƵƚ ƚŚĞǇ ƚŚŝŶŬ

they have a bigger plan. They change fate and unleash forces they can’t ŚĂŶĚůĞ͘ /ƚ͛Ɛ ĂůŵŽƐƚ ^ŚĂŬĞƐƉĞĂƌĞĂŶ͘ /ƚ͛Ɛ ƚŚĞ ĐŚĂŽƐ ƚŚĞŽƌǇ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ǁŽƌůĚ͕ ĂŶĚ ŝƚ ƉĞƚƌŝĮ ĞƐ ŵĞ͘ BG: ^ŽŵĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞƐĞ ƐƚŽƌŝĞƐ ŚĂǀĞ ĚŝƐƐŝŵŝůĂƌ ŶĂƌƌĂƟ ǀĞ ǀŽŝĐĞƐ͕ ĂůŵŽƐƚ ĂƐ ŝĨ ƚŚĞǇ ǁĞƌĞ ǁƌŝƩ ĞŶ ďǇ Ěŝī ĞƌĞŶƚ ĂƵƚŚŽƌƐ͘ NE: Ɛ / ǁƌŝƚĞ ĞĂĐŚ ƐƚŽƌǇ / ĐĂŶ ŚĞĂƌ ŝƚƐ ƌŚǇƚŚŵ ĂŶĚ ĨĞĞů ƚŚĞ ůĂŶŐƵĂŐĞ͕ ĞǀĞŶ ĂƐ /͛ŵ ĐŽŶƐĐŝŽƵƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĚĞǀĞůŽƉŵĞŶƚ ĂŶĚ ƐƚƌƵĐƚƵƌĞ ĂŶĚ ĞǆĞĐƵƟ ŽŶ͘ It amounts to building a world that has to be as real as the one we’re in. At some point in the development of any story it comes alive and it ŵĂŬĞƐ ŝƚ ŽǁŶ ĚĞŵĂŶĚƐ͘ Ěŝī ĞƌĞŶƚ ǁŽƌůĚ ŶĞĞĚƐ ŝƚƐ ŽǁŶ ǀŽŝĐĞ͘ BG: zŽƵƌ ƐƚŽƌŝĞƐ ĐĂŶ ŝŶƐƉŝƌĞ ǀĞƌǇ ĐŽŶŇ ŝĐƟ ŶŐ ŝŶƚĞƌƉƌĞƚĂƟ ŽŶƐ ĂŵŽŶŐ ƌĞĂĚĞƌƐ͘ NE: Every read is a correct read. My point is about sincerity. There’s hardly anything more sincere than people trying with all their hearts to ƉƵƚ ƚŚĞŝƌ ǁŽƌŬ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ǁŽƌůĚ͘ /Ĩ ƚŚĞǇ ĚŽŶ͛ƚ ƐĞĞ ŝƚ͕ ƚŚĂƚ͛Ɛ ůŝĨĞ͘ Žď 'ŽůĚĨĂƌď ŝƐ ĚŝƌĞĐƚŽƌ ŽĨ ŵĂƌŬĞƟ ŶŐ ĂŶĚ ĂƵĚŝĞŶĐĞ ĚĞǀĞůŽƉŵĞŶƚ Ăƚ The Jewish Daily Forward and the president of the Center for Jewish Culture ĂŶĚ ƌĞĂƟ ǀŝƚǇ͘ ,Ğ ůŝǀĞƐ ŝŶ EĞǁ zŽƌŬ͘

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Jewish Book World

nonfiction JBW talks with

Jonathan Safran Foer by Maron L. Waxman With classic calligraphy running across its crisp white covers and a bright red belly band circling it, the New American Haggadah (reviewed on p. 32) makes an immediate impression—a combination of tradition and bold design. The Haggadah brings together a team of creative young writers and scholars under the editorship of Jonathan Safran Foer, who talked with me about its origin and intent. © Gianluca Gentilini

Maron L. Waxman: ŵŽŶŐ Ăůů ƚŚĞ ƉƌŽũĞĐƚƐ ǇŽƵ ĐŽƵůĚ ŚĂǀĞ ƚƵƌŶĞĚ ƚŽ͕ ǁŚĂƚ ĂƩƌĂĐƚĞĚ ǇŽƵ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ,ĂŐŐĂĚĂŚ͍ Jonathan Safran Foer: dŚĞ ŽƌŝŐŝŶĂů ŝŶƐƉŝƌĂƟŽŶ ǁĂƐ ƉĞƌƐŽŶĂů͘ /͛ǀĞ ďĞĞŶ going to seders all my life. Seders have always been a big event in my family. Every year they got bigger and bigger and more inclusive. ǀĞŶƚƵĂůůǇ ƚŚĞǇ ǁĞƌĞ ŵŽǀĞĚ ĚŽǁŶ ƚŽ ŽƵƌ ďĂƐĞŵĞŶƚ͕ ĂŶĚ ǁĞ ƵƐĞĚ ĞǀĞƌǇ available table in the house. I always knew Passover was coming when ŵǇ ƉĂƌĞŶƚƐ ƚŽŽŬ ƚŚĞ ŶĞƚ Žī ƚŚĞ ƉŝŶŐͲƉŽŶŐ ƚĂďůĞ͘ / ĂůǁĂǇƐ ůŽŽŬ ĨŽƌǁĂƌĚ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ƐĞĚĞƌ͕ ďƵƚ /͛ǀĞ ŶĞǀĞƌ ĨŽƵŶĚ Ă ,ĂŐŐĂĚĂŚ ƚŚĂƚ ǁĂƐ ǁŚŽůůǇ ĨƵůĮůůŝŶŐ͘ tĞ ĚŽŶ͛ƚ ŚĂǀĞ Ă ĨĂŵŝůǇ ,ĂŐŐĂĚĂŚ͕ ďƵƚ ŵǇ father doesn’t follow the Haggadah text. My parents put together parts ĨƌŽŵ ůŽƚƐ ŽĨ ,ĂŐŐĂĚĂŚƐ͕ ďƵƚ ĞǀĞŶ ƚŚĞŶ ƚŚĞ ƐƚŽƌǇ ĂůǁĂǇƐ ƐĞĞŵƐ ƚŽ ŚĂǀĞ ĂŶ ƵŶƌĞĂůŝǌĞĚ ƉŽƚĞŶƟĂů͘ dŚĞ ǆŽĚƵƐ ƐƚŽƌǇ ŝƐ ŝŶĐƌĞĚŝďůĞ͕ ƚŚĞ ĐŚĂƌĂĐƚĞƌƐ ĂƌĞ ŝŶĐƌĞĚŝďůĞ͕ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ƐƚŽƌǇ ƐŚŽƵůĚ ďĞ ƚŽůĚ ŝŶ ĂŶ ŝŶĐƌĞĚŝďůĞ ǁĂǇ͘ /͛ǀĞ ĂůǁĂǇƐ ďĞĞŶ Ă ůŝƩůĞ ĚŝƐĂƉƉŽŝŶƚĞĚ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞ ůĂŶŐƵĂŐĞ ŶĞǀĞƌ ƐĞĞŵĞĚ ƚŽ ŵĂƚĐŚ ƚŚĞ ƉŽǁĞƌ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƐƚŽƌǇ͘ ŌĞƌ ŽŶĞ ƐĞĚĞƌ / ůŽŽŬĞĚ ĂƌŽƵŶĚ Ăƚ Ăůů ƚŚĞ ŐƵĞƐƚƐ ĂŶĚ ƌĞĂůŝǌĞĚ ŚŽǁ ŵĂŶǇ ŽĨ ƚŚĞŵ ǁĞƌĞ ǁƌŝƚĞƌƐ͘ /͛ŵ Ă ǁƌŝƚĞƌ͕ ŵǇ ďƌŽƚŚĞƌƐ ĂƌĞ ǁƌŝƚĞƌƐ͕ ŵǇ ĨĂƚŚĞƌ ŝƐ Ă ǁƌŝƚĞƌ͕ ĂŶĚ ŵǇ ŵŽƚŚĞƌ ǁƌŝƚĞƐ Ă ůŝƩůĞ͘ I thought we should have a Haggadah where the literary aspect of the ƚĞǆƚ ǁĂƐ ĞƋƵĂů ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ƉŽǁĞƌ ŽĨ ŝƚƐ ƐƚŽƌǇ͘ /Ĩ ŝƚ ŝƐŶ͛ƚ͕ ƚŚĞ ,ĂŐŐĂĚĂŚ ǁŽŶ͛ƚ move us. / ĂůƐŽ ƚŚŝŶŬ ƚŚĞ ,ĂŐŐĂĚĂŚ ƐŚŽƵůĚ ůŽŽŬ ŝŵƉƌĞƐƐŝǀĞ͕ ĂŶĚ /ΖǀĞ ĂůǁĂǇƐ been disappointed with how the Haggadah looked. It should have visual ƉŽǁĞƌ͘ dŚĞ ,ĂŐŐĂĚĂŚ ŝƐŶ͛ƚ Ă ƉĂƐƐŝǀĞ ďŽŽŬ͘ /ƚ ƚƌĂŶƐŵŝƚƐ ǀĂůƵĞ͖ Ăƚ ŝƚƐ ďĞƐƚ͕ ŝƚ ŵĂŬĞƐ ƵƐ ĂƐŬ ƋƵĞƐƟŽŶƐ͘ dŚƌŽƵŐŚ ǁŽƌĚƐ ĂŶĚ ĚĞƐŝŐŶ͕ ŝƚ ŚĂƐ ƚŽ ďĞ ƐƵƌĞ ƚŚĂƚ͕ ŽŶ ƚŚŝƐ ŶŝŐŚƚ͕ ǁĞ ŽƵƌƐĞůǀĞƐ ĂƌĞ Ăƚ ^ŝŶĂŝ͘

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summer 5772/2012

^Ž / ǁĂŶƚĞĚ ƚŽ ŵĂŬĞ Ă ,ĂŐŐĂĚĂŚ ĨŽƌ ŵǇ ĨĂŵŝůǇ͘ &Žƌ Ă ůŽŶŐ ƟŵĞ /͛Ě ďĞĞŶ ƚŚŝŶŬŝŶŐ ĂďŽƵƚ ǁŚĂƚ ǁŽƵůĚ ǁŽƌŬ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞŵ͕ ǁŚĂƚ ŵŝŐŚƚ ǁŽƌŬ ĨŽƌ ǇŽƵƌ ĨĂŵŝůǇ͘ /ƚ ŚĂĚ ƚŽ ďĞ Ă ,ĂŐŐĂĚĂŚ ƚŚĂƚ ǁĂƐ ǁƌŝƩĞŶ ǁĞůů͕ ƚŚĂƚ ŚĂĚ ƚŚĞ ďĞƐƚ ǁƌŝƟŶŐ͘ MLW: dŚĞ ŝŶƚƌŽĚƵĐƟŽŶ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ,ĂŐŐĂĚĂŚ ƐĂǇƐ͕ ͞KƵƌ ƚƌĂŶƐůĂƟŽŶ ŵƵƐƚ ŬŶŽǁ ŽƵƌ ŝĚŝŽŵ͘͟ / ĨŽƵŶĚ ƚŚĞ ůĂŶŐƵĂŐĞ ƐƚƌŝŬŝŶŐ ďƵƚ Ă ůŝƩůĞ ĨŽƌŵĂů ŝŶ ƉůĂĐĞƐ͕ ĂŶĚ / ŶŽƟĐĞĚ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞ ǁŽƌĚƐ ĂƌĞ ƐŽŵĞƟŵĞƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ,ĞďƌĞǁ͕ ƌĂƚŚĞƌ ƚŚĂŶ ƚŚĞ ŶŐůŝƐŚ͕ ŽƌĚĞƌ͘ tŚĂƚ ǁĞŶƚ ŝŶƚŽ ƚŚĞ ĚĞĐŝƐŝŽŶƐ ĂďŽƵƚ ƚŚĞ ƚŽŶĞ ĂŶĚ ƐƚǇůĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƚƌĂŶƐůĂƟŽŶ͍ JSF: There’s a good reason for the formality. The language of the HagŐĂĚĂŚ ƐŚŽƵůĚ ďĞ ƌĞŵŽǀĞĚ ĨƌŽŵ ĐŽŶǀĞƌƐĂƟŽŶĂů ůĂŶŐƵĂŐĞ͘ /ƚ ƐŚŽƵůĚ ůĞĂĚ ƚŽ Ă ƌĞůŝŐŝŽƵƐ Žƌ ƌĞǀĞƌĞŶƟĂů ĂƚŵŽƐƉŚĞƌĞ͖ ƚŚĞƌĞ ƐŚŽƵůĚ ďĞ Ă ƐĞƉĂƌĂƟŽŶ ďĞƚǁĞĞŶ ŝƚ ĂŶĚ ĞǀĞƌǇĚĂǇ ůĂŶŐƵĂŐĞ͘ KŶ ƚŚĞ ƋƵĞƐƟŽŶ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ǁŽƌĚ ŽƌĚĞƌ͕ ǁĞ ƐŽŵĞƟŵĞƐ ĨŽůůŽǁĞĚ ƚŚĞ ,ĞďƌĞǁ ŽƌĚĞƌ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƚƌĂŶƐůĂƟŽŶ ƚŽ ƐŚŽǁ how the text sounds in Hebrew. MLW: / ŶŽƟĐĞĚ ƚŚĞ ůĂŶŐƵĂŐĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ,ĂŐŐĂĚĂŚ ŝƐŶ͛ƚ ŐĞŶĚĞƌͲŶĞƵƚƌĂů͘ JSF: We talked a lot about that and experimented with it. We didn’t ǁĂŶƚ ƚŚĞ ,ĂŐŐĂĚĂŚ ƚŽ ƐŽƵŶĚ ĂƐ ŝĨ ŝƚ ǁĞƌĞ ƐƵƉƉŽƌƟŶŐ Ă ƉĂƌƟĐƵůĂƌ ƉŽŝŶƚ ŽĨ ǀŝĞǁ Žƌ ƉŽůŝƟĐĂů ƉŽƐŝƟŽŶ͘ ŶĚ ŝƚ͛Ɛ ŚĂƌĚ ƚŽ ƉůĂǇ ĂƌŽƵŶĚ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ƉƌŽŶŽƵŶƐ ΀ŝŶ ĂŶ ŝŶŇĞĐƚĞĚ ůĂŶŐƵĂŐĞ΁ ǁŝƚŚŽƵƚ ĐĂůůŝŶŐ ĂƩĞŶƟŽŶ ƚŽ ƚŚĞŵ͘ tŚĞƌĞ ĚŽ ǇŽƵ ǁĂŶƚ ƚŽ ĨŽĐƵƐ ǇŽƵƌ ĂƩĞŶƟŽŶͶŽŶ ƚŚĞ ǀĂůƵĞƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ,ĂŐŐĂĚĂŚ Žƌ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ƐĞǆƵĂů ŽƌŝĞŶƚĂƟŽŶ ŽĨ 'ŽĚ͍ ůƐŽ͕ ƚŚĞ ,ĂŐŐĂĚĂŚ ŝƐ Ă ŚŝƐƚŽƌŝĐĂů ĚŽĐƵŵĞŶƚ͘ tĞ ǁĂŶƚĞĚ ƚŽ ƚƌĂŶƐůĂƚĞ ŝƚ ĂƐ ŝƚ ǁĂƐ ŝŶ ŝƚƐ ƚƌĂĚŝƟŽŶĂů language. That doesn’t mean there shouldn’t be discussion about the

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nonfiction language—that’s the job of the people around the table. That’s what a Haggadah is supposed to do. And the commentators suggest you can read the book in many diīerent ways and from seǀeral points of ǀiew. MLW: dŚĞ 'ŽĚ ůĂŶŐƵĂŐĞ ŝƐ ƵŶƵƐƵĂů Žƌ Ăƚ ůĞĂƐƚ ŶŽƚ ĐŽŵŵŽŶͶ͞>ŽƌĚ 'ŽĚͲŽĨͲhƐ͕ <ŝŶŐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŽƐŵŽƐ͟ ĨŽƌ ͞ ĂƌƵĐŚ ĂƚĂŚ ĚŽŶĂŝ ůŽŚĞŝŶƵ͕ ŵĞůĞĐŚ ŚĂͲŽůĂŵ͘͟ JSF: The God language is consistent with the Hebrew. When Nathan Englander began the translaƟon͕ he decided that ͞the best way to engage with a tradiƟonal teǆt was in tradiƟonal form͕͟ so he worked with an Krthodoǆ study partner. The God language came from Nathan’s study partner. / was surprised by how tradiƟonal it was. MLW: ŝĚ ǇŽƵ ĂŶĚ EĂƚŚĂŶ ŶŐůĂŶĚĞƌ ƐƚĂƌƚ ƚŚĞ ƉƌŽũĞĐƚ ƚŽŐĞƚŚĞƌ͍ JSF: The project was my idea. I took it to the publisher and had the publisher’s support throughout. &rom start to Įnish the Haggadah was nine years in the making. I asked Englander to be the translator͕ and he started work on the project two years in. MLW: dŚĞ ĨŽƌŵĂƚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŵŵĞŶƚĂƌŝĞƐͶƚŚĞ ĐŽŶƚĞŶƚ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ůĂǇŽƵƚͶƌĞĂůůǇ ĐĂƚĐŚ ƚŚĞ ƌĞĂĚĞƌ͛Ɛ ĞǇĞ͘ ĂŶ ǇŽƵ ƚĂůŬ Ă ůŝƩ ůĞ ĂďŽƵƚ ƚŚĞŵ͍ ,Žǁ ĚŝĚ ǇŽƵ ƐĞůĞĐƚ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŵͲ ŵĞŶƚĂƚŽƌƐ͍ tŚǇ ĂƌĞ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŵŵĞŶƚĂƌŝĞƐ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ Ɵ ŵĞůŝŶĞ ƉƌŝŶƚĞĚ ƐŝĚĞǁĂǇƐ͍ JSF: Wuƫng the commentaries together was a strange process. The number of commentators grew and shrank͖ at one point there were twenty. ut I was afraid that lots of commentaries would make the Haggadah look like a reference book rather than a book to be used͕ so I Įnally seƩled on just four commentators. We printed the commentaries sideways for two reasons͗ ;ϭͿ the layout would make it clear what was commentary and what was canon͕ and ;ϮͿ it would allow for more Ňeǆibility—what commentaries to read͕ whether to read part of a commentary͕ and so on. The commentators came up with the names for their own categories—΀NaƟon͕ Wlayground͕ >ibrary͕ House of ^tudy΁. We wanted to haǀe a category for younger people—Wlayground͖ NaƟon is poliƟcal͕ how people act. We worked together as a team on the commentaries to aǀoid repeƟƟon͕ but the commentators had a free hand in what they wrote. The Ɵmeline conteǆtualiǌes the Haggadah throughout :ewish history and shows how it was used in the period highlighted on the page. The leƩers of the display type on each page also reŇect the historical period͖ they’re illustraƟǀe of the Hebrew leƩerforms used at that Ɵme. The designer studied the Hebrew leƩerforms of each period to create the leƩers for the teǆt.

1934

The German poet Karl Wolfskehl writes: “Again, again, when we, covered with the journey’s dust/ Rested, tired, in a stranger’s bower/ The others roughly lifted us and threatened/ Again and again.”

Polish Zionists commemorate Passover with a satirical Haggadah titled “Kulo Maror” (“Only Bitter Herbs”). It features a dish concocted of “Hitlerism,” “Racial theory,” and “Discriminatory economic measures against Polish Jews.” A cartoon below the seder plate shows Zionist leader Ze’ev Jabotinsky pleading with a modern Pharaoh—depicted as the King of England—to allow Jews to immigrate to British Palestine.

MLW: dŚĞ ĚĞƐŝŐŶ ŝƐ ĐůĞĂƌůǇ Ă ŵĂũŽƌ ĐŽŵƉŽŶĞŶƚ ŽĨ ƚŚŝƐ ,ĂŐŐĂĚĂŚ͘ tŚǇ ŝƐ ƚŚĞ ĚĞƐŝŐŶ ƐŽ ĐĞŶƚƌĂů͍ JSF: esign was a major component from the beginning of the project. At Įrst we thought we might haǀe mulƟple arƟsts͕ but we Įnally decided on one. We wanted the design to be the best expression of the Haggadah while being faithful to the text. We wanted the emphasis on the words͕ not images. We didn’t want one sensibility to preside over the book. The Ben Shahn Haggadah is beauƟful͕ but it’s Ben Shahn’s. We didn’t want this Haggadah to have one point of view. MLW: Ʃ ƌŝďƵƟ ŽŶ ŝƐ ƉƌĞƩ Ǉ ƐƚƌŝĐƚ ŝŶ ƚƌĂĚŝƟ ŽŶĂů ĐŽŵŵĞŶƚĂƌǇ͕ ƐŽ / ǁĂƐ ƐƵƌƉƌŝƐĞĚ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞ ŶĂŵĞƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŶƚƌŝďƵƚŽƌƐ ĂƌĞ ůŝƐƚĞĚ ŽŶůǇ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ Ɵ ƚůĞ ƉĂŐĞ͕ ǁŝƚŚ ŶŽ ďƌŝĞĨ ďŝŽƐ Žƌ ĂŶǇ ŽƚŚĞƌ ŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƟ ŽŶ ĂďŽƵƚ ƚŚĞŵ ĂŶǇǁŚĞƌĞ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ,ĂŐŐĂĚĂŚ͘ JSF: This shows the humility of the contributors͕ and it was a point we all agreed on. We didn’t want any names on the cover either͕ but there are publishing demands͕ so we worked out a compromise. The names appear on a band around the cover͕ but with a liƩle eīort you can detach it and get rid of it. MLW: dŚĞƌĞ ĂƌĞ ŶŽ ĚĞƐŝŐŶĂƟ ŽŶƐ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ƉĂƐƐĂŐĞƐ ƚŽ ďĞ ƌĞĂĚ ďǇ Ă ůĞĂĚĞƌ ĂŶĚ ƚŚŽƐĞ ƚŽ ďĞ ƌĞĂĚ ďǇ ƉĂƌƟ ĐŝƉĂŶƚƐ͘ ŝĚ ǇŽƵ ŝŶƚĞŶĚ ƚŽ ŚĂǀĞ Ă ůĞĂĚĞƌ͍ JSF: We assumed there would be a leader͕ but we thought the parts for the parƟcipants would work themselves out. We did try out some test pages. MLW: /Ɛ ǇŽƵƌ ĨĂŵŝůǇ ŐŽŝŶŐ ƚŽ ƵƐĞ ƚŚĞ ,ĂŐŐĂĚĂŚ ƚŚŝƐ ǇĞĂƌ͍ JSF: They beƩer͕ but I won’t be there. Dy sister-in-law in Israel is having a baby͕ so we’re going there for Wassover this year. I won’t have to hear any comments at the seder!

DĂƌŽŶ >͘ tĂǆŵĂŶ͕ ƌĞƟ ƌĞĚ ĞĚŝƚŽƌŝĂů ĚŝƌĞĐƚŽƌ͕ ƐƉĞĐŝĂů ƉƌŽũĞĐƚƐ͕ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ ŵĞƌŝĐĂŶ DƵƐĞƵŵ ŽĨ EĂƚƵƌĂů ,ŝƐƚŽƌǇ͕ ǁĂƐ ĂůƐŽ ĂŶ ĞĚŝƚŽƌŝĂů ĚŝƌĞĐƚŽƌ Ăƚ ,ĂƌƉĞƌ ŽůůŝŶƐ ĂŶĚ ŽŽŬͲŽĨͲƚŚĞͲDŽŶƚŚ ůƵď͘ ^ŚĞ ĂůƐŽ ůĞĂĚƐ ĞĚŝƚŽƌŝĂů ǁŽƌŬƐŚŽƉƐ͘ 102640

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review New American Haggadah Jonathan Safran Foer, ed. Nathan Englander, trans. Little, Brown, 2012 Hardcover 160 pp. $29.99 [e] ISBN: 978-0-316-06986-1

ŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ŝŶƚƌŽĚƵĐƟŽŶ͛Ɛ ĐŽŵŵĂŶĚŝŶŐ ƐƚĂƚĞŵĞŶƚ͕ ͞,ĞƌĞ ǁĞ ĂƌĞ͕ ŐĂƚŚĞƌĞĚ ƚŽ ĐĞůĞďƌĂƚĞ ƚŚĞ ŽůĚĞƐƚ ĐŽŶƟŶƵĂůůǇ ƉƌĂĐƟĐĞĚ ƌŝƚƵĂů ŝŶ ƚŚĞ tĞƐƚĞƌŶ ǁŽƌůĚ͕͟ ƚŚĞ New American Haggadah takes its place in the ǀĞƌǇ ůŽŶŐ ůŝŶĞ ŽĨ ,ĂŐŐĂĚĂŚƐ͘ &ŽůůŽǁŝŶŐ ǁŝĚĞƐƉƌĞĂĚ ƉƌĂĐƟĐĞ͕ ƚŚŝƐ ,ĂŐŐĂĚĂŚ ŝƐ ŶĂŵĞĚ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ƉůĂĐĞ ǁŚĞƌĞ ŝƚ ǁĂƐ ǁƌŝƩĞŶ͘ tŝƚŚ ƚƌĂĚŝƟŽŶĂů

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ůĂŶŐƵĂŐĞ ĂŶĚ ĐŽŶƚĞŵƉŽƌĂƌǇ ĂŶĚ ŽŌĞŶ ƉƌŽǀŽĐĂƟǀĞ ĐŽŵŵĞŶƚĂƌŝĞƐ͕ ƚŚĞ New American Haggadah brings the ancient text into today’s world. The ďŽŽŬ͛Ɛ ĚĞƐŝŐŶ ƵŶĚĞƌůŝŶĞƐ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŶƟŶƵĂůůǇ ĐŚĂŶŐŝŶŐ ƐĞŶƐŝďŝůŝƟĞƐ ŽĨ ,ĂŐŐĂĚĂŚƐ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚ ŚŝƐƚŽƌǇ͕ ŝůůƵƐƚƌĂƚĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ ,ĞďƌĞǁ ĐĂůůŝŐƌĂƉŚǇ ƚŚĂƚ ŵĂƚĐŚĞƐ ƚŚĞ ůĞƩĞƌĨŽƌŵƐ ŽĨ ,ĞďƌĞǁ ŝŶ ĚŝīĞƌĞŶƚ ƉĞƌŝŽĚƐ ŽĨ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ŚŝƐƚŽƌǇ͘ tŚŝůĞ ĚŽŝŶŐ ŚŝƐ ƚƌĂŶƐůĂƟŽŶ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ,ĂŐŐĂĚĂŚ͕ EĂƚŚĂŶ ŶŐůĂŶĚĞƌ ƵŶĚĞƌƚŽŽŬ ƚƌĂĚŝƟŽŶĂů hevruta ƐƚƵĚǇ͕ ǁŽƌŬŝŶŐ ŽǀĞƌ ĞĂĐŚ ǁŽƌĚ ǁŝƚŚ ŚŝƐ ƐƚƵĚǇ ƉĂƌƚŶĞƌ͘ dŚĞ ƌĞƐƵůƚ ŝƐ Ă ĐůŽƐĞ ĂŶĚ ǀŝŐŽƌŽƵƐ ƌĞĂĚŝŶŐ͕ ŽŌĞŶ ƌĞŇĞĐƟŶŐ ƚŚĞ ,ĞďƌĞǁ ǁŽƌĚ ŽƌĚĞƌ͘ dŚĞ 'ŽĚ ůĂŶŐƵĂŐĞ ŝƐ ĞǆƉĂŶƐŝǀĞ͕ ĞŶůĂƌŐŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŶĐĞƉƚ ŽĨ ĚŝǀŝŶŝƚǇ͘ ďŽǀĞ Ăůů͕ ƚŚĞ ƚĞǆƚ ŝƐ ŚŝŐŚůǇ ƌĞĂĚĂďůĞ͕ ŇŽǁŝŶŐ ĞĂƐŝůǇ through all the steps of the seder. dŚĞ ĐŽŵŵĞŶƚĂƌŝĞƐ͕ ƉƌŝŶƚĞĚ ƐŝĚĞǁĂǇƐ ĂƐ ƚǁŽͲƉĂŐĞ ƐƉƌĞĂĚƐ Ăƚ ĐƌŝƟĐĂů ƉŽŝŶƚƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƚĞǆƚ͕ ĨĂůů ŝŶƚŽ ĨŽƵƌ ĐĂƚĞŐŽƌŝĞƐ͕ Žƌ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ ŽĨ ĚĞƉĂƌƚƵƌĞͶ

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nonfiction 2005

2003

Just over 80% of the world’s 13,034,100 Jews live in the US or Israel: 40.5% in the former, and 40.2% in the latter.

Launch of the Open Source Haggadah, an online software framework that makes it possible for users to compose their own versions of the Haggadah online using a variety of available prayers, translations, commentaries, songs, rituals, and illustrations.

ne little goat, one little goat—the one my father bought for two zuzim, one little goat, one little goat.

And here comes the cat that eats up the goat—the one my father bought for two zuzim, one little goat, one little goat. And here comes the dog that bites the cat, that ate up the goat—the one my father bought for two zuzim, one little goat, one little goat. And here comes the staff that beats up the dog, that bit the cat, that ate up the goat—the one my father bought for two zuzim, one little goat, one little goat. And here comes the fire that burns up the staff, that beat up the dog, that bit the cat, that ate up the goat—the one my father bought for two zuzim, one little goat, one little goat.

.‫ ַחד ַג ְּדיָ א‬,‫ַחד ַג ְּדיָ א‬ .‫ ַחד ַג ְּדיָ א ַחד ַג ְּדיָ א‬,‫ִ ְּד ַז ִ י ַא ָ ּבא ִ ּב ְת ֵרי זו ֵּזי‬

,‫וַ ֲא ָתא שוּנְ ָרא וְ ָא ַכל ְלגַ ְדיָ א‬ .‫ ַחד ַג ְּדיָ א ַחד ַג ְּדיָ א‬,‫ִ ְּד ַז ִ י ַא ָ ּבא ִ ּב ְת ֵרי זו ֵּזי‬

‫וַ ֲא ָתא ַכ ְל ָ ּבא וְ נָ ַש ְ ְל שוּנְ ָרא‬ ,‫ְד ָא ַכל ְלגַ ְדיָ א‬ .‫ ַחד ַג ְּדיָ א ַחד ַג ְּדיָ א‬,‫ִ ְּד ַז ִ י ַא ָ ּבא ִ ּב ְת ֵרי זו ֵּזי‬

‫וַ ֲא ָתא חו ְּט ָרא וְ ִה ָּכה ְל ַכ ְל ָ ּבא‬

,‫ְ ּדנָ ַש ְ ְל שוּנְ ָרא ְ ּד ָא ַכל ְלגַ ְדיָ א‬ .‫ ַחד ַג ְּדיָ א ַחד ַג ְּדיָ א‬,‫ִ ְּד ַז ִ י ַא ָ ּבא ִ ּב ְת ֵרי זו ֵּזי‬

,‫ש ַר ְלחו ְּט ָרא‬ ָ ְ‫וַ ֲא ָתא נו ָּרא ו‬

‫ְ ּד ִה ָּכה ְל ַכ ְל ָ ּבא ְדנָ ַש ְ ְל שוּנְ ָרא‬ ,‫ְ ּד ָא ַכל ְלגַ ְדיָ א‬ .‫ ַחד ַג ְּדיָ א ַחד ַג ְּדיָ א‬,‫ִ ְּד ַז ִ י ַא ָ ּבא ִ ּב ְת ֵרי זו ֵּזי‬

142 600

House of Study͕ NaƟon͕ >ibrary͕ and Playground. Here are tackled the issues that enrich and illumine any seder͗ >emony Snicket imagines Four Parents͕ a reversal of roles as revealing as the quesƟons of the Four Sons͖ Zebecca Goldstein reminds us that the Passover story is not a ͞dismissible distracƟon͟ like many stories but one which we must ͞live inside͖͟ Jeīrey Goldberg calls on us to face the intenƟon of ͞Next year in Jerusalem͟ and its meaning in the iaspora͖ Nathaniel eutsch reminds us that on this night of telling and revealing͕ concealing is someƟmes important as well. Through the mulƟple paths down which the commentaries lead us͕ discussion is invited͕ sƟmulaƟng new thoughts on Ɵme-honored topics. The commentary secƟons may be used beforehand to frame a secƟon of the Haggadah or may be read selecƟvely as part of the seder. Zunning across the top of the pages is a Ɵmeline that puts the many ediƟons of the Haggadah into their historical context͕ providing the background that inŇuenced Jewish thought—and oŌen Haggadahs—at the Ɵme. The changing historical situaƟon is reinforced in the design

of the Haggadah͕ with its great variety of elegant and original Hebrew leƩerforms͕ based on textual research͕ that meander through the book͕ intensifying the text. The creators of this Haggadah—a team of some of the most innovaƟve and prominent young Jewish thinkers and writers—are idenƟĮed only by name in the book. The editor is Jonathan Safran Foer͕ novelist and writer͖ the translator is Nathan Englander͕ novelist and short story writer. Zebecca Goldstein͕ novelist and professor of philosophy͖ >emony Snicket͕ children’s book author͖ Nathaniel eutsch͕ professor of history and literature͖ and Jeīrey Goldberg͕ author and journalist͕ are the commentators. Kded Ezer is a groundbreaking Israeli designer͕ and Mia Sara Bruch͕ who wrote the Ɵmeline͕ is an award-winning historian. Intended to be used at the seder table͕ with ink and wine stains incorporated into the design͕ the New American Haggadah oīers a view that is at once familiar and contemporary͕ a fresh addiƟon to the disƟnguished line of Haggadahs. Color design throughout. MLW

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summer 5772/2012

Jewish Book World

nonfiction american jewish studies The Independent Orders of B’nai B’rith and True Sisters: Pioneers of a New Jewish Identity 1843-1914

challenge Deborah Dash Moore’s earlier acĐŽƵŶƚ ŽĨ ͛ŶĂŝ ƌŝƚŚ ĂƐ Ă ͚ƐĞĐƵůĂƌ ƐǇŶĂŐŽŐƵĞ͕͛ she provides more evidence that it was one ƐŝƚĞ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ĚĞǀĞůŽƉŵĞŶƚ ŽĨ Ă ƐĞĐƵůĂƌ ŝĚĞŶƟ ƚǇ rather than the prime force behind it. SMC

When General Grant Expelled the Jews

Cornelia Wilhelm Wayne State University Press, 2011 Hardcover 361 pp. $44.95 [e] ISBN: 978-0-8143-13403-4

Jonathan D. Sarna Schocken Books/Nextbook Press, 2012 Hardcover 224 pp. $24.95 [e] ISBN: 978-0-8052-4279-9

͛ŶĂŝ ͛ƌŝƚŚ ǁĂƐ ƚŚĞ Į ƌƐƚ ŶĂƟ ŽŶĂů :ĞǁŝƐŚ ŽƌŐĂŶŝǌĂƟ ŽŶ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ h^͘ ƐƚĂďůŝƐŚĞĚ Ăƚ Ă Ɵ ŵĞ ǁŚĞŶ ŵĞŶ ǁĞƌĞ ũŽŝŶŝŶŐ ĨƌĂƚĞƌŶĂů ŽƌŐĂŶŝǌĂƟ ŽŶƐ ŝŶ ůĂƌŐĞ ŶƵŵďĞƌƐ͕ ŝŶ ƌĞƐƉŽŶƐĞ ƚŽ ŝŵŵŝŐƌĂƟ ŽŶ͕ ŵŝŐƌĂƟ ŽŶ͕ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ůĂĐŬ ŽĨ ŶĂƚƵƌĂů ƐŽĐŝĂů ĐŽŚĞƐŝŽŶ ŝŶ ƵƌďĂŶ ĂƌĞĂƐ͕ ŝƚ ǁĂƐ ŽŶĞ ŽĨ many such groups that promoted brotherhood and mutual aid. Although she sees it primarily ĂƐ Ă ƐĞĐƵůĂƌŝǌŝŶŐ ĨŽƌĐĞ͕ tŝůŚĞůŵ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ ƚŽ ͛ŶĂŝ Brith as a major force in the development of Ă ƐĞĐƵůĂƌ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ŝĚĞŶƟ ƚǇ͘ /Ŷ ĨĂĐƚ͕ ŚŽǁĞǀĞƌ͕ ƚŚĞ ĚĂƚĂ ƐŚĞ ƉƌĞƐĞŶƚƐ ƉƌŽǀŝĚĞ Ă Ěŝī ĞƌĞŶƚ ƉŝĐƚƵƌĞ͕ ŽĨ Ă ƉĂƌĂĚŽǆŝĐĂů ŽƌŐĂŶŝǌĂƟ ŽŶ ƚŚĂƚ ǁĂƐ somewhat devoid but not completely rid of :ĞǁŝƐŚ ƉƌĂĐƟ ĐĞ ĂŶĚ ĞŵƉŚĂƐŝǌĞĚ ƵŶŝǀĞƌƐĂůŝƐƟ Đ ƉƌŝŶĐŝƉůĞƐ ďƵƚ ŝŶĐŽƌƉŽƌĂƚĞĚ ƉĂƌƟ ĐƵůĂƌŝƐŵ ďǇ ĚĞǀĞůŽƉŝŶŐ ŝŶƐƟ ƚƵƟ ŽŶƐ ƚŚĂƚ ĂƩ ĞŶĚĞĚ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ŚĞĂůƚŚ͕ ƐŽĐŝĂů ƐĞƌǀŝĐĞ͕ ĂŶĚ ĞĚƵĐĂƟ ŽŶĂů ŶĞĞĚƐ of the Jewish community. ƚ ƚŚĞ ƐĂŵĞ Ɵ ŵĞ͕ ŝƚƐ ŵĞŵďĞƌƐ ĂŶĚ ůĞĂĚĞƌƐ ǁĞƌĞ ĂĐƟ ǀĞůǇ ĞŶŐĂŐĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĚĞǀĞůŽƉŵĞŶƚ ŽĨ Ă host of philanthropic and communal organizaƟ ŽŶƐ ƚŚĂƚ ůĂŝĚ ƚŚĞ ŐƌŽƵŶĚǁŽƌŬ ĨŽƌ ĐŽŶƚĞŵƉŽͲ ƌĂƌǇ ŝŶƐƟ ƚƵƟ ŽŶĂů ůŝĨĞ ŝŶĐůƵĚŝŶŐ ĨĞĚĞƌĂƚĞĚ ĐŚĂƌŝͲ Ɵ ĞƐ ĂŶĚ Đŝǀŝů ƌŝŐŚƚƐ ŽƌŐĂŶŝǌĂƟ ŽŶƐ ƚŚĂƚ ĐŽŶƟ ŶƵĞ ƚŽ ĞǆŝƐƚ͕ ŽŌ ĞŶ ĂƵƚŽŶŽŵŽƵƐůǇ͕ ůŝŬĞ ,ŝůůĞů͕ zK͕ ƚŚĞ ŶƟ Ͳ ĞĨĂŵĂƟ ŽŶ >ĞĂŐƵĞ͕ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ EĂƟ ŽŶĂů Jewish Hospital. The book tells this story drawŝŶŐ ŽŶ ĞǆƚĞŶƐŝǀĞ ĂƌĐŚŝǀĂů ŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƟ ŽŶ ĂŶĚ ĂĚĚƐ to it an ongoing account of its sister organiǌĂƟ ŽŶ͕ ƚŚĞ ͚dƌƵĞ ^ŝƐƚĞƌƐ͕͛ Ă ŐƌŽƵƉ ƚŚĂƚ ǁĂƐ ŽǀĞƌƚĂŬĞŶ ďǇ ƚŚĞ ƚƵƌŶ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƚǁĞŶƟ ĞƚŚ ĐĞŶƚƵƌǇ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ĨŽƌŵĂƟ ŽŶ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ EĂƟ ŽŶĂů ŽƵŶĐŝů ŽĨ Jewish Women. Although Wilhelm sets out to

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Ŷ ĞĐĞŵďĞƌ ϭϳ͕ ϭϴϲϮ͕ 'ĞŶĞƌĂů hůǇƐƐĞƐ ^͘ 'ƌĂŶƚ͕ ĐŽŵŵĂŶĚĞƌ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĞƉĂƌƚŵĞŶƚ ŽĨ dĞŶŶĞƐƐĞĞ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ hŶŝŽŶ ƌŵǇ͕ ŽƌĚĞƌĞĚ ͞:ĞǁƐ͕ ĂƐ Ă ĐůĂƐƐ͕͟ ƚŽ ďĞ ĞǆƉĞůůĞĚ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ ĚĞƉĂƌƚŵĞŶƚ͕ ǁŚŝĐŚ ƐƚƌĞƚĐŚĞĚ ĨƌŽŵ ĂŝƌŽ͕ /ůůŝŶŽŝƐ͕ ƚŽ ŶŽƌƚŚĞƌŶ DŝƐƐŝƐƐŝƉƉŝ͕ ŽŶ ƉĂŝŶ ŽĨ arrest if they did not leave within twenty-four hours of receiving the order. On receiving the ŽƌĚĞƌͶ'ĞŶĞƌĂů KƌĚĞƌƐ EŽ͘ ϭϭͶ ĞƐĂƌ <ĂƐŬĞů͕ a Prussian Jewish immigrant who lived in WĂĚƵĐĂŚ͕ <ĞŶƚƵĐŬǇ͕ ƚŽŽŬ ŝŵŵĞĚŝĂƚĞ ĂĐƟ ŽŶ͘ On December 28 he sent a telegram of protest to President Abraham Lincoln and a few days ůĂƚĞƌ ƐĞƚ ŽƵƚ ĨŽƌ tĂƐŚŝŶŐƚŽŶ͘ KŶ :ĂŶƵĂƌǇ ϯ͕ ϭϴϲϯ͕ ŚĞ ŵĞƚ ǁŝƚŚ >ŝŶĐŽůŶ͕ ĂŶĚ ŽŶ :ĂŶƵĂƌǇ ϰ͕ Lincoln countermanded Grant’s order. Ɛ :ŽŶĂƚŚĂŶ ^ĂƌŶĂ͕ ƉƌŽĨĞƐƐŽƌ ŽĨ ŵĞƌŝĐĂŶ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ŚŝƐƚŽƌǇ Ăƚ ƌĂŶĚĞŝƐ hŶŝǀĞƌƐŝƚǇ ĂŶĚ ĂƵͲ thor of American Judaism: A History͕ ƌĞĐŽƵŶƚƐ ƚŚĞ ƐƚŽƌǇ͕ 'ĞŶĞƌĂů KƌĚĞƌƐ EŽ͘ ϭϭ ŵĂƌŬƐ Ă pivotal point in American Jewish history. Sarna ŶŽƚĞƐ ƚŚĞ ƵŐůǇ ƌŝƐĞ ŝŶ ĂŶƟ Ͳ^ĞŵŝƟ Ɛŵ ĚƵƌŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ŝǀŝů tĂƌͶĂ ƐĞŶƟ ŵĞŶƚ ƚŚĂƚ ƉĞƌƐŝƐƚĞĚ ǁĞůů ŝŶƚŽ ƚŚĞ ƚǁĞŶƟ ĞƚŚ ĐĞŶƚƵƌǇͶĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ƐƟ ŐŵĂƟ ǌĂƟ ŽŶ ŽĨ ͞:ĞǁƐ͕ ĂƐ Ă ĐůĂƐƐ͕͟ ƐƟ ƌƌŝŶŐ ĂŐĞƐͲŽůĚ ŵĞŵŽͲ ries among Jews in a country they believed ƚŽ ďĞ Ěŝī ĞƌĞŶƚ͘ Ƶƚ ^ĂƌŶĂ ĂůƐŽ ƌĞƉŽƌƚƐ ƚŚĞ ǁŝĚĞƐƉƌĞĂĚ ƌĞǀƵůƐŝŽŶ͕ ĨƌŽŵ WƌĞƐŝĚĞŶƚ >ŝŶĐŽůŶ to state and federal legislators to the newspaƉĞƌƐ ƚŚĂƚ ĐŽǀĞƌĞĚ ƚŚĞ ŽƌĚĞƌ ĞǆƚĞŶƐŝǀĞůǇ͕ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ idea of singling out a class of people rather than individual malefactors. A small minority comprising only about half a percent of the ŵĞƌŝĐĂŶ ƉŽƉƵůĂƟ ŽŶ͕ :ĞǁƐ ǁĞƌĞ ĞŵƉŽǁĞƌĞĚ

summer 5772/2012

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by their ability to reverse General Orders No. ϭϭ ĂŶĚ ŐĂŝŶĞĚ ƉĞƌƐŽŶĂů ĂŶĚ ƉŽůŝƟ ĐĂů ĐŽŶĮ Ͳ ĚĞŶĐĞ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ ŝŶĐŝĚĞŶƚ͘ /Ŷ ƚŚĞ ĞůĞĐƟ ŽŶ ŽĨ ϭϴϲϴ͕ ǁŚĞŶ 'ƌĂŶƚ ƌĂŶ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ƉƌĞƐŝĚĞŶĐǇ͕ :ĞǁƐ ŽƉĞŶůǇ ǁĞŝŐŚĞĚ ƚŚĞ ĞůĞĐƟ ŽŶ ŝƐƐƵĞƐ ĨƌŽŵ ďŽƚŚ ƚŚĞ ŶĂƟ ŽŶĂů ĂŶĚ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ƉŽŝŶƚ ŽĨ ǀŝĞǁ͘ ,ŝƐƚŽƌŝĂŶƐ ĚŝƐĂŐƌĞĞ ŽŶ 'ƌĂŶƚ͛Ɛ Ăƫ ƚƵĚĞ ƚŽǁĂƌĚ :ĞǁƐ͘ ^ĂƌŶĂ Į ŶĚƐ Śŝŵ Ă ƐǇŵƉĂƚŚĞƟ Đ Į ŐƵƌĞ͕ ƉŽŝŶƟ ŶŐ ƚŽ ŚŝƐ ƉƵďůŝĐ ĂƉŽůŽŐŝĞƐ ĂŶĚ ƌĞŐƌĞƚ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ŽƌĚĞƌ͕ ƉƌŽďĂďůǇ ƉƌŽǀŽŬĞĚ ďǇ ƚŚĞ ƐŵƵŐŐůŝŶŐ ƚŚĂƚ ƵŶĚĞƌŵŝŶĞĚ ƚŚĞ ǁĂƌ Ğī Žƌƚ͕ that dogged his career. In his presidency Grant was an outspoken advocate for human rights ĚŽŵĞƐƟ ĐĂůůǇ ĂŶĚ ŝŶƚĞƌŶĂƟ ŽŶĂůůǇ͕ ĂŶĚ ĂƉͲ pointed Jews to more posts than any previous president. When General Grant Expelled the Jews ƌĞĐŽƌĚƐ Ă ůŝƩ ůĞ ŶŽƚĞĚ ĞǀĞŶƚ ŝŶ ŵĞƌŝĐĂŶ Jewish history that reveals a great deal about Jewish-American life before the great immigraƟ ŽŶƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ůĂƚĞ ŶŝŶĞƚĞĞŶƚŚ ĐĞŶƚƵƌǇ͘ dŚŝƐ ŝƐ Ă ǀŽůƵŵĞ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ EĞǆƚďŽŽŬ ƐĞƌŝĞƐ͘ ŚƌŽŶŽůŽŐǇ͕ ŝůůƵƐƚƌĂƟ ŽŶƐ͕ ŝŶĚĞǆ͕ ŶŽƚĞƐ͘ MLW

anthologies Θ ĐŽůůĞĐƟ ŽŶƐ Portraits in Literature: The Jews of Poland Hava Bromberg Ben-Zvi, ed. & trans. Vallentine Mitchell, 2011 Hardcover 331 pp. $74.95 ISBN: 978-0-85303-873-3

he compiler and editor of this book is a ŶĂƟ ǀĞ WŽůŝƐŚ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ǁŽŵĂŶ ǁŚŽ ƐƵƌǀŝǀĞĚ the Holocaust as a child living under an asƐƵŵĞĚ ŚƌŝƐƟ ĂŶ ŝĚĞŶƟ ƚǇ͘ &Žƌ ŵĂŶǇ ǇĞĂƌƐ͕ ƐŚĞ served as director of the Jewish Community Library of Los Angeles. dŚŝƐ ĂŶƚŚŽůŽŐǇ ŝƐ ĂŶ ŝŶƟ ŵĂƚĞ ĐŽůůĞĐƟ ŽŶ ŽĨ DƐ͘ ĞŶͲ ǀŝ͛Ɛ ĨĂǀŽƌŝƚĞ ůŝƚĞƌĂƌǇ ĞǀŽĐĂƟ ŽŶƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ůŝĨĞ ŽĨ ǀĂŶŝƐŚĞĚ WŽůŝƐŚ :ĞǁƌǇ͕ ĚƌĂǁŶ ĨƌŽŵ ǁŽƌŬƐ ŽƌŝŐŝŶĂůůǇ ǁƌŝƩ ĞŶ ŝŶ zŝĚĚŝƐŚ͕ ,ĞďƌĞǁ͕ WŽůŝƐŚ͕ ĂŶĚ ŶŐůŝƐŚ͘ DĂŶǇ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƐĞůĞĐƟ ŽŶƐ ǁĞƌĞ ƚƌĂŶƐůĂƚĞĚ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ Į ƌƐƚ Ɵ ŵĞ ďǇ ƚŚĞ ĞĚŝƚŽƌ͕ ǁŝƚŚ ĂŶŶŽƚĂƟ ŽŶƐ ƚŽ ĐůĂƌŝĨǇ ƌĞĨĞƌĞŶĐĞƐ ĂŶĚ allusions. The book is organized into three main diviƐŝŽŶƐ͗ ƚŚĞ WŽůŝƐŚ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ǁŽƌůĚ ďĞĨŽƌĞ ϭϵϯϵ͕ ƚŚĞ ,ŽůŽĐĂƵƐƚ ǇĞĂƌƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞŶ ƐƵƌǀŝǀŽƌƐ͛ Ğī ŽƌƚƐ ƚŽ ůŝǀĞ ĂŐĂŝŶ ŝŶ WŽůĂŶĚ͕ ŵĞƌŝĐĂ͕ ĂŶĚ /ƐƌĂĞů͘ dŚĞ works included in the book represent diverse ŐĞŶƌĞƐ͗ Į ĐƟ ŽŶ͕ ŵĞŵŽŝƌƐ͕ ŽƌĂů ŚŝƐƚŽƌǇ͕ ĚŝĂƌŝĞƐ͕ ƉŽĞƚƌǇ͕ ĨŽůŬ ƚĂůĞƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ƉŽƉƵůĂƌ ŚŝƐƚŽƌŝĐĂů ǀŝŐŶĞƩ ĞƐ͘ ƵƚŚŽƌƐ ƌĂŶŐĞ ĨƌŽŵ ŐƌĞĂƚ zŝĚĚŝƐŚ ǁƌŝƚĞƌƐ ƚŽ ĐůĂƐƐŝĐ ƉŚŝůŽͲ^ĞŵŝƟ Đ WŽůŝƐŚ ĂƵƚŚŽƌƐ͕ as well as lesser-known survivors of the Nazi ĞƌĂ ŐŚĞƩ ŽƐ ĂŶĚ ĐĂŵƉƐ͕ ĂŶĚ WŽůŝƐŚ :ĞǁƐ ǁŚŽ came to America or Israel. The book ends ǁŝƚŚ ͞dŚĞ WŽůŝƐŚ tŝĨĞ͕͟ Ă ďŝƩ ĞƌƐǁĞĞƚ ƐŚŽƌƚ ƐƚŽƌǇ ǁƌŝƩ ĞŶ ŝŶ WŽůŝƐŚ ďǇ ŶŶĂ ǁŝĂŬŽǁƐŬĂ͕

nonfiction

ĞǀŽŬŝŶŐ ĞǆƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŐĞŶĞƌĂƟ ŽŶ ŽĨ ĂĐͲ culturated Polish Jews who found themselves forced to emigrate to Israel in 1968. tŚŝůĞ ŵĂŶǇ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƐĞůĞĐƟ ŽŶƐ ĂƌĞ ƋƵŝƚĞ ŵŽǀͲ ŝŶŐ͕ ƚŚĞ ďŽŽŬ ƐƵī ĞƌƐ ĨƌŽŵ ƉŽŽƌ ĐŽƉǇĞĚŝƟ ŶŐ͕ ǁŚŝĐŚ ŝƐ Ă ĚŝƐƐĞƌǀŝĐĞ ƚŽ ƚŚŝƐ ǁŽƌƚŚǇ Ğī Žƌƚ ƚŚĂƚ ǁŝůů ĨĂƐĐŝŶĂƚĞ ĂŶĚ ŵŽǀĞ ƌĞĂĚĞƌƐ͘ ŝďůŝŽŐƌĂƉŚǇ͕ ŝŶĚĞǆ͕ ŐůŽƐƐĂƌǇ͕ ŶŽƚĞƐ͕ ƉŚŽƚŽŐƌĂƉŚƐ͘ RMS

autobiography & memoir Man Seeks God: My Flirtations with the Divine Eric Weiner Twelve, 2011 Hardcover 349 pp. $26.99 [e] ISBN: 978-0-446-53947-0

t is folly to gauge the measure of another ŵĂŶΖƐ ĨĂŝƚŚ͕Η ǁƌŝƚĞƐ ƌŝĐ tĞŝŶĞƌ ŝŶ Man ^ĞĞŬƐ 'ŽĚ͗ DǇ &ůŝƌƚĂƟ ŽŶƐ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ŝǀŝŶĞ. / ĐŽŶĐƵƌ͕ ďƵƚ Ă ƌĞǀŝĞǁĞƌ ŽĨ Ă ďŽŽŬ ĂďŽƵƚ Ă ƐƉŝƌŝƚƵĂů ƋƵĞƐƚ ĐĂŶΖƚ ŚĞůƉ ďƵƚ ĂƩ ĞŵƉƚ ƚŽ assess the earnestness of the impulse and the ĚĞƉƚŚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĞŶĚĞĂǀŽƌ͕ ĂƐ ǁĞůů ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ƋƵĂůŝƚǇ of the chronicle of it. tĞŝŶĞƌ͕ ďŽƌŶ :ĞǁŝƐŚ͕ ŝƐ ďǇ ŚŝƐ ŽǁŶ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚͲ ŝŶŐ Ă ƐŬĞƉƟ Đ͕ Ă Η ŽŶĨƵƐŝŽŶŝƐƚΗ ǁŚĞŶ ŝƚ ĐŽŵĞƐ ƚŽ ƌĞůŝŐŝŽŶ͕ Ă ŶĞƵƌŽƟ Đ ƉƌĞŽĐĐƵƉŝĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ ĚĞĂƚŚ͕ and a man who uses his charmingly selfĚĞƉƌĞĐĂƟ ŶŐ ĂŶĚ ŝƌƌĞǀĞƌĞŶƚ ǁŝƚ ƚŽ ŚĂďŝƚƵĂůůǇ ĚĞŇ ĞĐƚ ĚĞĐŝƐŝŽŶ͕ ĚĞƉƚŚ͕ ĂŶĚ ĐŽŵŵŝƚŵĞŶƚ͘ tĞŝŶĞƌ ǁƌŝƚĞƐ ƚŚĂƚ ŽŶĨƵƐŝŽŶŝƐƚƐ͕ ΗůĂĐŬ ƚŚĞ ƐŵƵŐ ƵŶĐĞƌƚĂŝŶƚǇ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĂŐŶŽƐƟ ĐΗ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĂƚ Confusionists "have absolutely no idea what ŽƵƌ ƌĞůŝŐŝŽƵƐ ďĞůŝĞĨƐ ĂƌĞ͘ tĞΖƌĞ ŶŽƚ ĞǀĞŶ ƐƵƌĞ ƚŚĂƚ ǁĞ ŚĂǀĞ ĂŶǇ͕ ďƵƚ ǁĞΖƌĞ ŽƉĞŶ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ƵŶͲ ĞǆƉĞĐƚĞĚ͕ ĂŶĚ ďĞůŝĞǀĞͶŶŽ͕ ŚŽƉĞ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞƌĞ ŝƐ more to life than meets the eye." Ō Ğƌ Ă ĨƌŝŐŚƚĞŶŝŶŐ ĞƉŝƐŽĚĞ ƚŚĂƚ ďƌŽƵŐŚƚ him to an emergency room where a nurse ĂƐŬĞĚ Śŝŵ͕ Η,ĂǀĞ ǇŽƵ ĨŽƵŶĚ ǇŽƵƌ 'ŽĚ ǇĞƚ͕Η tĞŝŶĞƌ ƐĂǇƐ ŚĞ ĐŽƵůĚŶΖƚ ŐĞƚ ƚŚĞ ƋƵĞƐƟ ŽŶ ŽƵƚ ŽĨ ŚŝƐ ŚĞĂĚ͘ EŽƚ ůŽŶŐ ĂŌ ĞƌǁĂƌĚ ŚŝƐ ǇŽƵŶŐ ĚĂƵŐŚƚĞƌ ĂƐŬĞĚ Śŝŵ Ă ƋƵĞƐƟ ŽŶ ĂďŽƵƚ 'ŽĚ͕

and he had no adequate answer. ConsequentůǇ͕ ŚĞ ĚĞĐŝĚĞĚ ƚŽ ŝŶǀĞƐƟ ŐĂƚĞ ĞŝŐŚƚ ƌĞůŝŐŝŽŶƐ͕ ƐĞĞŵŝŶŐůǇ ƉůƵĐŬĞĚ ĨƌŽŵ Ă ŚĂƚ͕ ǁŝƚŚŽƵƚ ĞǆƉůĂͲ ŶĂƟ ŽŶ ĂƐ ƚŽ ǁŚǇ ŚĞ ĐŚŽƐĞ ƚŚĞŵ ĂŶĚ ĞǆĐůƵĚĞĚ ŽƚŚĞƌƐ͘ ,ŝƐ ŝŶǀĞƐƟ ŐĂƟ ŽŶƐ͕ ďĞǇŽŶĚ ƌĞĂĚŝŶŐ ;ƚŚĞƌĞΖƐ ĂŶ ĞǆƚĞŶƐŝǀĞ ďŝďůŝŽŐƌĂƉŚǇͿ͕ ƵƐƵĂůůǇ ŝŶǀŽůǀĞ ďƌŝĞĨ ďƵƌƐƚƐ ŽĨ ƚƌĂǀĞů͕ ƐŽŵĞƚŚŝŶŐ ŚĞ ƌĞůŝƐŚĞƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ĚŝƉƉŝŶŐ ŚŝƐ ƚŽĞ ŝŶƚŽ ƚŚĞ ƐŚĂůůŽǁ ĞŶĚ ŽĨ Ěŝī ĞƌĞŶƚ ƐƉŝƌŝƚƵĂů ƉƌĂĐƟ ĐĞƐ͘ ,Ğ ĚĂůůŝĞƐ ǁŝƚŚ ^ƵĮ Ɛŵ ŝŶ ĂůŝĨŽƌŶŝĂ Ăƚ Ă ĐĂŵƉ ŽĨ ĂŐŝŶŐ ŚŝƉƉŝĞƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ǁŚŝƌůƐ ŝŶ /ƐƚĂŶďƵů ǁŝƚŚ ĚĞƌǀŝƐŚĞƐ͖ ďƌƵƐŚĞƐ ĂŐĂŝŶƐƚ ƵĚĚŚŝƐŵ ŝŶ Nepal with a guru from Staten Island named tĂǇŶĞ͖ ƐŽũŽƵƌŶƐ ǁŝƚŚ &ƌĂŶĐŝƐĐĂŶ ŵŽŶŬƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ^ŽƵƚŚ ƌŽŶǆ͖ ĐƌŽƐƐͲĚƌĞƐƐĞƐ ǁŝƚŚ ďƌĞĂƐƚͲďĂƌŝŶŐ͕ h&K ďĞůŝĞǀŝŶŐ ZĂģůŝĂŶƐ Ăƚ Ă >ĂƐ sĞŐĂƐ ĐŽŶǀĞŶͲ Ɵ ŽŶ͖ ƚĂƌƌŝĞƐ ĂŶĚ ƚĂŬĞƐ ƚĞĂ ǁŚŝůĞ ĐŚĂƫ ŶŐ ĂďŽƵƚ chi with a Taoist in Washington State before ƚĂŬŝŶŐ Ă dĂŽŝƐƚ ƚŽƵƌ ŽĨ ŚŝŶĂ͖ ǁŝƚŶĞƐƐĞƐ Ă tĂƐŚŝŶŐƚŽŶͲďĂƐĞĚ ǁŝĐĐĂŶ ǁŝƚĐŚ ĐŽǀĞŶ͖ ƚƌŝĞƐ to divine his animal totem in a geodesic dome ǁŝƚŚ Ă ƐŚĂŵĂŶ ŝŶ DĂƌǇůĂŶĚ͖ ĂŶĚ ŬŝďďŝƚǌĞƐ ǁŝƚŚ Kabbalah in the city of Tsfat in Israel. He calls ŝƚ ΗƐŚŽƉƉŝŶŐ ĨŽƌ 'ŽĚΗ ĂƐ ǁĞůů ĂƐ ΗŇ ŝƌƟ ŶŐ ǁŝƚŚ the divine." tĞŝŶĞƌΖƐ ĞǆŝƐƚĞŶƟ Ăů ĂŶĚ ƐƉŝƌŝƚƵĂů ŝƐƐƵĞƐ ĂƌĞ ƵŶĚĞŶŝĂďůǇ ƌĞĂů͕ ŚŝƐ ǁƌŝƟ ŶŐ ĂŶĚ ǁŝƚ ĂƌĞ ǁŝŶŶŝŶŐ ;/ ůĂƵŐŚĞĚ ĨƌĞƋƵĞŶƚůǇͿ͕ ŚĞ ĞŶŐĂŐĞƐ ƚŚĞ ƉĞŽƉůĞ ŚĞ ŵĞĞƚƐ ŝŶ ĐŽŶǀĞƌƐĂƟ ŽŶƐ ŽĨ ƐƵďƐƚĂŶĐĞ͕ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ďŽŽŬ ŝƐ ĂůǁĂǇƐ ĞŶũŽǇĂďůĞ ĂŶĚ ŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƟ ŶŐ͘ ,ŽǁĞǀĞƌ͕ ƚŚĞ ĞƉŝƐŽĚŝĐ ĨŽƌŵĂƚ͕ ƚŚĞ ƌĞƉŽƌƚŽƌŝĂů ŐůŽƐƐ ŚĞ ŐŝǀĞƐ ƚŽ ĞĂĐŚ ƌĞůŝŐŝŽŶ͕ ĂŶĚ ŚŝƐ ĨŽƌĞǀĞƌ Őůŝď ƚŽŶĞ͕ ǁŚŝůĞ ƉĞƌĨĞĐƚ ĨŽƌ Ă ƚƌĂǀĞůŽŐƵĞ͕ ĚŽŶΖƚ ůĞŶĚ ƚŚĞŵƐĞůǀĞƐ ƚŽ ĐŽŶǀĞǇͲ ing something as serious as a spiritual quest. /Ŷ ŵŽƐƚ ƐƉŝƌŝƚƵĂů ĂƵƚŽďŝŽŐƌĂƉŚǇ͕ ƚŚĞ ƋƵĞƐƚ ƉƌĞͲ cedes and stands independent from the book ĐŽŶƚƌĂĐƚ͕ ŚĞƌĞ͕ ƚŚĞ ƐĐŽƉĞ ĂŶĚ ƐƚƌƵĐƚƵƌĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ quest seem contrived mostly just to meet the ŵĂƌŬĞƚƉůĂĐĞ͘ dŚĞ ĂůŵŽƐƚ ĐŽŵƉůĞƚĞ ĚŝƐĐŽƵŶƟ ŶŐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŵĂŝŶƐƚƌĞĂŵƐ ŽĨ :ƵĚĂŝƐŵ͕ ŚƌŝƐƟ ĂŶŝƚǇ͕ ƵĚĚŚŝƐŵ͕ ĂŶĚ /ƐůĂŵ ĂůƐŽ ďĞƐƉĞĂŬ Ă ĐĞƌƚĂŝŶ ůĂĐŬ ŽĨ ƐĞƌŝŽƵƐŶĞƐƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ŽŶĞ ĚŽƵďƚƐ ƚŚĂƚ ŚĞ ĞǀĞƌ ŚĂĚ ĂŶǇ ŽƉĞŶŶĞƐƐ ƚŽ ďĞĐŽŵŝŶŐ Ă ZĂģůůŝĂŶ͕ Ă ǁĂƌůŽĐŬ͕ Ă ŵŽŶŬ͕ Žƌ Ă ƐŚĂŵĂŶ͘ DŽƐƚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ people he interviewed were serious spiritual seekers who really risked and invested themƐĞůǀĞƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƋƵĞƐƚ ĂŶĚ ŝŶ ǁŚĂƚ ƚŚĞǇ ĨŽƵŶĚ͕ while he seems merely a tourist. Ǉ ƚŚĞ ďŽŽŬΖƐ ĞŶĚ͕ tĞŝŶĞƌ ŝŶĐŽƌƉŽƌĂƚĞƐ Ă melange of pleasant elements of the reliŐŝŽŶƐ ŚĞ ĞŶĐŽƵŶƚĞƌĞĚ ŝŶƚŽ ŚŝƐ ůŝĨĞ͕ ŝŶǀĞŶƟ ŶŐ and assembling what he calls a "composite 'ŽĚΗ ǁŚŝĐŚͬǁŚŽ ΗǁŽƌŬƐΗ ĨŽƌ Śŝŵ͕ ĂůƚŚŽƵŐŚ ƚŚŝƐ ƐĞĞŵƐ ůŝƩ ůĞ Ěŝī ĞƌĞŶƚ ƚŚĂŶ ƚŚĞ ŶĞǁͲĂŐĞ ĞĐůĞĐƟ ĐŝƐŵ ƚŚĂƚ ŚĞ ŚŝŵƐĞůĨ ĚŝƐĚĂŝŶƐ͕ ǁƌŝƟ ŶŐ͕ ΗZĞůŝŐŝŽŶƐ ĂƌĞ ůŝŬĞ ĐƵŝƐŝŶĞƐ͕ dŚĞǇ ĚŽŶΖƚ ĂůǁĂǇƐ ƚƌĂǀĞů ǁĞůů͘ dŚĞǇ ŐĞƚ ǁĂƚĞƌĞĚ ĚŽǁŶ͕ ĚŝůƵƚĞĚ͕ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ŶĞǆƚ ƚŚŝŶŐ ǇŽƵ ŬŶŽǁ ǇŽƵΖƌĞ ŝŶŐĞƐƚͲ ing the spiritual equivalent of chow mein." 'ŽŽĚ ƌĞůŝŐŝŽŶ͕ tĞŝŶĞƌ ǁƌŝƚĞƐ Ăƚ ŽŶĞ ƉŽŝŶƚ͕ ΗŝƐ ƐƵƉƉŽƐĞĚ ƚŽ ďĞ ŚĂƌĚ͘ 'ŽŽĚ ƌĞůŝŐŝŽŶ ƉƵƐŚĞƐ͕ ĂƐ ǁĞůů ĂƐ ƉƵůůƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ŝŶ ĚŽŝŶŐ ƐŽ ƚĂĐŬůĞƐ ŚĞĂĚͲŽŶ ,ĞƐĐŚĞůΖƐ ƵƌŐĞŶƚ ƋƵĞƐƟ ŽŶ͗ Η,Žǁ ĚŽĞƐ Ă ŵĂŶ ůŝŌ ŚŝƐ ĞǇĞƐ ƚŽ ƐĞĞ Ă ůŝƩ ůĞ ŚŝŐŚĞƌ ƚŚĂŶ ŚŝŵƐĞůĨ͍Η

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tĞŝŶĞƌ ĂĐŬŶŽǁůĞĚŐĞƐ ƚŚĂƚ ŚŝƐ ŽǁŶ ƉƌĂĐƟ ĐĞ ŝƐŶΖƚ ΗƐŽ ƐŽůŝĚΗ ĂŶĚ ƐĞĞŵƐ ƐĂƟ ƐĮ ĞĚ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ŵŽŵĞŶƚ ŶŽƚ ƚŽ ůŝŌ ŚŝƐ ĞǇĞƐ ĨƌŽŵ ŚŝƐ ŽǁŶ ĐŚŽǁ ŵĞŝŶ͕ ďƵƚ ĂƐ ƐŵĂƌƚ ĂŶĚ ƐĞůĨͲĂǁĂƌĞ ĂƐ ŚĞ ŝƐ͕ ŚĞ must know the journey and the quest must go on in more depth. EA

biography Crossing the Borders of Time: A True Story of War, Exile, and Love Reclaimed Leslie Maitland Other Press, 2012 Hardcover 544 pp. $29.95 [e] ISBN: 978-1-59051-496-2

anine Gunzburger Maitland literally crosses ďŽƌĚĞƌƐ͕ ŽĐĞĂŶƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ǇĞĂƌƐ ĂƐ ƐŚĞ ĂŶĚ ŚĞƌ family escape from Nazi Germany and ocĐƵƉŝĞĚ &ƌĂŶĐĞ͕ Į ŶĚ ƐŚĞůƚĞƌ ŝŶ ƵďĂ͕ ĂŶĚ Į ŶĂůůǇ come to know freedom and safety in the hŶŝƚĞĚ ^ƚĂƚĞƐ͘ Crossing the Borders of Time ĨŽůůŽǁƐ ŚĞƌ ũŽƵƌŶĞǇ ŽĨ ůŽǀĞ͕ ŵĞŵŽƌǇ͕ ĨĞĂƌ͕ ŚŽƉĞ͕ ĂŶĚ ƌĞŶĞǁĂů͘ dŚŝƐ ƚƌƵĞ ƐƚŽƌǇ͕ ǁƌŝƩ ĞŶ ŝŶ Ă ŐƌŝƉƉŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ ĐŽŵƉĞůůŝŶŐ ƐƚǇůĞ͕ ƌĞĂĚƐ ůŝŬĞ Ă ŶŽǀĞů͘ /ƚ ƚƌĂĐĞƐ ƚŚĞ ůŽǀĞ ƐƚŽƌǇ ŽĨ ƚǁŽ ǇŽƵŶŐ ƉĞŽƉůĞ͕ :ĂŶŝŶĞ ĂŶĚ ŚĞƌ &ƌĞŶĐŚ ĂƚŚŽůŝĐ ůŽǀĞƌ͕ ZŽůĂŶĚ ƌĐŝĞƌŝ͕ caught up in war-torn France. This love is ƐƵƐƚĂŝŶĞĚ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚŽƵƚ ƚŚĞŝƌ ůŝǀĞƐ͕ ĞǀĞŶ ƚŚŽƵŐŚ ƚŚĞǇ ŚĂǀĞ ŶŽ ĐŽŶƚĂĐƚ ĨŽƌ ŽǀĞƌ Į Ō Ǉ ǇĞĂƌƐ͘ /ƚ ƵůƟ ŵĂƚĞůǇ ƉƌŽǀŝĚĞƐ Ă ĐŽŵĨŽƌƟ ŶŐ ĞŶĚŝŶŐ ƚŽ Ă ůŝĨĞƟ ŵĞ ŽĨ ƋƵĞƐƟ ŽŶƐ͕ ĚƵƉůŝĐŝƚǇ͕ ĂŶĚ ĚŽƵďƚƐ͘ The book chronicles the precarious and ĚĂŶŐĞƌŽƵƐ ǇĞĂƌƐ ŽĨ ƌƵŶŶŝŶŐ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ EĂǌŝƐ͕ ƚŚĞ ƉŽƐƚͲtŽƌůĚ tĂƌ // ǇĞĂƌƐ͕ ƚŚĞ ŝŵŵŝŐƌĂŶƚ ĞǆͲ ƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞ͕ ŵĂƌƌŝĂŐĞ͕ ĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶ͕ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ĞǀĞŶƚƵĂů suburban lifestyle. The Gunzburgers’ strong ĨĂŵŝůǇ Ɵ ĞƐ ĂŶĚ ůŽǇĂůƟ ĞƐ ƐĞĞ ƚŚĞŵ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚ ƚŚĞ ŵĂŶǇ ĐƌŝƐĞƐ ƚŚĞǇ ĨĂĐĞ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞŝƌ ĚŝŐŶŝƚǇ͕ ŚƵŵĂŶŝƚǇ͕ ĂŶĚ ŚŽƉĞƐ ŝŶƚĂĐƚ͘ dŚĞ ŵĂŶǇ ĨĂŵŝůǇ ƉŝĐƚƵƌĞƐ ĂŶĚ ĚŽĐƵŵĞŶƚĂƟ ŽŶ ŝŶĐůƵĚĞĚ ĐĂƉƚƵƌĞ each phase of their lives and greatly add to ƚŚĞ ƌĞĂĚĞƌ͛Ɛ ƵŶĚĞƌƐƚĂŶĚŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ ƉĞƌĐĞƉƟ ŽŶ ŽĨ their account. >ĞƐůŝĞ DĂŝƚůĂŶĚ͕ ĂŶ ŝŶǀĞƐƟ ŐĂƟ ǀĞ ƌĞƉŽƌƚĞƌ͕ ŽƉĞŶƐ ŚĞƌ ŵŽƚŚĞƌ͛Ɛ ůŝĨĞ ǁŝƚŚ ƉĞŶĞƚƌĂƟ ŶŐ ƌĞƐĞĂƌĐŚ͕ ƐŝŐŶŝĮ ĐĂŶƚ ĚĞƚĂŝůƐ ĂŶĚ ĚĞƐĐƌŝƉƟ ŽŶ͕ and historical and geographical background ŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƟ ŽŶ ƚŚĂƚ ƌĞĐƌĞĂƚĞ ĞĂĐŚ ĐŚĂƉƚĞƌ ŽĨ :ĂͲ ŶŝŶĞ͛Ɛ ůŝĨĞ͘ DĂŝƚůĂŶĚ ƵƐĞƐ ŚĞƌ ƌĞƉŽƌƟ ŶŐ ƐŬŝůůƐ ƚŽ ƚƌĂĐŬ͕ ĐŽŶĨƌŽŶƚ͕ ƋƵĞƐƟ ŽŶ͕ ĂŶĚ ƐƵĐĐĞƐƐĨƵůůǇ Į ŶĚ her mother’s lost love and eventually reunite ƚŚĞŵ͘ ^ŚĞ ǁƌŝƚĞƐ ǁŝƚŚ Ă ĐůĞĂƌ͕ ĐĂŶĚŝĚ ũŽƵƌŶĂůͲ ist’s eye and manages to remove herself from ƚŚĞ ƐƚŽƌǇ͕ ǇĞƚ ƉůĂĐĞ ŚĞƌƐĞůĨ ŝŶƚŽ ƚŚĞ ŶĂƌƌĂƟ ǀĞ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ ƐĂŵĞ Ɵ ŵĞ͘ DĂŝƚůĂŶĚ ǁƌŝƚĞƐ ŽĨ ŚĞƌ ĐŚŝůĚͲ ŚŽŽĚ͕ ŚĞƌ ƉĂƌĞŶƚƐ͛ ƚƌŽƵďůĞĚ ŵĂƌƌŝĂŐĞ͕ ĂŶĚ ŚĞƌ Ğī ŽƌƚƐ ƚŽ Į ŶĚ ZŽůĂŶĚ ǁŝƚŚ ŝŶƐŝŐŚƚ ĂŶĚ ŚŽŶĞƐƚǇ͘ ^ŚĞ ĐůŽƐĞƐ ƚŚŝƐ ŶŽƚĞǁŽƌƚŚǇ ƌĞĂĚ ǁŝƚŚ ƉŽĞƟ Đ understanding and gentleness as she writes

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nonfiction ŝŶƚŽ aŝŵĂŝƚĦ͛Ɛ ŶŝĞĐĞ͛Ɛ ƉŽƐƐŝďůĞ ƐĐŚŝǌŽƉŚƌĞŶŝĂ and the treatment of the mentally ill in the h^^Z͘ ^Ɵ ůů͕ ŝĨ aƵŬǇƐ ĐŽƵůĚ ďĞ ĞŶƟ ĐĞĚ ƚŽ ĞĚŝƚ Ă ĨŽůůŽǁͲƵƉ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ŽĨ aŝŵĂŝƚĦ͛Ɛ ƚƌĂŶƐůĂƚĞĚ ůĞƩ ĞƌƐ͕ ƌĞĂĚĞƌƐ ǁŽƵůĚ ĐŽŵĞ ďĂĐŬ ĨŽƌ ŵŽƌĞ͘ ŝďůŝŽŐƌĂƉŚǇ͕ ŵĂƉƐ͕ ŶŽƚĞƐ͕ ƉŚŽƚŽŐƌĂƉŚƐ͘ BEB

Max Lilienthal: The Making of the American Rabbinate Bruce L. Ruben Wayne State University Press, 2011 Hardcover 324 pp. $49.95 [e] ISBN: 978-0814335161

about Janine and Roland and the enduring strength of their love across the borders of Ɵ ŵĞ͘ ŝďůŝŽŐƌĂƉŚǇ͕ ŵĂƉƐ͕ ƉŚŽƚŽŐƌĂƉŚƐ͘ RL

A Difficult Woman: The Challenging Life and Times of Lillian Hellman

,ĂƌƌŝƐ ĚƵƟ ĨƵůůǇ ĚĞĨĞŶĚƐ ƚŚĞ ƌŝŐŚƚ ŽĨ ŵĞŵŽŝƌŝƐƚƐ ƚŽ ĞŵďĞůůŝƐŚ͕ ĐŚĂŶŐĞ͕ ĂŶĚ ĞǀĞŶ ŝŶǀĞŶƚ ĨĂĐƚƐ ŝŶ ƐĞƌǀŝĐĞ ŽĨ Ă ŚŝŐŚĞƌ ƚƌƵƚŚ͕ ƚŚĞ ƌĞĂĚĞƌ ƵůƟ ŵĂƚĞůǇ ĐĂŶŶŽƚ ĞƐĐĂƉĞ ƚŚĞ ĨĞĞůŝŶŐ ƚŚĂƚ ,ĞůůŵĂŶ ǁĂƐ͕ ĂƐ ŚĞƌ ĐƌŝƟ ĐƐ ĐŚĂƌŐĞĚ͕ ŵĂŝŶůǇ ĐŽŶĐĞƌŶĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ ĐŽŶƐƚƌƵĐƟ ŶŐ Ă ŵŽƌĞ Ň ĂƩ ĞƌŝŶŐ ŝŵĂŐĞ ŽĨ ŚĞƌƐĞůĨ than a more scrupulous recital of the facts could provide. BB

Alice Kessler-Harris Bloomsbury Press, 2012 Hardcover 448 pp. $30.00 [e] ISBN: 978-1-59691-363-9

Epistolophilia: Writing the Life of Ona Šimaitė

Julija Šukys University of Nebraska Press, 2012 Hardcover 240 pp. $24.95 ISBN: 978-0-8032-3632-5

ŚĞ Ěŝĸ ĐƵůƟ ĞƐ ƌĞĨĞƌƌĞĚ ƚŽ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ Ɵ ƚůĞ ŽĨ this new biography of Lillian Hellman ĂƌĞ ŵĂŶŝĨŽůĚ͗ ŶŽƚ ŽŶůǇ DƐ͘ ,ĞůůŵĂŶ͛Ɛ ǁŝĚĞůǇ admired disdain for established norms and ĞǆƉĞĐƚĂƟ ŽŶƐ͕ ĂƐ ǁĞůů ĂƐ ŚĞƌ ŶŽƚŽƌŝŽƵƐ ŝƌĂƐĐŝďŝůͲ ŝƚǇ͕ ďƵƚ ĂůƐŽ ƚŚĞ ďŝŽŐƌĂƉŚĞƌ͛Ɛ ĂĐŬŶŽǁůĞĚŐĞĚ struggle to see her subject clearly in light of a wealth of contradictory evidence. <ĞƐƐůĞƌͲ,ĂƌƌŝƐ͛Ɛ ŵĂŝŶ ĐŽŶĐĞƌŶ ŝƐ ůŽĐĂƟ ŶŐ ƚŚĞ ŝŶƚĞŐƌŝƚǇ ŽĨ ,ĞůůŵĂŶ͛Ɛ ƉŽůŝƟ ĐĂů ĂĐƟ ǀŝƐŵ ŽŶ Ă ƐƉĞĐƚƌƵŵ ǁŚŽƐĞ ĞǆƚƌĞŵĞƐ ŵĂǇ ďĞ ĚĞĮ ŶĞĚ ďǇ ƚǁŽ ŶŽƚĂďůĞ ƋƵŽƚĞƐ͗ ,ĞůůŵĂŶ͛Ɛ ŽǁŶ ĚĞĮ ĂŶƚ ͞/ ĐĂŶŶŽƚ ĂŶĚ ǁŝůů ŶŽƚ ĐƵƚ ŵǇ ĐŽŶƐĐŝĞŶĐĞ ƚŽ Į ƚ ƚŚŝƐ ǇĞĂƌ͛Ɛ ĨĂƐŚŝŽŶƐ͕͟ ĂŶĚ DĂƌǇ DĐ ĂƌͲ ƚŚǇ͛Ɛ ŵŽƌĚĂŶƚ ͞ ǀĞƌǇ ǁŽƌĚ ƐŚĞ ǁƌŝƚĞƐ ŝƐ Ă ůŝĞ͕ ŝŶĐůƵĚŝŶŐ ͚ĂŶĚ͛ ĂŶĚ ͚ƚŚĞ͛͘͟ dŚŝƐ͕ ŝƚ ƚƵƌŶƐ ŽƵƚ͕ ŝƐ no easy task. The author does an admirable job of mapƉŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ĐƌŽƐƐͲĐƵƌƌĞŶƚƐ ŽĨ ůĞŌ ŝƐƚ ƚŚŽƵŐŚƚ ŝŶ ŵĞƌŝĐĂ ĚƵƌŝŶŐ ,ĞůůŵĂŶ͛Ɛ ůŝĨĞƟ ŵĞ͕ ĞǀĞŶ ŝĨ ƚŚŽƐĞ ĐŽŶƚƌŽǀĞƌƐŝĞƐ ƵůƟ ŵĂƚĞůǇ ƐĞĞŵ ƐĂĚůǇ ƉĞƩ Ǉ ĂŶĚ ŝƌƌĞůĞǀĂŶƚ ƐĂǀĞ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ĚĞǀĂƐƚĂƟ ŽŶ ƚŚĞǇ ǁƌŽƵŐŚƚ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ƌĞƉƵƚĂƟ ŽŶƐ ĂŶĚ ůŝǀĞůŝͲ ŚŽŽĚƐ ŽĨ ƐŽ ŵĂŶǇ ǁŚŽ ƉĂƌƟ ĐŝƉĂƚĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞŵ͘ (Did any of those quarrels among American DĂƌǆŝƐƚƐ͕ ^ƚĂůŝŶŝƐƚƐ͕ dƌŽƚƐŬǇŝƚĞƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ŽƵƚƌŝŐŚƚ ĂŶƟ Ͳ ŽŵŵƵŶŝƐƚƐ ŚĂǀĞ ƚŚĞ ƐůŝŐŚƚĞƐƚ Ğī ĞĐƚ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ĞǀĞŶƚƐ ĂŶĚ ƉĞƌƐŽŶĂůŝƟ ĞƐ ƚŚĞǇ ƐŽ ŚŽƚůǇ ĚĞďĂƚĞĚ Ă ŚĞŵŝƐƉŚĞƌĞ ĂǁĂǇ͍Ϳ But she is less successful in defending HellŵĂŶ͛Ɛ ůŝƚĞƌĂƌǇ ĂĚǀĞƌƟ ƐĞŵĞŶƚƐ ĨŽƌ ŚĞƌƐĞůĨ ƐƵĐŚ as WĞŶƟ ŵĞŶƚŽ͕ ŝŶĐůƵĚŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ƐƚŽƌǇ ƚŚĂƚ ĨŽƌŵĞĚ ƚŚĞ ďĂƐŝƐ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ Į ůŵ Julia. While Kessler-

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ow many of us know the story of LithuĂŶŝĂŶ KŶĂ aŝŵĂŝƚĦ ;ϭϴϵϰͲϭϵϳϬͿ͕ ŚŽŶŽƌĞĚ ĂƐ ŽŶĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ͞ZŝŐŚƚĞŽƵƐ ŵŽŶŐ ƚŚĞ EĂƟ ŽŶƐ͟ ďǇ zĂĚ sĂƐŚĞŵ͍ aŝŵĂŝƚĦ ƌŝƐŬĞĚ ŚĞƌ ůŝĨĞ ŐŽŝŶŐ ŝŶ ĂŶĚ ŽƵƚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ sŝůŶĂ ŐŚĞƩ Ž ďƌŝŶŐŝŶŐ ŵĞƐƐĂŐĞƐ and supplies to Jewish inmates. She smuggled out and then hid a young scholar facing ŝŵŵŝŶĞŶƚ ĞǆĞĐƵƟ ŽŶ͖ ƐŚŽƌƚůǇ ĂŌ Ğƌ͕ aŝŵĂŝƚĦ ǁĂƐ ƚŽƌƚƵƌĞĚ ĂŶĚ ĚĞƉŽƌƚĞĚ ƚŽ ĂĐŚĂƵ͘ Ō Ğƌ ƚŚĞ tĂƌ͕ ƐŚĞ ĐŽŵŵŝƩ ĞĚ ŚĞƌƐĞůĨ ƚŽ ƉĞƌŚĂƉƐ ŚĞƌ ŵŽƐƚ ůŽǀŝŶŐ ĚĞĞĚ͕ ǁƌŝƟ ŶŐ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ĨĂŵŝůŝĞƐ of her massacred friends to share their last ŵĞƐƐĂŐĞƐ͘ aŝŵĂŝƚĦ ǁĂƐ ŶŽƚ ƐŽŵĞ ǁĞůůͲƉůĂĐĞĚ ĚŝƉůŽŵĂƚ ƵƐŝŶŐ ƉƌŝǀŝůĞŐĞĚ ĐŽŶŶĞĐƟ ŽŶƐ͕ ƐŚĞ was just a working class woman of enormous ŝŶƚĞŐƌŝƚǇ͘ &ĂƐĐŝŶĂƚĞĚ ďǇ aŝŵĂŝƚĦ͛Ɛ ůŝĨĞ͕ aƵŬǇƐ explored the archives in Vilnius and visited ĂƌĞĂƐ ŽĨ &ƌĂŶĐĞ ǁŚĞƌĞ aŝŵĂŝƚĦ ůŝǀĞĚ ĂŌ Ğƌ ƚŚĞ tĂƌ͘ tĂůŬŝŶŐ ŝŶ ŚĞƌ ĨŽŽƚƐƚĞƉƐ͕ aƵŬǇƐ ŵĞĚŝƚĂƚĞƐ ŽŶ ŚĞƌ ƐƵďũĞĐƚ͛Ɛ ŽďƐĞƐƐŝǀĞ ůĞƩ ĞƌͲǁƌŝƟ ŶŐ͕ ǁŚŝĐŚ ŵĂǇ ŚĂǀĞ ŬĞƉƚ ŚĞƌ ĨƌŽŵ ǁƌŝƟ ŶŐ ŚĞƌ ŵĞŵŽŝƌƐ͕ ŚĞƌ ƐĞǆƵĂůŝƚǇ͕ ŚĞƌ ĂƚŚŽůŝĐŝƐŵ͕ ĂŶĚ ƐŽŵĞ ƋƵĞƐͲ Ɵ ŽŶƐ ŚĞƌ ůŝĨĞ ƐƚŽƌǇ ƉŽƐĞƐ ĨŽƌ ĨĞŵŝŶŝƐƚ ƚŚŝŶŬĞƌƐ͘ hƐŝŶŐ Ă ǀĞƌǇ ƉĞƌƐŽŶĂů ůĞŶƐ ƚŽ ĨƌĂŵĞ Ă ďŝŽŐͲ ƌĂƉŚǇ ĐĂŶ ďĞ ĞŶŐĂŐŝŶŐ͕ ďƵƚ ŚĞƌĞ͕ ĞǀĞƌǇ Ɵ ŵĞ aƵŬǇƐ ƌƵŵŝŶĂƚĞƐ ŽŶ sŝƌŐŝŶŝĂ tŽŽůĨ͕ Žƌ ŚĞƌ ŽǁŶ ƉĂƌĞŶƟ ŶŐ ĚŝůĞŵŵĂƐ͕ ƚŚĞ ƌĞĂĚĞƌ ǁŝƐŚĞƐ ƐŚĞ͛Ě ŐŝǀĞŶ ƵƐ ŽŶĞ ŵŽƌĞ ƐŶŝƉƉĞƚ ĨƌŽŵ aŝŵĂŝƚĦ͛Ɛ ůĞƚͲ ƚĞƌƐ͘ ůĂƐ͕ ƚŚĞ ďŽŽŬ ĐŽŶĐůƵĚĞƐ ǁŝƚŚ Ă ĚĞƚŽƵƌ

summer 5772/2012

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Ŷ ƚŚŝƐ ĂďƐŽƌďŝŶŐ ďŝŽŐƌĂƉŚǇ͕ ĂƵƚŚŽƌ ƌƵĐĞ ZƵďĞŶ ŝŶĐŽƌƉŽƌĂƚĞƐ ƚŚĞ ƌĞƐĞĂƌĐŚ ĂŶĚ ǁƌŝƟ ŶŐ that has accrued over the years pertaining to one of the central icons of nineteenth century Reform Judaism. Dr. Max Lilienthal was an academically and rabbinically trained Orthodox rabbi who was charged with introducing modern Hebrew into the ultra-Orthodox shtetlech ŽĨ ƚŚĞ WĂůĞ ŽĨ ^ĞƩ ůĞŵĞŶƚ͘ >ŝůŝĞŶƚŚĂů tried in vain to convince his coreligionists of ƚŚĞ ƌĞůĞǀĂŶĐĞ ŽĨ ŵŽĚĞƌŶŝǌĂƟ ŽŶ ďƵƚ ĞǀĞŶƚƵͲ ally saw that his future lay elsewhere. Newly married and eager to teach the principles of :ƵĚĂŝƐŵ͕ ŚĞ ŵŽǀĞĚ ƚŽ EĞǁ zŽƌŬ ŝƚǇ ŝŶ ϭϴϰϱ as Chief Rabbi of three Orthodox congregaƟ ŽŶƐ͘ Ɛ ƚŚĞ ďƵƌŐĞŽŶŝŶŐ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ĐŽŵŵƵŶŝƚǇ ŵŽǀĞĚ ǁĞƐƚǁĂƌĚ͕ ƐŽ ĚŝĚ >ŝůŝĞŶƚŚĂů͕ ǁŚŽ ůĞĚ ĂŶ ĂĐƟ ǀĞ ƌĂďďŝŶŝĐ ĂŶĚ ƉĞĚĂŐŽŐŝĐ ůŝĨĞ ŝŶ ŝŶĐŝŶŶĂƟ ͕ Ohio as a Reform rabbi. This scholarly work should be of interest to college and university students and is recommended for academic ůŝďƌĂƌǇ ĐŽůůĞĐƟ ŽŶƐ͘ ŝďůŝŽŐƌĂƉŚǇ͕ ŝŶĚĞǆ͘ MJM

The Life and Thought of Louis Lowy: Social Work Through the Holocaust Lorrie Greenhouse Gardella; Joachim Wieler, fwd. Syracuse University Press, 2011 Hardcover 240 pp. $24.95 ISBN: 978-0-8156-0965-0

ŚĂŶŬƐ ƚŽ >ŽƌƌŝĞ 'ƌĞĞŶŚŽƵƐĞ 'ĂƌĚĞůůĂ͕ we can add to the archives of Holocaust history the remarkable story of social work ƚŚĞŽƌŝƐƚ >ŽƵŝƐ >ŽǁǇ ;ϭϵϮϬͲϭϵϵϭͿ͘ ƌĂǁŝŶŐ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ƌĞĐŽůůĞĐƟ ŽŶƐ ŽĨ >ŽǁǇ͕ ŚŝƐ ǁŝĨĞ͕ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞŝƌ ĐŽŵƉĂŶŝŽŶƐ͕ 'ĂƌĚĞůůĂ ŬĞĞƉƐ ĚŝƐĐƵƐƐŝŽŶƐ ŽĨ >ŽǁǇ͛Ɛ ƐŽĐŝĂů ǁŽƌŬ ƚŚĞŽƌǇ ƌĞůĂƟ ǀĞůǇ ŵĂƌŐŝŶĂů͕ ĨŽĐƵƐŝŶŐ ŝŶƐƚĞĂĚ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ǁĂƌƟ ŵĞ ƐƚŽƌǇ͕ ŵĂŬŝŶŐ this slim biography into quite a page-turner! ŽƌŶ ŝŶ DƵŶŝĐŚ ŝŶ ϭϵϮϬ͕ >ŽǁǇ ǁĂƐ ƚŚŝƌƚĞĞŶ ǁŚĞŶ ŚŝƐ ƉĂƌĞŶƚƐ ƐĞŶƚ ŚŝŵͶĂůŽŶĞͶƚŽ >ŽŶĚŽŶ͕ ƚŽ ĞĚƵĐĂƚĞ ŚŝŵƐĞůĨ͘ /Ŷ ϭϵϯϲ͕ ǁŚĞŶ ŚĞ ǁĂƐ ũƵƐƚ ƐŝǆƚĞĞŶ͕ >ŽǁǇ ůĞŌ >ŽŶĚŽŶ ƚŽ ŚĞůƉ ŚŝƐ ĨĂŵŝůǇ ƌĞƐĞƩ ůĞ ŝŶ WƌĂŐƵĞͶĂŶ ĂĐƚ ŽĨ ͞Į ůŝĂů ŵĂƚƵƌŝƚǇ͕͟ >ŽǁǇ ĐĂůůĞĚ ŝƚ͕ Ă ƉŚĂƐĞ ŽĨ ĚĞǀĞůŽƉŵĞŶƚ ǁŚĞŶ

nonfiction

The Pianist Two new books celebrate the indomitable 108-year-old pianist and Holocaust survivor Alice Herz-Sommer. A Century of Wisdom: Lessons from the Life of Alice HerzSommer, the World’s Oldest Living Holocaust Survivor

Alice's Piano: The Life of Alice Herz-Sommer Melissa Müller & Reinhard Piechocki; Alice Herz-Sommer, fwd. St. Martin’s Press, 2012 Hardcover 368 pp. $26.99 [e] ISBN: 978-1250007414

Caroline Stoessinger Spiegel & Grau, 2012 Hardcover 233 pp. $23.00 [e] ISBN 978-0-8129-9281-6

ŚĂǀĞ ŶĞǀĞƌ ůĞĂƌŶĞĚ ƚŽ ŐŝǀĞ ƵƉ ŚŽƉĞ͕͟ ǁƌŽƚĞ ůŝĐĞ ŝŶ ŚĞƌ ŝŶƚƌŽĚƵĐƟ ŽŶ ƚŽ ƚŚŝƐ ƐƚŽƌǇ ŽĨ ŚĞƌ ůŝĨĞ͘ ƚ ϭϬϴ ǇĞĂƌƐ ŽĨ ĂŐĞ͕ ƐŚĞ ŝƐ ĐŽŶƐŝĚĞƌĞĚ ƚŽ ďĞ ƚŚĞ ŽůĚĞƐƚ ,ŽůŽĐĂƵƐƚ ƐƵƌǀŝǀŽƌ͘ /ƚ ŵƵƐƚ ŚĂǀĞ ďĞĞŶ ŚĞƌ ŽƉƟ ŵŝƐŵ͕ ĐŽŵďŝŶĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ ŚĞƌ ůŽǀĞ ŽĨ music, and the spirit of persistence, that enabled her to endure life in a EĂǌŝ ĐŽŶĐĞŶƚƌĂƟ ŽŶ ĐĂŵƉ͕ dŚĞƌĞƐŝĞŶƐƚĂĚƚ͘ dŚĞƌĞ ƐŚĞ ǁĂƐ ĂůůŽǁĞĚ ƚŽ ƉůĂǇ ĂŶĚ ƌĞĐŽƌĚ ƚŚĞ ŐƌĞĂƚ ƉŝĂŶŽ ŵĂƐƚĞƌǁŽƌŬƐ͕ ƚŚƵƐ ŚĞůƉŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ EĂǌŝƐ͕ ŝŶ ƐƉŝƚĞ ŽĨ ŚĞƌƐĞůĨ͕ ƚŽ ĚĞĐĞŝǀĞ ƚŚĞ ǁŽƌůĚ ĂďŽƵƚ ƚŚĞŝƌ ƚƌĞĂƚŵĞŶƚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞŝƌ ƉƌŝƐŽŶĞƌƐ͘ ,Ğƌ ĐŽŶĮ ĚĞŶĐĞ ƚŚĂƚ ŽŶĞ ĐŽƵůĚ ǁŽƌŬ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚ ƉƌŽďůĞŵƐ͕ ĞǀĞŶ ƐĞƌŝŽƵƐ ŽŶĞƐ͕ ǁĂƐ ĂƉƉůŝĞĚ ŝŶ ŵĂŶǇ ĐŝƌĐƵŵƐƚĂŶĐĞƐ͘ ^ƚĂŶĚ ǇŽƵƌ ŐƌŽƵŶĚ͕ ĂƉƉůǇ ǇŽƵƌ ƐŬŝůůƐ ĂŶĚ ĚĞƚĞƌŵŝŶĂƟ ŽŶ͕ ĂŶĚ ƐƵĐĐĞƐƐ ǁŝůů ďĞ ĂĐŚŝĞǀĞĚ͕ ŚĂƐ ďĞĞŶ ŚĞƌ ďĞůŝĞĨ͘ /Ŷ ƐƉŝƚĞ ŽĨ ŚĞƌ ŐƌŝĞĨ ŽǀĞƌ ƚŚĞ ůŽƐƐ ŽĨ ŚĞƌ ŚƵƐďĂŶĚ ĂŶĚ ŚĞƌ ŵŽƚŚĞƌ͕ ƐŚĞ ƐŝŵƉůǇ ŚĂĚ ƚŽ ƐƵƌǀŝǀĞ ƚŚĞ ƉƌŝǀĂƟ ŽŶƐ ŽĨ ĐŽŶĐĞŶƚƌĂƟ ŽŶ ĐĂŵƉ ůŝĨĞ͕ ĨŽƌ ǁŝƚŚŽƵƚ ƚŚŽƐĞ ůŽǀĞĚ ŽŶĞƐ͕ ůŝĐĞ ǁĂƐ ƚŚĞ ƐŽůĞ ƉƌŽƚĞĐƚŽƌ ŽĨ ŚĞƌ ǇŽƵŶŐ ƐŽŶ͕ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞƌĞĨŽƌĞ ŬŶĞǁ ƚŚĂƚ ƐŚĞ ŚĂĚ ƚŽ ƐƵƌǀŝǀĞ͘ ,Ğƌ ĐŽŶĐĞƌƚƐ ĨŽƌ ĐĂŵƉ ƉƌŝƐŽŶĞƌƐ ŚĞůƉĞĚ ŬĞĞƉ ŚĞƌ ĂůŝǀĞ͕ ĂŶĚ ďƌŽƵŐŚƚ ŚŽƉĞ ĂŶĚ ďĞĂƵƚǇ to their miserable world. tƌŝƩ ĞŶ ďǇ ŚĞƌ ĐůŽƐĞ ĨƌŝĞŶĚ͕ ZĞŝŶŚĂƌĚƚ WŝĞĐŚŽĐŬŝ͕ ƚŚŝƐ ůŝǀĞůǇ ďŝŽŐƌĂƉŚǇ ƉĂǇƐ ƚƌŝďƵƚĞ ƚŽ Ă ůŽǀŝŶŐ ŵŽƚŚĞƌ͕ ,ŽůŽĐĂƵƐƚ ƐƵƌǀŝǀŽƌ͕ ĂŶĚ ƉŝĂŶŝƐƚ ǁŚŽ͕ ĨŽƌ ĐůŽƐĞ ƚŽ Ă ĐĞŶƚƵƌǇ͕ ŚĂƐ ďƌŽƵŐŚƚ ƚŚĞ ũŽǇ ŽĨ ŵƵƐŝĐ ƚŽ ŵĂŶǇ ĂƵĚŝĞŶĐĞƐ͘ The author has supplied excerpts from the music that she played, and ĂĐĐŽŵƉĂŶǇŝŶŐ ͞ƉƌŽŐƌĂŵ ŶŽƚĞƐ͘͟ ůƚŚŽƵŐŚ ƚŚĞ ĐŚĂƉƚĞƌƐ ĂďŽƵƚ dŚĞƌĞͲ ƐŝŶƐƚĂĚƚ ŽĐĐƵƉǇ Ă ůĂƌŐĞ ƉĂƌƚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ďŽŽŬ͕ ŵƵĐŚ ŽĨ ŝƚ ŝƐ ĂůƐŽ ƚĂŬĞŶ ƵƉ ǁŝƚŚ ůŝĐĞ͛Ɛ ǇŽƵŶŐĞƌ ĚĂǇƐ ĂƐ ǁĞůů ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ǇĞĂƌƐ ĂŌ Ğƌ ŚĞƌ ƌĞůĞĂƐĞ ĨƌŽŵ ĐĂƉƟ ǀŝƚǇ͘ ͞DƵƐŝĐ ƚĂŬĞƐ ƵƐ ƚŽ ƉĂƌĂĚŝƐĞ͕͟ ůŝĐĞ ,ĞƌǌͲ^ŽŵŵĞƌ ƐĂǇƐ ŝŶ ŚĞƌ ĨŽƌĞǁĂƌĚ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ďŽŽŬ͕ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ĂďŝůŝƚǇ ƚŽ ŵĂŬĞ ŵƵƐŝĐ ďĞĂƵƟ ĨƵůůǇ ŚĂƐ ƐƵƌĞůǇ ĂĚĚĞĚ ǇĞĂƌƐ ƚŽ ŚĞƌ ůŝĨĞ ũƵƐƚ ĂƐ ŝƚ ŚĂƐ ďƌŽƵŐŚƚ ŚŽƉĞ ĂŶĚ ƉůĞĂƐƵƌĞ ƚŽ ŚĞƌ ĂƵĚŝͲ ences. CLR

children take responsibility for their parents. In 1941, the Lowy family was transported to the dĞƌĞǌŝŶ ĐĂŵƉ͕ ǁŚĞƌĞ >ŽƵŝƐ ĚĞĮ ĞĚ ƚŚĞ ĂƵƚŚŽƌŝͲ Ɵ ĞƐ ďǇ ŽƌŐĂŶŝǌŝŶŐ ƚŚĞĂƚƌŝĐĂů ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞƐ ĂŶĚ ĞĚƵĐĂƟ ŽŶ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ǇŽƵŶŐĞƌ ĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶ͕ Ă ŵŝƐƐŝŽŶ ŚĞ ĐŚĂƌĂĐƚĞƌŝǌĞĚ ĂƐ ͞ĐƌĞĂƟ ǀĞ ĂůƚƌƵŝƐŵ͘͟ /Ŷ ϭϵϰϰ ŚĞ ǁĂƐ ƚĂŬĞŶ ƚŽ ƵƐĐŚǁŝƚǌ͘ ,Ğ ĂŶĚ ƐĞǀĞƌĂů ĐůŽƐĞ

Century of Wisdom: Lessons from the Life of Alice Herz-Sommer, the World’s Oldest Living Holocaust Survivor ďǇ ĂƌŽůŝŶĞ ^ƚŽĞƐƐŝŶŐĞƌ ƚĞůůƐ ƚŚĞ ŝŶƐƉŝƌĂƟ ŽŶĂů ƐƚŽƌǇ ŽĨ ϭϬϴͲǇĞĂƌͲŽůĚ ŐŝŌ ĞĚ ƉŝĂŶŝƐƚ ůŝĐĞ ,ĞƌǌͲ^ŽŵŵĞƌ͘ /ƚ ŝƐ Ă ƚĂůĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƉŽǁĞƌ ŽĨ ŵƵƐŝĐ ĂŶĚ ŝƚƐ Ğī ĞĐƚƐ ŽŶ ůŝƐƚĞŶĞƌƐ ĂŶĚ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĞƌƐ͕ ǁŚĞŶ ĐŽƵƉůĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ Ă ŐĞŶĞƌŽƐŝƚǇ ŽĨ ƐƉŝƌŝƚ ĂŶĚ ĂŶ ŽƉƟ ŵŝƐƟ Đ ŽƵƚůŽŽŬ͘ /Ŷ :ƵůǇ͕ ϭϵϰϯ͕ ůŝĐĞ͕ ŚĞƌ ŚƵƐďĂŶĚ ĂŶĚ ŚĞƌ Ɛŝǆ ǇĞĂƌ ŽůĚ ƐŽŶ͕ ZĂĮ ͕ ǁĞƌĞ ƚĂŬĞŶ ĨƌŽŵ ǌĞĐŚŽƐůŽǀĂŬŝĂ ĂŶĚ ƐĞŶƚ ƚŽ dŚĞƌĞƐŝĞŶƐƚĂĚƚ͕ ƚŚĞ ƐŽͲĐĂůůĞĚ ͞ŵŽĚĞů͟ ĐŽŶĐĞŶƚƌĂƟ ŽŶ ĐĂŵƉ ǁŚĞƌĞ͕ ĂĐĐŽƌĚŝŶŐ ƚŽ EĂǌŝ ƉƌŽƉĂŐĂŶĚĂ͕ ĚŝƐƟ ŶŐƵŝƐŚĞĚ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ŵƵƐŝĐŝĂŶƐ͕ ǁƌŝƚĞƌƐ͕ ƐĐŝĞŶƟ ƐƚƐ͕ ĂƌƟ ƐƚƐ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ĞůĚĞƌůǇ ǁĞƌĞ ƚŽ ďĞ ͞ƉƌŽƚĞĐƚĞĚ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ ǁĂƌ͘͟ dŚĞ ƌĞĂů ǁŽƌůĚ ƌĞǀĞĂůĞĚ ŽƚŚĞƌǁŝƐĞ͘ KĨ ƚŚĞ ϭϱϲ͕ϬϬϬ :ĞǁƐ ĐŽŶĮ ŶĞĚ ƚŽ dŚĞƌĞƐŝĞŶƐƚĂĚƚ͕ ŽŶůǇ ϭϳ͕ϱϬϬ ǁŽƵůĚ ƐƵƌǀŝǀĞ͘ KĨ ƚŚĞ ϭϱ͕ϬϬϬ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶ ƐĞŶƚ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ĐĂŵƉ͕ ĂƉƉƌŽǆŝŵĂƚĞůǇ ϭϬϬ ƐƵƌǀŝǀĞĚ͕ ĂŵŽŶŐ ƚŚĞŵ ŚĞƌ ƐŽŶ ZĂĮ ͘ /ƚ ǁĂƐ Ăƚ ƚŚĂƚ ĐĂŵƉ ƚŚĂƚ ůŝĐĞ ,ĞƌǌͲ^ŽŵŵĞƌ ƐĞƌǀĞĚ ĂƐ Ă ƉŝĂŶŝƐƚ ĂŶĚ ƉůĂǇĞĚ Ăƚ ŵŽƌĞ ƚŚĂŶ ŽŶĞ ŚƵŶĚƌĞĚ ƉƌŽŐƌĂŵƐ ĨŽƌ ŚĞƌ ĨĞůůŽǁ ŝŶŵĂƚĞƐ ĂŶĚ ƐĞĐƌĞƚůǇ ŐĂǀĞ piano lessons to children in the camp. Ō Ğƌ ƚŚĞ ǁĂƌ͕ ůŝĐĞ ŵŽǀĞĚ ƚŽ /ƐƌĂĞů ǁŝƚŚ ŚĞƌ ǇŽƵŶŐ ƐŽŶ ƚŽ ũŽŝŶ ƌĞůĂƟ ǀĞƐ͘ ,Ğƌ ƐŽŶ ĚĞǀĞůŽƉĞĚ ŝŶƚŽ ĂŶ ĂĐĐŽŵƉůŝƐŚĞĚ ĐĞůůŝƐƚ͘ tŚĞŶ ŚĞ ŵŽǀĞĚ ƚŽ ŶŐůĂŶĚ ƚŽ ĨƵƌƚŚĞƌ ŚŝƐ ŵƵƐŝĐĂů ĐĂƌĞĞƌ͕ ůŝĐĞ ũŽŝŶĞĚ Śŝŵ͘ dŚƌŽƵŐŚŽƵƚ͕ ŚĞƌ ŵƵƐŝĐĂů ƚĂůĞŶƚƐ ŬĞƉƚ ŚĞƌ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ ƚĞĂĐŚŝŶŐ͘ tŽǀĞŶ ŝŶƚŽ ƚŚĞ ƐƚŽƌǇ ĂƌĞ ǀŝŐŶĞƩ ĞƐ ĚĞƐĐƌŝďŝŶŐ ůŝĐĞ͛Ɛ ƉĞƌƐŽŶĂů ĞǆƉĞƌŝͲ ĞŶĐĞƐ ǁŝƚŚ ŐƌĞĂƚ ŵƵƐŝĐŝĂŶƐ͕ ǁƌŝƚĞƌƐ͕ ĂŶĚ /ƐƌĂĞůŝ ƉŽůŝƟ ĐĂů ůĞĂĚĞƌƐ͕ ŝŶĐůƵĚͲ ŝŶŐ 'ƵƐƚĂǀ DĂŚůĞƌ͕ ĂŶŝĞů ĂƌĞŶďĂƵŵ͕ &ƌĂŶǌ <ĂŅ Ă͕ DĂǆ ƌŽĚ͕ ĂŶĚ 'ŽůĚĂ DĞŝĞƌ͘ dŚĞ ĂƵƚŚŽƌ͕ ĂƌŽůŝŶĞ ^ƚŽĞƐƐŝŶŐĞƌ͕ ŝŶƚĞƌǀŝĞǁĞĚ ůŝĐĞ ĨŽƌ ĐŽƵŶƚůĞƐƐ ŚŽƵƌƐ ĨƌŽŵ ϮϬϬϰ ƚŽ ϮϬϭϭ͕ ĂŶĚ ƚŚŝƐ ŵĞŵŽŝƌ ŝƐ Į ůůĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ǁŝƐĚŽŵ ůŝĐĞ ĂĐĐƵŵƵůĂƚĞĚ ůŝǀŝŶŐ ŚĞƌ ůŝĨĞ͕ ƐŚĞ ƐĂǇƐ͕ ƚŚĞ ƌŝŐŚƚ ǁĂǇ͘ ^ƚŽĞƐƐŝŶŐĞƌ ŝƐ ŚĞƌƐĞůĨ ĂŶ ĂĐĐŽŵƉůŝƐŚĞĚ ƉŝĂŶŝƐƚ ǁŚŽ ŚĂƐ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĞĚ Ăƚ ĂƌŶĞŐŝĞ ,Ăůů ĂŶĚ >ŝŶĐŽůŶ ĞŶƚĞƌ ĂŶĚ ŝƐ Ă ůŽŶŐ Ɵ ŵĞ ŵĞŵďĞƌ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ dŽŬǇŽ ^ƚƌŝŶŐ YƵĂƌƚĞƚ͘ ŝďůŝŽŐƌĂƉŚǇ͕ ĞŶĚŶŽƚĞƐ͕ ƉŚŽƚŽŐƌĂƉŚƐ͘ CP

ĨƌŝĞŶĚƐ ůĂƚĞƌ ĞƐĐĂƉĞĚ Ă ĚĞĂƚŚ ŵĂƌĐŚ ĐŽŶǀŽǇ͕ ůŝǀŝŶŐ ƵŶĚĞƌĐŽǀĞƌ ƵŶƟ ů s Ͳ ĂǇ͘ ZĞƐĞƩ ůĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĞŐŐĞŶĚŽƌĨ W ĞŶƚĞƌ͕ ǁŚŝĐŚ ŚĞ ŚĞůƉĞĚ ƚƌĂŶƐͲ ĨŽƌŵ ŝŶƚŽ Ă :ĞǁŝƐŚ ĐŽŵŵƵŶŝƚǇ͕ >ŽǁǇ ĞŵŝŐƌĂƚĞĚ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ hŶŝƚĞĚ ^ƚĂƚĞƐ ǁŝƚŚ ŚŝƐ ǁŝĨĞ͕ ďĞŐŝŶŶŝŶŐ ŚŝƐ formal social work career. As he realized that ŚŝƐ ĞǆƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞƐ ĂƐ Ă ĚŝƐƉůĂĐĞĚ ƉĞƌƐŽŶ ŐĂǀĞ Śŝŵ

www.jewishbookcouncil.org

ƐƉĞĐŝĂů ŝŶƐŝŐŚƚ ŝŶƚŽ ƚŚĞ ĐŚĂůůĞŶŐĞƐ ŽĨ ŽůĚ ĂŐĞ͕ ŚĞ ďĞĐĂŵĞ Ă ŐĞƌŽŶƚŽůŽŐŝƐƚ͘ ƐĞĐƵůĂƌ ŵĂŶ ŚŝƐ ǁŚŽůĞ ůŝĨĞ͕ >ŽǁǇ ďĞůŝĞǀĞĚ͕ ĂƐ 'ĂƌĚĞůůĂ ƐĂǇƐ͕ ƚŚĂƚ ͞ƐŽĐŝĂů ǁŽƌŬ ǁĂƐ ŚŝƐ ŶĂŵĞ ĨŽƌ ůŝǀŝŶŐ ĂƐ Ă :Ğǁ͘͟ ŝďůŝŽŐƌĂƉŚǇ͕ ŝŶĚĞǆ͕ ŵĂƉƐ͕ ŶŽƚĞƐ͕ ƉŚŽƚŽŐƌĂƉŚƐ͘ BEB

summer 5772/2012

Jewish Book World

nonfiction Trotsky: A Biography Robert Service Harvard University Press, 2011 Paperback 648 pp. $22.95 ISBN: 978-0-674-06225-2

ŚŝůĞ ^ĞƌǀŝĐĞ͛Ɛ ŵĂŐŝƐƚĞƌŝĂů ďŝŽŐƌĂƉŚǇ ŽĨ dƌŽƚƐŬǇ ŝƐ ĐĞƌƚĂŝŶůǇ ĐŽŵƉƌĞŚĞŶƐŝǀĞ͕ ĞŵƉůŽǇŝŶŐ ĂŶ ŝŵƉƌĞƐƐŝǀĞ ƌĂŶŐĞ ŽĨ ƉƌĞǀŝŽƵƐůǇ ƵŶĂǀĂŝůĂďůĞ ƐŽƵƌĐĞ ŵĂƚĞƌŝĂů͕ ƌĞĂĚŝŶŐ ŝƚ ŝƐ ůŝŬĞ ĞĂƟ ŶŐ Ăƚ ŽŶĞ ŽĨ ƚŚŽƐĞ ƉƌŝĐĞǇ ƌĞƐƚĂƵƌĂŶƚƐ ǁŚĞƌĞ ƚŚĞ ŽǀĞƌƐŝǌĞĚ ŵĂŝŶ ĐŽƵƌƐĞ ŝƐ ŝŶĚŝŐĞƐƚͲ ŝďůĞ͕ ĂůƚŚŽƵŐŚ ƚŚĞ ƐŝĚĞ ĚŝƐŚĞƐ ĂƌĞ ĚĞůŝŐŚƞ Ƶů͘ ^ĞƌǀŝĐĞ͛Ɛ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚ ŽĨ dƌŽƚƐŬǇ͛Ɛ ůŝĨĞ ŝƐ ƐŽ ŚĞĂǀŝůǇ ĐŽůŽƌĞĚ ďǇ ŚŝƐ ĚŝƐĚĂŝŶ͕ ƚŚĂƚ Ăƚ Ɵ ŵĞƐ ŝƚ ŝƐ ŚĂƌĚ ĞǀĞŶ ƚŽ ƌĞĂĚ͕ ŵƵĐŚ ůĞƐƐ ƚŽ ƚĂŬĞ ƐĞƌŝŽƵƐůǇ͘ ,Ğ harps on Trotsky’s boyhood peccadillos, his ƐŚĂďďǇ ƚƌĞĂƚŵĞŶƚ ŽĨ ŚŝƐ ǁŝǀĞƐ ĂŶĚ ĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶ͕ ŚŝƐ ǀĂŶŝƟ ĞƐ͘ dŚĞ ďŝŽŐƌĂƉŚĞƌ͛Ɛ ƉĞƚƵůĂŶĐĞ ŽŶ ƐƵĐŚ ŵĂƩ ĞƌƐ ŽďƐĐƵƌĞƐ ƚŚĞ ƐƚƌĞŶŐƚŚƐ ŽĨ ŽƚŚĞƌ ĐŚĂƉƚĞƌƐ͕ ĞƐƉĞĐŝĂůůǇ ƚŚĞ ŽŶĞƐ ĚĞĂůŝŶŐ ǁŝƚŚ dƌŽƚƐŬǇ͛Ɛ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ŝĚĞŶƟ ƚǇ͕ Žƌ ƚŚĞ ŝŶƚĞƌŶĞĐŝŶĞ ƐƚƌƵŐŐůĞƐ ŽĨ ǀĂƌŝŽƵƐ ƉŽůŝƟ ĐĂů ĨĂĐƟ ŽŶƐ͘ dŚĞ ĞǆƚĞŶƐŝǀĞ ŵĂƉƐͶŽĨ ZƵƐƐŝĂ͕ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĞĂƌůǇ ^ŽǀŝĞƚ Union, of Trotsky’s exile, of his compound in DĞǆŝĐŽͶĂƌĞ ǁŽŶĚĞƌĨƵů͕ ĂƐ ĂƌĞ ƚŚĞ ƉŚŽƚŽ ŝŶͲ ƐĞƌƚƐ͘ ^ŽŵĞŚŽǁ͕ Ă ĐŽƵƉůĞ ŽĨ ƉĂŐĞƐ ŽĨ dƌŽƚƐŬǇ͛Ɛ doodles say so much more about his social ŵĂŶŶĞƌ ƚŚĂŶ Ăůů ^ĞƌǀŝĐĞ͛Ɛ ƚƵƚͲƚƵƫ ŶŐ ĂďŽƵƚ ŚŝƐ ĂƌƌŽŐĂŶĐĞ͘ ZĞĂĚĞƌƐ ůŽŽŬŝŶŐ ĨŽƌ ĂŶ ĂĐĐĞƐƐŝďůĞ͕ ŵŽĚĞƌŶ ƚĂŬĞ ŽŶ dƌŽƚƐŬǇ͛Ɛ ůŝĨĞ ĂŶĚ Ɵ ŵĞƐ ŵŝŐŚƚ ǁĞůů ƉƌĞĨĞƌ ZƵďĞŶƐƚĞŝŶ͛Ɛ ƌĞĐĞŶƚ Leon Trotsky: ZĞǀŽůƵƟ ŽŶĂƌǇ͛Ɛ >ŝĨĞ͘ ŝďůŝŽŐƌĂƉŚǇ͕ ŝŶĚĞǆ͕ ŵĂƉƐ͕ ŶŽƚĞƐ͕ ƉŚŽƚŽŐƌĂƉŚƐ͘ BEB

Walther Rathenau: Weimar's Fallen Statesman Shulamit Volkov Yale University Press, 2012 Hardcover 256 pp. $25.00 [e] ISBN: 978-0300144314

t the end of the nineteenth century, many 'ĞƌŵĂŶ :ĞǁƐ͕ ĞƐƉĞĐŝĂůůǇ ƚŚŽƐĞ ǁŚŽ ǁĞƌĞ educated and successful, had assimilated into 'ĞƌŵĂŶ ƐŽĐŝĞƚǇ͘ tŝƚŚ ĞŵĂŶĐŝƉĂƟ ŽŶ ĐĂŵĞ ŽƉͲ ƉŽƌƚƵŶŝƚǇ͖ ŚŽǁĞǀĞƌ͕ ŽƉƉŽƌƚƵŶŝƚǇ ǁĂƐ ůŝŵŝƚĞĚ͕ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ƐƉĞĐƚĞƌ ŽĨ ĂŶƟ Ͳ^ĞŵŝƟ Ɛŵ ƌĞŵĂŝŶĞĚ ĂŶ ƵŶĚĞƌĐƵƌƌĞŶƚ ŽĨ ĞǀĞƌǇĚĂǇ ůŝĨĞ͘ /Ŷ ƚŚĞ ůĂƚĞƐƚ ŽĨͲ ĨĞƌŝŶŐ ĨƌŽŵ zĂůĞ͛Ɛ Jewish Lives series, Shulamit sŽůŬŽǀ ĚŽĐƵŵĞŶƚƐ tĂůƚŚĞƌ ZĂƚŚĞŶĂƵ͛Ɛ ƐƵĐĐĞƐƐ in Į Ŷ ĚĞ ƐŝğĐůĞ ĞƌůŝŶ͕ ĂŶĚ ƉĂŝŶƚƐ Ă ǀŝǀŝĚ ƉŽƌƚƌĂŝƚ ŽĨ ůŝĨĞ ĨŽƌ :ĞǁƐ Ăƚ ƚŚŝƐ Ɵ ŵĞ͘ ZĂƚŚĞŶĂƵ͕ ďŽƌŶ ŝŶƚŽ Ă ƐŽůŝĚ ŵŝĚĚůĞ ĐůĂƐƐ 'ĞƌŵĂŶ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ĨĂŵŝůǇ͕ ĂĐŚŝĞǀĞĚ ŐƌĞĂƚ ƐƵĐĐĞƐƐ in his life as a businessman. He was able to ƚƵƌŶ ŚŝƐ ďƵƐŝŶĞƐƐ ĂĐŚŝĞǀĞŵĞŶƚƐ ŝŶƚŽ ƉŽůŝƟ ĐĂů ƐƵĐĐĞƐƐ ĂŶĚ ďĞĐŽŵĞ ƚŚĞ Į ƌƐƚ :Ğǁ ƚŽ ĂƐĐĞŶĚ ƚŽ Ă ƉŽůŝƟ ĐĂů ƌŽůĞ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ 'ĞƌŵĂŶ ŐŽǀĞƌŶͲ ŵĞŶƚ ĂŌ Ğƌ tŽƌůĚ tĂƌ /͘ ,Ğ ĂůƐŽ ĂƐƉŝƌĞĚ ƚŽ ďĞ ĐŽŶƐŝĚĞƌĞĚ Ă ƐĞƌŝŽƵƐ ǁƌŝƚĞƌ ĂŶĚ ŐĂŝŶĞĚ ƐŽŵĞ ŶŽƚŽƌŝĞƚǇ ĨŽƌ ŚŝƐ ƉŚŝůŽƐŽƉŚŝĐĂů ǁƌŝƟ ŶŐƐ ƚŚĂƚ͕ Ăƚ

Jewish Book World

Ɵ ŵĞƐ͕ ƐĞĞŵĞĚ ƚŽ ƉŽƌƚƌĂǇ ŚŝŵƐĞůĨ ĂƐ ĂŶ ĂŶƟ Ͳ ^ĞŵŝƟ Đ :Ğǁ͘ dŚŝƐ ƉŽƌƚƌĂŝƚ ŽĨ ŽŶĞ ŵĂŶ ůŝǀŝŶŐ a life in two worlds can be an uncomfortable ƌĞĂĚ ďĞĐĂƵƐĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŶŇ ŝĐƚ ďĞƚǁĞĞŶ ŚŝƐ :ĞǁͲ ŝƐŚ ĂŶĚ 'ĞƌŵĂŶ ŝĚĞŶƟ Ɵ ĞƐ͘ ZĂƚŚĞŶĂƵ ƌĞĂůŝǌĞĚ ƚŚĂƚ ĂƐ Ă :Ğǁ ŚŝƐ ƉƌŽŐƌĞƐƐ ŝŶ ƐŽĐŝĞƚǇ ǁŽƵůĚ ĂůǁĂǇƐ ďĞ ŚĞůĚ ďĂĐŬ ĂŶĚ ŚĞ ĐŽƵůĚ ŶĞǀĞƌ ĂƩ ĂŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƌŽůĞ ŚĞ ǁŝƐŚĞĚ ŝŶ 'ĞƌŵĂŶ ůŝĨĞ͘ ƵƌŝŶŐ ŚŝƐ ůŝĨĞƟ ŵĞ ŚĞ ĚĞǀĞůŽƉĞĚ ŵĂŶǇ enemies who wished to see him fail. Whether this was due to his prickly, cold personality, his ĐŽŶƚĞŶƟ ŽƵƐ ďƵƐŝŶĞƐƐ ƌĞůĂƟ ŽŶƐŚŝƉƐ͕ ŚŝƐ ŽŌ ĞŶͲ ĐŽŶƚƌŽǀĞƌƐŝĂů ǁƌŝƟ ŶŐƐ͕ Žƌ ƚŚĞ ĨĂĐƚ ŽĨ ŚŝƐ ďĞŝŶŐ Ă :Ğǁ͕ ƌĞŵĂŝŶƐ ĂŶ ŽƉĞŶ ƋƵĞƐƟ ŽŶ͘ ZĂƚŚĞŶĂƵ ǁĂƐ ĂƐƐĂƐƐŝŶĂƚĞĚ ďǇ ZŝŐŚƚͲǁŝŶŐ ĞǆƚƌĞŵŝƐƚƐ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ ĂŐĞ ŽĨ Į Ō ǇͲĮ ǀĞ ŝŶ ϭϵϮϮ͕ ƐƵĐĐĞƐƐĨƵů ďƵƚ ŶĞǀĞƌ Ăƚ ƉĞĂĐĞ ǁŝƚŚ ŚŝƐ ŽǁŶ ŝĚĞŶƟ ƚǇ͘ BA

contemporary ũĞǁŝƐŚ ůŝĨĞ Θ ƉƌĂĐƟ ĐĞ Beyond the Sling: A Real-Life Guide to Raising Confident, Loving Children the Attachment Parenting Way Mayim Bialik; Jay Gordon, intro. Touchstone, 2012 Hardcover 247 pp. $23.99 [e] ISBN: 978-1-4516-1800-6

ĂǇŝŵ ŝĂůŝŬ ĚŽĞƐ Ă ŐƌĞĂƚ ƐĞƌǀŝĐĞ ƚŽ ƚŚŽƐĞ of us unfamiliar with or uncomfortable ǁŝƚŚ Ʃ ĂĐŚŵĞŶƚ WĂƌĞŶƟ ŶŐ͘ /Ŷ ŚĞƌ ďŽŽŬ͕ Beyond the Sling: A Real Life Guide to Raising ŽŶĮ ĚĞŶƚ͕ >ŽǀŝŶŐ ŚŝůĚƌĞŶ ƚŚĞ Ʃ ĂĐŚŵĞŶƚ WĂƌĞŶƟ ŶŐ tĂǇ͕ ŝĂůŝŬ ŐƌĂĐĞĨƵůůǇ ĐŽŵďŝŶĞƐ ŚĞƌ own experiences with her research as both Ă WŚ͘ ͘ ŽĨ ŶĞƵƌŽƐĐŝĞŶĐĞ ĂŶĚ ĂƐ Ă ƉĂƌĞŶƚ͘ ,Ğƌ honest, personal, and detailed account of her ƌĞůĂƟ ŽŶƐŚŝƉ ƚŽ ŚĞƌ ďŽǇƐ ǁĞůĐŽŵĞƐ ƚŚĞ ƌĞĂĚĞƌ ŝŶƚŽ Ă ƉĂƌĞŶƟ ŶŐ ƐƚǇůĞ ƚŚĂƚ ĐĂŶ ƐŽŵĞƟ ŵĞƐ ĨĞĞů ŽǀĞƌǁŚĞůŵŝŶŐ͘ Ɛ Ă ƉĂƌĞŶƚ ŽĨ ƚǁŽ ǇŽƵŶŐ

summer 5772/2012

www.jewishbookcouncil.org

ĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶ͕ / ƐƉĞŶƚ ƚŚĞ ŵĂũŽƌŝƚǇ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ďŽŽŬ ĨĞĞůͲ ŝŶŐ ŝŶƐƉŝƌĞĚ ƚŽ ďĞ Ă ůŝƩ ůĞ ŵŽƌĞ ͚ĂƩ ĂĐŚŵĞŶƚ͛ ƉĂƌĞŶƚ ĂŶĚ Ă ůŝƩ ůĞ ůĞƐƐ ͚ƐĐŚĞĚƵůĞ ŽƌŝĞŶƚĞĚ͛ ƉĂƌĞŶƚͶƚŽ ŶƵƌƐĞ ŵǇ ĚĂƵŐŚƚĞƌ ďĞĐĂƵƐĞ ƐŚĞ ƐĞĞŵƐ ƚŽ ǁĂŶƚ ƚŽ͕ ĞǀĞŶ ƚŚŽƵŐŚ ŚĞƌ ƐĐŚĞĚƵůĞ ĚŽĞƐ ŶŽƚ ĚŝĐƚĂƚĞ Ă Ɵ ŵĞ ƚŽ ĞĂƚ͖ ƚŽ ƐƉĞŶĚ ĂŶ ĞǆƚƌĂ ĨĞǁ ŵŝŶƵƚĞƐ ǁŝƚŚ ŵǇ ƐŽŶ ĂƐ ŚĞ ƐƚƌƵŐŐůĞƐ ƚŽ ĨĂůů ĂƐůĞĞƉ Ăƚ ŶŝŐŚƚ͕ ĞǀĞŶ ƚŚŽƵŐŚ ŽƵƌ ƌŽƵƟ ŶĞ ĚŽĞƐ ŶŽƚ ĂůůŽǁ ĨŽƌ ŝƚ͘ ŶĚ ǁŚŝůĞ / ƐƚƌƵŐŐůĞĚ with certain components of the philosophy (I Ăŵ ŶŽƚ ĐŽŶǀŝŶĐĞĚ ƚŚĂƚ Ă ĚŝƐĐƵƐƐŝŽŶ ĂŶĚ Ă ŚƵŐ ŝƐ ĞŶŽƵŐŚ ƚŽ ĐŽŶƋƵĞƌ ƚŚĞ ƚĞŵƉĞƌ ƚĂŶƚƌƵŵƐ ŝŶ ŵǇ ŚŽƵƐĞͿ͕ ŝƚ ŝƐ Ă ǀĂůƵĂďůĞ ƌĞĂĚ ĨŽƌ ŶĞǁ Žƌ expectant parents. AP

A Guide to Jewish Practice: Volume 1 - Everyday Living David A. Teutsch RRC Press, 2011 Hardcover 670 pp. $39.95 ISBN: 978-0-938945-18-5

ĞĐŽŶƐƚƌƵĐƟ ŽŶŝƐƚ :ƵĚĂŝƐŵ͕ ƚŚĞ ŵŽǀĞŵĞŶƚ ĨŽƵŶĚĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŵŝĚͲƚǁĞŶƟ ĞƚŚ ĐĞŶƚƵƌǇ ďǇ DŽƌĚĞĐĂŝ <ĂƉůĂŶ͕ ŚĂƐ ŶŽ ŽďůŝŐĂƚŽƌǇ ƐƚĂƚĞŵĞŶƚ of principles, but rather holds by a consensus ŽĨ ďĞůŝĞĨƐ͘ ZĞĐŽŶƐƚƌƵĐƟ ŽŶŝƐƚƐ ƌĞũĞĐƚ ƚŚĞ ĐůĂƐƐŝĐĂů ǀŝĞǁ ŽĨ 'ŽĚ͕ ĚŽŶ͛ƚ ďĞůŝĞǀĞ ŝŶ ĚŝǀŝŶĞ ŝŶƚĞƌǀĞŶƟ ŽŶ͕ ĂŶĚ ďĞůŝĞǀĞ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞ dŽƌĂŚ ǁĂƐ ŶŽƚ ŝŶƐƉŝƌĞĚ ďǇ 'ŽĚ ďƵƚ ĐŽŵĞƐ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ ƐŽĐŝĂů ĂŶĚ ŚŝƐƚŽƌŝĐĂů ĚĞǀĞůŽƉŵĞŶƚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ƉĞŽƉůĞ͘ 'ŽĚ ŝƐ ƌĞĚĞĮ ŶĞĚ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ƐƵŵ ŽĨ ŶĂƚƵƌĂů powers or processes that allow mankind to ŐĂŝŶ ƐĞůĨͲĨƵůĮ ůůŵĞŶƚ ĂŶĚ ŵŽƌĂů ŝŵƉƌŽǀĞŵĞŶƚ͘ dŚĞ ŵŽǀĞŵĞŶƚ ŝƐ ďĂƐĞĚ ŽŶ Ă ĚĞŵŽĐƌĂƟ Đ ĐŽŵͲ ŵƵŶŝƚǇ ǁŚĞƌĞ ƚŚĞ ůĂŝƚǇ͕ ŶŽƚ ũƵƐƚ ƚŚĞ ƌĂďďŝƐ͕ ĐĂŶ ŵĂŬĞ ĚĞĐŝƐŝŽŶƐ͘ dŚĞ ŝĚĞĂ ƚŚĂƚ 'ŽĚ ĐŚŽƐĞ the Jewish people for any purpose, in any way, is "morally untenable," because anyone who has such beliefs "implies the superiority of the ĞůĞĐƚ ĐŽŵŵƵŶŝƚǇ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ƌĞũĞĐƟ ŽŶ ŽĨ ŽƚŚĞƌƐ͘͟ ,ĂůĂŬŚĂ ŝƐ ŶŽƚ ĐŽŶƐŝĚĞƌĞĚ ďŝŶĚŝŶŐ͕ ďƵƚ ŝƐ ƚŽ be taken seriously as a source and a resource. dŚĞ ŵŽǀĞŵĞŶƚ ĞŵƉŚĂƐŝǌĞƐ ƉŽƐŝƟ ǀĞ ǀŝĞǁƐ toward modernism, and has an approach to

nonfiction

Men at Shul As women claim larger roles in many Orthodox synagogues, men’s roles are changing, too: insights on “partnership minyanim” and a memoir about belonging to a beloved shul. The Men’s Section: Orthodox Jewish Men in an Egalitarian World Elana Maryles Sztokman Brandeis University Press, 2011 Paperback 288 pp. $29.95 [e] ISBN: 978-1-61168-079-9

ĞĐĞŶƚ ǇĞĂƌƐ ŚĂǀĞ ƐĞĞŶ Ă ďůƵƌƌŝŶŐ ŽĨ ĚĞŶŽŵŝŶĂƟ ŽŶĂů ůŝŶĞƐ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ŐƌŽǁƚŚ ŽĨ ƐǇŶĂŐŽŐƵĞƐ ĂŶĚ minyanim that do not ĐŽŶĨŽƌŵ ƚŽ ƉƌĂĐƟ ĐĞƐ ƚŚĂƚ ĂƌĞ ĐŚĂƌĂĐƚĞƌŝƐƟ Đ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĚĞƐŝŐŶĂƟ ŽŶƐ ZĞĨŽƌŵ͕ ŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟ ǀĞ͕ ZĞĐŽŶƐƚƌƵĐƟ ŽŶŝƐƚ͕ Žƌ KƌƚŚŽĚŽǆ͘ ŵŽŶŐ ƚŚĞƐĞ ŐƌŽƵƉƐ ĂƌĞ ǁŚĂƚ ƌĞƐĞĂƌĐŚĞƌ ĂŶĚ ĂĐƟ ǀŝƐƚ ůĂŶĂ DĂƌǇůĞƐ ^ǌƚŽŬŵĂŶ ĐĂůůƐ ͞ƉĂƌƚŶĞƌƐŚŝƉ ŵŝŶǇĂŶŝŵ͕͟ ǁŚŝĐŚ ůĂƌŐĞůǇ ĨŽůůŽǁ ŵŽĚĞƌŶ KƌƚŚŽĚŽǆ ƉƌĂĐƟ ĐĞƐ͕ ďƵƚ ŚĂǀĞ ĨŽƵŶĚ ǁĂǇƐ ǁŝƚŚŝŶ Ă ,ĂůĂĐŚŝĐ ĨƌĂŵĞǁŽƌŬ ƚŽ ĞŶĂďůĞ ǁŽŵĞŶ ƚŽ ƉůĂǇ Ă ŐƌĞĂƚĞƌ ƌŽůĞ ŝŶ ƐĞƌǀŝĐĞƐ͘ dŚŝƐ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ůŽŽŬƐ Ăƚ an unexpected consequence of these minyanim͗ Ă ƌĞǁŽƌŬŝŶŐ ŽĨ ǁŚĂƚ ƚŚĞ ŵĂůĞ ƌŽůĞ ůŽŽŬƐ ůŝŬĞ ŝŶ Ă ƚƌĂĚŝƟ ŽŶĂůůǇ ŽďƐĞƌǀĂŶƚ ĐŽŵŵƵŶŝƚǇ ǁŚĞŶ ŵĞŶ ŶŽ ůŽŶŐĞƌ ĚŽŵŝŶĂƚĞ Ăůů ƉƵďůŝĐ ƌĞůŝŐŝŽƵƐ ƌŽůĞƐ͘ /Ŷ ĞǆƉůŽƌŝŶŐ ƚŚŝƐ ŝƐƐƵĞ͕ ǁĞ ĂƌĞ ŐŝǀĞŶ ŐůŝŵƉƐĞƐ ŝŶƚŽ ƚŚĞ ůŝǀĞƐ ĂŶĚ ŽƵƚůŽŽŬƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŵĞŶ ǁŚŽ ŚĂǀĞ ĞŵƉŽǁĞƌĞĚ ƚŚĞŝƌ ǁŝǀĞƐ ĂŶĚ ĚĂƵŐŚƚĞƌƐ͕ ŽŌ ĞŶ ƌŝƐŬŝŶŐ ƚŚĞŝƌ ŽǁŶ ƐĞůĨͲ ŝŵĂŐĞ Žƌ ƌŝĚŝĐƵůĞ ďǇ ŽƚŚĞƌƐ͘ /ŶƚĞƌǀŝĞǁƐ ĂŶĚ ĐĂƐĞ ƐƚƵĚŝĞƐ ŐŝǀĞ ƌĞĂĚĞƌƐ ŝŶƐŝŐŚƚƐ ŝŶƚŽ ƚŚĞƐĞ ŵĞŶ͕ ƚŚĞŝƌ ĨĂŵŝůŝĞƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞŝƌ ĐŽŵŵƵŶŝƟ ĞƐ͘ ADS

Mornings at the Stanton Street Shul: A Summer on the Lower East Side Jonathan Boyarin Fordham University Press, 2011 Hardcover 209 pp. $24.95 [e] ISBN: 978-08232-3900-9

ĂŶ ͞ĞƚŚŶŽŐƌĂƉŚŝĐ ŵĞŵŽŝƌ͘͟ ŽǇĂƌŝŶ ĂŶĚ ŚŝƐ ǁŝĨĞ ŚĂǀĞ ůŝǀĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŶĞŝŐŚďŽƌŚŽŽĚ ĨŽƌ ƚŚŝƌƚǇ ǇĞĂƌƐ ĂŶĚ ŚĂǀĞ ďĞĞŶ ĂĐƟ ǀĞ ŵĞŵďĞƌƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƐǇŶĂŐŽŐƵĞ ŵŽƐƚ ŽĨ ƚŚĂƚ Ɵ ŵĞ͕ ďƵƚ ŚŝƐ ŶĞǁ ďŽŽŬ ŝƐ ŵƵĐŚ ŵŽƌĞ ƚŚĂŶ ŽŶĞ ƉĞƌƐŽŶ͛Ɛ ĚŝĂƌǇ͘ ŽǇĂƌŝŶ͕ ǁŚŽ ŝƐ Ă ƉƌŽĨĞƐƐŽƌ ŽĨ ŵŽĚĞƌŶ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ƚŚŽƵŐŚƚ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ hŶŝǀĞƌƐŝƚǇ ŽĨ EŽƌƚŚ ĂƌŽůŝŶĂ͕ ŝŶĐůƵĚĞƐ ǀŝǀŝĚ ĚĞƐĐƌŝƉƟ ŽŶƐ ŽĨ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ĐƵůƚƵƌĞ ĂŶĚ ƌŝƚƵĂů ĚƌĂǁŶ ĨƌŽŵ ŚŝƐ ͞ŝŶƐŝĚĞƌ͟ ŬŶŽǁůĞĚŐĞ ĂŶĚ ŚŝƐ ƐĐŚŽůĂƌůǇ pursuits. dŚĞ ^ƚĂŶƚŽŶ ^ƚƌĞĞƚ ^ǇŶĂŐŽŐƵĞ ďƵŝůĚŝŶŐ ĚĂƚĞƐ ďĂĐŬ ƚŽ ϭϵϭϯ ĂŶĚ ŚĂƐ ďĞĞŶ ŝŶ ĐŽŶƟ ŶƵŽƵƐ ƵƐĞ ƐŝŶĐĞ ƚŚĂƚ Ɵ ŵĞ͘ /ƚƐ ƉĞĂŬ ŵĞŵďĞƌƐŚŝƉ ƉĞƌŝŽĚ ǁĂƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ϭϵϮϬƐ͘ /ƚƐ Žĸ ĐŝĂů ŶĂŵĞ ŝƐ ŽŶŐƌĞŐĂƟ ŽŶ ŶƐŚĞŝ ƌǌĞǌĂŶ ǁŚŝĐŚ ŵĞĂŶƐ ͞ŵĞŶ ŽĨ ƌǌĞǌĂŶǇ͕͟ ĂŶ ĂƐƚĞƌŶ ƵƌŽƉĞĂŶ ƚŽǁŶ͘ /ƚ ŝƐ ŶŽƚ ƵŶĐŽŵͲ ŵŽŶ͕ ĞǆƉůĂŝŶƐ ŽǇĂƌŝŶ͕ ĨŽƌ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ĐŽŵŵƵŶŝƟ ĞƐ ƚŽ ĨĞĞů Ă ƐĞŶƐĞ ŽĨ Ă ͞ƐŚĂƌĞĚ ŝĚĞŶƟ ƚǇ͟ ďĂƐĞĚ ŽŶ ƚŚĞŝƌ ƉůĂĐĞ ŽĨ ŽƌŝŐŝŶ͕ ǁŚŝĐŚ ŵĂǇ ŚĂǀĞ ĚŝƐƟ ŶĐͲ Ɵ ǀĞ ƐƚĂŶĚĂƌĚƐ͕ ĂƌƌĂŶŐĞŵĞŶƚƐ ŽĨ ƉĂƌƟ ĐƵůĂƌ ƉƌĂǇĞƌƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ŵƵƐŝĐĂů ƐƚǇůĞƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞŝƌ ƌĞůŝŐŝŽƵƐ ǁŽƌƐŚŝƉ͘ dŚĞ ĂƵƚŚŽƌ ŚĂƐ ƐŬŝůůĨƵůůǇ ǁŽǀĞŶ ŝŶƚŽ ƚŚŝƐ ƚĂƉĞƐƚƌǇ ŽĨ KƌƚŚŽĚŽǆ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ůŝĨĞ ƚŚĞ ƋƵŽƟ ĚŝĂŶ ĞǀĞŶƚƐ ƚŚĂƚ ŽŌ ĞŶ ŽĐĐƵƌ ŝŶ Ă ƐŵĂůů shul, such as the ĂŶǆŝĞƚǇ ŽĨ ŶŽƚ ďĞŝŶŐ ƐƵƌĞ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞ ƚĞŶͲŵĞŶ ŵŽƌŶŝŶŐ minyan will be ĂĐŚŝĞǀĞĚ͕ Žƌ ŬŝďďŝƚǌŝŶŐ ĂďŽƵƚ ŽƚŚĞƌ ĐŽŶŐƌĞŐĂŶƚƐ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ƌĂďďŝ͛Ɛ ĨŽŝďůĞƐ͕ Žƌ ĚŝƐƉƵƚĞƐ ĂďŽƵƚ ƚŚĞ ƐĞůĞĐƟ ŽŶ ŽĨ Ă ŶĞǁ ƌĂďďŝ͕ ĂŶĚ ŚĞĂƚĞĚ ĚŝƐĐƵƐƐŝŽŶƐ about the pros and cons of a type of nusach, or style of prayer. Boyarin ĐŚĂƌĂĐƚĞƌŝǌĞƐ ƚŚĞ ^ƚĂŶƚŽŶ ^ƚƌĞĞƚ ^ŚƵů ĂƐ Ă ͞ŶĞǁͲŽůĚ͟ ŝŶƐƟ ƚƵƟ ŽŶ͘ hŶůŝŬĞ ŵŽƐƚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ >ŽǁĞƌ ĂƐƚ ^ŝĚĞ ƐǇŶĂŐŽŐƵĞƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĞĂƌůǇ ϭϵϬϬƐ͕ ƚŚĞ ^ƚĂŶƚŽŶ ^ƚƌĞĞƚ ^ǇŶĂŐŽŐƵĞ ŚĂƐ ƐƵƌǀŝǀĞĚ ĂŶĚ ŝŶĐƌĞĂƐŝŶŐůǇ ĚƌĂǁŶ ŵĞŵďĞƌƐ ĨƌŽŵ ǁŚĂƚ ŽǇĂƌŝŶ ĐŚĂƌĂĐƚĞƌŝǌĞƐ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ͞ŶĞǁ :ĞǁƐ͟ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĂƌĞĂ͘ dŚĞƐĞ ͞ŶĞǁ :ĞǁƐ͟ ŝŶĐůƵĚĞ ƐŝŶŐůĞ ƉĞŽƉůĞ͕ ŽƉĞŶůǇ ŐĂǇ ŵĞŵďĞƌƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ĞŐĂůŝƚĂƌŝĂŶ ĐŽƵƉůĞƐ ĐŽŵŵŝƩ ĞĚ ƚŽ ĞǆƉĂŶĚŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ƌŽůĞ ŽĨ ǁŽŵĞŶ ǁŝƚŚŝŶ ƚŚĞ KƌƚŚŽͲ ĚŽǆ ƚƌĂĚŝƟ ŽŶ͘ dŚĞƐĞ ͞ŶĞǁ͟ ĂŶĚ ͞ŽůĚ͟ :ĞǁƐ ŵĂŬĞ ƵƉ ƚŚĞ ͞ƌĞŐƵůĂƌƐ͟ Ăƚ the shul. Mornings at the Stanton Street Shul ŝƐ Ă ĚĞůŝŐŚƞ Ƶů ƚƌŝďƵƚĞ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ƐƉĞĐŝĂů ŵĂŐŝĐ ŽŶĞ ĨĞĞůƐ ďĞŝŶŐ Ă ŵĞŵďĞƌ ŽĨ Ă shul͘ ŽǇĂƌŝŶ ŚĂƐ ŵĂƐƚĞƌͲ ĨƵůůǇ ĂĐĐŽŵƉůŝƐŚĞĚ ŚŝƐ ŐŽĂů ŽĨ ĐƌĞĂƟ ŶŐ Ă ĐŚƌŽŶŝĐůĞ ǁŚŝĐŚ ĐĂŶ ƐĞƌǀĞ ĂƐ Ă ͞ůŝǀŝŶŐ ďƌŝĚŐĞ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ǁŽƌůĚ ŽĨ ĂƐƚ ƵƌŽƉĞĂŶ :ĞǁŝƐŚŶĞƐƐ͕ ƉƌĞƐĞƌǀŝŶŐ ŐĞƐͲ ƚƵƌĞƐ͕ ŝĚŝŽŵƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ĂŶĞĐĚŽƚĞƐ ĨŽƌ ƚŚŽƐĞ ǁŚŽ ĐŽŵĞ ĂŌ Ğƌ͙͘͟ &ŽŽƚŶŽƚĞƐ͕ ŐůŽƐƐĂƌǇ͕ ƉŚŽƚŽƐ͘ CP

ŽŶĂƚŚĂŶ ŽǇĂƌŝŶ ĐŚĂƌĂĐƚĞƌŝǌĞƐ ƚŚŝƐ ůŽǀŝŶŐ ĚĂŝůǇ ũŽƵƌŶĂů ŽĨ davening at the Stanton ^ƚƌĞĞƚ ^ŚƵů ŽŶ ƚŚĞ >ŽǁĞƌ ĂƐƚ ^ŝĚĞ ĂƐ

Jewish custom which aims toward communal ĚĞĐŝƐŝŽŶ ŵĂŬŝŶŐ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚ Ă ƉƌŽĐĞƐƐ ŽĨ ĞĚƵĐĂͲ Ɵ ŽŶ ĂŶĚ ĚŝƐƟ ůůĂƟ ŽŶ ŽĨ ǀĂůƵĞƐ ĨƌŽŵ ƚƌĂĚŝƟ ŽŶĂů :ĞǁŝƐŚ ĂŶĚ ĐŽŶƚĞŵƉŽƌĂƌǇ ƐŽƵƌĐĞƐ͘ ZĞĐŽŶͲ ƐƚƌƵĐƟ ŽŶŝƐƚ :ƵĚĂŝƐŵ ŚŽůĚƐ ƚŚĂƚ ĐŽŶƚĞŵƉŽƌĂƌǇ Western secular morality takes precedence ŽǀĞƌ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ůĂǁ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞŽůŽŐǇ͘ tŝƚŚ ƚŚŝƐ ďĂĐŬŐƌŽƵŶĚ ŝŶ ŵŝŶĚ͕ ĂǀŝĚ dĞƵƚƐĐŚ͕ Ă ƉĂƐƚ ƉƌĞƐŝĚĞŶƚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ZĞĐŽŶƐƚƌƵĐͲ

Ɵ ŽŶŝƐƚ ZĂďďŝŶŝĐĂů ŽůůĞŐĞ͕ ŚĂƐ ƐĞƚ ŽƵƚ ƚŽ ĚƌĂŌ Ă ŵƵůƟ ͲǀŽůƵŵĞ ŐƵŝĚĞ ƚŽ ZĞĐŽŶƐƚƌƵĐƟ ŽŶŝƐƚ ƉƌĂĐƟ ĐĞ͘ dŚĞ ĨŽĐƵƐ ŝŶ sŽůƵŵĞ / ŝƐ ŽŶ ĐŽŶĐĞƉƚƵͲ ĂůŝǌŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ĞƚŚŝĐĂů ĂŶĚ ƉŚŝůŽƐŽƉŚŝĐĂů ĚŝŵĞŶͲ ƐŝŽŶƐ ŽĨ ZĞĐŽŶƐƚƌƵĐƟ ŽŶŝƐƚ :ƵĚĂŝƐŵ ǁŝƚŚŝŶ ĂŶ autonomous framework. Intended for use by ŝŶĚŝǀŝĚƵĂůƐ͕ ƌĂďďŝƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ĐŽŵŵƵŶŝƟ ĞƐ͕ ŝƚ ĂĚͲ ĚƌĞƐƐĞƐ ƐƵĐŚ ƚŽƉŝĐƐ ĂƐ ĚĂŝůǇ ƌĞůŝŐŝŽƵƐ ƉƌĂĐƟ ĐĞ͕ kashrut, tzedaka͕ ďŝŽĞƚŚŝĐƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ŐĞŶĞƌĂů

www.jewishbookcouncil.org

principles of business and of family and sexual ĞƚŚŝĐƐ͘ /Ŷ ZĂďďŝ dĞƵƚƐĐŚ͛Ɛ ǁŽƌĚƐ͕ ƚŚŝƐ ŝƐ ͙͞ƚŚĞ ŵŽƐƚ ĐŽŵƉƌĞŚĞŶƐŝǀĞ͕ ŶŽŶͲŚĂůĂŬŚŝĐ ŐƵŝĚĞ ƚŽ ĚĂŝůǇ ůŝǀŝŶŐ ĞǀĞƌ ƉƵďůŝƐŚĞĚ͘͟ dŚĞ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ŝƐ ĚĞƐŝŐŶĞĚ ƚŽ ŵŝŵŝĐ ƚƌĂĚŝƟ ŽŶĂů ƌĂďďŝŶŝĐ ƚĞǆƚƐ͘ dŚĞ ƚŽƉ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƉĂŐĞ ĐŽŶƚĂŝŶƐ ƚŚĞ ƚĞǆƚ͕ ĂŶĚ ĂůŽŶŐ ƚŚĞ ďŽƩ Žŵ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƉĂŐĞ ĂƌĞ ĐŽŵŵĞŶƚƐ ĂŶĚ ŽďƐĞƌǀĂƟ ŽŶƐ ďǇ Ă ŚŽƐƚ ŽĨ ZĞĐŽŶƐƚƌƵĐƟ ŽŶŝƐƚ ƌĂďďŝƐ͘ DĂŶǇ ŽĨ ƚŚĞƐĞ ĐŽŵͲ

summer 5772/2012

Jewish Book World

cookbooks The Bais Yaakov Cookbook

The Best of Mexican Kosher Cooking

Batsheva Weinstein, ed. Feldheim, 2011 Hardcover 384 pp. $36.99 ISBN: 978-1-58330-348-1

Shifrah Devorah Witt & Zipporah Malka Heller Israel Bookshop Publications, 2011 Hardcover 208 pp. $24.95 ISBN: 978-1-60091-188-0

he book’s cover says it all͗ ϮϬϬ original recipes to upliŌ and enhance your Shabbos͕ zom Tov͕ and Everyday Table. Much eīort and research went into creaƟng this masterful work. Every Bais zaakov oriented school in the hnited States was contacted during its compilaƟon͕ as well as alumni from all over the world͕ who responded to ads placed in the media. All proceeds from the book will be donated to charity͕ in the true spirit of Bais zaakov. Kol hakavod͕ with great respect and kudos to Bais zaakov͕ a movement that has had an important role in the educaƟon of religious Jewish women worldwide. This elegantly assembled publicaƟon is an ideal source for both the novice and the ͞well seasoned" cook. It includes a pictorial history of Bais zaakov͖ a personal brocha and Challah recipe from the great Zebbetzin Batsheva Kanievsky a’h͖ Halachic Guidelines͕ with almost thirty pages of important pointers for the Kosher Household͖ Culinary Tips͖ All about Wine͕ with recommendaƟons for what to serve with what͖ Geƫng to Know zour Meat͕ with a precise meat and poultry guide͖ Spices and Herbs͖ Shopping for Fruits and segetables ;good to know that an avocado does not freeze well whole͕ but that it can be mashed with lemon juice and then frozen, and that blueberries should not be washed unƟl ready to eatͿ. zou will, on numerous occasions, turn to the secƟons on "Cookware," "Kitchen Gadgets," and "The Art of the Table" ;we now know that ͞seƫngs should be one inch away from the edge of the table͟Ϳ. The clear, enƟcing photographs provide serving inspiraƟons. A few highlights are "Grilled Beef Zolls with Scallion ipping Sauce," "Zoasted Garlic ucchini Soup," "Zainbow Trout with Mustard Sauce and Zoasted Potatoes," "Cheese Tartlets, Krzo and Spinach Stuīed Tomatoes," "Knion Zolls," and a most tasteful "Boston Cream Pie." The photographs themselves look edible. isplay this book, study it, learn from it, and prepare the delectable dishes in good health! DGL

his Mexican, Tex-Mex, and Southwest offering is a mother-daughter collaboraƟon. The authors explain their goal as wanƟng to present authenƟc dishes in taste and simplicity so that one’s guests will believe the cook to be a master chef. ͞ iscover the colors, Ňavors, and the Ňair of Mexican cooking," they say encouragingly. Those who love spicy salsa will appreciate the impossibly spicy pepper, the habanero, displayed in living color with a note that it is ͞for the fearless.͟ The authors advise quite wisely that one should ͙͞start out mild and work your way up͙always be careful not to rub your eyes once you’ve handled peppers͙͟ >earn this lesson well. The book features over ninety recipes and helpful guides. It assists you in Stocking zour Mexican Kitchen and gives you Tips for Mexican Cooking. Among the salsas is an easy recipe with ingredients that are all mixed together and does not involve complicated machines. The ͞Mango Salsa͟ is refreshing and has great Ňavor as an accompaniment for grilled Įsh or tacos. The ͞JalapeŹo Corn Bread͟ can be made dairy or parve, and can be prepared as corn muĸns for the younger crowd. It is graƟfying to note that the authors are sensiƟve to ͞adult͟ food and what would be perfect for children, such as ͞Corn Soup.͟ There are Shabbos recipes, dishes for a Melave Malkah, for a Summer BBY ;with ArgenƟnean inŇuencesͿ, for scrumpƟous Side ishes, esserts and Beverages, including the Hispanic ͞Flan͟ so popular in South America and Europe, along with ͞Mexican Wedding Cookies͟ and ͞Mexican Brownies.͟ I wanted to sip the Margarita oī the page’s photo. In this book, the Margarita is alcohol-free for all ages to enjoy. The compelling photos, variaƟons in some recipes, and the helpful index are big pluses. ͞KjalĄ que disfrute͟—it is my hope that you will derive great enjoyment from this cookbook. DGL

Fresh and Easy Kosher Cooking: Ordinary Ingredients, Extraordinary Meals

Inside the Jewish Bakery: Recipes and Memories from the Golden Age of Jewish Baking

Leah Schapira Mesorah Publications, 2011 Hardcover 336 pp. $34.99 ISBN: 978-1422611449

Stanley Ginsberg & Norman Berg Camino Books, 2011 Hardcover 302 pp. $24.95 ISBN: 978-1-933822-23-5

eah Schapira was a picky eater as a child. Then her mother taught her to cook, unleashing a lifelong interest in food. In this cookbook, she oīers readers uncomplicated but tasty recipes using ingredients that most people have on hand in their pantry. All are labeled meat, dairy, or pareve. She includes menu ideas for holidays and other special occasions and oīers suggesƟons for dishes that go well together. Each recipe has clear instrucƟons and a full-page color photograph of the dish. Warm sweet potato salad, Sriracha Thai noodles, honey mustard chicken, and lazy man’s cholent are among the dishes featured. Although the author uses soup mixes, frozen vegetables, and heavy cream in her recipes, those who prefer fresh food and fewer calories will Įnd a way to subsƟtute. This is a good book for those new to kosher cooking because it points out that one can observe kashrut easily and create interesƟng food while doing so. BMB

his delighƞul book is part history, part cookbook. It takes readers back to the tradiƟonal Ashkenazic Jewish bakeries found in most Jewish communiƟes. Kne author, Berg, is a professional pastry chef. The other, Ginsberg, learned to cook and bake from his grandmother. Both share a love for tradiƟonal baked goods. They begin with a short historical overview and proceed to informaƟon about measurement and ingredients. Chapters about bread, rolls, pastries and cake, cookies, Passover baking, Įllings and toppings, and icings and Įnishes will teach readers about the origins of the foods as well as the techniques for creaƟng them. Braiding a challah, boiling bagels, or making several kinds of babka will be easy if one follows the authors’ instrucƟons. sintage black-and-white photographs as well as color plates supplement the text. A list of resources oīers online sources for ingredients, equipment, informaƟon, as well as history and ziddish. Notes direct readers to further informaƟon. Both cooks and historians will enjoy this trip to the bakery. BMB

cookbooks Ahi with Mango Puree and Guacamole From The Bais Yaakov Cookbook edited by Batsheva Weinstein (Feldheim; 2011) Serves 4 Śŝ ŝƐ Ă ŐŽŽĚ ƐƵďƐƟƚƵƚĞ ǁŚĞŶ ƚƌǇŝŶŐ ƚŽ ĐƵƚ ďĂĐŬ ŽŶ ƌĞĚ ŵĞĂƚ͘ EŽĐŚƵŵ ĨƌŽŵ &ĂŝƌĨĂǆ &ŝƐŚĞƌǇ ŝŶ > ǁĂƐ ŬŝŶĚ ĞŶŽƵŐŚ ƚŽ ƐŚĂƌĞ ƚŚŝƐ ƌĞĐŝƉĞ͕ ǁŚŝĐŚ ĐŽŵďŝŶĞƐ Ă ƉĞƌĨĞĐƚ ďůĞŶĚ ŽĨ ŇĂǀŽƌƐ͕ ƌĂŝƐŝŶŐ ǇŽƵƌ ƚǇƉŝĐĂů ŐƌŝůůĞĚ ƚƵŶĂ ƚŽ Ă ŶĞǁ ůĞǀĞů͘ Ϯ ŵĂŶŐŽĞƐ͕ ƉĞĞůĞĚ ĂŶĚ ĚŝĐĞĚ ϭ ĂǀŽĐĂĚŽ Ϯ ƚĂďůĞƐƉŽŽŶƐ ůĞŵŽŶ ũƵŝĐĞ Žƌ ũƵŝĐĞ ĨƌŽŵ ϭ ŵĞĚŝƵŵ ůĞŵŽŶ 2 tablespoons chopped red onion Ϯ ƚĂďůĞƐƉŽŽŶƐ ĐŚŽƉƉĞĚ ZŽŵĂ ƚŽŵĂƚŽĞƐ <ŽƐŚĞƌ ƐĂůƚ ϰ ;ϱ ŽƵŶĐĞͿ Śŝ ƐƚĞĂŬƐ͕ ĂůƐŽ ŬŶŽǁŶ ĂƐ zĞůůŽǁ &ŝŶ dƵŶĂ 'ƌŽƵŶĚ ďůĂĐŬ ƉĞƉƉĞƌ 'ĂƌůŝĐ ƉŽǁĚĞƌ ϭ ƚĂďůĞƐƉŽŽŶ ǀĞŐĞƚĂďůĞ Žƌ ĐĂŶŽůĂ Žŝů WůĂĐĞ ŵĂŶŐŽĞƐ ŝŶƚŽ Ă ďůĞŶĚĞƌ ĂŶĚ ƉƵƌĞĞ ƵŶƟů ƐŵŽŽƚŚ͘ ^Ğƚ ĂƐŝĚĞ͘ dŽ ŵĂŬĞ ŐƵĂĐĂŵŽůĞ͕ ŚĂůǀĞ ĂŶĚ Ɖŝƚ ĂǀŽĐĂĚŽ͘ ZĞŵŽǀĞ ĂǀŽĐĂĚŽ ĨƌŽŵ ƐŬŝŶ ĂŶĚ ƉůĂĐĞ ŝŶ Ă ƐŵĂůů ďŽǁů͖ ŵĂƐŚ ƚŽ ĨŽƌŵ Ă ĐŽĂƌƐĞ ƉĂƐƚĞ͘ ^Ɵƌ ŝŶ ůĞŵŽŶ ũƵŝĐĞ͕ ŽŶŝŽŶ͕ ƚŽŵĂƚŽĞƐ ĂŶĚ ŬŽƐŚĞƌ ƐĂůƚ ƚŽ ƚĂƐƚĞ͘ ŽǀĞƌ͕ ǁŝƚŚ ƉůĂƐƟĐ ǁƌĂƉ ƚŽƵĐŚŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ŐƵĂĐĂŵŽůĞ͘ ^Ğƚ ĂƐŝĚĞ͘ ZŝŶƐĞ Śŝ ƐƚĞĂŬƐ ĂŶĚ ƉĂƚ ĚƌǇ͘ ^ĞĂƐŽŶ ǁŝƚŚ ƐĂůƚ͕ ŐƌŽƵŶĚ ďůĂĐŬ ƉĞƉƉĞƌ ĂŶĚ ŐĂƌůŝĐ ƉŽǁĚĞƌ͘ ,ĞĂƚ ϭ ƚĂďůĞƐƉŽŽŶ Žŝů ŝŶ ůĂƌŐĞ ƐŬŝůůĞƚ ŽǀĞƌ ŚŝŐŚ ŚĞĂƚ͘ ĚĚ Śŝ ƚŽ ƐŬŝůůĞƚ ĂŶĚ ƐĞĂƌ ϯ ŵŝŶƵƚĞƐ ŽŶ ĞĂĐŚ ƐŝĚĞ ĨŽƌ ŵĞĚŝƵŵͲƌĂƌĞ͘ ZĞŵŽǀĞ ĨƌŽŵ ƐŬŝůůĞƚ ĂŶĚ ƉůĂĐĞ ŽŶƚŽ Ă ƉůĂƚĞ͘ ƌŝǌǌůĞ ǁŝƚŚ ƌĞƐĞƌǀĞĚ ŵĂŶŐŽ ƐĂƵĐĞ ĂŶĚ ƐĞƌǀĞ ǁŝƚŚ ĨƌĞƐŚ ŐƵĂĐĂŵŽůĞ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ƐŝĚĞ͘

Almond Macaroons From Inside the Jewish Bakery: Recipes and Memories from the Golden Age of Jewish Baking by Stanley Ginsberg and Norman Berg (Camino Books; 2011) Makes about 3 dozen ϯͲϭͬϮ ĐƵƉƐ ĂůŵŽŶĚ ƉĂƐƚĞ ϯ ůĂƌŐĞ ĞŐŐ ǁŚŝƚĞƐ͕ ďĞĂƚĞŶ ϭͲϯͬϰ ĐƵƉƐ ŐƌĂŶƵůĂƚĞĚ ƐƵŐĂƌ ϯ ůĂƌŐĞ ĞŐŐ ǁŚŝƚĞƐ͕ ďĞĂƚĞŶ 2 cups sliced almonds ϭ ĞŐŐ н ϭ ƚƐƉ ŽĨ ǁĂƚĞƌ ĨŽƌ ǁĂƐŚ ϭͬϮ ĐƵƉ ŐƌĂŶƵůĂƚĞĚ ƐƵŐĂƌ 6 Tbs water ϭͬϮ ƚƐƉ ůŝŐŚƚ ĐŽƌŶ ƐǇƌƵƉ Žƌ ŚŽŶĞǇ ϭ͘ WƌĞŚĞĂƚ ǇŽƵƌ ŽǀĞŶ ƚŽ ϯϳϱΣ& ǁŝƚŚ ǇŽƵƌ ďĂŬŝŶŐ ƐƵƌĨĂĐĞ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŵŝĚĚůĞ͘ Ϯ͘ Ƶƚ Žƌ ďƌĞĂŬ ƚŚĞ ĂůŵŽŶĚ ƉĂƐƚĞ ŝŶƚŽ ƐŵĂůů ƉŝĞĐĞƐ ĂŶĚ ĐŽŵďŝŶĞ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ďŽǁů ŽĨ Ă ƐƚĂŶĚ ŵŝǆĞƌ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ĮƌƐƚ ƋƵĂŶƟƚǇ ŽĨ ĞŐŐ ǁŚŝƚĞƐ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ϭͲϯͬϰ ĐƵƉƐ ŽĨ ƐƵŐĂƌ͘ ĞĂƚ Ăƚ ůŽǁ ŵĞĚŝƵŵ ƐƉĞĞĚ ĨŽƌ ϮͲϯ ŵŝŶƵƚĞƐ ƵŶƟů ĨƵůůǇ ďůĞŶĚĞĚ ŝŶƚŽ Ă ƐŵŽŽƚŚ͕ ůƵŵƉͲĨƌĞĞ ƉĂƐƚĞ͘ ϯ͘ 'ƌĂĚƵĂůůǇ ĂĚĚ ƚŚĞ ƌĞŵĂŝŶŝŶŐ ĞŐŐ ǁŚŝƚĞƐ ƵŶƟů ƚŚĞ ŵŝǆƚƵƌĞ ŝƐ ŵŽĚĞƌĂƚĞůǇ ƐƟī ĂŶĚ ĂďůĞ ƚŽ ŚŽůĚ ŝƚƐ ƐŚĂƉĞ͘ Ğ ĐĂƌĞĨƵů ŶŽƚ ƚŽ ůĞƚ ŝƚ ŐĞƚ ƚŽŽ ůŽŽƐĞ͘ ϰ͘ WƵƚ ƚŚĞ ŵŝǆƚƵƌĞ ŝŶƚŽ Ă ƉĂƐƚƌǇ ďĂŐ ǁŝƚŚ ĞŝƚŚĞƌ Ă ůĂƌŐĞ ƉůĂŝŶ Žƌ ƐƚĂƌ ƟƉ͘ /Ĩ ǇŽƵ ĚŽŶΖƚ ŚĂǀĞ Ă ƉĂƐƚƌǇ ďĂŐ͕ ƵƐĞ Ă ŽŶĞͲŐĂůůŽŶ ƉůĂƐƟĐ ĨƌĞĞǌĞƌ ďĂŐ ǁŝƚŚ ŽŶĞ ĐŽƌŶĞƌ ĐƵƚ Žī͘ WŝƉĞ ƚŚĞ ĚŽƵŐŚ ŽŶƚŽ ƉĂƌĐŚŵĞŶƚͲůŝŶĞĚ ƐŚĞĞƚ ƉĂŶƐ ŝŶ ϭΗ ƚŽ ϭ ϭͬϮΗ ĐŝƌĐůĞƐ͕ ůĞĂǀŝŶŐ ĂďŽƵƚ ϭΗ ďĞƚǁĞĞŶ ĐŽŽŬŝĞƐ͘ ϱ͘ >Ğƚ ƚŚĞ ŵĂĐĂƌŽŽŶƐ ĚƌǇ͕ ƵŶĐŽǀĞƌĞĚ͕ ĨŽƌ ϯϬ ŵŝŶƵƚĞƐ͕ ƚŚĞŶ ďĂŬĞ ƵŶƟů ŐŽůĚĞŶ ďƌŽǁŶ͕ ĂďŽƵƚ ϭϱͲϮϬ ŵŝŶƵƚĞƐ͘ ϲ͘ /Ŷ Ă ƐĂƵĐĞƉĂŶ͕ ďƌŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ƌĞŵĂŝŶŝŶŐ ƐƵŐĂƌ͕ ǁĂƚĞƌ ĂŶĚ ĐŽƌŶ ƐǇƌƵƉ Žƌ ŚŽŶĞǇ ƚŽ Ă ďŽŝů ĂŶĚ ĐŽŶƟŶƵĞ ŚĞĂƟŶŐ ĨŽƌ ϯͲϰ ŵŝŶƵƚĞƐ ƵŶƟů ŝƚ ƚŚŝĐŬĞŶƐ ƐůŝŐŚƚůǇ and coats a spoon. Let cool. ϳ͘ ZĞŵŽǀĞ ƚŚĞ ŵĂĐĂƌŽŽŶƐ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ ŽǀĞŶ ĂŶĚ ůĞƚ ĐŽŽů ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƉĂŶ ĨŽƌ ĂďŽƵƚ ϱ ŵŝŶƵƚĞƐ͘ sĞƌǇ ĐĂƌĞĨƵůůǇ ŐůĂǌĞ ƚŚĞŵ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ƐŝŵƉůĞ ƐǇƌƵƉ Žƌ ǁŝƚŚ ϭͬϮ ĐƵƉ ŽĨ ŵĞůƚĞĚ ĂƉƌŝĐŽƚ ũĂŵ͘ ϴ͘ >Ğƚ ƚŚĞ ŵĂĐĂƌŽŽŶƐ ĐŽŽů ĐŽŵƉůĞƚĞůǇͶĂƚ ůĞĂƐƚ ŽŶĞ ŚŽƵƌͶďĞĨŽƌĞ ƚƌǇŝŶŐ ƚŽ ƌĞŵŽǀĞ ƚŚĞŵ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ ƉĂŶƐ͘ hŶƟů ƚŚŽƌŽƵŐŚůǇ ĐŽŽůĞĚ͕ ƚŚĞǇΖƌĞ ĞǆͲ ƚƌĞŵĞůǇ ĨƌĂŐŝůĞ͕ ĂŶĚ ŚĂŶĚůŝŶŐ ƚŚĞŵ ƚŽ ƐŽŽŶ ǁŝůů ĂůŵŽƐƚ ĐĞƌƚĂŝŶůǇ ƌĞƐƵůƚ ŝŶ ďƌĞĂŬĂŐĞ͘ tŚĞŶ ĐŽŽů͕ ƐƚŽƌĞ ŝŶ ĂŶ ĂŝƌƟŐŚƚ ĐŽŶƚĂŝŶĞƌ͘ dŚĞƐĞ ĂƌĞ ĞǀĞŶ ďĞƩĞƌ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ƐĞĐŽŶĚ ĚĂǇͶŝĨ ƚŚĞǇ ůĂƐƚ ƚŚĂƚ ůŽŶŐ͘

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nonfiction mentaries demonstrate considerable scholarship and are oŌen more signiĮcant than the text itself, someƟmes challenging mainstream ZeconstrucƟonist thinking and oīering trenchant comments of their own. Every secƟon contains an extensive reading list. Near the end of the book, Zabbi Teutsch bemoans the fact that the ZeconstrucƟonist laity is woefully uneducated. espite the centrality of Jewish educaƟon to the Jewish future, ͞it is a painful fact,͟ he notes, ͞that most liberal, adult Jews have neither the level of Jewish educaƟon or of Jewish experience to make well-grounded decisions. What is more, some of those Jews are proud to make their decisions without such grounding.͟ Perhaps his book will inspire readers to engage more deeply with Jewish culture—its texts, rituals, and values—so that Jewish tradiƟon has, in Zabbi Kaplan’s words, ͞a vote but not a veto͟ in a ͞post-halakhic world.͟ WG

to wander oī a bit and it also circles back on the same informaƟon at Ɵmes. This is not a book youΖll remember for the wriƟng. It can, however, be a valuable resource for the Jewish traveler or even just someone who wants to know a bit about some of the unlikely spots where Jewish communiƟes are doing their best to survive. Bibliography, index, photographs. DC

Matti Friedman Algonquin, 2012 Hardcover 320 pp. $24.95 [e] ISBN: 978-1616200404

The Dreyfus Affair: The Scandal That Tore France in Two

The Scattered Tribe: Traveling the Diaspora from Cuba to India to Tahiti & Beyond

Piers Paul Read Bloomsbury Press, 2012 Hardcover 416 pp. $30.00 [e] ISBN: 978-1-60819-432-2

Ben G. Frank Globe Pequot, 2011 Paperback 320 pp. $17.95 [e] ISBN: 978-0-7627-7033-5

en FrankΖs latest travel book is a guide for the Jewish traveler to Zussia ;including SiberiaͿ, TahiƟ, sietnam, Burma-Myanmar, India, Morocco ;and Algeria, albeit brieŇyͿ, Cuba, and Israel. Though the Įnal desƟnaƟon on that list has been dealt with beƩer elsewhere, the other desƟnaƟons are all handled with knowledge and enthusiasm. A veteran journalist, Frank is obviously an experienced traveler and a good researcher who is adept at Įnding Jewish desƟnaƟons in far-Ňung locales, as well as colorful characters in those places. He always seems to locate a good place to worship and good spots to eat, and he has done his best to make things as current and useful as possible. >ike a curious tourist, FrankΖs prose tends

history The Aleppo Codex: A True Story of Obsession, Faith, and the Pursuit of an Ancient Book

aƫ Friedman’s The Aleppo Codex is not, by his own admission, the book he set out to write. What began as a glimmering of interest evolved quickly into a web of mystery, intrigue, and unanswered quesƟons as Friedman mined the story behind the legendary ͞Crown of Aleppo͟—the oldest authoritaƟve manuscript of the canonized Hebrew Bible, wriƩen in the tenth century by a famous scribe, used by the legendary Maimonides while wriƟng the Mishneh Torah, and protected for centuries in the ancient synagogue of Syria’s largest Jewish community. When the Aleppo community began to disperse in the 19ϰϬs and ΖϱϬs, aŌer the State of Israel’s founding, the Codex found itself in transit for the Įrst Ɵme in thousands of years, leaving its burnt-down sanctuary and traversing the border to Israel. It is here that the story hiccups͗ Faced with the half-told story of a controversial trial, rumors of missing pages, and hints of poliƟcal machinaƟons, Friedman uncovers more quesƟons than answers at every turn, adding to his convicƟon that the book that was once a community’s greatest pride has been ruined by a “conspiracy of

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silence,͟ a dearth of reliable informaƟon, and intenƟonal ambiguity. Friedman shines as a magniĮcent and thoughƞul storyteller, shiŌing between Ɵme and place with facility, bringing the story of the Codex unƟl 19ϰ8 to life and weaving it skillfully with the present and recent past. With Friedman’s crusade at its center, The Aleppo Codex might be an unintenƟonal thriller but it is a great one nonetheless, introducing us to compelling, someƟmes shiŌy characters, and drawing us into the sad story of a relic that was destroyed by the humans entrusted with its care. Thoroughly—even obsessively—researched, Friedman’s book brings to light a wealth of informaƟon never made public before. It may not solve the mystery, but it comes preƩy close. RMK

s the author readily admits in his preface, the reyfus Aīair has been studied and dissected numerous Ɵmes, spawning hundreds, if not thousands, of books. Piers Paul Zead adds his contribuƟon to this embarrassment of riches with a detailed, lucid account of a moment in history that can be diĸcult to comprehend. In order to situate readers in the poliƟcal and cultural realm of France in the 189Ϭs, Zead begins with the events of the French ZevoluƟon. He traces a century of conŇict between the proponents of secularism and the divestment of religion from the public arena, versus the defenders of Catholicism and its place in French poliƟcs and society. Then, step by step, Zead follows the events leading up to reyfus’s arrest, court marƟal, and incarceraƟon, poinƟng out all of the small moments of decision where history might have taken a different turn. As the iniƟal miscarriage of jusƟce mushrooms and metastasizes into the reyfus Aīair, Zead is a sure and steady guide, providing vivid accounts of all of the characters, their backgrounds, their roles, and their moƟves. With Zead’s close aƩenƟon to detail, following the numerous protagonists of the Aīair to their graves, there is one curious omission. While he menƟons, in passing, Emile ola’s death by carbon monoxide asphyxiaƟon in 19ϬϮ, he does not discuss ola’s posthumously published novel, Truth, a thinly veiled recounting of reyfus’ ordeal. Apart from this minor oversight, Zead’s book is a clear, informaƟve, and readable contribuƟon to the Įeld. SLR

summer 5772/2012

Jewish Book World

nonfiction God's Jury: The Inquisition and the Making of the Modern World Cullen Murphy Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2012 Hardcover 310 pp. $27.00 [e] ISBN: 9780618091560

he author of Are We Rome? and an editor at Vanity Fair͕ DƵƌƉŚǇ Žī ĞƌƐ ĂŶ ŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƟ ǀĞ ĂŶĚ ĞŶŐĂŐŝŶŐ ŚŝƐƚŽƌǇ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĂƚŚŽůŝĐ ŚƵƌĐŚΖƐ ĨĂŵŽƵƐ Žĸ ĐĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ /ŶƋƵŝƐŝƟ ŽŶ͘ dŚĞ Žĸ ĐĞ ǁĂƐ ĞƐƚĂďůŝƐŚĞĚ ŝŶ ϭϮϯϭ ƚŽ ŝŶǀĞƐƟ ŐĂƚĞ ĂŶĚ ĞůŝŵŝŶĂƚĞ ǀĂƌŝŽƵƐ ĨŽƌŵƐ ŽĨ ŚƌŝƐƟ ĂŶ ŚĞƌĞƐǇͶ ĂƚŚĂƌƐ Ăƚ Į ƌƐƚ͕ ďƵƚ ŝƚ ĞǀĞŶƚƵĂůůǇ ŝŶĐůƵĚĞĚ WƌŽƚĞƐƚĂŶƚƐ͖ :ĞǁƐ ƚŽŽ͊ tŚǇ :ĞǁƐ͍ :ĞǁƐ ǁŚŽ ĐŽŶǀĞƌƚĞĚ ƚŽ ŚƌŝƐƟ ĂŶŝƚǇ͕ ĞƐƉĞĐŝĂůůǇ ĂƐ Ă ƌĞƐƵůƚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƉƌŝŵĂƌǇ ŵŽƟ ǀĂƚŽƌ͕ ĚƵƌĞƐƐ͕ ǁĞƌĞ ŽŌ ĞŶ ƌĞŐĂƌĚĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ ƐƵƐƉŝĐŝŽŶ ƚŽ ƐƟ ůů ƐĞĐƌĞƚůǇ ƉƌĂĐƟ ĐĞ :ƵĚĂŝƐŵͶ ǁŚŝĐŚ ǁŽƵůĚ ďĞ ŚĞƌĞƐǇ͘ ǆƉĞůůŝŶŐ Ăůů :ĞǁƐ ĨƌŽŵ ^ƉĂŝŶ͕ ĨŽƌ ĞǆĂŵƉůĞ͕ ǁĂƐ ƌĂƟ ŽŶĂůŝǌĞĚ ŝŶ ƉĂƌƚ ĂƐ Ă ǁĂǇ ƚŽ ƉƌŽƚĞĐƚ ƚŚĞ Η,ŽůǇ ĂƚŚŽůŝĐ &ĂŝƚŚΗ ĨƌŽŵ ΗũƵĚĂŝǌŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ ǁŝĐŬĞĚ ŚƌŝƐƟ ĂŶƐΗ ǁŝƚŚŝŶ ŝƚƐ ƌĂŶŬƐ͘ /ƌŽŶŝĐĂůůǇ͕ :ĞǁƐ ǁĞƌĞ ĨŽƌĐĞĚ ƚŽ ĐŽŶǀĞƌƚ Žƌ ůĞĂǀĞ͕ ĂŶĚ ƚŚŽƐĞ ǁŚŽ ĐŽŶǀĞƌƚĞĚ ĐŽƵůĚ ƐƚĂǇ͕ ďĞŝŶŐ ŶŽǁ ƌĞŐĂƌĚĞĚ ĂƐ ŚƌŝƐƟ ĂŶƐ͘ dŚƵƐ ƚŚĞ ƉŽůŝĐŝĞƐ ĚĞǀĞůŽƉĞĚ ƚŽ ĐŽŶƚƌŽů ƚŚŽƐĞ ǁŝƚŚŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŚƵƌĐŚ͕ ǁŚĞŶ ƚŚĞ ŚƵƌĐŚ ƌƵŶƐ ƚŚĞ ^ƚĂƚĞ͕ ůĞĂĚ ŶĂƚƵƌĂůůǇ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ŚƵƌĐŚ ĐŽŶƚƌŽůůŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ĚĞƐƟ ŶǇ ŽĨ ƚŚŽƐĞ ǁŚŽ ĂƌĞ ŶŽƚ ďǇ ĚĞĮ ŶŝƟ ŽŶ ǁŝƚŚŝŶ ŝƚƐ membership. dŚĞ Žĸ ĐĞ ŚĂƐ ďĞĞŶ ƌĞŝŶǀĞŶƚĞĚ ŵĂŶǇ Ɵ ŵĞƐ ŽǀĞƌ ƚŚĞ ĐĞŶƚƵƌŝĞƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ƚŽĚĂǇ ŝƐ ŬŶŽǁŶ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ŽŶŐƌĞŐĂƟ ŽŶ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ŽĐƚƌŝŶĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ &ĂŝƚŚ͕ ŽǀĞƌ ǁŚŝĐŚ WŽƉĞ ĞŶĞĚŝĐƚ ys/͕ ǁŚĞŶ ĂƌĚŝŶĂů :ŽƐĞĨ ZĂƚǌŝŶŐĞƌ͕ ƉƌĞƐŝĚĞĚ ĂƐ ƉƌĞĨĞĐƚ͘ EŽǁ ƚŚĂƚ ƉĂƌƚƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĞŶŽƌŵŽƵƐ ĂƌĐŚŝǀĞƐ ŚĂǀĞ ďĞŐƵŶ ƚŽ ďĞ ŽƉĞŶĞĚ ƚŽ ŝŶǀĞƐƟ ŐĂƟ ŽŶ ďǇ ΗŽƵƚƐŝĚͲ ers" in recent years, Murphy examines these ƌĞĐŽƌĚƐ ƚŽǁĂƌĚ Ă ƐƉĞĐŝĮ Đ ŶĂƌƌĂƟ ǀĞ͘ &ŽĐƵƐŝŶŐ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ƚŚĞŵĞƐ ŽĨ ƐƵƌǀĞŝůůĂŶĐĞ͕ ĐĞŶƐŽƌƐŚŝƉ͕ ĂŶĚ ΗƐĐŝĞŶƟ Į ĐΗ ŝŶƚĞƌƌŽŐĂƟ ŽŶ ĚĞǀĞůŽƉĞĚ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚ ƚŚĞ ĐĞŶƚƵƌŝĞƐ ďǇ ƚŚŝƐ Žĸ ĐĞ͕ DƵƌƉŚǇ ĐƌŝƟ ĐĂůůǇ ƌĞǀĞĂůƐ ƚŚĞ ŝĚĞĂƐ ĂŶĚ ŵĞĐŚĂŶŝƐŵƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĂƚŚͲ ŽůŝĐ ŚƵƌĐŚ ŝŶ ŝƚƐ ǁĂƌ ŽŶ ΗĞƌƌŽƌ͘Η Ƶƚ ƚŚĂƚ ŝƐ ĨĂƌ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ ŽŶůǇ ǀŝĐƟ ŵ ŽĨ DƵƌƉŚǇΖƐ ĐƌƵƐĂĚĞ͗ ŚŝƐ ƐŝŐŚƚƐ ĂƌĞ ƐĞƚ ĂůƐŽ ƐŝŵŝůĂƌůǇ ƌĞǀĞĂůŝŶŐ ĚǇŶĂŵŝĐƐ Ăƚ ǁŽƌŬ ŝŶ ŵŽĚĞƌŶ ŐŽǀĞƌŶŵĞŶƚƐ͕ ŶŽƚ ůĞĂƐƚ ŝŶ

Jewish Book World

the policies and conduct of the United States ĂŶĚ ŝƚƐ ĂůůŝĞƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞŝƌ ǁĂƌ ŽŶ ΗƚĞƌƌŽƌ͘Η ŝďůŝŽŐƌĂͲ phy, index. MDN

Jewish Art: A Modern History Samantha Baskind & Larry Silver Reaktion Books, 2011 Paperback 311 pp. $35.00 ISBN: 978-1-86189-802-9

ewish Art ŝƐ Ă ůĂǀŝƐŚůǇ ŝůůƵƐƚƌĂƚĞĚ͕ ĐŽŵƉƌĞͲ ŚĞŶƐŝǀĞ ƐƵƌǀĞǇ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ǁŽƌŬ ŽĨ ĂƌƟ ƐƚƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƉĂƐƚ ƚǁŽ ĐĞŶƚƵƌŝĞƐ ǁŚŽ ŚĂǀĞ͕ ǁŚĞƚŚĞƌ ƚŚĞǇ ƐŽ ŝĚĞŶƟ Į ĞĚ Žƌ ŶŽƚ͕ ďĞĞŶ ĚĞƐŝŐŶĂƚĞĚ ĂƐ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ĂƌƟ ƐƚƐ͘ &ƌŽŵ ĂŶ ĞĂƌůǇ ƌĞĨĞƌĞŶĐĞ ƚŽ ĂŵŝůůĞ WŝƐͲ ƐĂƌŽ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ŵŽƐƚ ƌĞĐĞŶƚ /ƐƌĂĞůŝ ΀ZĞŶĂ ĂƐƚĞůŶƵͲ ŽǀĂ ;ϮϬϬϵͿ΁ ĂŶĚ ŵĞƌŝĐĂŶ ĂƌƟ ƐƚƐ ΀ ƌĐŚŝĞ ZĂŶĚ ;ϮϬϬϲͿ΁͕ ƚŚĞ ĂƵƚŚŽƌƐ ƌĞůĂƚĞ ƚŚĞ ĂƌƟ ƐƚƐ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞŝƌ ǁŽƌŬ ƚŽ ƚŚĞŝƌ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ĞǆƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞ ŶŽ ŵĂƩ Ğƌ ŚŽǁ ƐůŝŐŚƚ ƚŚĞŝƌ ƌĞůŝŐŝŽƵƐ Ăĸ ůŝĂƟ ŽŶƐ ŵĂǇ ďĞ͘ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ĞǆƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞ ŝƐ ĚŝƐĐƵƐƐĞĚ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ĨĞĞůŝŶŐ

A lavishly illustrated, comprehensive survey of the work of artists of the past two centuries who have, whether they so identified or not, been designated as Jewish artists. ŽĨ ďĞŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ͞KƚŚĞƌ͟ ŝŶ ƐŽĐŝĞƚǇ͕ ƚŚĞ ĚŝĂƐƉŽƌŝĐ Ğī ĞĐƚ ŽŶ ŽŶĞ͛Ɛ ŝĚĞŶƟ ƚǇ͕ ƚŚĞ ƐŽĐŝĂů ĐŽŶƐĐŝĞŶĐĞ ĂƐ Ă ŚĞƌŝƚĂŐĞ ĚĞƌŝǀĞĚ ĨƌŽŵ ŝďůŝĐĂů ƚĞĂĐŚŝŶŐƐ͕ ƚŚĞ ,ŽůŽĐĂƵƐƚ ĂƐ Ă ƉƌŽĨŽƵŶĚ ŝŶƐƉŝƌĂƟ ŽŶ ĨŽƌ ƉŽǁĞƌĨƵů ŝŵĂŐĞƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ŚŽŵĞůĂŶĚ ĞǆƉĞƌŝͲ ence of Israel. The text includes discussions of ǁĞůůͲŬŶŽǁŶ ƵƌŽƉĞĂŶ ĂƌƟ ƐƚƐ ƐƵĐŚ ĂƐ ŵĂĚĞŽ DŽĚŝŐůŝĂŶŝ ĂŶĚ ŚĂŝŵ ^ŽƵƟ ŶĞ͕ ǁŚŽƐĞ ǁŽƌŬ ƌĂƌĞůǇ ƌĞĨĞƌĞŶĐĞĚ ĂŶǇ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ƐǇŵďŽůƐ͕ ĂůŽŶŐ ǁŝƚŚ /ƐŝĚŽƌĞ <ĂƵĨŵĂŶŶ ĂŶĚ DĂƵƌǇĐǇ 'ŽƩ ůŝĞď͕ ƌĞƉƌĞƐĞŶƚĂƟ ǀĞ ŽĨ ƐĞǀĞƌĂů ĂƌƟ ƐƚƐ ǁŚŽƐĞ ƐƵďũĞĐƚ ŵĂƩ Ğƌ ŝƐ :ĞǁŝƐŚ͘ /ƚ ŝƐ Ă ŐŝǀĞŶ ƚŚĂƚ ƐŽŵĞ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ĂƌƟ ƐƚƐ ǁĞƌĞ ŝŶŇ ƵĞŶĐĞĚ ďǇ ƉƌĞǀĂŝůŝŶŐ ĂƌƟ ƐƟ Đ ŵŽĚĞƐ ĂŶĚ ƉŽůŝƟ ĐĂů ĐůŝŵĂƚĞƐ͕ ĂƐ ƉƌŽǀĞŶ ďǇ ƐƵĐŚ ZƵƐƐŝĂŶ ĂƌƟ ƐƚƐ ĂƐ ů >ŝƐƐŝƚǌŬǇ ĂŶĚ EĂƵŵ

summer 5772/2012

www.jewishbookcouncil.org

'ĂďŽ͕ ǁŚŝůĞ ŽƚŚĞƌƐ͕ ůŝŬĞ DĂƌĐ ŚĂŐĂůů ĂŶĚ /ƐƐĂĐŚĂƌ ZǇďĂĐŬ͕ ǁĞƌĞ ŝŶƐƉŝƌĞĚ ďǇ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ĨŽůŬ ŝŵĂŐĞƐ͘ dŚĞ ƐĞĐƟ ŽŶ ŽŶ ŵĞƌŝĐĂŶ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ĂƌƟ ƐƚƐ ŝŶĐůƵĚĞƐ ƚŚĞ ĨĂŵŝůŝĂƌ Į ŐƵƌĞƐ͕ ƐƵĐŚ ĂƐ DĂǆ tĞͲ ďĞƌ͕ :ĂĐŬ >ĞǀŝŶĞ͕ >ĂƌƌǇ ZŝǀĞƌƐ͕ ǀĂ ,ĞƐƐĞ͕ ĂŶĚ ĞŶ ^ŚĂŚŶ͘ dŚĞ ƌĞĂů ƐƚƌĞŶŐƚŚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ďŽŽŬ ŝƐ ƚŚĞ ĚŝƐĐƵƐƐŝŽŶ ŽĨ ůĞƐƐĞƌ ŬŶŽǁŶ ĂƌƟ ƐƚƐ ƐƵĐŚ ĂƐ ,ĞŶƌǇ DŽƐůĞƌ͕ DŽƐĞƐ :ĂĐŽď ǌĞŬŝĞů͕ ďƌĂŚĂŵ tŽůŬŽǁŝƚǌ͕ ĂŶĚ ƵĚƌĞǇ &ůĂĐŬ͘ dŚĞ ĐŚĂƉƚĞƌ ͞ ƌƚ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ,ŽůŽĐĂƵƐƚ͟ ŝŶĐůƵĚĞƐ ĂƌƟ ƐƚƐ ǁŚŽƐĞ ŝŵĂŐĞƐ ƌĂŶŐĞ ĨƌŽŵ ŚŽƌƌŝĮ Đ ƚŽ ĂůůĞŐŽƌŝĐĂů͖ ŝŶ ͞,ŽŵĞ ƚŽ /ƐƌĂĞů͕͟ ƚŚĞ ŝŵĂŐĞƐ ƌĂŶŐĞ ĨƌŽŵ ŝĚĞĂůͲ ŝǌĞĚ ƚŽ ŶĞŽͲƌĞĂůŝƐŵ͘ tŽƌŬƐ ďǇ ƉŚŽƚŽŐƌĂƉŚĞƌƐ͕ Ă ŵĂũŽƌ ĐŽŵͲ ponent of contemporary Israeli art, are also ŝŶĐůƵĚĞĚ͘ dŚĞ ďŽŽŬ ŝƐ Ă ǁĞůĐŽŵĞ ĚŝƐƟ ůůĂƟ ŽŶ ŽĨ ĐƌŝƟ ĐĂů ǁƌŝƟ ŶŐ ƚŚĂƚ ĞǆŝƐƚƐ ĞůƐĞǁŚĞƌĞ͕ ĂƐ ŝŶĚŝĐĂƚĞĚ ďǇ ƚŚĞ ĞǆƚĞŶƐŝǀĞ ĨŽŽƚŶŽƟ ŶŐ͘ dŚĞ ĂƵƚŚŽƌƐ ŚĂǀĞ ďƌŽƵŐŚƚ ƚŽŐĞƚŚĞƌ ŵĂƚĞƌŝĂů ƚŚĂƚ is otherwise inaccessible to most readers and ŚĂǀĞ ĚŽŶĞ ƐŽ ŝŶ Ă ǀĞƌǇ ƌĞĂĚĂďůĞ ƐƚǇůĞ͘ ZĞŐƌĞƚͲ ƚĂďůǇ͕ ƚŚĞ ŝĚĞŶƟ Į ĐĂƟ ŽŶ ŽĨ ƉƌŽǀĞŶĂŶĐĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƌĞƉƌŽĚƵĐƟ ŽŶƐ ŝƐ ŶŽƚ ĞĂƐŝůǇ ůŽĐĂƚĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƉŚŽƚŽͲĐƌĞĚŝƚƐ ůŽĐĂƚĞĚ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ ĞŶĚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ďŽŽŬ͘ Both authors are professors of art history at ƵŶŝǀĞƌƐŝƟ ĞƐ͘ ŵŽŶŐ ĂƐŬŝŶĚ͛Ɛ ĞĂƌůŝĞƌ ƉƵďůŝĐĂͲ Ɵ ŽŶƐ͕ ŶĐǇĐůŽƉĞĚŝĂ ŽĨ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ŵĞƌŝĐĂŶ ƌƟ ƐƚƐ ;ϮϬϬϳͿ ŝƐ Ă ƵƐĞĨƵů ƌĞĨĞƌĞŶĐĞ ƚŽŽů͘ EN

Jews in Service to the Tsar Lev Berdnikov; Nora Seligman Favorov, trans. Russian Life Books, 2011 Paperback 286 pp. $22.00 [e] ISBN: 978-1-880100-65-3

ŚĞ ZƵƐƐŝĂŶ ŚŝƐƚŽƌŝĂŶ >Ğǀ ĞƌĚŶŝŬŽǀ introduces the reader to a roster of ƚǁĞŶƚǇͲĞŝŐŚƚ ĨĂƐĐŝŶĂƟ ŶŐ ZƵƐƐŝĂŶ :ĞǁƐ ǁŚŽ ŶŽƚ ŽŶůǇ ƐĞƌǀĞĚ ƚŚĞŝƌ ƚƐĂƌ ďƵƚ ĂůƐŽ ĚĞĮ ĞĚ ŵĂŶǇ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƐƚĞƌĞŽƚǇƉĞƐ ďǇ ǁŚŝĐŚ ZƵƐƐŝĂŶ :ĞǁƐ ŚĂǀĞ Ăůů ƚŽŽ ŽŌ ĞŶ ďĞĞŶ ĐŚĂƌĂĐƚĞƌŝǌĞĚ͘ Ɛ ǇŽƵ ƌĞĂĚ ƚŚĞƐĞ ĨĂƐĐŝŶĂƟ ŶŐ ďŝŽŐƌĂƉŚŝĐĂů ƐŬĞƚĐŚĞƐ͕ ǇŽƵ ǁŝůů ƚƌĂǀĞů ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ Į Ō ĞĞŶƚŚ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ƚǁĞŶƟ ĞƚŚ ĐĞŶƚƵƌǇ͕ ŵĞĞƟ ŶŐ :ĞǁƐ ǁŚŽ͕ ǁŚŝůĞ ĞŶĐŽƵŶƚĞƌŝŶŐ ĂŶƟ Ͳ^ĞŵŝƟ Ɛŵ͕ ĂůƐŽ ŵĂĚĞ ŝŵƉŽƌƚĂŶƚ͕ ǇĞƚ ŐĞŶĞƌĂůůǇ ůŝƩ ůĞ ŬŶŽǁŶ͕ ĐŽŶƚƌŝďƵƟ ŽŶƐ ƚŽ ƚŚĞŝƌ ŚŽŵĞůĂŶĚ͘ Ɛ ŵŝŐŚƚ ďĞ ĞǆƉĞĐƚĞĚ͕ ĂŵŽŶŐ ƚŚĞŵ ĂƌĞ Į ŶĂŶĐŝĞƌƐ͕ ďĂŶŬĞƌƐ͕ ũĞǁĞůĞƌƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ƉŚǇƐŝĐŝĂŶƐ͘ /ŶƚĞƌĞƐƟ ŶŐůǇ ƚŚĞ ůŝƐƚ ĂůƐŽ ŝŶĐůƵĚĞƐ ƚǁŽ ͞ĐŽƵƌƚ ũĞƐƚĞƌƐ͕͟ Ă ĐŚŝĞĨ ŽĨ ƉŽůŝĐĞ͕ ĂŶĚ ĂŶ ĂŵďĂƐƐĂĚŽƌ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ŽƵƌƚ ŽĨ ^ƚ͘ :ĂŵĞƐ ǁŚŽ ǁĂƐ ŝŶƐƚƌƵŵĞŶƚĂů ŝŶ ĞƐƚĂďůŝƐŚŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ Į ƌƐƚ ZƵƐƐŝĂŶ KƌƚŚŽĚŽǆ ĐŚƵƌĐŚ ŝŶ ŶŐůĂŶĚ͘ ĞƌĚŶŝŬŽǀ ĚƌĂǁƐ ŽŶ ŶƵŵĞƌŽƵƐ͕ ŽŌ ĞŶ ŽďƐĐƵƌĞ͕ ƐŽƵƌĐĞƐ ǁŚŝĐŚ ƐŚĞĚ ůŝŐŚƚ ŽŶ ĂƐƉĞĐƚƐ ŽĨ ZƵƐƐŝĂŶ ŚŝƐƚŽƌǇ ƚŚĂƚ ǁŝůů ƉƌŽďĂďůǇ ďĞ ŶĞǁ ĞǀĞŶ ƚŽ ƐĐŚŽůĂƌƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƐƵďũĞĐƚ͘ dŚĞ ďŽŽŬ ŝƐ ŝůůƵƐƚƌĂƚĞĚ ĂŶĚ ĐŽŶƚĂŝŶƐ Ă ŚĞůƉĨƵů ŐůŽƐƐĂƌǇ ŽĨ ZƵƐƐŝĂŶ ŚŝƐƚŽƌŝĐĂů ƚĞƌŵƐ͕ ƉƌĞƉĂƌĞĚ ďǇ ƚŚĞ ƚƌĂŶƐůĂƚŽƌ͕ ĂƐ ǁĞůů ĂƐ Ă ďƌŝĞĨ ĐŚƌŽŶŽůŽŐǇ ŽĨ :ĞǁŝƐŚͲZƵƐƐŝĂŶ ŚŝƐƚŽƌǇ͘ dŚĞƌĞ ŝƐ ĂůƐŽ Ă ůŝƐƟ ŶŐ of primary sources which is, unfortunately, ĞŶƟ ƌĞůǇ ŝŶ ZƵƐƐŝĂŶ͘ PLR

nonfiction

The Lady in Gold: The Extraordinary Tale of Gustav Klimt’s Masterpiece, Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer Anne-Marie O’Connor Knopf, 2012 Hardcover 349 pp. $30.00 [e] ISBN 978-0-307-26564-7

ĂŶǇ ĂĚŵŝƌĞ ƚŚĞ ǁŽƌŬƐ ŽĨ <ůŝŵƚ ĂŶĚ ŽƚŚĞƌ ĂƌƟ ƐƚƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ sŝĞŶŶĂ ^ĞĐĞƐƐŝŽŶ͕ unaware of the cultural context that produced ƚŚĞŵ͘ K͛ ŽŶŶŽƌ ƵƐĞƐ ŽŶĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŵŽƐƚ ŝĐŽŶŝĐ ǁŽƌŬƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƉĞƌŝŽĚ͕ <ůŝŵƚ͛Ɛ Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer͕ ƚŽ ƚĞůů ƚŚĞ ƐƚŽƌǇ ŽĨ sŝĞŶŶĂ͛Ɛ Jewish community, from the early nineteenth ĐĞŶƚƵƌǇ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚ ƚŚĞ ŶƐĐŚůƵƐƐ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ƉŽƐƚͲ tĂƌ ƉĞƌŝŽĚ͘ <ůŝŵƚ ŚŝŵƐĞůĨ ǁĂƐ ŶŽƚ :ĞǁŝƐŚ͕ ĂůƚŚŽƵŐŚ ůŝŬĞ ŵĂŶǇ sŝĞŶŶĞƐĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĚĂǇ͕ ŚĞ ŵŝŶŐůĞĚ ĂŶĚ ǁŽƌŬĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ĐŽŵͲ ŵƵŶŝƚǇ͕ ǁŚŝĐŚ ƐƵƉƉŽƌƚĞĚ ŚŝƐ ƌĞǀŽůƵƟ ŽŶĂƌǇ Ăƌƚ ďǇ ĐŽŵŵŝƐƐŝŽŶŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ ƉƵƌĐŚĂƐŝŶŐ ŚŝƐ ǁŽƌŬ͘ tŚĞŶ ƵƐƚƌŝĂ ĞŵďƌĂĐĞĚ ,ŝƚůĞƌ͕ :ĞǁŝƐŚͲŽǁŶĞĚ Ăƌƚ͕ ŚŽŵĞƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ŽƚŚĞƌ ďĞůŽŶŐŝŶŐƐ ǁĞƌĞ ͚ĂƌǇĂŶŝǌĞĚ͖͛ :ĞǁƐ ƚŚĞŵƐĞůǀĞƐ ǁĞƌĞ ŵƵƌĚĞƌĞĚ Žƌ ĨŽƌĐĞĚ ƚŽ Ň ĞĞ Žƌ ŚŝĚĞ͘ ,ŝƚůĞƌ͛Ɛ ĂŶƟ ƉĂƚŚǇ ƚŽ ŵŽĚĞƌŶŝƐƚ Ăƌƚ ;ƚƌĂĐĞĚ͕ ŚĞƌĞ͕ ƚŽ ŚŝƐ ŽǁŶ ĂƌƟ ƐƟ Đ ĨĂŝůƵƌĞƐ ŝŶ sŝĞŶŶĂͿ ŵĞĂŶƚ ŵŽƐƚ ^ĞĐĞƐƐŝŽŶ Ăƌƚ ǁĂƐ ĚĞĞŵĞĚ ƚŽŽ ͚ĚĞŐĞŶĞƌĂƚĞ͛ ƚŽ ďĞ ĞǆŚŝďŝƚĞĚ ƉƵďůŝĐůǇ͖ ǀĂůƵĂďůĞ ƉŝĞĐĞƐ ǁĞƌĞ ƌŽƵƟ ŶĞůǇ ĐŽŶĮ ƐͲ ĐĂƚĞĚ ĨŽƌ ƉĞƌƐŽŶĂů ĐŽůůĞĐƟ ŽŶƐ Žƌ ŚŝĚĚĞŶ ŝŶ EĂǌŝ bunkers. The Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer ǁĂƐ ƐŽ ĐŽŵƉĞůůŝŶŐ͕ ŚŽǁĞǀĞƌ͕ ƚŚĂƚ ĂůƚŚŽƵŐŚ ĚĞůĞ ǁĂƐ ƵŶŵŝƐƚĂŬĂďůǇ ^ĞŵŝƟ Đ͕ ŚĞƌ ƉŽƌƚƌĂŝƚ was renamed The Lady in Gold and proudly ĚŝƐƉůĂǇĞĚ ďǇ ƚŚĞ EĂǌŝƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĞůǀĞĚĞƌĞ WĂůĂĐĞ ŝŶ sŝĞŶŶĂ͘ Ō Ğƌ ƚŚĞ tĂƌ͕ ƵƐƚƌŝĂŶ Žĸ ĐŝĂůƐ ĐŽǀĞƌĞĚ ƵƉ ƚŚĞŝƌ ĐŽŵƉůŝĐŝƚǇ͕ ƌĞĨƵƐŝŶŐ ƚŽ ƌĞƚƵƌŶ ǀĂůƵĂďůĞ ƉƌŽƉĞƌƚǇ ƚŽ ŝƚƐ ƌŝŐŚƞ Ƶů :ĞǁŝƐŚ ŽǁŶĞƌƐ͘ dŚĞ ƐƚƌƵŐŐůĞ ŽĨ ůŽĐŚͲ ĂƵĞƌ͛Ɛ ĚĞƐĐĞŶĚĂŶƚƐ ƚŽ ƌĞĐůĂŝŵ ŚĞƌ ƉŽƌƚƌĂŝƚ ǁĂƐ ƵůƟ ŵĂƚĞůǇ ƐƵĐĐĞƐƐĨƵů͕ ĂůƚŚŽƵŐŚ ƚŚĞ ďĂƩ ůĞ ŝƚ ĞŶƚĂŝůĞĚ ƵŶĚĞƌƐĐŽƌĞƐ ƚŚĞ ĞŶŽƌŵŝƚǇ ŽĨ ƵƐƚƌŝĂŶ ĚĞŶŝĂů͘ K͛ ŽŶŶŽƌ͛Ɛ ŶĂƌͲ ƌĂƟ ǀĞ ŝƐ ƐƉŝƌŝƚĞĚ ĂŶĚ ŐƌŝƉƉŝŶŐ͖ ŽŶĞ ŽŶůǇ ŵŝƐƐĞƐ the color plates of the actual art works, which ŝĨ ƚŚĞ ƵƐƚƌŝĂŶƐ ŚĂĚ ĂĐƚĞĚ ŚŽŶŽƌĂďůǇ͕ ŵŝŐŚƚ ŚĂǀĞ ďĞĞŶ ĂǀĂŝůĂďůĞ ŚĞƌĞ͘ ŝďůŝŽŐƌĂƉŚǇ͕ ŶŽƚĞƐ͕ ƉŚŽƚŽŐƌĂƉŚƐ͘ BEB

Shattered Spaces: Encountering Jewish Ruins in Postwar Germany and Poland Michael Meng Harvard University Press, 2011 Hardcover 352 pp. $35.00 ISBN: 978-0674053038

ŚŝƐ ŝƐ ĂŶ ĞǆƚƌĂŽƌĚŝŶĂƌǇ ĂŶĚ ŽƌŝŐŝŶĂů study that focuses on the sites of Jewish ŵĞŵŽƌǇ ůĞŌ ďĞŚŝŶĚ ĂŌ Ğƌ ƚŚĞ ,ŽůŽĐĂƵƐƚ ŝŶ ĞƌůŝŶ͕ tĂƌƐĂǁ͕ WŽƚƐĚĂŵ͕ ƐƐĞŶ͕ ĂŶĚ tƌŽĐůĂǁ ŽǀĞƌ ƚŚĞ ƉĂƐƚ ƐŝǆƚǇ ǇĞĂƌƐ͘ DŝĐŚĂĞů DĞŶŐ pursues three lines of inquiry: what happened ƚŽ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ƐŝƚĞƐ ĂŌ Ğƌ ƚŚĞ ,ŽůŽĐĂƵƐƚ͍ ,Žǁ ŚĂǀĞ 'ĞƌŵĂŶƐ͕ WŽůĞƐ͕ ƐƵƌǀŝǀŝŶŐ :ĞǁƐ͕ ĂŶĚ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ŽƌŐĂŶŝǌĂƟ ŽŶƐ ŝŶƚĞƌĂĐƚĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞƐĞ ƌƵŝŶƐ ƐŝŶĐĞ ϭϵϰϱ͍ ŶĚ ŝƐ ƚŚĞƌĞ Ă ĚŝǀŝĚĞĚ ŵĞŵŽƌǇ ĂůŽŶŐ ĂƐƚͲtĞƐƚ ůŝŶĞƐ͍ tŚĂƚ ŚĞ ĨŽƵŶĚ ŝƐ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞ ŚĂŶĚůŝŶŐ ŽĨ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ƐŝƚĞƐ ĚŝĚ ŶŽƚ ĨĂůů ĂůŽŶŐ ƚŚĞ ůŝŶĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ KĚĞƌͲEĞŝƐƐĞ ďŽƌĚĞƌ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ /ƌŽŶ ƵƌƚĂŝŶ͘ EĂƟ ŽŶĂů͕ ƉŽůŝƟ ĐĂů͕ ĂŶĚ ůŽĐĂů Ěŝī ĞƌĞŶĐĞƐ ƐŚĂƉĞĚ ǁŚĂƚ ǁĂƐ ŝŶ ŵĂŶǇ ǁĂǇƐ Ă ƉĂƌĂůůĞů ŚŝƐƚŽƌǇ ĂĐƌŽƐƐ Ă ĚŝǀĞƌƐĞ ƌĞŐŝŽŶ͘ ^ŚĂƩ ĞƌĞĚ ^ƉĂĐĞƐ ŝƐ ĂďŽƵƚ ƚŚĞ ƐŚŝŌ ŝŶŐ ŚŝƐͲ ƚŽƌǇ ŽĨ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ƐŝƚĞƐ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ĐŚĂŶŐŝŶŐ ĞŶĐŽƵŶͲ ƚĞƌƐ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞƐĞ ƌƵŝŶƐ ŝŶ ƉŽƐƚǁĂƌ ƵƌŽƉĞ͘ ZƵŝŶƐ can be treated as worthless ruble to be swept away, as many of them were in the immediate ĂŌ ĞƌŵĂƚŚ͕ ĚĞƐƉŝƚĞ ƉƌŽƚĞƐƚƐ ĨƌŽŵ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ůĞĂĚͲ ĞƌƐ͘ Kƌ ƚŚĞǇ ĐĂŶ ďĞ ƉƌŽƚĞĐƚĞĚ͕ ƉƌĞƐĞƌǀĞĚ͕ ĂŶĚ restored. How they are dealt with depends on ŚŽǁ ƚŚĞǇ ĂƌĞ ƉĞƌĐĞŝǀĞĚ Ăƚ Ă ƐƉĞĐŝĮ Đ Ɵ ŵĞ ĂŶĚ ƐƉĂĐĞ ďǇ ƉĂƌƟ ĐƵůĂƌ ƉĞƌƐŽŶƐ Žƌ ŐƌŽƵƉƐ͘ KŶĐĞ ŝŐŶŽƌĞĚ Žƌ ĚĞƐƚƌŽǇĞĚ͕ ƐŝŶĐĞ ƚŚĞ ŵŝĚͲϭϵϳϬƐ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ƐŝƚĞƐ ŚĂǀĞ ďĞĞŶ ƉƌĞƐĞƌǀĞĚ ĂƐ ǀĂůƵĂďůĞ ƌƵŝŶƐ ŝŶ 'ĞƌŵĂŶǇ ĂŶĚ WŽůĂŶĚ͘ Ō Ğƌ ƚŚĞ ĐŽůͲ ůĂƉƐĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ^ŽǀŝĞƚ hŶŝŽŶ ŝŶ ϭϵϴϵ͕ ƚŚŝƐ ĚĞƐŝƌĞ ƚŽ ƉƌĞƐĞƌǀĞ ŚĂƐ ŝŶƚĞŶƐŝĮ ĞĚ͕ ƚŚĂŶŬƐ ƚŽ ŝŶĐƌĞĂƐͲ ŝŶŐ ŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ,ŽůŽĐĂƵƐƚ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ƌŝƐĞ ŽĨ ŚĞƌŝƚĂŐĞ ƚŽƵƌŝƐŵ͘ DĞŶŐ ƚƌĂĐĞƐ ŚŽǁ ƚŚĞ WŽůŝƐŚ ĂŶĚ 'ĞƌŵĂŶ ƐŽĐŝĞƟ ĞƐ ƉĂǀĞĚ ŽǀĞƌ͕ ĨŽƌŐŽƚ͕ ĂŶĚ ƚƌĂŶƐĨŽƌŵĞĚ Jewish sites not out of malice, but out of a deep sense of anxiety about the Holocaust. /Ŷ ƚŚĞ ĞĂƌůǇ ĚĞĐĂĚĞƐ͕ ƚŽ ŬĞĞƉ ƚŚĞƐĞ ƐŚĂƩ ĞƌĞĚ ƐǇŵďŽůƐ ĂƌŽƵŶĚ ǁŽƵůĚ ĞǀŽŬĞ ƚŚĞ ƚŚĞŵĞƐ ŽĨ ǀŝŽůĞŶĐĞ͕ ĐŽŵƉůŝĐŝƚǇ͕ ĂŶĚ ŝŶĚŝī ĞƌĞŶĐĞ͘ DŽƐƚ

www.jewishbookcouncil.org

'ĞƌŵĂŶƐ ĚŝĚ ŶŽƚ ǁĂŶƚ ƚŽ ĐŽŶĨƌŽŶƚ ƚŚĞŝƌ ƌŽůĞ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƐŽĐŝĂů ĂŶĚ ƉŚǇƐŝĐĂů ĚĞĂƚŚƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ :ĞǁͲ ŝƐŚ ĐŽŵŵƵŶŝƚǇ͘ WŽůĞƐ ĐĞƌƚĂŝŶůǇ ƌĞŵĞŵďĞƌĞĚ ƚŚĞŝƌ ŽǁŶ ƐƵī ĞƌŝŶŐ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ ŚĂŶĚƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ EĂǌŝƐ͘ Ƶƚ ƚŚĞǇ ƌĂƌĞůǇ ƌĞĐĂůůĞĚ ƚŚĞ ƐƵī ĞƌŝŶŐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞŝƌ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ŶĞŝŐŚďŽƌƐ ĂŶĚ ƉĞƌĐĞŝǀĞĚ ƚŚĞ ^ŚŽĂŚ ĂƐ Ă ƚŚƌĞĂƚ ƚŽ ƚŚĞŝƌ ŽǁŶ ŵĞŵŽƌŝĞƐ ŽĨ ǀŝĐƟ ŵŝǌĂƟ ŽŶ ĂŶĚ ƌĞƐŝƐƚĂŶĐĞ ĂŶĚ ĂŶ ŽƉĞŶŝŶŐ ƚŽ Ă ĚĂƌŬ ĂŶĚ ůĞƐƐ ŚĞƌŽŝĐ ĐŚĂƉƚĞƌ ŽĨ WŽůŝƐŚ ŚŝƐƚŽƌǇ͘ EŽ ƐŝƚĞ symbolized this tendency more than Warsaw, ǁŚĞƌĞ ƚŚĞ WŽůĞƐ ůŝƚĞƌĂůůǇ ĂŶĚ ŵĞƚĂƉŚŽƌŝĐĂůůǇ ďƵƌŝĞĚ ƚŚĞ ŐŚĞƩ Ž͛Ɛ ƚƌĂƵŵĂƟ Đ ƌƵŝŶƐ ĂŶĚ ƉĂǀĞĚ ƚŚĞŵ ŽǀĞƌ͘ DĞŶŐ ďƌŝŶŐƐ Ă ŬĞĞŶ ĂŶĚ ŶƵĂŶĐĞĚ ƵŶĚĞƌƐƚĂŶĚŝŶŐ ŽĨ ŝĚĞŽůŽŐŝĐĂů ĐŽŶĐĞƌŶƐ͕ ƋƵĞƐͲ Ɵ ŽŶƐ ŽĨ ŝĚĞŶƟ ƚǇ͕ ŵĞŵŽƌǇ ƐƚƵĚŝĞƐ͕ ĐŽŵƉĞƟ ŶŐ ŚŝƐƚŽƌŝĐĂů ŶĂƌƌĂƟ ǀĞƐ͕ ƚŚĞ ƌŽůĞ ŽĨ ŵŽŶƵŵĞŶƚƐ ͕ĂŶĚ ĂƌĐŚŝƚĞĐƚƵƌĂů ŝĚĞĂůƐ ƚŽ ƚŚŝƐ ĨĂƐĐŝŶĂƟ ŶŐ ĂŶĚ ŝŵƉŽƌƚĂŶƚ ƚŽƉŝĐ͘ ZŝŐŽƌŽƵƐůǇ ƌĞƐĞĂƌĐŚĞĚ ĂŶĚ ǁĞůůͲǁƌŝƩ ĞŶ͕ ƚŚĞ ďŽŽŬ ŵĂŬĞƐ ŽƌŝŐŝŶĂů ĐŽŶƚƌŝďƵͲ Ɵ ŽŶƐ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ Į ĞůĚƐ ŽĨ ,ŽůŽĐĂƵƐƚ ƐƚƵĚŝĞƐ͕ ƉŽƐƚͲ ǁĂƌ ĞŶƚƌĂů ƵƌŽƉĞĂŶ ŚŝƐƚŽƌǇ͕ ĂŶĚ ŵĞŵŽƌǇ studies. MND

Vienna is Different: Jewish Writers in Austria from the Fin de Siècle to the Present Hillary Hope Herzog Berghahn Books, 2011 Hardcover 289 pp. $95.00 ISBN: 978-0-85745-181-1

ŝĞŶŶĂ ǁĂƐ ƚŚĞ ĐŝƚǇ ƚŽ ďĞ ůŝǀŝŶŐ ŝŶ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ ƚƵƌŶ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƚǁĞŶƟ ĞƚŚ ĐĞŶƚƵƌǇ͕ Ă ĐŝƚǇ ǁŚĞƌĞ Ăƌƚ͕ ĂƌĐŚŝƚĞĐƚƵƌĞ͕ ŵƵƐŝĐ͕ ƉĂŝŶƟ ŶŐ͕ ĂŶĚ ůŝƚĞƌĂƚƵƌĞ ǁĞƌĞ ƚŚƌŝǀŝŶŐ͘ sŝĞŶŶĂ ǁĂƐ ĂůƐŽ Ă ĐŝƚǇ ƚŽ ǁŚŝĐŚ :ĞǁƐ ŚĂĚ ŵŝŐƌĂƚĞĚ ĂŶĚ ǁŚĞƌĞ ƚŚĞǇ ŚĂĚ ĨŽƵŶĚ ĞĐŽŶŽŵŝĐ ƐƵĐĐĞƐƐ ǁŚŝůĞ ĂƐƐŝŵŝůĂƟ ŶŐ ŝŶƚŽ ƚŚĞ ůĂƌŐĞƌ ƵƐƚƌŝĂŶ ƐŽĐŝĞƚǇ͘ dŚĞ ĐŽŶǀĞƌͲ ŐĞŶĐĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞƐĞ ĞǀĞŶƚƐ ƉƌŽǀŝĚĞĚ ƚŚĞ ŽƉƉŽƌƚƵͲ ŶŝƚǇ ĨŽƌ Ă ŐƌŽǁŝŶŐ ƐĞĐƵůĂƌ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ĐŽŵŵƵŶŝƚǇ ƚŽ Ň ŽƵƌŝƐŚ ĂƐ ĂƌƟ ƐƚƐ͘ sŝĞŶŶĂ ŝƐ ŝī ĞƌĞŶƚ is a detailed account of ŚŽǁ ƚŚĞ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ĐŽŵŵƵŶŝƚǇ ŽĨ ǁƌŝƚĞƌƐ ŐƌĞǁ and prospered in Į Ŷ ĚĞ ƐŝğĐůĞ sŝĞŶŶĂ͘ ,ŝůůĂƌǇ ,ŽƉĞ ,ĞƌǌŽŐ ĞǆƉůĂŝŶƐ ƚŚĞ ƉŽůŝƟ ĐĂů ďĂĐŬŐƌŽƵŶĚ ŝŶ ǁŚŝĐŚ ƐƵĐŚ ŐƌĞĂƚ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ǁƌŝƚĞƌƐ ĂƐ ^ƚĞĨĂŶ ǁĞŝŐ ĂŶĚ ƌƚŚƵƌ ^ĐŚŶŝƚǌůĞƌ ůŝǀĞĚ ĂŶĚ ǁƌŽƚĞ͕ ĂŶĚ ŚŽǁ ŝƚ Ăī ĞĐƚĞĚ ƚŚĞŝƌ ǁŽƌŬ͘ dŚĞ ƌŝƐĞ ŽĨ ĂŶƟ Ͳ^ĞŵŝƟ Ɛŵ ĂŶĚ ƚǁŽ ǁŽƌůĚ ǁĂƌƐ ǁŽƵůĚ ĐŚĂŶŐĞ ĞǀĞƌǇƚŚŝŶŐ ďƵƚ ŶŽƚ ƉƵƚ ĂŶ ĞŶĚ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ƉĂƌƟ ĐƵůĂƌ ƐŽĐŝĞƚǇ ŽĨ sŝĞŶŶĞƐĞ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ǁƌŝƚĞƌƐ͘ WƌŽĨĞƐƐŽƌ ,ĞƌǌŽŐ ĐŽŶƟ ŶƵĞƐ ƚŚĞ ƐƚŽƌǇ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĞǀŽůǀŝŶŐ :ĞǁŝƐŚͲsŝĞŶŶĞƐĞ ĐƵůƚƵƌĞ ďǇ ďƌŝŶŐŝŶŐ ƵƐ ƚŽ ƉƌĞƐĞŶƚ ůŝƚĞƌĂƌǇ ĂŶĚ ƉŽůŝƟ ĐĂů Ɵ ŵĞƐ͘ dŚŝƐ Ɛůŝŵ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ƉƌŽǀŝĚĞƐ Ă ǁĞůůͲƌĞƐĞĂƌĐŚĞĚ ĂŶĚ ƌĞĂĚĂďůĞ ŚŝƐƚŽƌǇ ŽĨ ƐŽŵĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŐƌĞĂƚ :ĞǁͲ ŝƐŚ ǁƌŝƚĞƌƐ ŝŶ ŽŶĞ ŽĨ ŚŝƐƚŽƌǇ͛Ɛ ŵŽƐƚ ĨĂƐĐŝŶĂƟ ŶŐ periods. BA

summer 5772/2012

Jewish Book World

nonfiction

holocaust studies A Boy in Terezin: The Private Diary of Pavel Weiner, April 1944-April 1945 Pavel Weiner Northwestern University Press, 2012 Hardcover 296 pp. $29.95 ISBN: 978-0-8101-2779-1

Boy in Terezin ŝƐ ƚŚĞ ĚŝĂƌǇ ŽĨ WĂǀĞů tĞŝŶĞƌ͕ Ă ƚǁĞůǀĞ ǇĞĂƌ ŽůĚ ǌĞĐŚ ďŽǇ ǁŚŽ ǁĂƐ incarcerated with his family in Terezin. The ĚŝĂƌǇ ĐŽǀĞƌƐ ƚŚĞ ůĂƐƚ ǇĞĂƌ ŽĨ WĂǀĞů͛Ɛ ƚŚƌĞĞͲǇĞĂƌ imprisonment in Terezin, the year before he was liberated. He and his mother, and an uncle who was in the United States, were the sole ƐƵƌǀŝǀŽƌƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞŝƌ ĨĂŵŝůǇ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ ,ŽůŽĐĂƵƐƚ͘ WĂǀĞů͛Ɛ ĚŝĂƌǇ ŝƐ Į ůůĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ŶŽƌŵĂů ƌƵŵŝͲ ŶĂƟ ŽŶƐ ŽĨ Ă ďŽǇ ĐŽŵŝŶŐ ŽĨ ĂŐĞ͘ ,Ğ ŝƐ ƉƌĞŽĐͲ cupied with sports and describes in detail the ǀĂƌŝŽƵƐ ƐŽĐĐĞƌ ŵĂƚĐŚĞƐ ŚĞůĚ ŝŶ dĞƌĞǌŝŶ ďǇ ƚŚĞ ďŽǇƐ͘ ,ŝƐ ŽĐĐĂƐŝŽŶĂů ƐƵůůĞŶŶĞƐƐ ĂŶĚ ĂƌŐƵŵĞŶƚƐ with his parents would be common with many ďŽǇƐ ŚŝƐ ĂŐĞ͘ ,Ğ ŚĂƐ ŽŶͲĂŐĂŝŶ͕ Žī ͲĂŐĂŝŶ ĨƌŝĞŶĚͲ ships with other boys in his barracks. All of this ĐĂŶ ďĞ ĂƩ ƌŝďƵƚĞĚ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ĂŶŐƐƚ ŽĨ ĂĚŽůĞƐĐĞŶĐĞ͘ ,ŽǁĞǀĞƌ͕ ůĞƚ ƵƐ ƌĞŵĞŵďĞƌ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚŝƐ ƚĞĞŶĂŐĞƌ ǁĂƐ ŚĞůĚ ĐĂƉƟ ǀĞ ŝŶ Ă ŵĂŬĞͲďĞůŝĞǀĞ ĞŶǀŝƌŽŶͲ ŵĞŶƚ ĐŽŶƚƌŽůůĞĚ ďǇ EĂǌŝƐ͘ ^Ž͕ ĂůŽŶŐ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ŶŽƌŵĂů ƚĞĞŶĂŐĞ ŐƌŽǁŝŶŐ ƉĂŝŶƐ͕ WĂǀĞů ĂůƐŽ ŚĂĚ ĚĂŝůǇ ǁŽƌƌŝĞƐ ŽĨ ŚƵŶŐĞƌ͕ ƉĂŝŶ͕ ĂƚƌŽĐŝƟ ĞƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ĞǀĞŶ ĚĞĂƚŚ͘ ůƚŚŽƵŐŚ ŶŽƚ ŶĞĐĞƐƐĂƌŝůǇ ĚǁĞůƚ ŽŶ in the diary, these worries are an undercurrent ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚŽƵƚ ŝƚ͘ dĞƌĞǌŝŶ ;ĐĂůůĞĚ dŚĞƌĞƐŝĞŶƐƚĂĚƚ ďǇ ƚŚĞ 'ĞƌͲ mans), was a Nazi transit camp. It was also ƉƌŽƉĂŐĂŶĚŝǌĞĚ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ǁŽƌůĚ͕ ďǇ ƚŚĞ EĂǌŝƐ͕ ĂƐ ͞ƚŚĞ ƚŽǁŶ ƚŚĞ &ƵŚƌĞƌ ŐĂǀĞ ƚŚĞ :ĞǁƐ͘͟ ^ĞǀĞƌĂů ĐŽŵŵŝƐƐŝŽŶƐ ŽĨ ŝŵƉĂƌƟ Ăů ŽďƐĞƌǀͲ ĞƌƐ ĂŶĚ ZĞĚ ƌŽƐƐ ƉĞƌƐŽŶŶĞů ĐĂŵĞ ƚŽ ŝŶƐƉĞĐƚ dĞƌĞǌŝŶ͘ dŚĞ EĂǌŝƐ ƉĞƌƉĞƚƌĂƚĞĚ Ă ŵĂũŽƌ ŚŽĂǆ ďǇ ĐůĞĂŶŝŶŐ ƵƉ ƚŚĞ ƚŽǁŶ ĂŶĚ ŝŶƐƚĂůůŝŶŐ ĐĂĨĞƐ͕ ďĂŶŬƐ͕ ŐƌŽĐĞƌǇ ƐƚŽƌĞƐ͕ ĞƚĐ͘ ƚŽ ĨŽŽů ƚŚĞ ŽďƐĞƌǀͲ ĞƌƐ ŝŶƚŽ ďĞůŝĞǀŝŶŐ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚŝƐ ǁĂƐ Ă ŶŽƌŵĂů

Jewish Book World

ƚŽǁŶ͘ /ƚ ǁĂƐ Ăůů ũƵƐƚ Ă ĨĂĕĂĚĞ͕ ůŝŬĞ Ă ,ŽůůǇǁŽŽĚ ŵŽǀŝĞ ƐĞƚ͘ /ƚ ǁĂƐ ŝŶ ƚŚŝƐ ĞŶǀŝƌŽŶŵĞŶƚ ƚŚĂƚ WĂǀĞů tĞŝŶĞƌ ůŝǀĞĚ ĂŶĚ ƚƌŝĞĚ ƚŽ Ň ŽƵƌŝƐŚ ĨŽƌ ƚŚƌĞĞ ǇĞĂƌƐ ŽĨ ŚŝƐ ǇŽƵŶŐ ůŝĨĞ͘ ,Ğ ǁĂƐ ĂĚĂŵĂŶƚ ĂďŽƵƚ ůĞĂƌŶŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ ŬĞĞƉŝŶŐ ƵƉ ŚŝƐ ƐƚƵĚŝĞƐ͕ ĞǀĞŶ ƉĂǇŝŶŐ ĨŽƌ piano lessons with precious food. He didn’t ũƵƐƚ ůĂŶŐƵŝƐŚ ĂŶĚ ƐƚĂŐŶĂƚĞ ŝŶ dĞƌĞǌŝŶ͕ ďƵƚ ƌĂƚŚĞƌ ůŽŽŬĞĚ ĨŽƌ ĞǀĞƌǇ ŽƉƉŽƌƚƵŶŝƚǇ ƚŽ ŐƌŽǁ͕ ůĞĂƌŶ͕ ĂŶĚ ďĞĐŽŵĞ Ă ǀĂůƵĂďůĞ ŵĞŵďĞƌ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ community. MF

The Commandant Rudolph Hoess; Jurg Amann, ed.; Ian Buruma aftwd. Overlook, 2012 Hardcover 112 pp. $17.95 ISBN: 978-1-59020-677-5

Ɛ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŵŵĂŶĚĂŶƚ ŽĨ ƵƐĐŚǁŝƚǌ ZƵĚŽůƉŚ ,ŽĞƐƐ ƉĞƌĨĞĐƚĞĚ ĂŶĚ ŽǀĞƌƐĂǁ ƚŚĞ ŐĂƐ ĐŚĂŵďĞƌƐ ǁŚĞƌĞ ĂŶ ĞƐƟ ŵĂƚĞĚ ŽŶĞ ŵŝůůŝŽŶ ƉĞŽƉůĞ ǁĞƌĞ ĞǆƚĞƌŵŝŶĂƚĞĚ͘ :ƵƌŐ ŵĂŶŶ͕ Ă ĚŝƐƟ ŶŐƵŝƐŚĞĚ ĂƵƚŚŽƌ ĂŶĚ ƉůĂǇǁƌŝŐŚƚ͕ ŚĂƐ ĐĂƌĞͲ ĨƵůůǇ ƐǇŶƚŚĞƐŝǌĞĚ ,ŽĞƐƐ͛Ɛ ŽƌŝŐŝŶĂů ŵĞŵŽŝƌ

Invaluable insights regarding the inner world of someone capable of monstrous evil carried out under a veneer of duty, loyalty, and worship of an ideal. ŝŶƚŽ Ă ŚŝŐŚůǇ ƌĞĂĚĂďůĞ ŵŽŶŽůŽŐƵĞ͘ dŚŝƐ ǁŽƌŬ ŝƐ ŽĨ ŐƌĞĂƚ ƐŝŐŶŝĮ ĐĂŶĐĞ ďĞĐĂƵƐĞ ŝƚ ƉƌŽǀŝĚĞƐ ŝŶǀĂůƵĂďůĞ ŝŶƐŝŐŚƚƐ ƌĞŐĂƌĚŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ŝŶŶĞƌ ǁŽƌůĚ ŽĨ ƐŽŵĞŽŶĞ ĐĂƉĂďůĞ ŽĨ ŵŽŶƐƚƌŽƵƐ Ğǀŝů ĐĂƌͲ ƌŝĞĚ ŽƵƚ ƵŶĚĞƌ Ă ǀĞŶĞĞƌ ŽĨ ĚƵƚǇ͕ ůŽǇĂůƚǇ͕ ĂŶĚ worship of an ideal. In this work Amann, ƉĞƌŚĂƉƐ ƵŶŝŶƚĞŶƟ ŽŶĂůůǇ͕ ĨƵƌƚŚĞƌ ĚĞŵŽůŝƐŚĞƐ ,ĂŶŶĂŚ ƌĞŶĚƚ͛Ɛ ƉƐǇĐŚŽůŽŐŝĐĂůůǇ ŶĂŝǀĞ ǀŝĞǁ ƚŚĂƚ ,ŽĞƐƐ͕ ŝĐŚŵĂŶŶ͕ ĂŶĚ ŽƚŚĞƌ ďƵƌĞĂƵĐƌĂƟ Đ ĨƵŶĐƟ ŽŶĂƌŝĞƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ EĂǌŝ ŐĞŶŽĐŝĚĂů ƌĞŐŝŵĞ ĐĂŶ ďĞ ǀŝĞǁĞĚ ĂƐ ŽƌĚŝŶĂƌǇ Žƌ ďĂŶĂů͘ dŚĞƌĞ ŝƐ ŶŽƚŚŝŶŐ ƌĞŵŽƚĞůǇ ďĂŶĂů ŝŶ ,ŽĞƐƐ͛Ɛ ĐŚŝůůŝŶŐ ƐĞůĨʹƌĞǀĞůĂƟ ŽŶ͘ ŵĂŶŶ͕ ǀŝĂ ŚŝƐ ĞĚŝƚŽͲ

summer 5772/2012

www.jewishbookcouncil.org

ƌŝĂů ĐƌĂŌ ƐŵĂŶƐŚŝƉ͕ ŝƐ ĂďůĞ ƚŽ ĐĂƉƚƵƌĞ ĂŶ ƵƩ ĞƌůǇ ƐŽƵůůĞƐƐ ŝŶĚŝǀŝĚƵĂů ǁŚŽƐĞ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƚ ĨŽƌ ůŝĨĞ ĂŶĚ ĐĂƉĂĐŝƚǇ ĨŽƌ ĂƵƚŚĞŶƟ Đ ůŽǀĞ ǁĞƌĞ ĚĞƐƚƌŽǇĞĚ Ăƚ Ă ǀĞƌǇ ĞĂƌůǇ ĂŐĞ͘ tŚĂƚ ŝƐ ůĞŌ ŝƐ Ă ƐŚĞůů ŽĨ Ă ŚƵŵĂŶ ďĞŝŶŐ ǁŚŽ ĚĞĚŝĐĂƚĞƐ ŚŝŵƐĞůĨ ƚŽ ĂŶ ƵŶͲ ƐǁĞƌǀŝŶŐ ĐŽŵŵŝƚŵĞŶƚ ƚŽ Ă 'ĞƌŵĂŶŝĐ ŵŝůŝƚĂƌǇ ŝĚĞĂů͘ dŚŝƐ ĨĂŶĂƟ Đ ĚĞǀŽƟ ŽŶ ŝƐ ƐƵďƐƵŵĞĚ ŝŶƚŽ Ă ƌĞǀĞƌĞŶĐĞ ĨŽƌ ,ŝƚůĞƌ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ^^ ŝĚĞŽůŽŐǇ ǁŚŝĐŚ ĞŶĂďůĞƐ ,ŽĞƐƐ ƚŽ ǀŝĞǁ ĞĂĐŚ ŽĨ ŚŝƐ ŬŝůůŝŶŐ ĂƐͲ ƐŝŐŶŵĞŶƚƐ ĂƐ ŝĨ ƚŚĞǇ ǁĞƌĞ ĚĞůĞŐĂƚĞĚ ƚĂƐŬƐ ŝŶ Ă ůĂƌŐĞ ĐŽƌƉŽƌĂƟ ŽŶ͘ ,ŝƐ ŵŝŶĚ ŝƐ ŽďƐĞƐƐĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ ŶŽƟ ŽŶƐ ŽĨ Ğĸ ĐŝĞŶĐǇ͕ ƐƉĞĞĚ͕ ĂŶĚ ŽƌĚĞƌ͘ ,ŝƐ ĐŽŶŇ ĂƟ ŽŶ ŽĨ ƌƵŶŶŝŶŐ ĂŶ ĂŶŶŝŚŝůĂƟ ŽŶ ĐĞŶƚĞƌ ĂƐ ŝĨ ŚĞ ǁĞƌĞ ƚŚĞ K ŽĨ Ă ůĂƌŐĞ ŵĞĂƚ ƉƌŽĐĞƐƐŝŶŐ ƉůĂŶƚ ƵŶĚĞƌƐĐŽƌĞƐ ĂŶ ƵŶĨĂƚŚŽŵĂďůĞ ĚĞŐƌĞĞ ŽĨ ƉƐǇĐŚŽƉĂƚŚŽůŽŐǇ͘ dŚĞƌĞ ŝƐ ŶŽ ƋƵĞƐƟ ŽŶŝŶŐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ &ŝŶĂů ^ŽůƵƟ ŽŶ ƐĂǀĞ ĨŽƌ Ă ĨĞǁ ĐŽŵŵĞŶƚƐ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ Ğī ĞĐƚ ƚŚĂƚ ŝĨ ,ŽĞƐƐ ǁĞƌĞ ŝŶ ĐŚĂƌŐĞ ŚĞ ǁŽƵůĚ ŚĂǀĞ ĐŚŽƐĞŶ Ă Ěŝī ĞƌĞŶƚ ĂƉƉƌŽĂĐŚ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ͞:ĞǁŝƐŚ ƉƌŽďůĞŵ͘͟ dŚĞ ŐĞŶŽĐŝĚĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ :ĞǁƐ ͕ ŚĞ ǁƌŽƚĞ͕ ǁĂƐ ǁƌŽŶŐ ďĞĐĂƵƐĞ ͞ƚŚĞ ĐĂƵƐĞ ŽĨ ĂŶƟ Ͳ^ĞŵŝƟ Ɛŵ ǁĂƐ ŶŽƚ ƐĞƌǀĞĚ ďǇ ƚŚŝƐ ĂĐƚ Ăƚ Ăůů͕ ŝŶ ĨĂĐƚ͕ ũƵƐƚ ƚŚĞ ŽƉƉŽƐŝƚĞ͘ dŚĞ :ĞǁƐ ŚĂǀĞ ĐŽŵĞ ŵƵĐŚ ĐůŽƐĞƌ ƚŽ ƚŚĞŝƌ Į ŶĂů ŐŽĂů͘͟ :ƵƌŐ ŵĂŶŶ ŚĂƐ ĚŽŶĞ Ă ŐƌĞĂƚ ƐĞƌǀŝĐĞ ďǇ ŵĂŬŝŶŐ ,ŽĞƐƐ͛Ɛ ŵĞŵŽŝƌ ĂǀĂŝůĂďůĞ ƚŽ ƐƚƵĚĞŶƚƐ of the Holocaust but, most importantly, to the ǇŽƵŶŐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĐƵƌƌĞŶƚ ĂŶĚ ĨƵƚƵƌĞ ŐĞŶĞƌĂƟ ŽŶƐ͘ The Commandant is a must read for all social ƐĐŝĞŶƟ ƐƚƐ ĂŶĚ ĐůŝŶŝĐŝĂŶƐ ƐĞĞŬŝŶŐ Ă ŐƌĂƉŚŝĐ ĂŶĚ ĐŽŵƉĞůůŝŶŐ ƐĞůĨ ƉŽƌƚƌĂŝƚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĞǀŽůƵƟ ŽŶ ŽĨ ŝĚĞŽůŽŐŝĐĂů ĂŶĚ ďƵƌĞĂƵĐƌĂƟ Đ ƐŽĐŝŽƉĂƚŚǇ͘ Ō ĞƌǁŽƌĚ͕ ĞĚŝƚŽƌ͛Ɛ ŶŽƚĞ͘ SAL

Flags Over the Warsaw Ghetto: The Untold Story of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising Moshe Arens Gefen Publishing House, 2011 Paperbasck 405 pp. $29.95 [e] ISBN: 978-9652295279

ŚĞ tĂƌƐĂǁ 'ŚĞƩ Ž hƉƌŝƐŝŶŐ ŝŶ Ɖƌŝů͕ ϭϵϰϯ ŝƐ ŐĞŶĞƌĂůůǇ ƌĞĐŽŐŶŝǌĞĚ ĂƐ Ă ŵŽŵĞŶƚŽƵƐ ĞǀĞŶƚ ĚƵƌŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ,ŽůŽĐĂƵƐƚ ĂŶĚ Ă ŵĂũŽƌ ĞǀĞŶƚ ŝŶ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ŚŝƐƚŽƌǇ͘ /Ŷ ĂĚĚŝƟ ŽŶ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ƉƵďůŝƐŚĞĚ ĂĐĂĚĞŵŝĐ ŚŝƐƚŽƌŝĞƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŐŚĞƩ Ž ƌĞƐŝƐƚĂŶĐĞ͕ ƐƵĐŚ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ƐĐŚŽůĂƌƐŚŝƉ ŽĨ zŝƐƌĂĞů 'ƵƚŵĂŶ͕ ŚŝŵƐĞůĨ Ă Į ŐŚƚĞƌ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ hƉƌŝƐŝŶŐ͕ ƚŚĞƌĞ ŝƐ ĂůƐŽ :ŽŚŶ ,ĞƌƐĞǇ͛Ɛ ŶŽǀĞů͕ The Wall, and Leon Uris’ Mila 18͕ ǁŚŝĐŚ ŚĂǀĞ ĨĂŵŝůŝĂƌŝǌĞĚ Ă ůĂƌŐĞ ƌĞĂĚͲ ŝŶŐ ĂƵĚŝĞŶĐĞ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ŚŝƐƚŽƌǇ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƌĞǀŽůƚ͘ DĂŝŶƐƚƌĞĂŵ ŚŝƐƚŽƌŝĞƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ǀĂůŝĂŶƚ ŐŚĞƩ Ž ĚĞĨĞŶĚĞƌƐ͕ ŚŽǁĞǀĞƌ͕ ĨŽĐƵƐ ŽŶ DŽƌĚĞĐŚĂŝ ŶŝĞůĞǁŝĐǌ͕ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŵŵĂŶĚĞƌ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŝŽŶŝƐƚ :ĞǁŝƐŚ &ŝŐŚƟ ŶŐ KƌŐĂŶŝǌĂƟ ŽŶ ; K Ϳ͕ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ Jewish Socialist Bund, as the primary leaders of the resistance to the Nazi plan to deport the ƌĞŵŶĂŶƚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŐŚĞƩ Ž :ĞǁƐ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ dƌĞďůŝŶŬĂ death camp. dŚŝƐ ŝƐ ŶŽƚ ƚŚĞ ǀŝĞǁ͕ ŚŽǁĞǀĞƌ͕ ŽĨ DŽƐŚĞ Arens, the former Israeli defense minister, who

nonfiction ĂůƐŽ ƐĞƌǀĞĚ ĂƐ /ƐƌĂĞů͛Ɛ ĂŵďĂƐƐĂĚŽƌ ƚŽ tĂƐŚŝŶŐͲ ƚŽŶ ĂŶĚ ŽŶĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ >ŝŬƵĚ ƉĂƌƚǇ͛Ɛ ĞůĚĞƌ ƐƚĂƚĞƐͲ men. In his book, which is meant to set the ƌĞĐŽƌĚ ƐƚƌĂŝŐŚƚ͕ ŚĞ ďĞǁĂŝůƐ ƚŚĞ ĨĂĐƚ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞ ZĞǀŝƐŝŽŶŝƐƚ :ĞǁŝƐŚ DŝůŝƚĂƌǇ KƌŐĂŶŝǌĂƟ ŽŶ ; tͿ͕ ůĞĚ ďǇ ŝƚƐ ĐŽŵŵĂŶĚĞƌ͕ WĂǁĞů &ƌĞŶŬĞů͕ ƌĞĐĞŝǀĞƐ ůŝƩ ůĞ Žƌ ŶŽ ƌĞĐŽŐŶŝƟ ŽŶ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŚŝƐƚŽƌŝĐĂů ǁŽƌŬƐ ƚŚĂƚ ƌĞĐŽƵŶƚ ƚŚĞ Į ŐŚƚ ĂŐĂŝŶƐƚ ƚŚĞ EĂǌŝƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ tĂƌƐĂǁ 'ŚĞƩ Ž hƉƌŝƐŝŶŐ͘ ƌĞŶƐ ƚƌĂĐĞƐ ƚŚĞ ďŝƩ Ğƌ ŝĚĞŽůŽŐŝĐĂů Ěŝī ĞƌͲ ĞŶĐĞƐ ďĞƚǁĞĞŶ Ğ͛Ğǀ :ĂďŽƟ ŶƐŬǇ͕ ƚŚĞ ĨŽƵŶĚĞƌ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ZĞǀŝƐŝŽŶŝƐƚƐ ;ƚŚĞ ĨŽƌĞƌƵŶŶĞƌ ŽĨ ƚŽĚĂǇ͛Ɛ >ŝŬƵĚͿ͕ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ tŽƌůĚ ŝŽŶŝƐƚ KƌŐĂŶŝǌĂƟ ŽŶ͕ Ěŝī ĞƌĞŶĐĞƐ ǁŚŝĐŚ ƉƌĞǀĞŶƚĞĚ ƚŚĞƐĞ ĂƌŵĞĚ ŶĞƚǁŽƌŬƐ ĨƌŽŵ ǁŽƌŬŝŶŐ ƚŽŐĞƚŚĞƌ ƚŽ ĨĂĐĞ ƚŚĞŝƌ common enemy as the Nazis commenced ĚĞƉŽƌƟ ŶŐ ƐŽŵĞ ϯϲϱ͕ϬϬϬ ŐŚĞƩ Ž :ĞǁƐ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ dƌĞďůŝŶŬĂ ĚĞĂƚŚ ĐĂŵƉ͘ dŚĞ ƌĞƐƵůƚ͕ ĂƌŐƵĞƐ ƌĞŶƐ͕ ǁĂƐ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞ ƐƵƌǀŝǀŝŶŐ ŵĞŵďĞƌƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ K ǁŚŽ ĨŽƵŐŚƚ ƚŚĞ EĂǌŝƐ ƌĞĨƵƐĞĚ ƚŽ ĂĐŬŶŽǁůͲ ĞĚŐĞ ƚŚĞ ƌŽůĞ ŽĨ ŝƚƐ ƌŝǀĂů ŽƌŐĂŶŝǌĂƟ ŽŶ͕ ĂŶĚ excluded them from the memoirs and books ƚŚĂƚ ƐƵďƐĞƋƵĞŶƚůǇ ĐŽŶƐƟ ƚƵƚĞĚ ƚŚĞ ŚŝƐƚŽƌǇ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŐŚĞƩ Ž ƵƉƌŝƐŝŶŐ͘ Ɛ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ t͕ Ăůů ŽĨ ŝƚƐ ƐĞŶŝŽƌ ĐŽŵŵĂŶĚĞƌƐ ĨĞůů ŝŶ ďĂƩ ůĞ ĂŐĂŝŶƐƚ ƚŚĞ 'ĞƌŵĂŶƐ͘ dŚĞƌĞ ǁĂƐ͕ ĐŽŶĐůƵĚĞƐ ƌĞŶƐ͕ ŶŽďŽĚǇ ůĞŌ ƚŽ ƚĞůů ƚŚĞŝƌ ƐƚŽƌǇ͘ hƐŝŶŐ ĚŽĐƵŵĞŶƚƐ͕ ŝŶĐůƵĚͲ ŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ EĂǌŝ ǀŝĞǁ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƌĞǀŽůƚ ĂƐ ĚŽĐƵŵĞŶƚĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ^ƚƌŽŽƉ ZĞƉŽƌƚ͕ ƌĞŶƐ ƐĞĞŬƐ ƚŽ ƌĞĐƟ ĨǇ the historical omission of the role played by

The Association for Jewish Studies salutes the recipients of the Jordan Schnitzer Book Awards Information and application procedures for the 2012 competition are available on the AJS website (www.ajsnet.org). Support for this program has been generously provided by the Jordan Schnitzer Family Foundation of Portland, Oregon.

ƚŚĞ t ŝŶ ƚŚĞ tĂƌƐĂǁ 'ŚĞƩ Ž hƉƌŝƐŝŶŐ͕ ĂŶĚ ƉƌŽǀŝĚĞ ƚŚĞ ƌĞĂĚĞƌ ǁŝƚŚ Ă ŵŽƌĞ ďĂůĂŶĐĞĚ ŚŝƐƚŽƌǇ ŽĨ ƚŚŝƐ ĐŽƵƌĂŐĞŽƵƐ ŵŽŵĞŶƚ ŝŶ :ĞǁŝƐŚ history. JF

The End: The Defiance and Destruction of Hitler's Germany, 1944-1945 Ian Kershaw Penguin Press, 2011 Hardcover 592 pp. $35.00 [e] ISBN: 978-1594203145

Ɛ ƚŚĞ ǁĂƌ ƚƵƌŶĞĚ ĂŐĂŝŶƐƚ EĂǌŝ 'ĞƌŵĂŶǇ ŝŶ ůĂƚĞ ϭϵϰϰ͕ ƚŚĞ ^^ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ 'ĞƌŵĂŶ ĂƌŵǇ͕ ĨĞĂƌĨƵů ŽĨ ĨĂůůŝŶŐ ŝŶƚŽ ƚŚĞ ŚĂŶĚƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ZĞĚ ĂƌŵǇ͕ ŵĂĚĞ ƚŚĞ ĚĞĐŝƐŝŽŶ ƚŽ ŵŽǀĞ ƉƌŝƐŽŶĞƌƐ ŝŶ ĐŽŶͲ ĐĞŶƚƌĂƟ ŽŶ ĐĂŵƉƐ ŽŶ ͞ĚĞĂƚŚ ŵĂƌĐŚĞƐ͟ ƚŽ ĐĂŵƉƐ ǁŝƚŚŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŝŶƚĞƌŝŽƌ ŽĨ 'ĞƌŵĂŶǇ͘ ƚ ƚŚĞ ďĞŐŝŶŶŝŶŐ ŽĨ ϭϵϰϱ͕ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŶĐĞŶƚƌĂƟ ŽŶ ĐĂŵƉ ƉŽƉƵůĂƟ ŽŶ ŶƵŵďĞƌĞĚ ĂƌŽƵŶĚ ϳϬϬ͕ϬϬϬ͕ ŽĨ ǁŚŝĐŚ ĂŶ ĞƐƟ ŵĂƚĞĚ ϮϬϬ͕ϬϬϬͲϮϱϬ͕ϬϬϬ ǁĞƌĞ :ĞǁƐ͘ ƌŽƵŶĚ &ĞďƌƵĂƌǇ ϭϵϰϱ͕ ,ŝƚůĞƌ ŝƐƐƵĞĚ Ă ǀĞƌďĂů ŽƌĚĞƌ ƚŽ ďůŽǁ ƵƉ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŶĐĞŶƚƌĂƟ ŽŶ ĐĂŵƉƐ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ĂƉͲ ƉƌŽĂĐŚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ůůŝĞƐ͘ ĐĐŽƌĚŝŶŐ ƚŽ &Ğůŝǆ <ĞƌƐƚĞŶ͕ Himmler’s masseur, he was told by the head ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ^^ ƚŚĂƚ ͞ŝĨ EĂƟ ŽŶĂů ^ŽĐŝĂůŝƐƚ 'ĞƌŵĂŶǇ ŝƐ ŐŽŝŶŐ ƚŽ ďĞ ĚĞƐƚƌŽǇĞĚ͕ ƚŚĞŶ ŚĞƌ ĞŶĞŵŝĞƐ ĂŶĚ

ƚŚĞ ĐƌŝŵŝŶĂůƐ ŝŶ ĐŽŶĐĞŶƚƌĂƟ ŽŶ ĐĂŵƉƐ ƐŚĂůů ŶŽƚ ŚĂǀĞ ƚŚĞ ƐĂƟ ƐĨĂĐƟ ŽŶ ŽĨ ĞŵĞƌŐŝŶŐ ĨƌŽŵ ŽƵƌ ƌƵŝŶ as triumphant conquerors. They shall share in ƚŚĞ ĚŽǁŶĨĂůů͘ dŚŽƐĞ ĂƌĞ ƚŚĞ &ƵŚƌĞƌ͛Ɛ ŽƌĚĞƌƐ͙͟ ŚŝĞĨ ĂŵŽŶŐ EĂǌŝ 'ĞƌŵĂŶǇ͛Ɛ ĞŶĞŵŝĞƐ ǁĞƌĞ ƚŚĞ :ĞǁƐ͘ ůƚŚŽƵŐŚ ƚŚĞ ďŽŽŬ ƵŶĚĞƌ ƌĞǀŝĞǁ ĚĞĂůƐ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ůĂƐƚ ĚĂǇƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ dŚŝƌĚ ZĞŝĐŚ͕ ŝƚ ĂůƐŽ ƉƌŽǀŝĚĞƐ ǀĂůƵĂďůĞ ŝŶƐŝŐŚƚƐ ĂƐ ƚŽ ǁŚǇ͕ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ moment of defeat, Hitler was determined to ŵƵƌĚĞƌ ĞǀĞƌǇ ůĂƐƚ :Ğǁ ŝŶ EĂǌŝͲŽĐĐƵƉŝĞĚ ƵƌŽƉĞ͘ /ĂŶ <ĞƌƐŚĂǁ ŝƐ ĂŵŽŶŐ ƚŚĞ ůĞĂĚŝŶŐ ŚŝƐƚŽƌŝĂŶƐ ŽĨ EĂǌŝ 'ĞƌŵĂŶǇ͕ ĂŶĚ ŚŝƐ ƚǁŽ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ďŝŽŐƌĂͲ phy of Adolf Hitler is the preeminent work on ŚŝƐ ƐƵďũĞĐƚ͘ The End ƌĞǀĞĂůƐ ŵƵĐŚ ĂƐ ƚŽ ǁŚǇ EĂǌŝ 'ĞƌŵĂŶǇ ĨŽƵŐŚƚ ŽŶ ĚĞƐƉŝƚĞ ŝƚƐ ŝŵŵŝŶĞŶƚ

In the Category of Ancient and Medieval Jewish History:

MARINA RUSTOW Johns Hopkins University Heresy and the Politics of Community: The Jews of the Fatimid Caliphate (CORNELL UNIVERSITY PRESS)

In the Category of Jewish Literature and Linguistics:

SHACHAR M. PINSKER University of Michigan Literary Passports: The Making of Modernist Hebrew Fiction in Europe (STANFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS)

The AJS also salutes the Jordan Schnitzer Book Award Honorable Mentions in the category of Jewish Literature and Linguistics:

GABRIELLA SAFRAN

Stanford University Wandering Soul: The Dybbuk’s Creator, S. An-Sky (HARVARD UNIVERSITY PRESS)

MAEERA Y. SHREIBER

University of Utah Singing in a Strange Land: A Jewish American Poetics (STANFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS)

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summer 5772/2012

Jewish Book World

nonfiction ĚĞƐƚƌƵĐƟ ŽŶ͘ ĐŽƵŶƚƌǇ Ăƚ ǁĂƌ͕ ƐƚĂƚĞƐ <ĞƌƐŚĂǁ͕ ĂƩ ĞŵƉƚƐ ƚŽ ƐĞĞŬ ƚĞƌŵƐ ƚŽ ĞŶĚ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŶŇ ŝĐƚ ǁŚĞŶ ŝƚƐ ĚĞĨĞĂƚ ŝƐ ĂƉƉĂƌĞŶƚ͘ ^ĞůĨͲĚĞƐƚƌƵĐƟ ŽŶ ďǇ ĐŽŶƟ ŶƵŝŶŐ ƚŽ Į ŐŚƚ ŽŶ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ůĂƐƚ͕ ƚŽ ĂůŵŽƐƚ ƚŽƚĂů ĚĞǀĂƐƚĂƟ ŽŶ͕ ŝƐ ĞǆƚƌĞŵĞůǇ ƌĂƌĞ͘ dŚƵƐ͕ ƚŚĞ ĨŽĐƵƐ ŽĨ <ĞƌƐŚĂǁ͛Ɛ ďŽŽŬ ŝƐ ƚŽ ĂƐŬ͕ tŚǇ͍ tŚǇ ǁĞƌĞ ,ŝƚůĞƌ͛Ɛ ƐĞůĨͲĚĞƐƚƌƵĐƟ ǀĞ ŽƌĚĞƌƐ ŽďĞǇĞĚ͍ ,Žǁ ĨĂƌ ǁĞƌĞ 'ĞƌŵĂŶƐ ƉƌĞƉĂƌĞĚ ƚŽ ƐƵƉƉŽƌƚ ,ŝƚůĞƌ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ĞŶĚ͕ ĞǀĞŶ ƚŚŽƵŐŚ ƚŚĞǇ ŬŶĞǁ ŚĞ ǁĂƐ ĚƌŝǀŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ĐŽƵŶƚƌǇ ƚŽ ĚĞƐƚƌƵĐƟ ŽŶ͍ tĞƌĞ ƚŚĞǇ ƐƟ ůů ŐŝǀŝŶŐ Śŝŵ ƚŚĞŝƌ ǁŝůůŝŶŐ ďĂĐŬŝŶŐ

Thus, the focus of Kershaw’s book is to ask, Why? Why were Hitler’s self-destructive orders obeyed? Were they still giving him their willing backing or were they in fact terrorized into doing so? Žƌ ǁĞƌĞ ƚŚĞǇ ŝŶ ĨĂĐƚ ƚĞƌƌŽƌŝǌĞĚ ŝŶƚŽ ĚŽŝŶŐ ƐŽ͍ dŚĞƐĞ ĂƌĞ ƐŽŵĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŵĂŶǇ ƋƵĞƐƟ ŽŶƐ ǁŚŝĐŚ <ĞƌƐŚĂǁ ĂƩ ĞŵƉƚƐ ƚŽ ĂŶƐǁĞƌ ŝŶ ƚŚŝƐ ŝŶĚŝƐƉĞŶƐͲ ĂďůĞ ŚŝƐƚŽƌǇ͘ Ɛ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ŵƵƌĚĞƌ ŽĨ ƵƌŽƉĞĂŶ :ĞǁƌǇ͕ ŚĞ ŶŽƚĞƐ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞ ĞǀĂĐƵĂƟ ŽŶƐ ĂŶĚ subsequent death marches from Auschwitz, 'ƌŽƐͲZŽƐĞŶ͕ ^ƚƵƩ ŚŽĨ ĂŶĚ ŽƚŚĞƌ ĐĂŵƉƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĞĂƐƚ͕ ŚĂĚ͕ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ ƌĞŐŝŵĞ͛Ɛ ƉĞƌƐƉĞĐƟ ǀĞ ĂŶ ƵŶĚĞƌůǇŝŶŐ ƌĂƟ ŽŶĂůĞ͗ The prisoners were to be kept out of the ŚĂŶĚƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĞŶĞŵǇ͕ ĂŶĚ ďƌŽƵŐŚƚ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ŝŶƚĞƌŝŽƌ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ZĞŝĐŚ ǁŚĞƌĞ͙ ƚŚŽƵŐŚ ĞŵĂĐŝĂƚĞĚ͕ ĞǆŚĂƵƐƚĞĚ͕ ĨƌŽǌĞŶ͕ ƐƚĂƌǀĞĚ͙ ƚŚĞǇ ĐŽƵůĚ ďĞ ĂǀĂŝůĂďůĞ ĨŽƌ ůĂďŽƌ͘ Or, as Himmler saw it, the Jewish prisoners ǁĞƌĞ ƉŽƚĞŶƟ Ăů ƉĂǁŶƐ ŝŶ ĂŶǇ ĚĞĂů ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ůůŝĞƐ͘ /ƚ ŝƐ ŽďǀŝŽƵƐ ĨƌŽŵ ƌĞĂĚŝŶŐ The End that EĂǌŝ 'ĞƌŵĂŶǇ ĐŽŶƟ ŶƵĞĚ ƚŽ ďĞůŝĞǀĞ ƵŶƟ ů ƚŚĞ ĞŶĚ ŝŶ Ă :ĞǁŝƐŚ ĐĂďĂů ƚŚĂƚ ǁĂƐ ďĞŚŝŶĚ ƚŚĞ ůͲ ůŝĞĚ ŐŽǀĞƌŶŵĞŶƚƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ,ŝƚůĞƌ ǁĂƐ ĚĞƚĞƌŵŝŶĞĚ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞ ĚĞƐƚƌƵĐƟ ŽŶ ŽĨ ŚŝƐ ĐŽƵŶƚƌǇ ǁĂƐ ůĞƐƐ ŝŵƉŽƌƚĂŶƚ ƚŚĂŶ ĚĞƐƚƌŽǇŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ĞŶĞŵǇ͘ JF

Jewish Book World

The History of the Holocaust in Romania Jean Ancel; Yaffa Murcano, trans.; Leon Volovici, ed. University of Nebraska Press, 2012 Hardcover 720 pp. $50.00 ISBN: 978-0-8032-2064-5

ean Ancel has produced an encyclopedic ŚŝƐƚŽƌǇ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ,ŽůŽĐĂƵƐƚ ŝŶ ZŽŵĂŶŝĂ͕ Ă product of sixteen years of work (he died ŝŶ ϮϬϬϴ͕ ďĞĨŽƌĞ ĐŽŵƉůĞƟ ŽŶͿ ƚŚĂƚ ǁŝůů ƐƵƌĞůǇ ŝŶƐƉŝƌĞ ŽƚŚĞƌ ŵŽŶŽŐƌĂƉŚƐ ŽŶ ƐƉĞĐŝĮ Đ ĂƐƉĞĐƚƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĂƚ ƚƌĂŐŝĐ ŚŝƐƚŽƌǇ͘ ůƚŚŽƵŐŚ ZŽŵĂŶŝĂ ďĞĨŽƌĞ ƚŚĞ ǁĂƌ ŚĂĚ ƚŚĞ ƐĞĐŽŶĚ ůĂƌŐĞƐƚ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ĐŽŵŵƵŶŝƚǇ ŝŶ ƵƌŽƉĞ ĂŌ Ğƌ WŽůĂŶĚ͕ ŝƚ ŚĂƐ ďĞĞŶ ƐŝŐŶŝĮ ĐĂŶƚůǇ ƵŶĚĞƌͲƐƚƵĚŝĞĚ͘ dŚĞ ƐĂŵĞ ĐĂŶ ďĞ ƐĂŝĚ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ŚŝƐƚŽƌǇ ŽĨ ZŽŵĂŶŝĂŶ :ĞǁƌǇ͕ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ ĞƐƚĂďůŝƐŚŵĞŶƚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƐƚĂƚĞ ŝŶ ϭϴϳϴ ƵŶƟ ů the Shoah. Ancel does much to correct these ĚĞĮ ĐŝĞŶĐŝĞƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƐĐŚŽůĂƌƐŚŝƉ͘ /Ŷ ŵŽƐƚ ĂƐƚĞƌŶ ƵƌŽƉĞĂŶ ĐŽƵŶƚƌŝĞƐ͕ ŚŝƐƚŽƌŝͲ ĐĂů ĂŶƟ Ͳ^ĞŵŝƟ Ɛŵ ŽƉĞƌĂƚĞĚ ĂůŽŶŐƐŝĚĞ EĂǌŝ ŝĚĞŽůŽŐǇ ĂŶĚ ŐĞŶŽĐŝĚĂů ƉŽůŝĐŝĞƐ͘ /Ŷ ZŽŵĂŶŝĂ͕ ŚŽǁĞǀĞƌ͕ ŝƚ ǁĂƐ ƚŚĞ ƌĞŐŝŵĞ ƚŚĂƚ ǁĂƐ ůĂƌŐĞůǇ ƌĞƐƉŽŶƐŝďůĞ ĨŽƌ ŵƵƌĚĞƌŝŶŐ ƚŚĞŝƌ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ĐŽŵͲ ŵƵŶŝƚǇ͕ Ăƚ ŝƚƐ ŽǁŶ ŝŶŝƟ ĂƟ ǀĞ ĂŶĚ ƵŶĚĞƌ ŝƚƐ ŽǁŶ ĨƌĞĞ ǁŝůů͘ sŝƌƚƵĂůůǇ ĞǀĞƌǇ ƐĞĐƚŽƌ ŽĨ ZŽŵĂŶŝĂŶ ƐŽĐŝĞƚǇͶŐŽǀĞƌŶŵĞŶƚ ŵŝŶŝƐƚƌŝĞƐ͕ ƚŚĞ ũƵĚŝĐŝĂƌǇ͕ ƚŚĞ ǀĂƌŝŽƵƐ ƐĞĐƵƌŝƚǇ ƐĞƌǀŝĐĞƐ ƚŚĞ ĂƌŵǇ͕ ŐĞŶĚĂƌͲ ŵĞƌŝĞ͕ ĂŶĚ ƉŽůŝĐĞͿ͕ ƚŚĞ Đŝǀŝů ĂĚŵŝŶŝƐƚƌĂƟ ŽŶ͕ ƚŚĞ ŶĂƟ ŽŶĂů ďĂŶŬ͕ ůŽĐĂů ĂƵƚŚŽƌŝƟ ĞƐͶƉĂƌƟ ĐŝƉĂƚĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚŝƐ ĐƌŝŵĞ͘ 'ĞƌŵĂŶǇ͛Ɛ ŝŶǀŽůǀĞŵĞŶƚ ǁĂƐ secondary. ĞĐĂƵƐĞ ƚŚĞ ,ŽůŽĐĂƵƐƚ ŝŶ ZŽŵĂŶŝĂ ǁĂƐ ůŽĐĂůůǇ ŝŶŝƟ ĂƚĞĚ ĂŶĚ ŝŵƉůĞŵĞŶƚĞĚ͕ ŝƚ ǁĂƐ ŶŽƚ ĂƐ Ğĸ ĐŝĞŶƚ ĂƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ EĂǌŝ ĐŽŶƚƌŽůůĞĚ ĂƌĞĂƐ ŽĨ ĂƐƚĞƌŶ ƵƌŽƉĞ ;WŽůĂŶĚ͕ ĞůĂƌƵƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ hŬƌĂŝŶĞ͕ ĨŽƌ ĞǆĂŵƉůĞͿ͕ ĂŶĚ ǁĂƐ ĂůƐŽ ŵŽƌĞ ďƌƵͲ ƚĂů͕ ƉƌŝŵŝƟ ǀĞ͕ ĂŶĚ ĞǆĐĞƐƐŝǀĞ͘ ŶĐĞů ƉƌŽǀŝĚĞƐ ŚŽƌƌŝĮ Đ ĚĞƐĐƌŝƉƟ ŽŶƐ ŽĨ ƚŚŝƐ ďƌƵƚĂůŝƚǇ͘ ,Ğ ĂůƐŽ ĚŽĐƵŵĞŶƚƐ ŚŽǁ ZŽŵĂŶŝĂ ĚƌĞǁ ĚŝƐƟ ŶĐƟ ŽŶƐ ďĞƚǁĞĞŶ ƚŚĞ :ĞǁƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ZĞŐĂƚ͕ ƚŚĞ ĐŽƌĞ ZŽŵĂŶŝĂŶ ƉƌŝŶĐŝƉĂůŝƚǇ͕ ĂŶĚ ƚŚŽƐĞ ůŝǀŝŶŐ ŝŶ ĚŝƐͲ ƚƌŝĐƚƐ ĂŶŶĞǆĞĚ ƚŽ ZŽŵĂŶŝĂ ĂŌ Ğƌ tŽƌůĚ tĂƌ / ĂŶĚ ĂŌ Ğƌ ƚŚĞ ^ŽǀŝĞƚ ŝŶǀĂƐŝŽŶ ŝŶ :ƵŶĞ ϭϵϰϭ͘ dŚĞ

summer 5772/2012

www.jewishbookcouncil.org

:ĞǁƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ZĞŐĂƚ ĐĞƌƚĂŝŶůǇ ƐƵī ĞƌĞĚ ƉŽŐƌŽŵƐ ĂŶĚ ĂďƵƐĞ͕ ďƵƚ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ǁŚŽůĞ ƚŚĞǇ ƐƵƌǀŝǀĞĚ the Shoah. The Jews in the annexed areas, in ĐŽŶƚƌĂƐƚ͕ ǁĞƌĞ ĚĞĐŝŵĂƚĞĚ͕ ƐƵī ĞƌŝŶŐ ŽŶĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ůŽǁĞƐƚ ƐƵƌǀŝǀĂů ƌĂƚĞƐ ŝŶ ƵƌŽƉĞ͘ Ěŝĸ ĐƵůƚ ďŽŽŬ ƚŽ ƌĞĂĚ͕ ďŽƚŚ ďĞĐĂƵƐĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƐƵďũĞĐƚ ŵĂƩ Ğƌ ĂŶĚ ďĞĐĂƵƐĞ ŽĨ ŶĐĞů͛Ɛ ĂůŵŽƐƚ ƌĞůŝŐŝŽƵƐ ĐŽŵŵŝƚŵĞŶƚ ŶŽƚ ƚŽ ůĞĂǀĞ ŽƵƚ ĂŶǇ ƉĞƌƐŽŶ͕ ƉůĂĐĞ͕ Žƌ ŽƌŐĂŶŝǌĂƟ ŽŶ ĐŽŶŶĞĐƚĞĚ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ĂŶŶŝŚŝůĂƟ ŽŶ ŽĨ :ĞǁƐ ŝŶ ZŽŵĂŶŝĂ ĂŶĚ dƌĂŶƐͲ nistria, this monumental work is a scholarly ǁŝƚŶĞƐƐŝŶŐ ƚŽ ďĞ ĂĚŵŝƌĞĚ͘ /ƚ ŵĂǇ ĞǀĞŶ ƉƌŽǀĞ ƚŽ ďĞ ĚĞĮ ŶŝƟ ǀĞ͘ MND

Hitler: Beyond Evil and Tyranny R.H.S. Stolfi Prometheus Books, 2012 Hardcover 520 pp. $27.00 [e] ISBN: 978-1-61614-474-6

͘,͘^͘ ^ƚŽůĮ ͛Ɛ ƉƌĞŵŝƐĞ͕ ƚŚĂƚ ĚŽůĨ ,ŝƚůĞƌ ĚŝĚ ŶŽƚ ƚŚŝŶŬ ŽĨ ŚŝŵƐĞůĨ ĂƐ ĂŶ Ğǀŝů ŵĂŶ ĚŽŝŶŐ Ğǀŝů ĚĞĞĚƐ͕ ŝƐ ĚŝĂŵĞƚƌŝĐĂůůǇ ŽƉƉŽƐĞĚ ƚŽ ŽƚŚĞƌ ďŝŽŐƌĂƉŚĞƌƐ͛ ƚŚĞŽƌŝĞƐ ŽĨ ,ŝƚůĞƌ͕ ƚŚĞ ŵĂŶ͘ ^ƚŽůĮ ƉƌŽĨĞƐƐĞƐ ƚŚĂƚ ,ŝƚůĞƌ ǁĂƐ ƵŶĚĞƌĞƐƟ ŵĂƚĞĚ by his enemies as well as historians and his ďŝŽŐƌĂƉŚĞƌƐ͘ ^ƚŽůĮ ƋƵŽƚĞƐ /ĂŶ <ĞƌƐŚĂǁ͕ Ă ƌĞĐĞŶƚ ďŝŽŐƌĂƉŚĞƌ ŽĨ ,ŝƚůĞƌ͕ ĂƐ ƐĂǇŝŶŐ ƚŚĂƚ ͞ƐŽŵĞŽŶĞ ǁŝƚŚ ƐŽ ĨĞǁ ŝŶƚĞůůĞĐƚƵĂů ŐŝŌ Ɛ ĂŶĚ ƐŽĐŝĂů ĂƩ ƌŝďƵƚĞƐ ͙͘ǁĂƐ ŶŽ ŵŽƌĞ ƚŚĂŶ ĂŶ ĞŵƉƚǇ ǀĞƐƐĞů ŽƵƚƐŝĚĞ ŽĨ ŚŝƐ ƉŽůŝƟ ĐĂů ůŝĨĞ͙͘͟ /Ŷ ^ƚŽůĮ ͛Ɛ opinion, Hitler was a talented architect, a ŐŽŽĚ ĂƌƟ Ɛƚ ;ŶŽƚ Ă ŵĞĚŝŽĐƌĞ ŽŶĞ ĂƐ ŝƐ ŽŌ ĞŶ ĚĞƐĐƌŝďĞĚͿ͕ ĂŶĚ Ă ŵƵƐŝĐ ĂĮ ĐŝŽŶĂĚŽ ĂƐ ǁĞůů ĂƐ Ă ŚĞƌŽŝĐ ĨƌŽŶƚͲůŝŶĞ ƐŽůĚŝĞƌ ŽĨ tŽƌůĚ tĂƌ /͘ dŚĞ ĐŽŵŵŽŶ ďŝĂƐ ŽĨ ,ŝƚůĞƌ͛Ɛ ƉƌĞǀŝŽƵƐ ďŝŽŐƌĂƉŚĞƌƐ͕ ĂĐĐŽƌĚŝŶŐ ƚŽ ^ƚŽůĮ ͕ ŝƐ ƚŚĂƚ Ă ĨĞĂƌ ŽĨ ŝŶƚĞƌƉƌĞƚĂͲ Ɵ ŽŶ ůĞĂĚŝŶŐ ƚŽ ĐŽŵƉƌĞŚĞŶƐŝŽŶ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŵĂŶ͕ ŵŝŐŚƚ ĂůƐŽ ďĞ ĐŽŶƐŝĚĞƌĞĚ ĂŶ ĂƉŽůŽŐǇ ĨŽƌ ŚŝƐ ĂĐƟ ŽŶƐ͘ ůů ŽĨ ,ŝƚůĞƌ͛Ɛ ƉƌĞǀŝŽƵƐ ďŝŽŐƌĂƉŚĞƌƐ ďĞŐĂŶ ƚŚĞŝƌ ƐƚƵĚŝĞƐ ĨƌŽŵ Ă ǀŝĞǁƉŽŝŶƚ ŽĨ ĐŽŶͲ tempt for the man, rather than an openness ƚŽ ůĞĂƌŶ ĂďŽƵƚ Śŝŵ͘ ^ƚŽůĮ ƐĞĞƐ ĚŽůĨ ,ŝƚůĞƌ ĂƐ Ă ƐĞůĨͲƉƌŽĐůĂŝŵĞĚ ŵĞƐƐŝĂŚ͖ Ă ƐĂǀŝŽƌ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ 'ĞƌŵĂŶ ƉĞŽƉůĞ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ ĚĞŐƌĂĚĂƟ ŽŶ ƌĞƐƵůƟ ŶŐ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ dƌĞĂƚǇ ŽĨ sĞƌƐĂŝůůĞƐ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ DĂƌǆŝƐƚ :ĞǁƐ ǁŚŽ ǁĞƌĞ ŝŶƚĞŶƚ ŽŶ ĚĞƐƚƌŽǇŝŶŐ 'ĞƌŵĂŶǇ͘ / ƉĞƌƐŽŶĂůůǇ ĨŽƵŶĚ ŝƚ Ěŝĸ ĐƵůƚ ƚŽ ƌĞĂĚ Hitler: Beyond Evil and Tyranny, because I, like the ŽƚŚĞƌ ďŝŽŐƌĂƉŚĞƌƐ͕ ŚĂǀĞ Ă ŚĂƌĚ Ɵ ŵĞ ŽǀĞƌůŽŽŬͲ ŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ Ğǀŝů ĚĞĞĚƐ ŽĨ ,ŝƚůĞƌ ĂŶĚ ĐŽŶĐĞŶƚƌĂƚͲ ŝŶŐ ŝŶƐƚĞĂĚ ƵƉŽŶ ŚŝƐ ƐƵƉƉŽƐĞĚ ŐĞŶŝƵƐ͘ ^ƚŽůĮ characterizes Hitler as a rare world historical Į ŐƵƌĞ͕ ĐŽŵƉĂƌĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ůŝŬĞƐ ŽĨ ůĞǆĂŶĚĞƌ ƚŚĞ 'ƌĞĂƚ͕ EĂƉŽůĞŽŶ͕ ĂŶĚ :ƵůŝƵƐ ĂĞƐĂƌ͘ ,Ğ ĐůĞĂƌůǇ ƉƌĞƐĞŶƚƐ ĂŶ ĂůƚĞƌŶĂƚĞ ǀŝĞǁ ĨƌŽŵ Ăůů ƚŚĞ ŽƚŚĞƌ ŵĂũŽƌ ďŝŽŐƌĂƉŚĞƌƐ ŽĨ ĚŽůĨ ,ŝƚůĞƌ͕ ďƵƚ ŶŽƚ Ă ǀŝĞǁ ƚŚĂƚ / ĐĂŶ ƐŚĂƌĞ͘ MF

nonfiction ƚŚĂƚ ǁĞ ƚŚŽƵŐŚƚ ǁĞ ĂůƌĞĂĚǇ ŬŶĞǁ ĂŶĚ ĂůůŽǁƐ these Americans to tell their stories without ƉĂƐƐŝŶŐ ũƵĚŐŵĞŶƚ ŽŶ ƚŚĞŝƌ ƉĞƌĐĞƉƟ ǀĞŶĞƐƐ Žƌ ƚŚĞ ƌĞĐƟ ƚƵĚĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞŝƌ ŵŽƌĂů ĐŽŵƉĂƐƐĞƐ ĐůŽƵĚĞĚ ďǇ ƚŚĞ ďĞŶĞĮ ƚƐ ŽĨ ŚŝƐƚŽƌŝĐĂů ŚŝŶĚƐŝŐŚƚ͘ dŚĞŝƌ ǀŽŝĐĞƐ ƉƌŽďĂďůǇ ƐŚŽƵůĚ ŚĂǀĞ ďĞĞŶ ŵŽƌĞ ĨŽƌĐĞͲ ĨƵů ĂŶĚ ĞǆŚŽƌƟ ŶŐ ďƵƚ ƚŚĞǇ ĐĂŶŶŽƚ ďĞ ďůĂŵĞĚ ƚŚĂƚ ŵŽƌĞ ƉĞŽƉůĞ ĚŝĚ ŶŽƚ ŚĞĞĚ ƚŚĞ ǁĂƌŶŝŶŐƐ͘ MND

Hitlerland: American Eyewitnesses to the Nazi Rise to Power Andrew Nagorski Simon & Schuster, 2012 Hardcover 370 pp. $28.00 [e] ISBN: 978-1-4391-9100-2

ǁĂƌĚͲǁŝŶŶŝŶŐ ũŽƵƌŶĂůŝƐƚ ŶĚƌĞǁ EĂŐŽƌƐŬŝ ůŽŽŬƐ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ ǇĞĂƌƐ ůĞĂĚŝŶŐ ƵƉ ƚŽ ,ŝƚůĞƌ͛Ɛ ƌŝƐĞ ƚŽ ƉŽǁĞƌ͕ ƚŚĞ ƌƵŶͲƵƉ ƚŽ ǁĂƌ͕ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ,ŽůŽĐĂƵƐƚ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚ ƚŚĞ ŽďƐĞƌǀĂƟ ŽŶƐ ĂŶĚ ƉĞƌƐŽŶĂů ƚĞƐƟ ŵŽŶŝĞƐ ŽĨ ŵĞƌŝĐĂŶ ĚŝƉůŽŵĂƚƐ͕ ŵŝůŝƚĂƌǇ ĂƩ ĂĐŚĠƐ͕ ũŽƵƌŶĂůŝƐƚƐ͕ ĂƵƚŚŽƌƐ͕ ĂŶĚ KůǇŵƉŝĐ ĂƚŚůĞƚĞƐ ǁŚŽ ƐƉĞŶƚ Ɵ ŵĞ ŝŶ 'ĞƌŵĂŶǇ ĂŶĚ ǁŝƚŶĞƐƐĞĚ ƚŚĞ ƵŶĨŽůĚŝŶŐ ŽĨ ƚŚĂƚ ŶŝŐŚƚŵĂƌͲ ŝƐŚ ŚŝƐƚŽƌǇ͘ ĚĞŌ ƐƚŽƌǇƚĞůůĞƌ͕ EĂŐŽƌƐŬŝ ďƌŝŶŐƐ that history to life. Hitlerland ƐƵŐŐĞƐƚƐ ƚŚĂƚ ŵĞƌŝĐĂŶƐ ǁĞƌĞ ŶŽƚ without resources to understand the collapse ŽĨ ƚŚĞ tĞŝŵĞƌ ZĞƉƵďůŝĐ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ƐƵďƐĞƋƵĞŶƚ ƌƵƐŚ ƚŽ ƚĞƌƌŽƌ͕ ǁĂƌ͕ ĂŶĚ ŐĞŶŽĐŝĚĞ͘ Ƶƚ ƚŚĂƚ ĚŽĞƐ ŶŽƚ ŵĞĂŶ ƚŚĂƚ ,ŝƚůĞƌ͛Ɛ ŝŶƚĞŶƟ ŽŶƐ ǁĞƌĞ ŽďǀŝŽƵƐ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ ŽƵƚƐĞƚ͘ dŚĞƌĞ ǁĞƌĞ ĂŶ ĂƌͲ ƌĂǇ ŽĨ ŵĞƌŝĐĂŶƐ ǁŚŽ ŽďƐĞƌǀĞĚ ĞǀĞŶƚƐ ĂŶĚ some who met and spoke with Hitler, both ǁŚĞŶ ŚĞ ǁĂƐ ĂŶ ĂƐƉŝƌŝŶŐ ůĞĂĚĞƌ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞŶ ƚŚĞ ĂůůͲƉŽǁĞƌĨƵů &ƵŚĞƌ͘ ŵŽŶŐ ƚŚĞŵ ǁĞƌĞ ǁƌŝƚĞƌƐ Thomas Wolfe and Sinclair Lewis, architect WŚŝůŝƉ :ŽŚŶƐŽŶ͕ ďƌŽĂĚĐĂƐƚĞƌƐ ĂŶĚ ũŽƵƌŶĂůŝƐƚƐ ĚǁĂƌĚ Z͘ DŽƌƌŽǁ͕ tŝůůŝĂŵ ^ŚŝƌĞƌ͕ ZŝĐŚĂƌĚ ,ŽƚͲ ƚĞůĞƚ͕ ĂŶĚ ŽƌŽƚŚǇ dŚŽŵƉƐŽŶ͕ ďůĂĐŬ ŚŝƐƚŽƌŝĂŶ t͘ ͘ ͘ Ƶ ŽŝƐ͕ ĂƚŚůĞƚĞ :ĞƐƐĞ KǁĞŶƐ͕ ĚŝƉůŽŵĂƚƐ tŝůůŝĂŵ ŽĚĚ ĂŶĚ ŚŝƐ ĚĂƵŐŚƚĞƌ͕ DĂƌƚŚĂ͕ ĂŶĚ 'ĞŽƌŐĞ DĞƐƐĞƌƐŵŝƚŚ͕ ĂŶĚ͕ ŽĨ ĐŽƵƌƐĞ͕ ĂǀŝĂͲ ƚŽƌ ŚĂƌůĞƐ >ŝŶĚďĞƌŐŚ͘ DĂŶǇ ǁĞƌĞ ŶĂŢǀĞ ĂŶĚ ƐƵƉĞƌĮ ĐŝĂů ŝŶ ƚŚĞŝƌ ŽďƐĞƌǀĂƟ ŽŶƐ͕ ƐŽŵĞ ǁĞƌĞ ƐǇŵƉĂƚŚĞƟ Đ ĂŶĚ ĞǀĞŶ ĂƉŽůŽŐŝƐƚƐ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ EĂǌŝƐ͕ ďƵƚ ŵŽƐƚ͕ ůŝŬĞ ^ŚŝƌĞƌ͕ dŚŽŵƉƐŽŶ͕ ĂŶĚ ŽŶƐƵů 'ĞŶĞƌĂů DĞƐƐĞƌƐŵŝƚŚ͕ ǁĞƌĞ ĂůĂƌŵĞĚ ďǇ ǁŚĂƚ ǁĂƐ ŚĂƉƉĞŶŝŶŐ ĂƌŽƵŶĚ ƚŚĞŵ ĞǀĞŶ ŝĨ ƚŚĞǇ ĚŝĚ ŶŽƚ ŐƌĂƐƉ ƚŚĞ ĨƵůů ŝŵƉůŝĐĂƟ ŽŶƐ͘ /Ŷ ƚŚĞ ĞŶĚ͕ ƚŚĞƐĞ ŵĞƌŝĐĂŶ ŽďƐĞƌǀĞƌƐ ŚĞůƉĞĚ ƚŽ ĂůĞƌƚ Ă ƌĞͲ ůƵĐƚĂŶƚ ŶĂƟ ŽŶ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ĚĂŶŐĞƌ ŽĨ EĂǌŝ 'ĞƌŵĂŶǇ͕ ƉĂƌƟ ĐƵůĂƌůǇ ŚŽǁ ŝƚ ŝŶƐƟ ůůĞĚ ŚĂƚƌĞĚ ŽĨ :ĞǁƐ ĂŶĚ ƌƵƚŚůĞƐƐůǇ ĞůŝŵŝŶĂƚĞĚ ŝƚƐ ƉŽůŝƟ ĐĂů ŽƉƉŽŶĞŶƚƐ͘ Ǉ ĚŽŝŶŐ ƐŽ ƚŚĞǇ ŐƌĂĚƵĂůůǇ ĐŽŶƚƌŝďƵƚĞĚ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ĞƌŽƐŝŽŶ ŽĨ ŝƐŽůĂƟ ŽŶŝƐƚ ƐĞŶƟ ŵĞŶƚƐ ĂŶĚ ŚĞůƉĞĚ ƉƌĞƉĂƌĞ ƚŚĞŝƌ ĐŽƵŶƚƌǇŵĞŶ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ůŽŽŵŝŶŐ ǁĂƌ ĂŚĞĂĚ͘ EĂŐŽƌƐŬŝ ŽƉĞŶƐ ƵƉ Ă ǁŝŶĚŽǁ ŝŶƚŽ ĂŶ ĞƌĂ

The Nazi Séance: The Strange Story of The Jewish Psychic in Hitler's Circle

NEW AUDIO ON

“A dramatic Holocaust memoir about young love and survival…wholly engrossing, written with exceptional immediacy and attention to detail…deeply affecting.” —Kirkus (hardcover review)

Arthur J. Magida Palgrave Macmillan, 2011 Hardcover 288 pp. $26.00 ISBN: 978-0230620537

ŚĞ ƐƚŽƌǇ ŽĨ ƌŝŬ :ĂŶ ,ĂŶƵƐƐĞŶ ;ƉƐĞƵĚͲ onym), a Jewish psychic popular in ƉƌĞͲtŽƌůĚ tĂƌ // 'ĞƌŵĂŶǇ͕ ůĞŶĚƐ ĐƌĞĚĞŶĐĞ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ƐĂǇŝŶŐ ƚŚĂƚ ƚƌƵƚŚ ŝƐ ƐƚƌĂŶŐĞƌ ƚŚĂŶ Į ĐƟ ŽŶ͘ dŚĞ ƐƚŽƌǇ ŽĨ ,ĂŶƵƐƐĞŶΖƐ ƌŝƐĞ ĂŶĚ ĨĂůů ƐĞƌǀĞƐ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ǀĞŚŝĐůĞ ĨŽƌ ĂŶ ĞǆƉůŽƌĂƟ ŽŶ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƉŽůŝƟ ĐĂů͕ cultural, and economic climate in Berlin, as well ĂƐ ŚŝŐŚͲƌĂŶŬŝŶŐ EĂǌŝ ĨƵŶĐƟ ŽŶĂƌŝĞƐΖ ĨĂƐĐŝŶĂƟ ŽŶ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ŽĐĐƵůƚ͘ ƵƌŝŶŐ ,ŝƚůĞƌΖƐ ƌŝƐĞ ƚŽ ƉŽǁĞƌ ĞƌůŝŶ ǁĂƐ Ă ĐŝƚǇ ĚƌĞŶĐŚĞĚ ŝŶ ƉƌŽƉĂŐĂŶĚĂ͕ ŝŶƚƌŝŐƵĞ͕ ĞƐĐĂůĂƟ ŶŐ ǀŝŽůĞŶĐĞ͕ ĂŶĚ ŽǀĞƌǁŚĞůŵͲ ŝŶŐ ĨĞĂƌ͘ ,ĂŶƵƐƐĞŶ ǁĂƐ Ă ŐŝŌ ĞĚ ŽďƐĞƌǀĞƌ ǁŝƚŚ ŬĞĞŶ ƉŽǁĞƌƐ ŽĨ ĐŽŶĐĞŶƚƌĂƟ ŽŶ͕ ĂďůĞ ƚŽ ΗƌĞĂĚΗ ďŽĚǇ ůĂŶŐƵĂŐĞ ĂŶĚ ĨĂĐŝĂů ĞǆƉƌĞƐƐŝŽŶƐ͘ ,Ğ ǁĂƐ ĂŶ ĞǆƉĞƌƚ ŵĂŐŝĐŝĂŶ͘ ,Ğ ďƵŝůƚ ŚŝƐ ŽǁŶ ƌĞƉƵƚĂƟ ŽŶ

AUDIO EDITION

Introduction read by Eve Keller

ďǇ ďŽŵďĂƐƚ͕ Žƌ ƐĞůĨͲƉƌŽŵŽƟ ŽŶ͕ ĐůĞǀĞƌůǇ ƉůĂǇŝŶŐ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ĚŝƐͲĞƋƵŝůůŝďƌŝƵŵ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ Ɵ ŵĞͶĂƐ ĚŝĚ ,ŝƚůĞƌ͘ ,ĂŶƵƐƐĞŶΖƐ ŵŝŶĚ ƌĞĂĚŝŶŐ ĚŝƐƉůĂǇƐ ǁĞƌĞ ƚŚĞĂƚƌŝĐĂů ĂŶĚ ĂŝĚĞĚ ƐƵƌƌĞƉƟ Ɵ ŽƵƐůǇ ďǇ ĂƐƐŽĐŝͲ ĂƚĞƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĂƵĚŝĞŶĐĞ͘ ,Ğ ǁĂƐ ŚŝŐŚůǇ ŝŶƚĞůůŝŐĞŶƚ͕ ƌĞƐŽƵƌĐĞĨƵů͕ ĂŶĚ ĐŚĂƌŵŝŶŐ͕ ĂŶĚ ĐƵůƟ ǀĂƚĞĚ ƚŚĞ people who could enhance his stature and security. dŚŝƐ ĚĞƚĂŝůĞĚ ƌĞĐŽƵŶƟ ŶŐ ƚĂŬĞƐ ƌĞĂĚĞƌƐ behind the scene into the life of a Jewish man ŝŶ ƉƌĞǁĂƌ 'ĞƌŵĂŶǇ ǁŚŽ ǁĂƐ ĂƩ ĞŵƉƟ ŶŐ ƚŽ ďĞ ,ŝƚůĞƌΖƐ ΗĐŽƵƌƚ :ĞǁΗ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞƌĞďǇ ĞŶƐƵƌĞ ŚŝƐ ŽǁŶ ƐĂĨĞƚǇ͘ dŚĞ ĞǆƚĞŶƚ ŽĨ ,ĂŶƵƐƐĞŶΖƐ ƌĞůĂƟ ŽŶͲ ship with Hitler remains unclear; as the author says, ".... history is messy." dŚŝƐ ďŽŽŬ ĞǆƉůŽƌĞƐ ƚŚĞ ŽŌ ĞŶ ƌĞƉĞĂƚĞĚ ƌƵŵŽƌ ŽĨ ,ŝƚůĞƌΖƐ ŽďƐĞƐƐŝŽŶ ǁŝƚŚ ĂŶĚ ĚĞƉĞŶĚĞŶĐĞ ƵƉŽŶ ƚŚĞ ŽĐĐƵůƚ͘ ĐŽŵƉůĞŵĞŶƚĂƌǇ ƌĞĂĚŝŶŐ choice to The Nazi Seance is In the Garden of the Beast ďǇ ƌŝŬ >ĂƌƐƐĞŶ͘ EŽƚĞƐ͕ ƉƌĞĂŵďůĞ͘ NDK

A Story of Love and War Millie Werber and Eve Keller Read by Yelena Shmuenson

A Jewish man in prewar Germany who was attempting to be Hitler's "court Jew" and thereby ensure his own safety.

www.jewishbookcouncil.org

Two Rings

Trapped in Poland in 1941, like many Jews, teenager Millie Werber went from the Radom Ghetto to slave labor in an armaments factory, survived Auschwitz, and toiled in a second factory until liberation came. She faced death many times, but lived to marry a good man and raise a family. Many years later, Millie began telling writer Eve Keller the secret she carried in her heart—the story of the man to whom Millie was married for a few brief months during the war. s #$ s s -0 $OWNLOAD s

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humor Crap at My Parents’ House Joel Dovev Abrams Image, 2011 Paperback 208 pp. $14.95 ISBN: 978-1419700736

Ğ Ăůů ŬŶŽǁ ƚŚĞ ĨĞĞůŝŶŐ͗ ŵĂŬŝŶŐ Ă ŚŽŵĞͲ ĐŽŵŝŶŐ ǀŝƐŝƚ ŽŶůǇ ƚŽ ǁĂŶĚĞƌ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚ ƚŚĞ rooms of your childhood home and wonder, what is that? Based on his popular Crap at My Parents’ House ďůŽŐ͕ ĐŽŵĞĚŝĂŶ :ŽĞů ŽǀĞǀ compiled and published the best submissions ĨŽƌ ƋƵĞƐƟ ŽŶĂďůĞ ƉĂƌĞŶƚĂů ĚĞĐŽƌĂƟ ŶŐ ĐŚŽŝĐĞƐ͘ /Ŷ ƚŚĞƐĞ ƉĂŐĞƐ͕ ŽƌŐĂŶŝǌĞĚ ďǇ ƌŽŽŵ ĨƵŶĐƟ ŽŶ͕ ǇŽƵ͛ůů Į ŶĚ ĐůŽǁŶƐ͕ ŐŶŽŵĞƐ͕ ĂŶĚ Ă ƌŽŽŵĨƵů ŽĨ ZĂŐŐĞĚǇ ŶĚǇ ĚŽůůƐ͘ ZĞƉůĞƚĞ ǁŝƚŚ ƉŝƚŚǇ͕ ŝƌƌĞǀĞƌĞŶƚ͕ ĂŶĚ ƐŽŵĞƟ ŵĞƐ ƉŽůŝƟ ĐĂůůǇ ŝŶĐŽƌƌĞĐƚ ĐĂƉƟ ŽŶƐ͕ ŽǀĞǀ ŵĂŝŶƚĂŝŶƐ Ă ƌƵŶŶŝŶŐ ĐŽŵŵĞŶͲ ƚĂƌǇ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ƌĞĂĚĞƌͲƐƵďŵŝƩ ĞĚ ƉŚŽƚŽŐƌĂƉŚƐ ƚŚĂƚ ŝŵŵŽƌƚĂůŝǌĞ ƚŚĞ ĐƌĂƉ ĂŶĚ ŽƚŚĞƌ ŽďũĞĐƚƐ found at baby boomer abodes. JT

WĂůĞƐƟ ŶŝĂŶ ƌĂďƐ͘ ,Ğ ĨƵƌƚŚĞƌ ĂƐƐĞƌƚƐ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞ ĞǀĞŶƚƐ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŽŽŬ ƉůĂĐĞ ǁĞƌĞ ŶŽƚ ĂĚ ŚŽĐ ďƵƚ ǁĞƌĞ͕ ƌĂƚŚĞƌ͕ Ă ƉůĂŶŶĞĚ͕ ƐǇƐƚĞŵĂƟ Đ ƉƌŽŐƌĂŵ ƚŽ make it impossible for anyone who was not a Jew to be an equal in Israel. WĂƉƉĞ ĂƉƉƌŽĂĐŚĞƐ ŚŝƐƚŽƌǇ ĂƐ ĂŶ ƵŶĂƉŽůŽͲ ŐĞƟ Đ ŝĚĞŽůŽŐƵĞ ǁŚŽ ŚĂƐ ĐĂůůĞĚ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ďŽǇĐŽƩ ŽĨ /ƐƌĂĞůŝ ƵŶŝǀĞƌƐŝƟ ĞƐ ĂŶĚ ĂĐĂĚĞŵŝĐƐ͘ ;,ŝƐ ďŝŽŐƌĂƉŚǇ ƐƚĂƚĞƐ͕ ͞,Ğ ƉƌĞǀŝŽƵƐůǇ ƚĂƵŐŚƚ Ăƚ ,ĂŝĨĂ hŶŝǀĞƌƐŝƚǇ ďĞĨŽƌĞ ůĞĂǀŝŶŐ /ƐƌĂĞů ĨŽƌ ƉŽůŝƟ ĐĂů ƌĞĂƐŽŶƐ͘͟Ϳ /Ŷ ĨĂĐƚ ƚŚŝƐ ǁŽƌŬ ǁĂƐ ŚŽƚůǇ debated in the media and in court when it was ƉƵďůŝƐŚĞĚ ŝŶ /ƐƌĂĞů͘ ,ŝƐ ǁŽƌŬ ŚĂƐ ďĞĞŶ ƐƚƌŽŶŐůǇ ĐƌŝƟ ĐŝǌĞĚ ďǇ ĞŶŶǇ DŽƌƌŝƐ͕ ƚŚĞ ĨŽƵŶĚĞƌ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ EĞǁ ,ŝƐƚŽƌŝĂŶƐ͕ ƚŚĞ ŐƌŽƵƉ ƚŚĂƚ ǁĂŶƚƐ ƚŽ rewrite the history of Israel to show that the ĨŽƵŶĚŝŶŐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŵŽĚĞƌŶ ƐƚĂƚĞ ǁĂƐ ĨƌĂƵŐŚƚ ǁŝƚŚ ŵŝƐƐƚĞƉƐ͕ ŵŝƐƚĂŬĞƐ͕ ĞǀĞŶ ƵŶĞƚŚŝĐĂů ĚĞĞĚƐ͘ ǀŝͲ ĚĞŶƚůǇ WĂƉƉĞ͛Ɛ ďŽŽŬ ŐŽĞƐ ďĞǇŽŶĚ ǁŚĂƚ ĞǀĞŶ Morris can accept. MDH

A High Price: The Triumphs and Failures of Israeli Counterterrorism Daniel Byman Oxford University Press, 2011 Hardcover 447 pp. $34.95 [e] ISBN: 978-0-19-539182-4

israel studies The Forgotten Palestinians: A History of the Palestinians in Israel Ilan Pappe Yale University Press, 2011 Hardcover 335 pp. $30.00 [e] ISBN: 978-0-300-13441-4

ƐƌĂĞů ŝƐ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ ĨŽƌĞĨƌŽŶƚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŝŶƚĞƌŶĂƟ ŽŶĂů ǁĂƌ ĂŐĂŝŶƐƚ ƚĞƌƌŽƌ͘ dŚĞ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ƐƚĂƚĞ͛Ɛ ƉƌŽǁͲ ĞƐƐ ŝŶ ƚŚŝƐ ŽŶͲŐŽŝŶŐ ďĂƩ ůĞ ŝƐ ǁĞůů ŬŶŽǁŶ͘ /Ŷ A High Price͕ ĂŶŝĞů ǇŵĂŶ͕ ƉƌŽĨĞƐƐŽƌ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ ^ĐŚŽŽů ŽĨ &ŽƌĞŝŐŶ ^ĞƌǀŝĐĞ Ăƚ 'ĞŽƌŐĞƚŽǁŶ

The spectacular successes, the dismal failures, and the watershed events in Israel’s struggle to defend herself against terrorists.

ŚŝƐ ŝƐ Ă ĐŽŶƚƌŽǀĞƌƐŝĂů ďŽŽŬ ďǇ Ă ĐŽŶƚƌŽͲ ǀĞƌƐŝĂů ĂƵƚŚŽƌ͘ dŚĞ &ŽƌŐŽƩ ĞŶ WĂůĞƐƟ ŶŝĂŶƐ ƉƵƐŚĞƐ ƚŚĞ ĞŶǀĞůŽƉĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ͞EĞǁ ,ŝƐƚŽƌŝĂŶƐ͕͟ ƚƌĞĂĚŝŶŐ ǁŚĞƌĞ ŵĂŶǇ EĞǁ ,ŝƐƚŽƌŝĂŶƐ ǁŝůů ŶŽƚ ĞǀĞŶ ǀĞŶƚƵƌĞ͘ WĂƉƉĞ ĂƐƐĞƌƚƐ ƚŚĂƚ ŚĞ ŶĞĞĚƐ ƚŽ ƌĞͲǁƌŝƚĞ history and tell the story of how there was a clear plan by those who established the State ŽĨ /ƐƌĂĞů ƚŽ ĚŝƐĞŶĨƌĂŶĐŚŝƐĞ ĂŶĚ ĞǀĞŶ ĞǆƉĞů

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hŶŝǀĞƌƐŝƚǇ ĂŶĚ ƐĞŶŝŽƌ ĨĞůůŽǁ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ ^ĂďĂŶ ĞŶƚĞƌ ĨŽƌ DŝĚĚůĞ ĂƐƚ WŽůŝĐǇ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ ƌŽŽŬͲ ŝŶŐƐ /ŶƐƟ ƚƵƟ ŽŶ͕ ƚƌĂĐĞƐ ƚŚĞ ŚŝƐƚŽƌǇ ŽĨ /ƐƌĂĞůŝ ĐŽƵŶƚĞƌƚĞƌƌŽƌŝƐŵͶƚŚĞ ƐƉĞĐƚĂĐƵůĂƌ ƐƵĐĐĞƐƐĞƐ͕ ƚŚĞ ĚŝƐŵĂů ĨĂŝůƵƌĞƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ǁĂƚĞƌƐŚĞĚ ĞǀĞŶƚƐ

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ŝŶ /ƐƌĂĞů͛Ɛ ƐƚƌƵŐŐůĞ ƚŽ ĚĞĨĞŶĚ ŚĞƌƐĞůĨ ĂŐĂŝŶƐƚ terrorists. ǇŵĂŶ͛Ɛ ŵĂŝŶ ĐƌŝƟ ƋƵĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ /ƐƌĂĞůŝ ĐŽƵŶͲ terterrorism establishment is that it has no ůŽŶŐͲƌĂŶŐĞ ƉůĂŶ͕ ŶŽ ƌĞĂů ƵŶĚĞƌƐƚĂŶĚŝŶŐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĨƵƚƵƌĞ͘ ,Ğ ƐƵŐŐĞƐƚƐ ƚŚĂƚ ďĞĐĂƵƐĞ ƚŚĞ /ƐƌĂĞůŝƐ ĚĞĂů ŽŶůǇ ǁŝƚŚ ŝŵŵĞĚŝĂƚĞ ƚŚƌĞĂƚƐ͕ ƚŚĞǇ ĂƌĞ ŝŶͲ ƵƌĞĚ ƚŽ ůŽŶŐ ƚĞƌŵ ĚĂŵĂŐĞ ĂŶĚ ƌĞƉĞƌĐƵƐƐŝŽŶƐ͘ dŚĞ ĚĂŵĂŐĞ͕ ŚĞ ŝƐ ĐŽŶǀŝŶĐĞĚ͕ ŶŽƚ ŽŶůǇ ŚĂƐ ŶĞŐĂƟ ǀĞ Ğī ĞĐƚƐ ŽŶ /ƐƌĂĞůŝ ƉŽůŝƟ ĐƐ ĂŶĚ ĐƵůƚƵƌĞ͖ ƚŚĞ ĚĞĨĞŶƐĞ ĚĞƉĂƌƚŵĞŶƚ ĂůƐŽ ƐƵī ĞƌƐ ĂŶĚ Ă ĨĞƌƟ ůĞ ĞŶǀŝƌŽŶŵĞŶƚ ŝƐ ĐƌĞĂƚĞĚ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ĨƵƌƚŚĞƌͲ ance of hatred. ǇŵĂŶ ĐŽŶĚƵĐƚĞĚ ŚƵŶĚƌĞĚƐ ŽĨ ŝŶƚĞƌǀŝĞǁƐ ĨŽƌ ƚŚŝƐ ŝŶƐŝŐŚƞ Ƶů ďŽŽŬ͕ ŝŶĐůƵĚŝŶŐ ŵĂŶǇ ǁŝƚŚ ƉĞŽƉůĞ ǁŚŽ ǁĞƌĞ ŝŶǀŽůǀĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĚĞĐŝƐŝŽŶƐ ĂŶĚ ŽƉĞƌĂƟ ŽŶĂů ĂĐƟ ǀŝƟ ĞƐ ŝŶ /ƐƌĂĞů͛Ɛ ǁĂƌ ĂŐĂŝŶƐƚ ƚĞƌƌŽƌ͘ DŽƐƚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŝŶƚĞƌǀŝĞǁĞĞƐ ǁĞƌĞ ďƌƵƚĂůůǇ ŚŽŶĞƐƚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞŝƌ ĞǀĂůƵĂƟ ŽŶƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĞǀĞŶƚƐ ŝŶ ǁŚŝĐŚ ƚŚĞǇ ǁĞƌĞ ŝŶǀŽůǀĞĚ͘ dŚŝƐ ďŽŽŬ ŝƐ ŶŽƚ ŽŶůǇ ĂŶ ŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƟ ŶŐ ƌĞĂĚ͕ ŝƚ ŝƐ ĂŶ ŝŵƉŽƌƚĂŶƚ read. MDH

The Origins of Israel, 1882-1948: A Documentary History Eran Kaplan & Derek J. Penslar, eds. University of Wisconsin Press, 2011 Paperback 380 pp. $29.95 ISBN: 978-0299284947

he editors of this documentary history ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŝŽŶŝƐƚ ƐĞƩ ůĞŵĞŶƚ ŝŶ WĂůĞƐƟ ŶĞ (YishuvͿ͕ ĨƌŽŵ ŝƚƐ ďĞŐŝŶŶŝŶŐƐ ŝŶ ϭϴϴϮ͕ ŚĂǀĞ ƉƌŽǀŝĚĞĚ ƚŚĞ ƌĞĂĚĞƌ ǁŝƚŚ ƐŽƵƌĐĞƐ ƚŚĂƚ ŚĂǀĞ ŶŽƚ ƉƌĞǀŝŽƵƐůǇ ďĞĞŶ ƉƵďůŝƐŚĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŶŐůŝƐŚͲ ƐƉĞĂŬŝŶŐ ǁŽƌůĚ͘ dŚŝƐ ƐŽƵƌĐĞ ďŽŽŬ ŝŶĐůƵĚĞƐ ƐŝǆƚǇͲƚǁŽ ĚŽĐƵŵĞŶƚƐ ǁŚŝĐŚ ĐŽǀĞƌ ƚŚĞ ƐŽĐŝĂů͕ economic, and cultural aspects of the manner in which the Yishuv ŵŽǀĞĚ ĨƌŽŵ ĂŶ ĂƌƌĂǇ ŽĨ ƐĞƩ ůĞŵĞŶƚƐ ƚŽ ƐƚĂƚĞŚŽŽĚ͘ /Ŷ ϭϴϴϬ͕ ƚŚĞ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ĐŽŵŵƵŶŝƚǇ ŝŶ WĂůĞƐƟ ŶĞ numbered some 20,000 Orthodox Jews. Within ƐŝǆƚǇͲĮ ǀĞ ǇĞĂƌƐ ƚŚĞ Yishuv ŚĂĚ ďĞĞŶ ƚƌĂŶƐͲ ĨŽƌŵĞĚ ŝŶƚŽ Ă ƐĞĐƵůĂƌ ƉƌŽƚŽͲƐƚĂƚĞ͕ ǁŝƚŚ ǁĞůů ĚĞǀĞůŽƉĞĚ ƉŽůŝƟ ĐĂů͕ ŵŝůŝƚĂƌǇ͕ ĂŶĚ ĞĐŽŶŽŵŝĐ ŝŶƐƟ ƚƵƟ ŽŶƐ͕ ƚŚĂƚ ŚĂĚ ŐƌŽǁŶ ƚŽ ĂƌŽƵŶĚ ϲϬϬ͕ϬϬ inhabitants. Many of the documents include ƚŚŽƐĞ ǁƌŝƩ ĞŶ ďǇ ůĞĂĚĞƌƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŝŽŶŝƐƚ ůĂďŽƌ ŵŽǀĞŵĞŶƚ͕ ƚŚĞ ŵĂũŽƌ ƉŽůŝƟ ĐĂů ĨŽƌĐĞ ĚƵƌŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ĨŽƌŵĂƟ ǀĞ ĚĞĐĂĚĞƐ ƉƌŝŽƌ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ĨŽƵŶĚŝŶŐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ^ƚĂƚĞ ŽĨ /ƐƌĂĞů͘ dŚĞ ĞĚŝƚŽƌƐ ŚĂǀĞ ŶŽƚ ŶĞŐůĞĐƚĞĚ ƚŚĞ ZĞǀŝƐŝŽŶŝƐƚ ŵŽǀĞŵĞŶƚ ĂŶĚ ŽƚŚĞƌ ĨŽƌŵƐ ŽĨ ƌŝŐŚƚͲǁŝŶŐ ŝŽŶŝƐŵ ƚŚĂƚ ĐŚĂůůĞŶŐĞĚ ƚŚĞ ĚŽŵŝŶĂŶĐĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŝŽŶŝƐƚ ůĂďŽƌ ĞƐƚĂďůŝƐŚŵĞŶƚ͘ ^ŽƵƌĐĞƐ ĂůƐŽ ŝŶĐůƵĚĞ ƚŚĞ ǀŝĞǁƐ ŽĨ KƌƚŚŽĚŽǆ ŝŽŶŝƐƚƐ ĂƐ ǁĞůů ĂƐ ƵůƚƌĂͲKƌƚŚŽĚŽǆ ĂŶƟ Ͳ ŝŽŶŝƐƚƐ͘ &ŝŶĂůůǇ͕ ƚŚĞ ĞĚŝƚŽƌƐ ŚĂǀĞ ŝŶĐůƵĚĞĚ͕ ǁŚĞƌĞ ƉŽƐƐŝďůĞ͕ ƚŚĞ ǀŽŝĐĞƐ ŽĨ ŽƌĚŝŶĂƌǇ :ĞǁƐ ĂƐ ǁĞůů ĂƐ ĚŽĐƵŵĞŶƚƐ ĚĞĂůŝŶŐ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ŽƌŝŐŝŶƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƌĂďͲ/ƐƌĂĞůŝ ĐŽŶŇ ŝĐƚ͕ ŽŌ ĞŶ ĐŝƚĞĚ ďĞĨŽƌĞ ŝŶ ƐĐŚŽůͲ ĂƌůǇ ůŝƚĞƌĂƚƵƌĞ ďƵƚ ŶĞǀĞƌ ƌĞƉƌŽĚƵĐĞĚ ŝŶ ĨƵůů͘ ĂĐŚ ƐĞĐƟ ŽŶ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ŝƐ ŝŶƚƌŽĚƵĐĞĚ ďǇ ďĂĐŬŐƌŽƵŶĚ ŵĂƚĞƌŝĂů ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ĚŽĐƵŵĞŶƚƐ

nonfiction ƚŚĂƚ ĨŽůůŽǁ͘ dŚĞ ŝŶƚĞŶƟ ŽŶ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĞĚŝƚŽƌƐ ŽĨ ƚŚŝƐ ŝŶĚŝƐƉĞŶƐĂďůĞ ĐŽůůĞĐƟ ŽŶ ŽĨ ĚŽĐƵŵĞŶƚƐ ŝƐ ĨŽƌ ƵƐĞ ĂƐ Ă ĐůĂƐƐƌŽŽŵ ƌĞƐŽƵƌĐĞ ƚŚĂƚ ŵŝŐŚƚ accompany a textbook, or as a stand alone ƐŽƵƌĐĞ͘ / ƌĞĐŽŵŵĞŶĚ ƚŚŝƐ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ƚŽ ĨĂĐƵůƚǇ ǁŚŽ ƚĞĂĐŚ ƵŶŝǀĞƌƐŝƚǇ ĂŶĚ ŐƌĂĚƵĂƚĞ ĐŽƵƌƐĞƐ ĚĞĂůŝŶŐ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ŚŝƐƚŽƌǇ ŽĨ /ƐƌĂĞů ĂƐ ǁĞůů ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ŝŽŶŝƐƚ ŵŽǀĞŵĞŶƚ͘ JF

The Road to Fatima Gate: The Beirut Spring, The Rise of Hezbollah and The Iranian War Against Israel Michael J. Totten Encounter Books, 2011 Hardcover 338 pp. $27.95 [e] ISBN: 978-1-59403-521-0

ŝĐŚĂĞů dŽƩ ĞŶ ůŝǀĞĚ ŝŶ ĞŝƌƵƚ ĂŶĚ ĐŽǀĞƌĞĚ ƚŚĞ DŝĚĚůĞ ĂƐƚ ĂƐ ĂŶ ŝŶĚĞƉĞŶĚĞŶƚ ĨŽƌĞŝŐŶ ĐŽƌƌĞƐƉŽŶĚĞŶƚ ĨŽƌ Ă ŶƵŵďĞƌ ŽĨ ůĞĂĚŝŶŐ ŶĞǁƐƉĂƉĞƌƐ ĂŶĚ ŵĂŐĂǌŝŶĞƐ͘ /Ŷ ŚŝƐ ŚŝŐŚůǇ ƉĞƌƐŽŶĂů ŶĂƌƌĂƟ ǀĞ͕ dŚĞ ZŽĂĚ ƚŽ &ĂƟ ŵĂ Gate: The Beirut Spring, The Rise of Hezbollah and The Iranian War Against Israel, we see ƚŚĞ ƵŶĨŽůĚŝŶŐ ŽĨ ŚŝƐƚŽƌǇ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚ ŚŝƐ ĞǇĞƐ͘ ĨŽƌĞŝŐŶ ƉŽůŝĐǇ ĂŶĂůǇƐƚ ĂƐ ǁĞůů ĂƐ Ă ĨŽƌĞŝŐŶ ĐŽƌƌĞƐƉŽŶĚĞŶƚ͕ dŽƩ ĞŶ ŐŝǀĞƐ ƌĞĂĚĞƌƐ ŚŝƐƚŽƌŝĐĂů ƉĞƌƐƉĞĐƟ ǀĞƐ ĂŶĚ ĐůĞĂƌ ĞǆƉůĂŶĂƟ ŽŶƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ďĞǁŝůĚĞƌŝŶŐ ĐŽŵƉůĞǆŝƟ ĞƐ ŽĨ ƚŚŝƐ ƌĞŐŝŽŶ͘ ůů ƚŚĞ ƉůĂŶŶŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ ƉƌĞƉĂƌĂƟ ŽŶ dŽƩ ĞŶ ĚŝĚ ďĞĨŽƌĞ ŚŝƐ ĂƐƐŝŐŶŵĞŶƚƐ ĐŽƵůĚ ŶŽƚ ŚĂǀĞ ƉƌĞƉĂƌĞĚ Śŝŵ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ůŝĨĞͲƚŚƌĞĂƚĞŶŝŶŐ ƌĞĂůŝƟ ĞƐ ŚĞ ĞǆƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞĚ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ŐƌŽƵŶĚ͘ KŶĞ ŐĞƚƐ ƚŚĞ ĨĞĞůŝŶŐ ƚŚĂƚ Ăƚ ĂŶǇ ŵŽŵĞŶƚ ŚĞ ĐŽƵůĚ ŚĂǀĞ ďĞĞŶ ŬŝůůĞĚ͘ EŽƚŚŝŶŐ ƉƌŽƚĞĐƚĞĚ Śŝŵ͘ ,Ğ ďĞŐĂŶ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ŝůůƵƐŝŽŶ ƚŚĂƚ ďĞŝŶŐ Ă ŵĞŵďĞƌ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŝŶƚĞƌŶĂƟ ŽŶĂů ƉƌĞƐƐ ĐŽƌƉƐ ǁŽƵůĚ ŬĞĞƉ Śŝŵ ƐĂĨĞ͕ but he quickly learned that only luck and a ǀĞƌǇ ŐŽŽĚ ƐĞƚ ŽĨ ĨƌŝĞŶĚƐ͕ ĐŽŶƚĂĐƚƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ƚƌĂŶƐůĂͲ ƚŽƌƐ ĂůůŽǁĞĚ Śŝŵ ƚŽ ĐŽǀĞƌ ŚŝƐ ƐƚŽƌŝĞƐ ĂŶĚ ƐƚĂǇ ĂůŝǀĞ͘ dŚĞ ZŽĂĚ ƚŽ &ĂƟ ŵĂ 'ĂƚĞ ŝƐ Ă ďĞĂƵƟ ĨƵůůǇ ǁƌŝƩ ĞŶ͕ ŵĂƌǀĞůŽƵƐůǇ ĞŶƚĞƌƚĂŝŶŝŶŐ͕ ĂŶĚ ŶĂŝů ďŝƟ ŶŐ ĞŶƚƌǇ ŝŶƚŽ ĂƐƉĞĐƚƐ ŽĨ >ĞďĂŶŽŶ ƚŚĂƚ ǁĞ seldom see. MDH

ĚĞƐƉŝƚĞ ĐĞƌƚĂŝŶ ƉŽůŝƟ ĐĂů ĂŶĚ ŵŝůŝƚĂƌǇ ƉƌŽŐƌĂŵƐ ƚŚĂƚ ŚĂǀĞ ďĞĞŶ ƉƵƚ ŝŶ ƉůĂĐĞ ƚŽ ƐƚǇŵŝĞ WĂůĞƐƟ ŶͲ ŝĂŶ ƚĞƌƌŝƚŽƌŝĂů ĂƐƉŝƌĂƟ ŽŶƐ ĂŶĚ ŐŽǀĞƌŶŵĞŶƚĂů ĂƵƚŽŶŽŵǇ͕ ƚŚĞ ŽŶůǇ ƌĞĂůŝƐƟ Đ ƐŽůƵƟ ŽŶ ŝƐ ƚŽ create two states. ĐĐŽƌĚŝŶŐ ƚŽ <ůĞŝŶ͕ ǁŚĂƚ ǁĂƐ ŽŶĐĞ Ă ďŽƌĚĞƌ ĐŽŶŇ ŝĐƚ ŝƐ ŶŽǁ ĂŶ ĞƚŚŶŝĐ ƐƚƌƵŐŐůĞ͘ ^ĞƩ ůĞŵĞŶƚƐ in the West Bank do not simply mean facts on ƚŚĞ ŐƌŽƵŶĚ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ WĂůĞƐƟ ŶŝĂŶƐ͘ /Ŷ ƚŚĞŝƌ ĞǇĞƐ͕ ƚŚĞ ƐĞƩ ůĞŵĞŶƚƐ ĂƌĞ ƚŚĞ ƉƌŽďůĞŵ͕ ƌĞƉƌĞƐĞŶƟ ŶŐ ĐŽůŽŶŝĂůŝƐŵ ĂŶĚ ĂŶ ĞƚŚŶŝĐ ǀŝŽůĂƟ ŽŶ͘ <ůĞŝŶ ĐĂůůƐ Ăůů ƚŚĞ ůĞĂĚĞƌƐ ŝŶǀŽůǀĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƐŝƚƵĂƟ ŽŶ ƚŽ ƚĂƐŬ͕ ĐŚĂůůĞŶŐŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ /ƐƌĂĞůŝƐ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ WĂůĞƐƟ ŶŝĂŶƐ ĂƐ ǁĞůů ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ŵĞƌŝĐĂŶƐ͘ ,ŝƐ ŵŽƐƚ ĚĂŵŶŝŶŐ ŝŶƐŝŐŚƚ ŝŶ ƚŚŝƐ ƉŽǁĞƌĨƵů ďŽŽŬ ŝƐ ŚŝƐ ĐŽŶĐůƵƐŝŽŶͶƚŚĂƚ /ƐƌĂĞůŝƐ ĂŶĚ WĂůĞƐƟ ŶͲ ŝĂŶ ǁŝůů ŶĞǀĞƌ ďĞ ĂďůĞ ƚŽ ůŝǀĞ ƚŽŐĞƚŚĞƌ͕ ƚŚĂƚ ŝŶ ŽƌĚĞƌ ƚŽ ƌĞƐŽůǀĞ ƚŚĞ ŝƐƐƵĞƐ ƚŚĞǇ ŵƵƐƚ ďĞ separated. MDH

ŵŽĚĞƌŶ ũĞǁŝƐŚ ƚŚŽƵŐŚƚ Θ ĞǆƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞ Change and Renewal: The Essence of the Jewish Holidays, Festivals and Days of Remembrance Adin Steinsaltz; Daniel Haberman, trans.; Yehudit Shabta, ed. Maggid Books, 2011 Hardcover 432 pp. $27.95 ISBN: 978-159-264-322-6

ƚĂŬĞ ƉůĂĐĞ ǁŝƚŚŝŶ ĞǀĞƌǇ ŝŶĚŝǀŝĚƵĂů͘ ƌĂǁŝŶŐ ĨƌŽŵ Ă ǀĂƐƚ ĂƌƌĂǇ ŽĨ ƐŽƵƌĐĞƐ ƚŚĂƚ ŝŶ ĂĚĚŝƟ ŽŶ ƚŽ ƚƌĂĚŝƟ ŽŶĂů ƌĞĨĞƌĞŶĐĞƐ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ tƌŝƩ ĞŶ ĂŶĚ KƌĂů dƌĂĚŝƟ ŽŶƐ͕ ŝŶĐůƵĚĞ ŵǇƐƟ ĐĂů ĂŶĚ ŚĂƐƐŝĚŝĐ ůŝƚĞƌĂƚƵƌĞ͕ ^ƚĞŝŶƐĂůƚǌ ƌĞǀĞĂůƐ ĂƐƉĞĐƚƐ ŽĨ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ŽďƐĞƌǀĂŶĐĞ ǁŚŝĐŚ ĚŝƌĞĐƚůǇ ĂĚĚƌĞƐƐ ƚŚŽƐĞ ƐĞĞŬͲ ŝŶŐ ĚĞĞƉĞƌ ŵĞĂŶŝŶŐƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞŝƌ ůŝǀĞƐ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ŽďƐĞƌǀĂŶĐĞ͘ ƚǇƉŝĐĂů ƚŽƉŝĐƐ ĂĚĚƌĞƐƐĞĚ ŝŶĐůƵĚĞ ͞KƌĚŝŶĂƌǇ ĂǇƐ͕͟ ŝ͘Ğ͕͘ ƚŚĞ ƐƉŝƌŝƚƵĂů dimensions of days not associated with any ƉĂƌƟ ĐƵůĂƌ ĐŽŵŵĞŵŽƌĂƟ ŽŶ͕ ĂƐ ǁĞůů ĂƐ ƐƉĞĐŝĂů ŚĂƐƐŝĚŝĐ ĐĞůĞďƌĂƟ ŽŶƐ ƐƵĐŚ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ϭϵƚŚ ŽĨ <ŝƐůĞǀ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ϯƌĚ ŽĨ dĂŵŵƵǌ͘ Z͘ ^ƚĞŝŶƐĂůƚǌ͛Ɛ ĐŽŵŵŝƚŵĞŶƚ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ^ƚĂƚĞ ŽĨ /ƐƌĂĞů ŝƐ ƌĞŇ ĞĐƚĞĚ ďǇ ƚŚĞ ŝŶĐůƵƐŝŽŶ ŽĨ ƚŚƌĞĞ ĞƐƐĂǇƐ ĂĚĚƌĞƐƐŝŶŐ zŽŵ ,Ă ƚǌŵĂƵƚ ĂŶĚ zŽŵ zĞƌƵƐŚĂůĂǇŝŵ͘ dŚĞ ďŽŽŬ ŝƐ Ă ĐŽŶƐƚĂŶƚ ƐŽƵƌĐĞ ŽĨ ŶĞǁ ŝŶƐŝŐŚƚƐ ĂŶĚ ƐƟ ŵƵůĂƟ ŶŐ ƉĞƌƐƉĞĐƟ ǀĞƐ ƌĞŐĂƌĚŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ŽĐĐĂƐŝŽŶƐ ŵĂŬŝŶŐ ƵƉ ƚŚĞ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ǇĞĂƌ͕ ǁŚŝĐŚ ƌŽƵƟ ŶŝǌĂƟ ŽŶ ĂŶĚ ƌĞƉĞƟ Ɵ ŽŶ ĐĂŶ ƐŽŵĞƟ ŵĞƐ ƚŚƌĞĂƚĞŶ ƚŽ ƌĞŶĚĞƌ ƵŶƌĞŵĂƌŬĂďůĞ ĂŶĚ ĚĞǀŽŝĚ ŽĨ ĚĞĞƉ ŵĞĂŶŝŶŐ͘ ŝďůŝŽŐƌĂƉŚǇ͘ YB

From Within the Tent: The Haftarot Daniel Z. Feldman & Stuart W. Halpern, eds. Maggid Books, 2011 Hardcover 743 pp. $29.95 ISBN: 978-161-329-0316

ŚĞ ŝŶĐƌĞĚŝďůǇ ĞƌƵĚŝƚĞ Z͘ ^ƚĞŝŶƐĂůƚǌ͛Ɛ ůĂƚĞƐƚ ĐŽŶƚƌŝďƵƟ ŽŶ ƚŽ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ƚŚŽƵŐŚƚ ŝƐ Ă ĐŽŵͲ pendium of essays that focus on the inherent ƉĞƌƐŽŶĂů͕ ƐƉŝƌŝƚƵĂů ŵĞĂŶŝŶŐƐ ŽĨ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ĐĞůĞďƌĂͲ Ɵ ŽŶƐ ĂŶĚ ĐŽŵŵĞŵŽƌĂƟ ŽŶƐ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚŽƵƚ ƚŚĞ ǇĞĂƌ͘ ǆĂŵƉůĞƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƚŚĞŵĞƐ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞ ĂƵƚŚŽƌ ĚĞǀĞůŽƉƐ ƚŚĂƚ ĨŽĐƵƐ ŽŶ Ă ƉĞƌƐŽŶ͛Ɛ ƐƚĂƚĞ ŽĨ ŵŝŶĚ ĂŶĚ ĞŵŽƟ ŽŶĂů ŵĂŬĞƵƉ ĂƌĞ͗ ƌĞĐƌĞĂƟ ŽŶ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƐĞůĨ͕ ƉĂƌĂůůĞůŝŶŐ ƌĞĐƌĞĂƟ ŽŶ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ǁŽƌůĚ ŽŶ ZŽƐŚ ,Ă^ŚĂŶĂ͖ ƚŚĞ ĞƐƐĞŶĐĞƐ ŽĨ ĞĂĐŚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ Ushpizin ;ƐƉŝƌŝƚƵĂů ŐƵĞƐƚƐ ǁŚŽ ǀŝƐŝƚ ƚŚĞ ^ƵŬŬĂŚͿ ĂƌĞ ƚŽ ďĞ ĨŽƵŶĚ ǁŝƚŚŝŶ ŽƵƌƐĞůǀĞƐ͖ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ĞƌĂĚŝĐĂƟ ŽŶ ŽĨ ŵĂůĞŬ ĂƐ ƐŽŵĞƚŚŝŶŐ ƚŚĂƚ ŵƵƐƚ

ŽůůŽǁŝŶŐ ƵƉ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ƉŽƉƵůĂƌŝƚǇ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ϮϬϭϬ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ƚŚĂƚ ƉƌĞƐĞŶƚĞĚ Į Ō ǇͲƐŝǆ ĞƐƐĂǇƐ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ǁĞĞŬůǇ dŽƌĂŚ ƌĞĂĚŝŶŐ͕ ĂƵƚŚŽƌĞĚ ďǇ ďŽƚŚ ŵĂůĞ ĂŶĚ ĨĞŵĂůĞ ŵĞŵďĞƌƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĨĂĐƵůƟ ĞƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ǀĂƌŝŽƵƐ ƐĐŚŽŽůƐ ĂƐƐŽĐŝĂƚĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ zĞƐŚŝǀĂ hŶŝǀĞƌƐŝƚǇ͕ Ă ǀŽůƵŵĞ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ,ĂŌ ĂƌŽƚ ŚĂƐ ŶŽǁ ďĞĞŶ ŝƐƐƵĞĚ͘ ƵĞ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ĨĂĐƚ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞ ƉƌŽƉŚĞƟ Đ ƌĞĂĚŝŶŐƐ ĚŝƌĞĐƚůǇ ĂƐƐŽĐŝĂƚĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ the Parashiot HaShavuah ;ǁĞĞŬůǇ dŽƌĂŚ ƉŽƌͲ Ɵ ŽŶͿ ĂƌĞ ĂƵŐŵĞŶƚĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ ĂĚĚŝƟ ŽŶĂů ,ĂŌ ĂƌŽƚ connected to Jewish holidays and special ^ŚĂďďĂƚŽƚ͕ ƚŚŝƐ Ɵ ŵĞ ƐĞǀĞŶƚǇͲĞŝŐŚƚ ĞƐƐĂǇƐ ŚĂǀĞ ďĞĞŶ ĐŽůůĞĐƚĞĚ͕ ŝŶĐůƵĚŝŶŐ Į Ō Ǉ ďǇ ĂƵƚŚŽƌƐ whose work did not appear in the earlier ǀŽůƵŵĞ͘ Ɛ Ă ƌĞƐƵůƚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ǁŝĚĞ ǀĂƌŝĞƚǇ ŽĨ ƉĞƌƐƉĞĐƟ ǀĞƐ ĂŶĚ ƐƉĞĐŝĂůƟ ĞƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŶƚƌŝďƵƚͲ ŝŶŐ ĞĚƵĐĂƚŽƌƐ͕ ƚŚĞ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ĚŽĞƐ ŶŽƚ ŽŶůǇ Žī Ğƌ

The Shift: Israel-Palestine Border Struggle to Ethnic Conflict Menachem Klein Columbia University Press, 2010. Hardcover 206 pp. $30.00 [e] ISBN: 978-0-231-70196-9

Ŷ ƚŚŝƐ ƐŵĂůů ďŽŽŬ Į ůůĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ ďŝŐ ŝĚĞĂƐ͘ DĞŶĂĐŚĞŵ <ůĞŝŶ͕ Ă ƉŽůŝƟ ĐĂů ƐĐŝĞŶƟ Ɛƚ Ăƚ ĂƌͲ/ůĂŶ hŶŝǀĞƌƐŝƚǇ͕ ĂŶĂůǇǌĞƐ ƚŚĞ /ƐƌĂĞůŝͲ WĂůĞƐƟ ŶŝĂŶ ĐŽŶŇ ŝĐƚ ĂŶĚ ĂƌŐƵĞƐ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞ ĨŽĐƵƐ ŽŶ /ƐƌĂĞůŝ ďŽƌĚĞƌƐ ĂŶĚ ƐĞƩ ůĞŵĞŶƚƐ ŝƐ ŶŽƚ ƐŝŵƉůǇ ĂŶ ŝƐƐƵĞ ŽĨ ƐĞĐƵƌŝƚǇ ďƵƚ Ă ĚĞŵĂƌĐĂƟ ŽŶ of the lines of the Jewish state. He writes that

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nonfiction Ă ĐŽŶƟ ŶƵĂůůǇ ŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƟ ŶŐ ĂŶĚ ĞŶŐĂŐŝŶŐ ŐƌŽƵƉ ŽĨ ĞƐƐĂǇƐ͕ ďƵƚ ĂůƐŽ ƌĞŇ ĞĐƚƐ ĂŶĚ ƐǇŵďŽůŝǌĞƐ ƚŚĞ ͞ďŝŐ ƚĞŶƚ͟ ƉŚŝůŽƐŽƉŚǇ ƚŚĂƚ zĞƐŚŝǀĂ hŶŝǀĞƌƐŝƚǇ ƐĞůĨͲĐŽŶƐĐŝŽƵƐůǇ ƉƵƌƐƵĞƐ͕ ĂƐ ĂƌƟ ĐƵůĂƚĞĚ ďǇ ƚŚĞ ĞĚŝƚŽƌƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞŝƌ ƉƌĞĨĂĐĞ͕ ͙͞Ă ͚ďŝŐ ƚĞŶƚ͛ ŽĨ ĚŝǀĞƌƐŝƚǇ͕ ĐŽŵƉůĞǆŝƚǇ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ŝŶƚĞŐƌĂƟ ŽŶ ŽĨ ŝŶƚĞƌĚŝƐĐŝƉůŝŶĂƌǇ ǁŝƐĚŽŵ͘͟ dŚĞ ŚŝƐƚŽƌŝĂŶ ƌ͘ >ĂǁƌĞŶĐĞ ^ĐŚŝī ŵĂŶ ĐŽŶƚƌŝďƵƚĞƐ Ă ůĞĂĚͲŽī ĞƐƐĂǇ ĞǆƉůŽƌŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ŝŶƐƟ ƚƵƟ ŽŶ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ,ĂŌ ŽƌĂ͕ ǁŚŝĐŚ ƐĞƌǀĞƐ ƚŽ ƉƌŽǀŝĚĞ ŝŵƉŽƌƚĂŶƚ ĐŽŶƚĞǆƚ ƚŽ the essays that follow. YB

Harvest of a Decade: Disraelia and Other Essays Walter Laqueur Transaction Books, 2011 Hardcover 268 pp. $39.95 ISBN: 978-1-4128-4232-7

n Harvest of a Decade ĚŝƐƟ ŶŐƵŝƐŚĞĚ ƐĞŶŝŽƌ scholar Walter Laqueur collects a decade’s worth of essays published since 2001 in a wide ƌĂŶŐĞ ŽĨ ͞ƐĞƌŝŽƵƐ͟ ĂŶĚ ĂĐĂĚĞŵŝĐ ũŽƵƌŶĂůƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ h͘^͘ ĂŶĚ ƵƌŽƉĞ͘ dŚĞ ĞƐƐĂǇƐ ĂƌĞ ĚŝǀŝĚĞĚ ŝŶƚŽ Į ǀĞ ƐĞĐƟ ŽŶƐ͗ ŝŽŶŝƐŵ͕ /ƐƌĂĞů͕ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ :ĞǁƐ͖ ZƵƐƐŝĂ͖ ƵƌŽƉĞ͖ dĞƌƌŽƌŝƐŵ͕ ĂŶĚ ďŝŽͲ ŐƌĂƉŚŝĐĂů ƐŬĞƚĐŚĞƐ͘ /Ŷ ŚŝƐ ĞƐƐĂǇƐ ŽŶ /ƐƌĂĞů ŚĞ ĐŽŵĞƐ ĂĐƌŽƐƐ ĂƐ Ă ŵĂŝŶƐƚƌĞĂŵ >ĂďŽƌ ŝŽŶŝƐƚ ǁŚŽ ŚĂƐ ŶŽƚ ǇĞƚ ŐĂƵŐĞĚ ƚŚĞ ĐŚĂŶŐĞƐ ŝŶ /ƐƌĂĞů and the Jewish world since the Likud rose to ƉŽǁĞƌ ŝŶ ϭϵϳϳ͘ ǁŝĚĞ ƌĂŶŐĞ ŽĨ ŵŽǀĞŵĞŶƚƐ ĂŶĚ ĚĞǀĞůŽƉŵĞŶƚƐ ĐŽŵĞ ŝŶ ĨŽƌ >ĂƋƵĞƵƌ͛Ɛ ĐƌŝƟ Ͳ ĐŝƐŵ͕ ŝŶĐůƵĚŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ EĞǁ ,ŝƐƚŽƌŝĂŶƐ͕ KƌƚŚŽĚŽǆ :ĞǁƐ͕ ƚŚĞ >ŝŬƵĚ͕ ĂŶĚ WƌŝŵĞ DŝŶŝƐƚĞƌ ĞŶũĂŵŝŶ EĞƚĂŶǇĂŚƵ͘ >ĂƋƵĞƵƌ ƌĞƐĞƌǀĞƐ Ă ƐƉĞĐŝĂů ĨƵƌǇ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ƐĞƩ ůĞƌƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ tĞƐƚ ĂŶŬ ĂŶĚ 'ĂǌĂ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞŝƌ ďƌĂŶĚ ŽĨ ŝŽŶŝƐŵ͘ /Ŷ ƚŚŝƐ͕ ƚŚĞ ǁĞĂŬĞƐƚ ƐĞĐƟ ŽŶ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ďŽŽŬ͕ ŚĞ ƐĞĞŵƐ ƚŽ ŚĂǀĞ ƌƵŶ ŽƵƚ ŽĨ ƚŚŝŶŐƐ ƚŽ ƐĂǇ ĂďŽƵƚ ŝŽŶŝƐŵ͕ ƚŚĞ ^ƚĂƚĞ ŽĨ Israel, and contemporary Jewry. In contrast to Laqueur’s essays on Israel, ƚŚŽƐĞ ŽŶ ZƵƐƐŝĂ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ^ŽǀŝĞƚ hŶŝŽŶ ĂƌĞ ƌĞĨƌĞƐŚŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ ŝŵƉŽƌƚĂŶƚ͘ >ĂƋƵĞƵƌ ĐŽŐĞŶƚůǇ ĞǆƉůĂŝŶƐ ŚŽǁ ƚŚĞ ŽůĚ tĂƌ ůĞĚ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ƵůƟ ŵĂƚĞ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞ ĂŶĚ ĨĂůů ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ^ŽǀŝĞƚ ĞŵƉŝƌĞ͕ ƌĞǀŝĞǁƐ ZƵƐƐŝĂ͛Ɛ ŐƌŽǁŝŶŐ ͞DƵƐůŝŵ WƌŽďůĞŵ͕͟ ĂŶĚ ƉƌĞͲ ĚŝĐƚƐ ǁŚĞƌĞ ZƵƐƐŝĂŶ ƉŽůŝƟ ĐƐ ŵŝŐŚƚ ďĞ ŚĞĂĚĞĚ in the near future. AJE

ŝŶ ϭϳϯϴ ďǇ DŽƐŚĞ ,ĂǇǇŝŵ >ƵǌǌĂƩ Ž͕ Ă ŵǇƐƟ Đ and a philosopher from Italy known best by ŚŝƐ ĂĐƌŽŶǇŵ ƚŚĞ ZĂD,Ă>͘ dŚŝƐ ŶĞǁ ĞĚŝƟ ŽŶ ƵƐĞƐ ƚŚĞ ĂůƐŽͲĐůĂƐƐŝĐ ϭϵϯϲ :W^ ƚƌĂŶƐůĂƟ ŽŶ ŽĨ Mesillat Yesharim ďǇ ZĂďďŝ DŽƌĚĞĐĂŝ <ĂƉůĂŶ͕ ǁŚŽƐĞ ŐŽĂů ǁĂƐ ƚŽ ŐŝǀĞ ŶŐůŝƐŚ ƌĞĂĚĞƌƐ ĂĐĐĞƐƐ ƚŽ ƚŚŝƐ ŝŵƉŽƌƚĂŶƚ ŐƵŝĚĞ ƚŽ ŵŽƌĂů ĂŶĚ ƉƌŽƉĞƌ ďĞŚĂǀŝŽƌ ĂƐ Ă ǁĂǇ ƚŽ ĨĞŶĚ Žī ƚŚĞ ĂƐƐŝŵŝůĂƟ ŽŶ ĂŶĚ ĂĐĐƵůƚƵƌĂƟ ŽŶ ƚŚĂƚ ǁĂƐ ƚĂŬŝŶŐ ŚŽůĚ ŽĨ ŵĞƌŝĐĂŶ :ĞǁƌǇ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ Ɵ ŵĞ͘ ZĂďďŝ /ƌĂ ^ƚŽŶĞ͛Ɛ ĐŽŵŵĞŶƚĂƌǇ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ <ĂƉůĂŶ ƚƌĂŶƐůĂƟ ŽŶ ƐŚĞĚƐ ŶĞǁ ůŝŐŚƚ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ŽƌŝŐŝŶĂů ZĂD,Ă> ƚĞǆƚ ĂŶĚ ŽŶ <ĂƉůĂŶ͛Ɛ ƚƌĂŶƐůĂƟ ŽŶ͘ dŚĞ ƚƌĂŶƐůĂƟ ŽŶ ŝƐ ŝŶ ďŽůĚ ƚǇƉĞ ĂŶĚ ďůĂĐŬ ůĞƩ ĞƌŝŶŐ͕ ^ƚŽŶĞ͛Ɛ ĐŽŵŵĞŶƚƐ ĂƌĞ ŝŶ Ă ůŝŐŚƚĞƌ ĨŽŶƚ͘ dŚĞ ŽŶĞ ƐŵĂůů Ň Ăǁ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚŝƐ ǁŽƌŬ ŝƐ ƚŚĂƚ ŝŶ ŽƌĚĞƌ ƚŽ ĐŽŵƉĂƌĞ ƚŚĞ <ĂƉůĂŶ ƚƌĂŶƐůĂƟ ŽŶ ĂŶĚ ^ƚŽŶĞ͛Ɛ ĐŽŵŵĞŶƚĂƌǇ ǁŝƚŚ >ƵǌǌĂƩ Ž͛Ɛ ŽƌŝŐŝŶĂů ǁŽƌŬ͕ ƚŚĞ ƌĞĂĚĞƌ ŵƵƐƚ Ň ŝƉ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ďĂĐŬ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ book, where the Hebrew text is found. ZĞĂĚĞƌƐ ǁŝƚŚ ĂŶ ŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƚ ŝŶ ƌĂďďŝŶŝĐ ƚŚŽƵŐŚƚ͕ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ƉŚŝůŽƐŽƉŚǇ͕ ĂŶĚ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ĞƚŚŝĐƐ ǁŝůů Į ŶĚ ŵƵĐŚ ƚŽ ĞŶŐĂŐĞ ƚŚĞŵ͘ ^ƚŽŶĞ ƉƌŽǀŝĚĞƐ ƚŚĞ ƚŽŽůƐ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ƌĞĂĚĞƌ ƚŽ ĞĂƐŝůǇ ĂŶĚ ŝŶĚĞƉĞŶͲ ĚĞŶƚůǇ ĂĐĐĞƐƐ >ƵǌǌĂƩ Ž͛Ɛ ŐƌĞĂƚ ĐůĂƐƐŝĐ͘ MDH

Moses Mendelssohn: Writings on Judaism, Christianity and the Bible Michah Gottlieb, ed.; Curtis Bowman, Elias Sacks, and Allan Arkush, trans. Brandeis University Press, 2011 Hardcover 296 pp $85.00 [e] ISBN: 978-1-58465-684-5

Ŷ ƚŚŝƐ ĐŽůůĞĐƟ ŽŶ ŽĨ ǁƌŝƟ ŶŐƐ ďǇ ƚŚĞ ĨŽƵŶĚĞƌ of the Haskalah͕ Žƌ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ŶůŝŐŚƚĞŶŵĞŶƚ͕ ĞĚŝƚŽƌ DŝĐŚĂŚ 'ŽƩ ůŝĞď ƐĞƚƐ ŽƵƚ ͞ƚŽ ƉƌŽǀŝĚĞ ƚŚĞ ŶŐůŝƐŚ ƌĞĂĚĞƌ ǁŝƚŚ Ă ŵŽƌĞ ĐŽŵƉƌĞŚĞŶƐŝǀĞ ƉŝĐƚƵƌĞ ŽĨ DĞŶĚĞůƐƐŽŚŶ͛Ɛ ĂƩ ĞŵƉƚ ƚŽ ďĂůĂŶĐĞ :ƵĚĂŝƐŵ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ŶůŝŐŚƚĞŶŵĞŶƚ ƚŚĂŶ ŚĂĚ ďĞĞŶ ĂǀĂŝůĂďůĞ ƵŶƟ ů ŶŽǁ͘͟ 'ŽƩ ůŝĞď͛Ɛ ĐŚŽŝĐĞƐ ŽĨ ůĞƩ ĞƌƐ͕ ĚŽĐƵŵĞŶƚƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ƐĞůĞĐƟ ŽŶƐ ĨƌŽŵ ŵĂũŽƌ ǁŽƌŬƐ ĂƌĞ ŵŽƐƚ ĞŶůŝŐŚƚĞŶŝŶŐ͘ ŶĚ ǁŚŝůĞ most of the works are by Mendelssohn, the ĨĂĐƚ ƚŚĂƚ ůĞƩ ĞƌƐ ƚŽ Śŝŵ ĂŶĚ ĐŽŵŵĞŶƚĂƌŝĞƐ ďǇ ĐŽŶƚĞŵƉŽƌĂƌŝĞƐ ĂƌĞ ŝŶĐůƵĚĞĚ ŐŝǀĞƐ ĂŶ ĂĚĚĞĚ͕

Mesillat Yesharim: The Path of the Upright Moses Hayyim Luzzatto; Mordecai Kaplan, trans. and intro; Ira F. Stone, commentary Jewish Publication Society, 2010 Paperback 507 pp. $45.00 ISBN: 978-0-8276-0856-6

he rabbinic classic Mesillat Yesharim is one of the most important Jewish books ŽĨ DƵƐĂƌ Žƌ ͞ĞƚŚŝĐĂů ďĞŚĂǀŝŽƌ͘͟ /ƚ ǁĂƐ ǁƌŝƩ ĞŶ

Jewish Book World

summer 5772/2012

www.jewishbookcouncil.org

ŚƵŵĂŶŝǌŝŶŐ ĚŝŵĞŶƐŝŽŶ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ďŽŽŬ͛Ɛ ƐƵďũĞĐƚ͘ tŚĂƚ ĨƵƌƚŚĞƌ ĚŝƐƟ ŶŐƵŝƐŚĞĚ ƚŚŝƐ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ĂƌĞ the excellent prefatory notes which introduce ŶĞĂƌůǇ Ăůů ƚŚĞ ƐĞůĞĐƟ ŽŶƐ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ŚĞůƉĨƵů footnotes which do much more than simply ĐƌĞĚŝƚ ƐŽƵƌĐĞƐ Žƌ ĚĞĮ ŶĞ ĂƌĐĂŶĞ ƚĞƌŵƐ͘ /Ŷ ŚŝƐ /ŶƚƌŽĚƵĐƟ ŽŶ͕ 'ŽƩ ůŝĞď ƉƌŽǀŝĚĞƐ Ă ǁĞĂůƚŚ ŽĨ ŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƟ ŽŶ ĂďŽƵƚ DĞŶĚĞůƐƐŽŚŶ͕ ƚŚĞ Ɵ ŵĞ ĂŶĚ ƉůĂĐĞ ŝŶ ǁŚŝĐŚ ŚĞ ůŝǀĞĚ͕ ĂŶĚ ŚŝƐ ƌĞůĂƟ ŽŶƐŚŝƉ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ĂƐ ǁĞůů ĂƐ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ůĂƌŐĞƌ 'ĞƌŵĂŶ ĐŽŵŵƵŶŝƚǇ ĂŶĚ ƐŽŵĞ ŽĨ ŝƚƐ ůĞĂĚĞƌƐ͘ dŚĞ 'ĞƌŵĂŶ ůĂŶŐƵĂŐĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĞŝŐŚƚĞĞŶƚŚ ĐĞŶƚƵƌǇ ĐĂŶ ďĞ ĐŚĂůůĞŶŐŝŶŐ ĞǀĞŶ to scholars, but Messrs. Bowman, Sacks, and ƌŬƵƐŚ ŚĂǀĞ ŐŝǀĞŶ ƵƐ ƚƌĂŶƐůĂƟ ŽŶƐ ǁŚŝĐŚ ĂƌĞ ďŽƚŚ ĞĂƐǇ ĂŶĚ ĞŶũŽǇĂďůĞ ƚŽ ƌĞĂĚ͘ /ŶĚĞǆ͕ ƐƵŐͲ ŐĞƐƟ ŽŶƐ ĨŽƌ ĨƵƌƚŚĞƌ ƌĞĂĚŝŶŐ͘ PLR

Pirke Avot: Timeless Wisdom for Modern Life William Berkson; Menachem Fisch, trans. Jewish Publication Society, 2010 Paperback 223 pp. $28.00 ISBN: 978-0-8276-0917-4

ůƚŚŽƵŐŚ Pirke Avot ŝƐ ĨŽƵŶĚ ŝŶ ĞǀĞƌǇ prayer book and has been translated ĐŽƵŶƚůĞƐƐ Ɵ ŵĞƐ͕ ƚŚŝƐ ŶĞǁ ĞĚŝƟ ŽŶ Ěŝī ĞƌƐ ĨƌŽŵ the others in that William Berkson intends for the reader and scholar to use his editon as a ŐƵŝĚĞ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ĞƚŚŝĐĂů ĐŚĂůůĞŶŐĞƐ ǁĞ ĨĂĐĞ ƚŽĚĂǇ͘ The book contains the full text of Pirke Avot ŝŶ ŶŐůŝƐŚ ĂŶĚ ,ĞďƌĞǁ ŽŶ ĨĂĐŝŶŐ ƉĂŐĞƐ͘ Berkson’s commentary explores the ethical, ƉƐǇĐŚŽůŽŐŝĐĂů͕ ĂŶĚ ƌĞůŝŐŝŽƵƐ ƐŝŐŶŝĮ ĐĂŶĐĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƐĂǇŝŶŐƐ͘ ĂĐŚ ĐŚĂƉƚĞƌ ĐŽŶĐůƵĚĞƐ ǁŝƚŚ Ă ƐĞĐƟ ŽŶ ĐĂůůĞĚ ΗDŽĚĞƌŶ >ŝĨĞ͕Η ŝŶ ǁŚŝĐŚ ĞƌŬƐŽŶ ďƌŝŶŐƐ ŝŶƐŝŐŚƚƐ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ ĂŶĐŝĞŶƚ 'ƌĞĞŬƐ͕ ƚŚĞ ŶůŝŐŚƚĞŶŵĞŶƚ͕ ĂƐƚĞƌŶ ƌĞůŝŐŝŽŶƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ŵŽĚĞƌŶ thinkers to bear on this classic Jewish work. Berkson’s new Pirke Avot ŝƐ ĨĂƐĐŝŶĂƟ ŶŐ ĂŶĚ ĨƵŶ ƚŽ ƌĞĂĚ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ ƐĂŵĞ Ɵ ŵĞ͘ /ƚ ŝƐ ƉĞƌĨĞĐƚ ĨŽƌ ƉĞƌƐŽŶĂů ƵƐĞ Žƌ ĂƐ Ă ǁĂǇ ƚŽ ĞŶĐŽƵƌĂŐĞ ĨĂŵŝůǇ discussions around the Shabbat table. Index. MDH

nonfiction NEW AUDIO ON

â&#x20AC;&#x153;A spectacular thrillerâ&#x20AC;Ś. This well-crafted twist of Jewish mythology made modern will appeal to fans of Dan Brown or Jennifer Lee Carrell..â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201D;Library Journal starred hardcover review

A Prophetic Peace: Judaism, Religion and Politics Alick Isaacs Indiana University Press, 2011 Hardcover 195 pp. $27.95 [e] ISBN: 978-0-253-35684-0

nspired by his combat experience in the Ć?Ä&#x17E;Ä?Ĺ˝ĹśÄ&#x161; >Ä&#x17E;Ä?Ä&#x201A;ĹśĹ˝Ĺś Ç Ä&#x201A;Ć&#x152;Í&#x2022; ĹŻĹ?Ä?ĹŹ /Ć?Ä&#x201A;Ä&#x201A;Ä?Ć?Í&#x203A;Ć? Ĺ?Ĺ˝Ä&#x201A;ĹŻ Ĺ?Ĺś Ć&#x161;Ĺ&#x161;Ĺ?Ć? Ä&#x161;Ä&#x17E;Ä&#x17E;Ć&#x2030;ĹŻÇ&#x2021; Ć&#x2030;Ä&#x17E;Ć&#x152;Ć?Ĺ˝ĹśÄ&#x201A;ĹŻ Ä&#x201A;ĹśÄ&#x161; Ć&#x161;Ĺ&#x161;Ĺ˝ĆľĹ?Ĺ&#x161;Ć&#x161; Ć&#x2030;Ć&#x152;Ĺ˝Ç&#x20AC;Ĺ˝ĹŹĹ?ĹśĹ? Ä?Ĺ˝Ĺ˝ĹŹ Ĺ?Ć? Ć&#x161;Ĺ˝ Ä?Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x201A;ĹŻĹŻÄ&#x17E;ĹśĹ?Ä&#x17E; Ä?Ĺ˝ĹśÇ&#x20AC;Ä&#x17E;ĹśĆ&#x; Ĺ˝ĹśÄ&#x201A;ĹŻ Ć&#x2030;Ä&#x17E;Ć&#x152;Ć?Ć&#x2030;Ä&#x17E;Ä?Ć&#x; Ç&#x20AC;Ä&#x17E;Ć? on peace and war and reconcile the bellicosity Ä¨Ĺ˝ĆľĹśÄ&#x161; Ĺ?Ĺś Ć&#x152;Ä&#x17E;ĹŻĹ?Ĺ?Ĺ?Ĺ˝Ĺś Ç Ĺ?Ć&#x161;Ĺ&#x161; Ĺ?Ć&#x161;Ć? ĹľÄ&#x17E;Ć?Ć?Ä&#x201A;Ĺ?Ä&#x17E;Ć? Ĺ˝Ä¨ Ć&#x2030;Ä&#x17E;Ä&#x201A;Ä?Ä&#x17E;Í&#x2DC; And yet, as personal as this book is, WĆ&#x152;Ĺ˝Ć&#x2030;Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x17E;Ć&#x; Ä? Peace ĹľÄ&#x201A;ĹŹÄ&#x17E;Ć? Ĺ?Ć&#x161;Ć? Ĺ?Ć&#x152;Ä&#x17E;Ä&#x201A;Ć&#x161;Ä&#x17E;Ć?Ć&#x161; Ĺ?ĹľĆ&#x2030;Ä&#x201A;Ä?Ć&#x161; Ç Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x17E;Ĺś /Ć?Ä&#x201A;Ä&#x201A;Ä?Ć? Ä?ĆľĹŻĹŻĆ? Ć&#x161;Ĺ&#x161;Ć&#x152;Ĺ˝ĆľĹ?Ĺ&#x161; Ä¨Ä&#x201A;Ć?Ä?Ĺ?ĹśÄ&#x201A;Ć&#x; ĹśĹ? Ć&#x152;Ä&#x201A;Ä?Ä?Ĺ?ĹśĹ?Ä? Ä&#x201A;ĹśÄ&#x161; Ć&#x2030;Ĺ&#x161;Ĺ?ĹŻĹ˝Í˛ Ć?Ĺ˝Ć&#x2030;Ĺ&#x161;Ĺ?Ä?Ä&#x201A;ĹŻ ĹľÄ&#x201A;Ć&#x161;Ä&#x17E;Ć&#x152;Ĺ?Ä&#x201A;ĹŻĆ? Ä?Ç&#x2021; >ĆľÄ&#x161;Ç Ĺ?Ĺ? tĹ?ĆŠ Ĺ?Ä&#x17E;ĹśĆ?Ć&#x161;Ä&#x17E;Ĺ?ĹśÍ&#x2022; :Ä&#x201A;Ä?Ć&#x2039;ĆľÄ&#x17E;Ć? Ä&#x17E;Ć&#x152;Ć&#x152;Ĺ?Ä&#x161;Ä&#x201A;Í&#x2022; Ä?Ć&#x152;Ä&#x201A;Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x201A;Ĺľ :Ĺ˝Ć?Ĺ&#x161;ĆľÄ&#x201A; ,Ä&#x17E;Ć?Ä?Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x17E;ĹŻÍ&#x2022; Ä&#x201A;ĹśÄ&#x161; DÄ&#x201A;Ć&#x152;Ć&#x; Ĺś ĆľÄ?Ä&#x17E;Ć&#x152;Í&#x2022; Ä&#x201A;ĹľĹ˝ĹśĹ? Ĺ˝Ć&#x161;Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x17E;Ć&#x152;Ć?Í&#x2DC; Isaacs also wants to show the reader that there is a place on earth where these ideas Ä&#x201A;Ć&#x152;Ä&#x17E; Ä&#x201A;ĹŻĆ?Ĺ˝ Ä&#x201A; ĹľĹ?ĹśĹ?Í˛ĹŻÄ&#x201A;Ä?Ĺ˝Ć&#x152;Ä&#x201A;Ć&#x161;Ĺ˝Ć&#x152;Ç&#x2021;Í&#x2DC; dĹ&#x161;Ä&#x201A;Ć&#x161; Ć&#x2030;ĹŻÄ&#x201A;Ä?Ä&#x17E; Ĺ?Ć? Ć&#x161;Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x17E; dÄ&#x201A;ĹŻĹŹĹ?ĹśĹ? WÄ&#x17E;Ä&#x201A;Ä?Ä&#x17E; WĆ&#x152;Ĺ˝ĹŠÄ&#x17E;Ä?Ć&#x161;Í&#x2022; Ć?Ć&#x2030;Ĺ˝ĹśĆ?Ĺ˝Ć&#x152;Ä&#x17E;Ä&#x161; Ä?Ç&#x2021; DĹ?Ć?Ĺ&#x161;ĹŹÄ&#x17E;ĹśĹ˝Ć&#x161; ^Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x201A;Í&#x203A;Ä&#x201A;ĹśÄ&#x201A;ĹśĹ?Ĺľ Ĺ?Ĺś :Ä&#x17E;Ć&#x152;ĆľĆ?Ä&#x201A;ĹŻÄ&#x17E;ĹľÍ&#x2022; Ç Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x17E;Ć&#x152;Ä&#x17E; Ć&#x152;Ä&#x17E;ĹŻĹ?Ĺ?Ĺ?Ĺ˝ĆľĆ? Ä&#x201A;ĹśÄ&#x161; Ć?Ä&#x17E;Ä?ĆľĹŻÄ&#x201A;Ć&#x152; ĹŻÄ&#x17E;Ä&#x201A;Ä&#x161;Ä&#x17E;Ć&#x152;Ć? Ç Ĺ?Ć&#x161;Ĺ&#x161; Ç&#x20AC;Ä&#x201A;Ć?Ć&#x161;ĹŻÇ&#x2021; Ä&#x161;Ĺ?ÄŤ Ä&#x17E;Ć&#x152;Ä&#x17E;ĹśĆ&#x161; Ç&#x20AC;Ĺ?Ä&#x17E;Ç Ć? Ä?Ĺ˝ĹľÄ&#x17E; Ć&#x161;Ĺ˝Ĺ?Ä&#x17E;Ć&#x161;Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x17E;Ć&#x152; Ć&#x161;Ĺ˝ Ć?Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x201A;Ć&#x152;Ä&#x17E; Ć&#x161;Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x17E;Ĺ?Ć&#x152; Ç&#x20AC;Ä&#x201A;Ć&#x152;Ç&#x2021;Ĺ?ĹśĹ? ĆľĹśÄ&#x161;Ä&#x17E;Ć&#x152;Ć?Ć&#x161;Ä&#x201A;ĹśÄ&#x161;Ĺ?ĹśĹ?Ć? of peace. The name Mishkenot Shaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ananim ĹľÄ&#x17E;Ä&#x201A;ĹśĆ? Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x17E;Ä&#x201A;Ç&#x20AC;Ä&#x17E;ĹśĹŻÇ&#x2021; Ĺ˝Ć&#x152; ĹŻĹ˝Ĺ&#x152; Ç&#x2021; Ć&#x161;Ä&#x201A;Ä?Ä&#x17E;Ć&#x152;ĹśÄ&#x201A;Ä?ĹŻÄ&#x17E;Ć? Ĺ˝Ć&#x152; Ć&#x2030;Ä&#x17E;Ä&#x201A;Ä?Ä&#x17E;Í˛ Ä¨ĆľĹŻ Ä&#x161;Ç Ä&#x17E;ĹŻĹŻĹ?ĹśĹ?Ć?Í&#x2DC; /Ć&#x161;Ć? Ć?Ĺ˝ĆľĆ&#x152;Ä?Ä&#x17E; Ĺ?Ć? Ä¨Ĺ˝ĆľĹśÄ&#x161; Ĺ?Ĺś Ć&#x161;Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x17E; WĆ&#x152;Ĺ˝Ć&#x2030;Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x17E;Ć&#x161; /Ć?Ä&#x201A;Ĺ?Ä&#x201A;Ĺ&#x161; ĎŻĎŽÍ&#x2014;ĎĎ´Í&#x2DC; Í&#x17E;DÇ&#x2021; Ć&#x2030;Ä&#x17E;Ĺ˝Ć&#x2030;ĹŻÄ&#x17E; Ç Ĺ?ĹŻĹŻ ĹŻĹ?Ç&#x20AC;Ä&#x17E; Ĺ?Ĺś peaceful Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x201A;Ä?Ĺ?Ć&#x161;Ä&#x201A;Ć&#x; Ĺ˝ĹśÍ&#x2022; Ĺ?Ĺś Ć?Ä&#x17E;Ä?ĆľĆ&#x152;Ä&#x17E; Ä&#x161;Ç Ä&#x17E;ĹŻĹŻĹ?ĹśĹ?Ć? Ä&#x201A;ĹśÄ&#x161; Ĺ?Ĺś Ć&#x2039;ĆľĹ?Ä&#x17E;Ć&#x161; Ć&#x152;Ä&#x17E;Ć?Ć&#x; ĹśĹ? Ć&#x2030;ĹŻÄ&#x201A;Ä?Ä&#x17E;Ć?Í&#x2DC;Í&#x; MDH

The Torah Revolution: Fourteen Truths that Changed the World Reuven Hammer Jewish Lights Publishing, 2011 Hardcover 250 pp. $24.99 [e] ISBN: 978-1-58023-457-3

Ä?Ĺ˝ĹŻĹŻÄ&#x17E;Ä&#x201A;Ĺ?ĆľÄ&#x17E; Ć&#x152;Ä&#x17E;Ä?Ä&#x17E;ĹśĆ&#x161;ĹŻÇ&#x2021; Ĺ˝Ä?Ć?Ä&#x17E;Ć&#x152;Ç&#x20AC;Ä&#x17E;Ä&#x161; Ć&#x161;Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x201A;Ć&#x161; :Ä&#x17E;Ç Ć? are obsessed with lists. Whether or not Ć&#x161;Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x201A;Ć&#x161; Ĺ˝Ä?Ć?Ä&#x17E;Ć&#x152;Ç&#x20AC;Ä&#x201A;Ć&#x; Ĺ˝Ĺś Ĺ?Ć? Ć&#x161;Ć&#x152;ĆľÄ&#x17E;Í&#x2022; Ĺ?Ć&#x161; Ĺ?Ć? Ä?Ä&#x17E;Ć&#x152;Ć&#x161;Ä&#x201A;Ĺ?ĹśĹŻÇ&#x2021; Ć&#x161;Ć&#x152;ĆľÄ&#x17E; Ć&#x161;Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x201A;Ć&#x161; Ć?Ä?Ĺ&#x161;Ĺ˝ĹŻÄ&#x201A;Ć&#x152;Ć? Ć&#x161;Ĺ&#x161;Ć&#x152;Ĺ˝ĆľĹ?Ĺ&#x161;Ĺ˝ĆľĆ&#x161; :Ä&#x17E;Ç Ĺ?Ć?Ĺ&#x161; Ĺ&#x161;Ĺ?Ć?Ć&#x161;Ĺ˝Ć&#x152;Ç&#x2021; Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x201A;Ç&#x20AC;Ä&#x17E; Ä&#x201A;ĆŠ Ä&#x17E;ĹľĆ&#x2030;Ć&#x161;Ä&#x17E;Ä&#x161; Ć&#x161;Ĺ˝ Ä&#x161;Ĺ?Ć?Ć&#x; ĹŻĹŻ :ĆľÄ&#x161;Ä&#x201A;Ĺ?Ć?Ĺľ Ć&#x161;Ĺ˝ Ä&#x201A; ĹśĆľĹľÄ?Ä&#x17E;Ć&#x152; of core truths: 613 commandments, ten

commandments, thirteen principles of faith. /Ĺś Ć&#x161;Ĺ&#x161;Ĺ?Ć? Ç&#x20AC;Ĺ˝ĹŻĆľĹľÄ&#x17E;Í&#x2022; ZÄ&#x201A;Ä?Ä?Ĺ? Ć&#x152;Í&#x2DC; ,Ä&#x201A;ĹľĹľÄ&#x17E;Ć&#x152; Ä&#x201A;Ć?Ć?Ä&#x17E;Ć&#x152;Ć&#x161;Ć? that Biblical (and especially Torah) Judaism Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x201A;Ć? Ä¨Ĺ˝ĆľĆ&#x152;Ć&#x161;Ä&#x17E;Ä&#x17E;Ĺś Ć&#x152;Ä&#x17E;Ç&#x20AC;Ĺ˝ĹŻĆľĆ&#x; Ĺ˝ĹśÄ&#x201A;Ć&#x152;Ç&#x2021; Ć&#x161;Ć&#x152;ĆľĆ&#x161;Ĺ&#x161;Ć? Ć&#x161;Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x201A;Ć&#x161; Ĺ?Ć&#x161; introduced to the world. These include some that are clearly supported by Biblical texts, Ć?ĆľÄ?Ĺ&#x161; Ä&#x201A;Ć? 'Ĺ˝Ä&#x161;Í&#x203A;Ć? ĆľĹśĹ?Ć&#x2039;ĆľÄ&#x17E;ĹśÄ&#x17E;Ć?Ć? Ĺ˝Ć&#x152; Ć&#x161;Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x17E; ^Ä&#x201A;Ä?Ä?Ä&#x201A;Ć&#x161;Ĺ&#x161; Ä&#x161;Ä&#x201A;Ç&#x2021;Í&#x2022; and others for which there is support as well Ä&#x201A;Ć? Ć?Ĺ˝ĹľÄ&#x17E; Ä&#x161;Ä&#x17E;Ĺ?Ć&#x152;Ä&#x17E;Ä&#x17E; Ĺ˝Ä¨ Ä?Ĺ˝ĹśĆ&#x161;Ć&#x152;Ä&#x201A;Ä&#x161;Ĺ?Ä?Ć&#x; Ĺ˝Ĺś Ç Ĺ?Ć&#x161;Ĺ&#x161;Ĺ?Ĺś Ć&#x161;Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x17E; texts, such as the equality of men and women Ĺ˝Ć&#x152; Ć&#x161;Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x17E; Í&#x17E;ĹľĹ?Ć&#x; Ĺ?Ä&#x201A;Ć&#x; Ĺ˝ĹśÍ&#x; Ĺ˝Ä¨ Ć?ĹŻÄ&#x201A;Ç&#x20AC;Ä&#x17E;Ć&#x152;Ç&#x2021;Í&#x2DC; dĹ&#x161;Ä&#x17E; Ä&#x201A;ĆľĆ&#x161;Ĺ&#x161;Ĺ˝Ć&#x152; Ä&#x17E;Ç&#x2020;Ć&#x2030;ĹŻÄ&#x201A;Ĺ?ĹśĆ? Ĺ&#x161;Ĺ?Ć? Ć?Ä&#x17E;ĹŻÄ&#x17E;Ä?Ć&#x; Ĺ˝Ĺś Ĺ˝Ä¨ Ć&#x161;Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x17E;Ć?Ä&#x17E; Ä¨Ĺ˝ĆľĆ&#x152;Ć&#x161;Ä&#x17E;Ä&#x17E;Ĺś Ć&#x161;Ć&#x152;ĆľĆ&#x161;Ĺ&#x161;Ć? Ä&#x201A;ĹśÄ&#x161; Ä&#x17E;Ç&#x2020;Ä&#x201A;ĹľĹ?ĹśÄ&#x17E;Ć? Ĺ&#x161;Ĺ˝Ç Ć&#x161;Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x17E;Ć?Ä&#x17E; Ĺ?Ä&#x161;Ä&#x17E;Ä&#x201A;Ć? Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x201A;Ç&#x20AC;Ä&#x17E; Ä&#x161;Ä&#x17E;Ç&#x20AC;Ä&#x17E;ĹŻĹ˝Ć&#x2030;Ä&#x17E;Ä&#x161; Ĺ˝Ç&#x20AC;Ä&#x17E;Ć&#x152; Ĺ&#x161;Ĺ?Ć?Ć&#x161;Ĺ˝Ć&#x152;Ç&#x2021;Í&#x2DC; tĹ&#x161;Ä&#x17E;Ĺś / Ç Ä&#x201A;Ć? Ä&#x161;Ĺ˝ĹśÄ&#x17E; Ć&#x152;Ä&#x17E;Ä&#x201A;Ä&#x161;Ĺ?ĹśĹ?Í&#x2022; / Ä¨Ä&#x17E;ĹŻĆ&#x161; Ä?Ĺ˝ĹľĆ&#x2030;Ä&#x17E;ĹŻĹŻÄ&#x17E;Ä&#x161; Ć&#x161;Ĺ˝ Ä&#x161;Ä&#x17E;Ç&#x20AC;Ä&#x17E;ĹŻĹ˝Ć&#x2030; ĹľÇ&#x2021; Ĺ˝Ç Ĺś ĹŻĹ?Ć?Ć&#x161; Ĺ˝Ä¨ Ĺ?Ä?ĹŻĹ?Ä?Ä&#x201A;ĹŻ :ĆľÄ&#x161;Ä&#x201A;Ĺ?Ć?ĹľÍ&#x203A;Ć? Ä?Ĺ˝ĹśĆ&#x161;Ć&#x152;Ĺ?Ä?ĆľĆ&#x; Ĺ˝ĹśĆ? Ć&#x161;Ĺ˝ Ä?Ĺ?Ç&#x20AC;Ĺ?ĹŻĹ?Ç&#x152;Ä&#x201A;Ć&#x; Ĺ˝ĹśÍ&#x2DC; ĹśÄ&#x161;Í&#x2022; Ä&#x201A;Ĺ&#x152; Ä&#x17E;Ć&#x152; Ä&#x201A;ĹŻĹŻÍ&#x2022; Ć?Ĺ&#x161;Ĺ˝ĆľĹŻÄ&#x161;ĹśÍ&#x203A;Ć&#x161; Ä&#x201A; Ĺ?Ĺ˝Ĺ˝Ä&#x161; Ä?Ĺ˝Ĺ˝ĹŹ Ĺ?Ä&#x17E;Ć&#x161; Ć&#x161;Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x17E; Ć&#x152;Ä&#x17E;Ä&#x201A;Ä&#x161;Ä&#x17E;Ć&#x152; Ć&#x161;Ĺ&#x161;Ĺ?ĹśĹŹĹ?ĹśĹ?Í? ADS

AUDIO EDITION

A.J. Kazinski Read by Simon Vance

scholarship The Jewish Gospels: The Story of the Jewish Christ Daniel Boyarin New Press, 2012 Hardcover 224 pp. $21.95 ISBN 9781595584687

he brilliant Talmudic scholar and historian Ĺ˝Ä¨ Ä&#x17E;Ä&#x201A;Ć&#x152;ĹŻÇ&#x2021; Ć&#x152;Ä&#x201A;Ä?Ä?Ĺ?ĹśĹ?Ä? Ä&#x201A;ĹśÄ&#x161; Ĺ&#x161;Ć&#x152;Ĺ?Ć?Ć&#x; Ä&#x201A;Ĺś Ĺ&#x161;Ĺ?Ć?Ć&#x161;Ĺ˝Ć&#x152;Ĺ?Ä&#x17E;Ć? Ä&#x201A;ĹśĹ?Ä&#x17E;ĹŻ Ĺ˝Ç&#x2021;Ä&#x201A;Ć&#x152;Ĺ?Ĺś ĹśĹ˝Ç Ć&#x2030;Ć&#x152;Ĺ˝Ç&#x20AC;Ĺ?Ä&#x161;Ä&#x17E;Ć? Ä&#x201A; Ä?ĹŻÄ&#x17E;Ä&#x201A;Ć&#x152;Í&#x2022; Ä?Ĺ˝ĹśÄ?Ĺ?Ć?Ä&#x17E;Í&#x2022; Ć&#x152;Ä&#x17E;Ä&#x201A;Ä&#x161;Ä&#x201A;Ä?ĹŻÄ&#x17E; Ä?Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x201A;ĹŻĹŻÄ&#x17E;ĹśĹ?Ä&#x17E; Ć&#x161;Ĺ˝ ĹśĹ˝Ć&#x; Ĺ˝ĹśĆ? Ä&#x201A;Ä?Ĺ˝ĆľĆ&#x161; :Ä&#x17E;Ć?ĆľĆ? and each other when Jesus is discussed. He Ä&#x17E;Ç&#x2020;Ć&#x2030;ĹŻÄ&#x201A;Ĺ?ĹśĆ? Ĺ&#x161;Ĺ˝Ç Ć&#x161;Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x17E; Ä&#x17E;Ä&#x201A;Ć&#x152;ĹŻÇ&#x2021; Ĺ?Ä&#x161;Ä&#x17E;Ä&#x201A;Ć? Ä&#x201A;Ä?Ĺ˝ĆľĆ&#x161; Ć&#x161;Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x17E; DÄ&#x17E;Ć?Í˛ Ć?Ĺ?Ä&#x201A;Ĺ&#x161;ÍśĹ˝Ć&#x152; Ĺ&#x161;Ć&#x152;Ĺ?Ć?Ć&#x161;ÍśÇ Ä&#x17E;Ć&#x152;Ä&#x17E; Ć&#x2030;Ä&#x201A;Ć&#x152;Ć&#x161; Ĺ˝Ä¨ Ç Ĺ?Ć?Ĺ&#x161; Ä&#x161;Ĺ?Ć?Ä?Ĺ˝ĆľĆ&#x152;Ć?Ä&#x17E; Ä&#x201A;ĹśÄ&#x161; Ä&#x17E;Ç&#x2020;Ć&#x2030;Ä&#x17E;Ä?Ć&#x161;Ä&#x201A;Ć&#x; Ĺ˝ĹśĆ? Ĺ˝Ä¨ Ć&#x161;Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x17E; Ć&#x; ĹľÄ&#x17E;Ć?Í&#x2022; Ä&#x201A;ĹśÄ&#x161; Ĺ˝ĹśĹŻÇ&#x2021; ĹľÄ&#x201A;ĹśÇ&#x2021; Ç&#x2021;Ä&#x17E;Ä&#x201A;Ć&#x152;Ć? ĹŻÄ&#x201A;Ć&#x161;Ä&#x17E;Ć&#x152; Ć&#x152;Ä&#x17E;Ć&#x2030;Ć&#x152;Ä&#x17E;Ć?Ä&#x17E;ĹśĆ&#x161;Ä&#x17E;Ä&#x161; Ć?Ĺ˝ĹľÄ&#x17E;Ć&#x161;Ĺ&#x161;Ĺ?ĹśĹ? ĆľĹśÍ˛:Ä&#x17E;Ç Ĺ?Ć?Ĺ&#x161; Ä&#x201A;ĹśÄ&#x161; Ä&#x17E;Ç&#x20AC;Ä&#x17E;ĹśĆ&#x161;ĆľÄ&#x201A;ĹŻĹŻÇ&#x2021; Ä&#x201A;ĹśĆ&#x; Í˛:Ä&#x17E;Ç Ĺ?Ć?Ĺ&#x161;Í&#x2DC; ,Ä&#x17E; Ć&#x161;Ä&#x201A;ĹŹÄ&#x17E;Ć? Ĺ˝Ĺś ĹľÄ&#x201A;ĹŠĹ˝Ć&#x152; Ć&#x161;Ĺ˝Ć&#x2030;Ĺ?Ä?Ć?Í&#x2022; Ĺ?ĹśÄ?ĹŻĆľÄ&#x161;Ĺ?ĹśĹ? Ć&#x161;Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x17E; Ä?Ĺ˝ĹśÄ?Ä&#x17E;Ć&#x2030;Ć&#x161;Ć? Ĺ˝Ä¨ ^Ĺ˝Ĺś Ĺ˝Ä¨ 'Ĺ˝Ä&#x161; and Son of Man, other Jewish messiahs of the ÄŽ Ć&#x152;Ć?Ć&#x161; Ä?Ä&#x17E;ĹśĆ&#x161;ĆľĆ&#x152;Ç&#x2021;Í&#x2022; :Ä&#x17E;Ć?ĆľĆ? Ä&#x201A;ĹśÄ&#x161; ĹŹĹ˝Ć?Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x17E;Ć&#x152; Ä?ĆľĆ?Ć&#x161;Ĺ˝ĹľĆ?Í&#x2022; Ä&#x201A;ĹśÄ&#x161; Ć&#x161;Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x17E; Ĺ?Ä&#x161;Ä&#x17E;Ä&#x201A; Ĺ˝Ä¨ Ä&#x201A; Ć?ĆľÄŤ Ä&#x17E;Ć&#x152;Ĺ?ĹśĹ? DÄ&#x17E;Ć?Ć?Ĺ?Ä&#x201A;Ĺ&#x161;Í&#x2DC; ,Ä&#x17E; Ä?Ä&#x201A;Ć&#x152;Ä&#x17E;Ä¨ĆľĹŻĹŻÇ&#x2021; Ĺ?ĹśÇ&#x20AC;Ä&#x17E;Ć?Ć&#x; Ĺ?Ä&#x201A;Ć&#x161;Ä&#x17E;Ć?Í&#x2022; Ä&#x201A;Ć? Ä&#x201A; Ĺ&#x161;Ĺ?Ć?Ć&#x161;Ĺ˝Ć&#x152;Ĺ?Ä&#x201A;Ĺś Ć?Ĺ&#x161;Ĺ˝ĆľĹŻÄ&#x161;Í&#x2022; Ć&#x161;Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x17E; Ć&#x2030;Ć&#x152;Ä&#x17E;Í˛ Ĺ&#x161;Ć&#x152;Ĺ?Ć?Ć&#x; Ä&#x201A;ĹśĹ?Ć&#x161;Ç&#x2021; Ä?Ĺ˝ĹśĆ&#x161;Ä&#x17E;Ç&#x2020;Ć&#x161; Ĺ˝Ä¨ Ć&#x161;Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x17E;Ć?Ä&#x17E; Ĺ?Ć?Ć?ĆľÄ&#x17E;Ć? Ä&#x201A;ĹśÄ&#x161; Ć&#x161;Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x17E; disputes that arose about and around Jesus and his followers within Judaism.

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The Last Good Man

According to Jewish legend, there are 36 righteous people on Earth at any given time. Without them, humanity would perish. But the 36 do not know they are the chosen ones, and many are dying. A monk in Beijing, an economist in Mumbai, a glassmaker in Venice and more have all perished under bizarre circumstances, with strange marks on their backs. Veteran Danish detective Niels Bentzon is called to investigate, and a pattern emerges. Thirty-four have died, and Bentzon must predict the time and place of the final two. s #$ s s -0 $OWNLOAD

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nonfiction his newspaper, The Dearborn Independent, ƚŽ 'ĞƌŵĂŶǇ͕ ǁŚĞƌĞ ĚŽůĨ ,ŝƚůĞƌ ƉƌĞŵŝƐĞĚ ŚŝƐ ǁĂƌ ĂŐĂŝŶƐƚ ƚŚĞ :ĞǁƐ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ďĂƐŝƐ ŽĨ ŚŝƐ ďĞůŝĞĨ ŝŶ Ă ǁŽƌůĚ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ĐŽŶƐƉŝƌĂĐǇ ǁŚŝĐŚ ƐŽƵŐŚƚ ƚŽ destroy the Aryan race. The Protocols ĐŽŶƟ ŶͲ ƵĞƐ ƚŽ ĨĂŶ ŚĂƚƌĞĚ ĂŐĂŝŶƐƚ ďŽƚŚ :ĞǁƐ ĂŶĚ /ƐƌĂĞů͕ ĞƐƉĞĐŝĂůůǇ ŝŶ ŵƵĐŚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ DŝĚĚůĞ ĂƐƚ͘ dŚĞ Hamas charter, for example, includes excerpts ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚŝƐ ŶĞĨĂƌŝŽƵƐ ĨĂďƌŝĐĂƟ ŽŶ͘ The Paranoid Apocalypse ŝƐ Ă ĐŽůůĞĐƟ ŽŶ ŽĨ ƐĐŚŽůĂƌůǇ ĞƐƐĂǇƐ ƚŚĂƚ ƉƌŽǀŝĚĞ ƚŚĞ ƌĞĂĚĞƌ ǁŝƚŚ Ă ŚƵŶĚƌĞĚͲǇĞĂƌ ƉĞƌƐƉĞĐƟ ǀĞ ŽĨ ŚŽǁ ƚŚĞ ůŝĞƐ ŽĨ The Protocols ĐŽŶǀŝŶĐĞĚ ŵŝůůŝŽŶƐ ŽĨ ƉĞŽƉůĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƚƌƵƚŚ ŽĨ ƚŚŝƐ ĐĂŶĂƌĚ ĚŝƌĞĐƚĞĚ ĂŐĂŝŶƐƚ ƚŚĞ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ƉĞŽƉůĞ͘ dŚĞ ǀŽůƵŵĞ͛Ɛ ĞĚŝƚŽƌƐ͕ ZŝĐŚĂƌĚ >ĂŶĚĞƐ ĂŶĚ ^ƚĞǀĞŶ d͘ <Ăƚǌ͕ ŚĂǀĞ ŝŶĐůƵĚĞĚ Much of this discourse is not new, but there ĂƌĞ ŶĞǁ ŝŶƐŝŐŚƚƐ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚŽƵƚ͕ ĂŶĚ ŝŶ ŽǇĂͲ ƌŝŶΖƐ ŚĂŶĚƐ ƚŚĞ ƚŚĞƐŝƐ ŝƐ ŵŽƌĞ ŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƟ ŶŐ ĂŶĚ ĐŽŶǀŝŶĐŝŶŐ͕ ĂŶĚ ŵŽƌĞ ŝŶ ŬĞĞƉŝŶŐ ǁŝƚŚ ĞĂƌůǇ :ƵĚĂŝƐŵ͕ ƚŚĂŶ ƵƐƵĂů͘ dŚĞ ƉĂǇŽī ĨŽƌ ƚŽĚĂǇ ŝƐ ƐŝŐŶŝĮ ĐĂŶƚ͗ ďŽƚŚ :ĞǁƐ ĂŶĚ ŚƌŝƐƟ ĂŶƐ ŚĂǀĞ ƚŚĞ ŽƉƉŽƌƚƵŶŝƚǇ ƚŽ ΗƚĞůů Ěŝī ĞƌĞŶƚ ƐƚŽƌŝĞƐ ĂďŽƵƚ ĞĂĐŚ ŽƚŚĞƌ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĨƵƚƵƌĞ͘͟ MDN

Jewish Mysticism and Kabbalah: New Insights and Scholarship Frederick E. Greenspahn, ed. New York University Press, 2011. Hardcover 272 pp. $25.00 [e] ISBN: 978-0814732861

ĞǁŝƐŚ ŵǇƐƟ ĐŝƐŵ ĂŶĚ <ĂďďĂůĂŚ Ň ŽƵƌŝƐŚĞĚ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚŽƵƚ Ăůů ŽĨ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ŚŝƐƚŽƌǇ ŝŶ Ăůů ůĂŶĚƐ ǁŚĞƌĞ :ĞǁƐ ůŝǀĞĚ͘ DĂŶǇ ƌĂďďŝƐ ŚĂǀĞ ĞǆƉůŽƌĞĚ ƚŚĞ ĞƐŽƚĞƌŝĐ ƐĞĐƌĞƚƐ ŚŝĚĚĞŶ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ dŽƌĂŚ͘ WŝŽƵƐ ĂĚĞƉƚƐ ŚĂǀĞ ĐŽŵŵƵŶĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ ĂŶŐĞůƐ ĂŶĚ ĚĞŵŽŶƐ͘ zĞƚ ƚŚĞ ůŝƚĞƌĂƚƵƌĞ ŽĨ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ŵǇƐƟ ĐŝƐŵ ĂŶĚ <ĂďďĂůĂŚ ŚĂƐ ƌĞŵĂŝŶĞĚ ŝŶĂĐĐĞƐƐŝďůĞ ĨŽƌ Ăůů ďƵƚ Ă ĨĞǁ ĨŽƌ ĐĞŶƚƵƌŝĞƐ͘ ǀĞŶ ǁŚĞŶ the tŝƐƐĞŶƐĐŚĂŌ ĚĞƐ :ƵĚĞŶƚƵŵƐ scholars ďĞŐĂŶ ƚŚĞ ƐĐŝĞŶƟ Į Đ ƐƚƵĚǇ ŽĨ :ƵĚĂŝƐŵ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŶŝŶĞƚĞĞŶƚŚ ĐĞŶƚƵƌǇ͕ ĂŶĚ ůĂƵŶĐŚĞĚ ƚŚĞŝƌ ŵŝŐŚƚǇ Ğī ŽƌƚƐ ƚŽ ĂŶĂůǇǌĞ Ăůů ĂƐƉĞĐƚƐ ŽĨ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ĐƵůƚƵƌĞ ĂŶĚ ůŝƚĞƌĂƚƵƌĞ͕ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ŵǇƐƟ ĐŝƐŵ ĂŶĚ <ĂďďĂůĂŚ ǁĞƌĞ ŶŽƚ ĐŽŶƐŝĚĞƌĞĚ ǁŽƌƚŚǇ ŽĨ ĐŽŶƐŝĚĞƌĂƟ ŽŶ͘ dŚŝƐ ǁĂƐ ƐŽ ĞŝƚŚĞƌ ďĞĐĂƵƐĞ ĂĐĐĞƐƐ ǁĂƐ Ěŝĸ ĐƵůƚ Žƌ ƚŚŝƐ Į ĞůĚ ǁĂƐ ƌĞŐĂƌĚĞĚ ĂƐ Ă ƚŚƌŽǁďĂĐŬ ƚŽ Ă ŵŽƌĞ ƉƌŝŵŝƟ ǀĞ :ƵĚĂŝƐŵ͘ /ƚ ǁĂƐŶ͛ƚ ƵŶƟ ů ƚŚĞ ƚǁĞŶƟ ĞƚŚ ĐĞŶƚƵƌǇ ƚŚĂƚ 'ĞƌƐŚŽŵ ^ĐŚŽůĞŵ ďĞĐĂŵĞ ƚŚĞ ƉŝŽŶĞĞƌ ǁŚŽ ŐĂŝŶĞĚ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƚĂďŝůŝƚǇ ĨŽƌ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ŵǇƐƟ ĐŝƐŵ ĂŶĚ <ĂďďĂůĂŚ ĂƐ Ă ůĞŐŝƟ ŵĂƚĞ ĂĐĂĚĞŵŝĐ ƉƵƌƐƵŝƚ͘ His accomplishments are chronicled and well known, as are those of Isaiah Tishby and Moshe Idel who followed him. tĞ ĂƌĞ ŶŽǁ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƚǁĞŶƚǇͲĮ ƌƐƚ ĐĞŶƚƵƌǇ͘ :ĞǁͲ ŝƐŚ ^ƚƵĚŝĞƐ ĚĞƉĂƌƚŵĞŶƚƐ ĞǆŝƐƚ ŝŶ ƵŶŝǀĞƌƐŝƟ ĞƐ Ăůů ŽǀĞƌ ƚŚĞ ǁŽƌůĚ͘ dŚĞ ƐƚƵĚǇ ŽĨ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ŵǇƐƟ ĐŝƐŵ ĂŶĚ <ĂďďĂůĂŚ ĂƐ ĂŶ ĂĐĂĚĞŵŝĐ ƉƵƌƐƵŝƚ ;ŶŽƚ ƚŽ ďĞ ĐŽŶĨƵƐĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚŽƐĞ ǁŚŽ ĂƌĞ ƉƌĂĐƟ ĐŝŶŐ kabbalists) is a well entrenched discipline.

Jewish Book World

:ĞǁŝƐŚ DǇƐƟ ĐŝƐŵ ĂŶĚ <ĂďďĂůĂŚ͗ EĞǁ /ŶƐŝŐŚƚƐ and Scholarship presents summaries of the ǁŽƌŬ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŶƚĞŵƉŽƌĂƌǇ ŐĞŶĞƌĂƟ ŽŶ ŽĨ ƐĐŚŽůĂƌƐ ŝŶ ƚŚŝƐ Į ĞůĚ͘ dŚĞ ƚĞŶ ĞƐƐĂǇƐ ƉƌŽǀŝĚĞ a snapshot of current theories and recent ƐĐŚŽůĂƌƐŚŝƉ ŽŶ Ă ǁŝĚĞ ƌĂŶŐĞ ŽĨ ƚŽƉŝĐƐ ŝŶ ƚŚŝƐ area of study. dŚĞ ŝŶƚƌŽĚƵĐƚŽƌǇ ĞƐƐĂǇ ŝƐ ĂŶ ĞǆĐĞůůĞŶƚ ƐƵŵͲ ŵĂƌǇ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŚŝƐƚŽƌǇ ŽĨ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ŵǇƐƟ ĐŝƐŵ ĂŶĚ <ĂďďĂůĂŚ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ŶŽƚĞƐ ŚĞƌĞ͕ ĂƐ ŝŶ Ăůů ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĞƐƐĂǇƐ͕ ǁŝůů ƉƌŽǀŝĚĞ ƌĞĂĚĞƌƐ ǁŝƚŚ ŵƵĐŚ ĂĚͲ ĚŝƟ ŽŶĂů ƌĞĂĚŝŶŐ ŵĂƚĞƌŝĂů ĂŶĚ ƌĞƐŽƵƌĐĞƐ͘ EĞǁ ƐĐŚŽůĂƌƐŚŝƉ ĂŶĚ ƌĞƐĞĂƌĐŚ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ŽŚĂƌ ĂŶĚ ƐŽŵĞ ŬĞǇ ƉĞƌƐŽŶĂůŝƟ ĞƐ ĂŶĚ ŐĞŶƌĞƐ ŚĂǀĞ ĐŚĂůͲ ůĞŶŐĞĚ ƐŽŵĞ ŽĨ ^ĐŚŽůĞŵ͛Ɛ ĐĂŶŽŶŝĐĂů ƚŚĞŽƌŝĞƐ͘ dŚĞ ĐŚĂƉƚĞƌƐ ŽŶ ŚƌŝƐƟ ĂŶ <ĂďďĂůĂŚ ĂŶĚ ŐĞŶͲ ĚĞƌ ŝŶ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ŵǇƐƟ ĐŝƐŵ ĂƌĞ ŽƵƚƐƚĂŶĚŝŶŐ͘ ,ĂƐͲ ƐŝĚŝƐŵ͛Ɛ ĐŽŶƚƌŝďƵƟ ŽŶ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ Į ĞůĚ ŶĞĞĚƐ Ă ĨƵůůĞƌ ƚƌĞĂƚŵĞŶƚ͕ ĂŶĚ ŝƚ ƐŚŽƵůĚ ŚĂǀĞ ďĞĞŶ ŶŽƚĞĚ ƚŚĂƚ ƉŽƉƵůĂƌ Žƌ ƉŽƉ <ĂďďĂůĂŚ ĨĂĚƐ ĂƌĞ ŽŶůǇ Ă ƐŵĂůů ƉĂƌƚ ŽĨ ĐŽŶƚĞŵƉŽƌĂƌǇ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ŵǇƐƟ ĐŝƐŵ͘ dŚŝƐ ŝƐ ĂŶ ĞǆĐĞůůĞŶƚ ďŽŽŬ ĨŽƌ ŐĞŶĞƌĂů ƌĞĂĚĞƌƐ ǁŚŽ ǁŝƐŚ ƚŽ ůĞĂƌŶ ĂďŽƵƚ ƚŚŝƐ ĨĂƐĐŝŶĂƟ ŶŐ ĂƌĞĂ ŽĨ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ůŝĨĞ ĂŶĚ ůŝƚĞƌĂƚƵƌĞ͕ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ũĂƌŐŽŶ ŽĨ ƐĐŚŽůĂƌͲƐƉĞĂŬ ŝƐ ŬĞƉƚ ƚŽ Ă ŵŝŶŝŵƵŵ͘ WG

The Paranoid Apocalypse: A Hundred-Year Retrospective on the Protocols of the Elders of Zion Richard Landes & Steven T. Katz, eds. New York University Press, 2011 Hardcover 264 pp. $35.00 [e] ISBN: 978-0814748923

Ž ǁƌŝƩ ĞŶ ǁŽƌŬ ŚĂƐ ďĞĞŶ ŵŽƌĞ ůĞƚŚĂů ĨŽƌ the Jewish people than The Protocols of the Elders of Zion͘ &ŝƌƐƚ ƉƵďůŝƐŚĞĚ ŝŶ ǌĂƌŝƐƚ ZƵƐƐŝĂ ŝŶ ϭϵϬϱ͕ ƚŚĞ WƌŽƚŽĐŽůƐ ĚĞƐĐƌŝďĞƐ Ă ĐŽŶƐƉŝƌĂĐǇ ŽĨ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ͞ĞůĚĞƌƐ͟ ŽƌŐĂŶŝǌĞĚ ƚŽ ŝŶĮ ůƚƌĂƚĞ ĐƵůƚƵƌĂů͕ ƉŽůŝƟ ĐĂů͕ ĂŶĚ ĞĐŽŶŽŵŝĐ ĂƐƉĞĐƚƐ ŽĨ ĐŝǀŝůŝǌĂƟ ŽŶ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ƉƵƌƉŽƐĞ ŽĨ ŐůŽďĂů ĚŽŵŝŶĂƟ ŽŶ͘ dŚĞ ĨŽƌŐĞƌǇ ƚƌĂǀĞůůĞĚ ĨƌŽŵ ZƵƐƐŝĂ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ hŶŝƚĞĚ ^ƚĂƚĞƐ͕ ǁŚĞƌĞ ,ĞŶƌǇ &ŽƌĚ ŚĂĚ ŝƚ ƚƌĂŶƐůĂƚĞĚ ŝŶƚŽ ŶŐůŝƐŚ ĂŶĚ ƉƌŽĐĞĞĚĞĚ ƚŽ ĐŝƌĐƵůĂƚĞ ŝƚ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚ &ŽƌĚ ĚĞĂůĞƌƐ ĂƐ ǁĞůů ĂƐ ŝŶ

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A hundred-year perspective of how the lies of The Protocols convinced millions of people of the truth of this canard directed against the Jewish people. ƐĐŚŽůĂƌƐ ƐƵĐŚ ĂƐ ĞďŽƌĂŚ >ŝƉƐƚĂĚƚ ĂŶĚ :Ğī ƌĞǇ DĞŚůŵĂŶ͕ ǁŚŽ ĐŽŶǀŝŶĐŝŶŐůǇ ĂƌŐƵĞ ƚŚĂƚ The Protocols ƉůĂǇĞĚ Ă ŬĞǇ ƌŽůĞ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƚǁĞŶƟ ĞƚŚ ĐĞŶƚƵƌǇ ƚŽ ŵĂƌŐŝŶĂůŝǌĞ ĂŶĚ ĚĞŚƵŵĂŶŝǌĞ ƵͲ ƌŽƉĞĂŶ :ĞǁƌǇ͕ ĂŶĚ ŝƐ ƵƐĞĚ ŝŶ ŽƵƌ ŽǁŶ Ɵ ŵĞ ƚŽ demonize Israel. As one historian writes, “the ^ŚŽĂŚ ĚŝĚ ŶŽƚ ďĞŐŝŶ ǁŝƚŚ ĐŽŶĐĞŶƚƌĂƟ ŽŶ ĐĂŵƉƐ ĂŶĚ ƚƌĂŝŶƐ͘ /ƚ ďĞŐĂŶ ǁŝƚŚ ǁŽƌĚƐ ĂŶĚ ŝĚĞĂƐ͘͟ /Ŷ short, The Protocols contributed to the hatred of Jews that led to the Holocaust. dŚĞ ĐŽŶƚƌŝďƵƚŽƌƐ ƚŽ ƚŚŝƐ ŝŵƉŽƌƚĂŶƚ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ĂůƐŽ ĞǆĂŵŝŶĞ ƚŚĞ ŵĞĚŝĞǀĂů ƌŽŽƚƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ďĞůŝĞĨ ŝŶ Ă :ĞǁŝƐŚ ĐŽŶƐƉŝƌĂĐǇ ƚŽ ĚĞƐƚƌŽǇ ŚƌŝƐƟ ĂŶ ĐŝǀŝůŝǌĂƟ ŽŶ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ŵŝŶŝŽŶƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ Ğǀŝů͘ /Ŷ ĐŽŶƚĞŵƉŽƌĂƌǇ Ɵ ŵĞƐ͕ ƚŚĞ Ğǀŝů ŝƐ ƐĞĐƵůĂƌŝǌĞĚ ďǇ ůŝŶŬŝŶŐ :ĞǁƐ ǁŝƚŚ ŽůƐŚĞǀŝƐŵ ĂŶĚ ǁŽƌůĚ ƌĞǀŽůƵƟ ŽŶ͘ dŚĞƌĞ ĂƌĞ ĂůƐŽ ĞƐƐĂǇƐ ƚŚĂƚ ĞǆĂŵŝŶĞ why The Protocols remains popular in many parts of the world (Japan, for example) and despite abundant proof of its false claims, it ĐŽŶƟ ŶƵĞƐ ƚŽ ďĞ Ă ƉƌŝŵĂƌǇ ƐŽƵƌĐĞ ŽĨ ĐŽŶƚĞŵͲ ƉŽƌĂƌǇ ĂŶƟ Ͳ^ĞŵŝƟ Ɛŵ͘ JF

The Zohar: Pritzker Edition, Volume 6 Daniel C. Matt, trans. and commentary Stanford University Press, 2011 Hardcover 452 pp. $55.00 ISBN: 978-0-8047-7663-9

ĂŶŝĞů DĂƩ ŚĂƐ ďĞĞŶ ǁŽƌŬŝŶŐ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ƚƌĂŶƐůĂƟ ŽŶ͕ ĂŶŶŽƚĂƟ ŽŶ͕ ĂŶĚ ĞƐƚĂďůŝƐŚͲ ŵĞŶƚ ŽĨ Ă ĐƌŝƟ ĐĂů ĞĚŝƟ ŽŶ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƚĞǆƚ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ŵŽŶƵŵĞŶƚĂů WƌŝƚǌŬĞƌ ĞĚŝƟ ŽŶ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŽŚĂƌ ƐŝŶĐĞ ϭϵϵϴ͘ dŚĞ ŝƐƐƵĂŶĐĞ ŽĨ sŽůƵŵĞ ^ŝǆ ŽĨ ƚŚŝƐ ŵĂƐƚĞƌǁŽƌŬ ĐŽŵƉůĞƚĞƐ ƚŚĞ ŵĂƚĞƌŝĂů ĂƐƐŽĐŝͲ ated with the book of Shemot͕ ďĞŐŝŶŶŝŶŐ ǁŝƚŚ Parashat Tetzaveh͕ ŝŶĐůƵĚŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŶƐƚƌƵĐƟ ŽŶ

nonfiction ŽĨ ƚŚĞ dĂďĞƌŶĂĐůĞ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ƐŝŶ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ 'ŽůĚĞŶ ĂůĨ͘ /Ŷ ƚŚĞ ƐƉŝƌŝƚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ZĂďďŝŶŝĐ ĐŽŵŵĞŶƚ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞƌĞ ĂƌĞ ƐĞǀĞŶƚǇ ĨĂĐĞƐ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ dŽƌĂŚ͕ ƚŚĞ ŵǇƐƟ ĐĂů ŝŶƚĞƌƉƌĞƚĂƟ ŽŶƐ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ŵĞŵŽƌĂďůĞ ĂŶĞĐĚŽƚĞƐ ƚŚĂƚ ƉƵŶĐƚƵĂƚĞ ƚŚĞƐĞ ƉĂŐĞƐ ƐĞƌǀĞ ƚŽ ŝŶĮ ŶŝƚĞůǇ ĞǆƉĂŶĚ ŽŶĞ͛Ɛ ƚŚŽƵŐŚƚƐ͕ ĂƐƐŽĐŝĂͲ Ɵ ŽŶƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ƵŶĚĞƌƐƚĂŶĚŝŶŐƐ ŽĨ͕ ĂŶĚ ƵŶĐŽǀĞƌ ŶĞǁ ŵĞĂŶŝŶŐƐ ĨŽƌ͕ ďŝďůŝĐĂů ƉĂƐƐĂŐĞƐ ƚŚĂƚ ŽŶĞ ŵŝŐŚƚ ŚĂǀĞ ƚŚŽƵŐŚƚ ǁĞůůͲŬŶŽǁŶ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ĐŽŶƐƚĂŶƚ ƐƚƵĚǇ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ĂŶŶƵĂů ƌĞǀŝĞǁ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ǁĞĞŬůǇ ƉƵďůŝĐ dŽƌĂŚ ƌĞĂĚŝŶŐƐ͘ /ŶĐůƵĚĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƐĞĐƟ ŽŶ ƚŚĂƚ ĚŝƐĐƵƐƐĞƐ ƚŚĞ ǀĞƌƐĞƐ ŝŶ Shemot ϯϱ͗ϭͲϮ ĚĞƐĐƌŝďŝŶŐ ^ŚĂďďĂƚ ŽďƐĞƌǀĂŶĐĞ ŝƐ ĂŶ ĞǀŽĐĂƟ ǀĞ ĚĞƐĐƌŝƉƟ ŽŶ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ^ŚĂďďĂƚ dŽƌĂŚ ƐĞƌǀŝĐĞ͕ ŝŶĐůƵĚŝŶŐ Ă ƐƵƉƉůŝĐĂƟ ŽŶ ƚŚĂƚ ŚĂƐ ďĞĞŶ ĚŝƌĞĐƚůǇ ŝŶĐŽƌƉŽƌĂƚĞĚ ŝŶƚŽ ƚŚĞ ƐƚĂŶĚĂƌĚ ^ŚĂďͲ ďĂƚ ŵŽƌŶŝŶŐ ƉƌĂǇĞƌƐ ǁŚĞŶ ƚŚĞ dŽƌĂŚ ŝƐ Į ƌƐƚ ƌĞŵŽǀĞĚ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ ƌŬ͕ ĂŶĚ ǁŚŝĐŚ ƚŚĞ ĂƵƚŚŽƌ ƌĞĨĞƌƐ ƚŽ ĂƐ ͞ƚŚĞ ŽŚĂƌ͛Ɛ ŵŽƐƚ ĨĂŵŽƵƐ ƉĂƐƐĂŐĞ͕ Ă ŵŽǀŝŶŐ ƉƌĂǇĞƌ ŬŶŽǁŶ ĂƐ ͚Berich Shemaih͛͘͟ ZĞĐŽŐŶŝǌŝŶŐ ƚŚŝƐ ƉĂƌƟ ĐƵůĂƌ ƉƌĂǇĞƌ͛Ɛ ŽƌŝŐŝŶƐ ĂŶĚ ƐƚƵĚǇŝŶŐ ŝƚ ǁŝƚŚŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŶƚĞǆƚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŽŚĂƌ ƐĞƌǀĞƐ ƚŽ ƐŝŐŶŝĮ ĐĂŶƚůǇ ĞŶŚĂŶĐĞ ŽŶĞ͛Ɛ ĂƉƉƌĞĐŝĂͲ Ɵ ŽŶ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ǁĞĞŬůǇ ƉƌĂǇĞƌƐ͘ YB

ǀŝƐƵĂů ĂƌƚƐ 50 Jewish Artists You Should Know Edward van Voolen Prestel, 2011 Paperback 160 pp. $19.95 ISBN: 978-3-7913-4573-4

rt has always been a part of Jewish ůŝĨĞ͘ ĞƐƉŝƚĞ ƚŚĞ ĂĚŵŽŶŝƟ ŽŶ ĂŐĂŝŶƐƚ ŐƌĂǀĞŶ ŝŵĂŐĞƐ͕ :ĞǁƐ ŚĂǀĞ ƵƐĞĚ Ăƌƚ ĂŶĚ ĐƌĂŌ ƚŽ ĐƌĞĂƚĞ ƌŝƚƵĂů ŽďũĞĐƚƐ ĂŶĚ ďĞĂƵƟ ĨǇ ƚŚĞŝƌ ƐƵƌƌŽƵŶĚŝŶŐƐ͘ dŚŝƐ ďŽŽŬ ďǇ Ă ƌĂďďŝ ǁŚŽ ŝƐ also an art historian and curator of the Jewish Historical Museum in Amsterdam presents Į Ō Ǉ ƉƌŽŵŝŶĞŶƚ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ĂƌƟ ƐƚƐ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ ƉĂƐƚ ƚǁŽ ĐĞŶƚƵƌŝĞƐ͘ dŚĞ ĞŶƚƌŝĞƐ ĂƌĞ ĐŚƌŽŶŽůŽŐŝĐĂů͕ ďĞŐŝŶŶŝŶŐ ǁŝƚŚ DŽƌŝƚǌ ĂŶŝĞů KƉƉĞŶŚĞŝŵ͕ Ă ŶŝŶĞƚĞĞŶƚŚͲĐĞŶƚƵƌǇ 'ĞƌŵĂŶ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ƉĂŝŶƚĞƌ͘ ĂĐŚ ĞŶƚƌǇ ŚĂƐ Ă Ɵ ŵĞůŝŶĞ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ ƚŽƉ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƉĂŐĞ͕ ƐŽ ƚŚĂƚ ƌĞĂĚĞƌƐ ǁŝůů ďĞ ĂďůĞ ƚŽ ƉůĂĐĞ

ƚŚĞ ĂƌƟ Ɛƚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŶƚĞǆƚ ŽĨ ŚŝƐƚŽƌǇ͘ ďƌŝĞĨ ďŝŽŐƌĂƉŚǇ͕ ŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƟ ŽŶ ĂďŽƵƚ ŚŝƐͬŚĞƌ ǁŽƌŬ͕ ĂŶĚ ƐĞǀĞƌĂů ĐŽůŽƌ ƌĞƉƌŽĚƵĐƟ ŽŶƐ ƉƌŽǀŝĚĞ ĂŶ ŽǀĞƌǀŝĞǁ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĂƌƟ Ɛƚ͘ dŚĞƌĞ ŝƐ ĂůƐŽ Ă ƌĞĨĞƌĞŶĐĞ ǁŽƌŬ ĐŝƚĞĚ ĨŽƌ ĨƵƌƚŚĞƌ ŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƟ ŽŶ͘ ŐĞŶĞƌĂů Ɵ ŵĞůŝŶĞ ŽĨ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ŚŝƐƚŽƌǇ ĂƉƉĞĂƌƐ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ ĞŶĚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ďŽŽŬ͘ KƚŚĞƌ ĂƌƟ ƐƚƐ ĐŽǀĞƌĞĚ ŝŶĐůƵĚĞ DĂƌĐ ŚĂŐĂůů͕ KƐƐŝƉ ĂĚŬŝŶĞ͕ >ŽƵŝƐĞ EĞǀĞůƐŽŶ͕ DŝĐŚĂů EĂĂŵĂŶ͕ ĂŶĚ ^ŝŐĂůŝƚ >ĂŶĚĂƵ͕ ƌĞƉƌĞƐĞŶƚͲ ŝŶŐ Ă ǁŝĚĞ ǀĂƌŝĞƚǇ ŽĨ ŵĞĚŝĂ ĂŶĚ ƐƚǇůĞ͘ dŚŝƐ ŝƐ Ă ƵƐĞĨƵů ƌĞƐŽƵƌĐĞ ĨŽƌ ƚŚŽƐĞ ďĞŐŝŶŶŝŶŐ ƚŽ ůĞĂƌŶ ĂďŽƵƚ :ĞǁŝƐŚ Ăƌƚ ĂŶĚ ĂƌƟ ƐƚƐ͘ BMB

About Love: Photographs and Films 1973-2011 Anne Wilkes Tucker; Gay Block, photographer Radius Books, 2011 Hardcover 312 pp. $65.00 ISBN: 978-1934435328

The emotions most of her images evoke, the sense of what Block felt as she took them, are admiration and affection.

ĂǇ ůŽĐŬΖƐ ĐŽůůĞĐƟ ŽŶ ŽĨ ƉŚŽƚŽŐƌĂƉŚƐ ŝƐ ĂƉƚůǇ Ɵ ƚůĞĚ͖ ƚŚĞ ĞŵŽƟ ŽŶƐ ŵŽƐƚ ŽĨ ŚĞƌ ŝŵĂŐĞƐ ĞǀŽŬĞ͕ ƚŚĞ ƐĞŶƐĞ ŽĨ ǁŚĂƚ ůŽĐŬ ĨĞůƚ ĂƐ ƐŚĞ ƚŽŽŬ ƚŚĞŵ͕ ĂƌĞ ĂĚŵŝƌĂƟ ŽŶ ĂŶĚ Ăī ĞĐƟ ŽŶ͘ These shots of families, children, elderly ƉĞŽƉůĞ͕ ǁŽƌŬŝŶŐ ƉĞŽƉůĞ͕ ĂŶĚ ƌĞƐĐƵĞƌƐ ĚƵƌŝŶŐ the Shoah are shots of real people, taken ŝŶ ƚŚĞŝƌ ŶĂƚƵƌĂů ĞŶǀŝƌŽŶŵĞŶƚƐ͗ ůŝǀŝŶŐ ƌŽŽŵƐ͕ ďĞĚƌŽŽŵƐ͕ ďĞĂĐŚĞƐ͕ ƐǁŝŵŵŝŶŐ ƉŽŽůƐ͘ dŚĞ ƉŚŽƚŽƐ ĂƌĞ ƉŽƐĞĚ ďƵƚ ĐĂŶĚŝĚͲůŽŽŬŝŶŐ͖ ƚŚĞƌĞΖƐ Ă ƌĞĂů ƐĞŶƐĞ ƚŚĂƚ ůŽĐŬ ŚĂƐ ĐĂƉƚƵƌĞĚ ƐŽŵĞƚŚŝŶŐ ĞƐƐĞŶƟ Ăů ĂďŽƵƚ ŚĞƌ ƐƵďũĞĐƚƐ͘ ůŽĐŬ ďĞŐĂŶ ƐŚŽŽƟ ŶŐ ǁŚĞŶ ƐŚĞ ǁĂƐ ŝŶ ŚĞƌ ĞĂƌůǇ ƚŚŝƌƟ ĞƐ͕ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ϭϵϳϬΖƐ͕ ƚĂŬŝŶŐ ƉŚŽƚŽͲ ŐƌĂƉŚƐ ŽĨ ŚĞƌ ŵŽƚŚĞƌ ŝŶ ĂŶ ĂƩ ĞŵƉƚ ƚŽ ƵŶĚĞƌͲ ƐƚĂŶĚ ƚŚĞŝƌ Ěŝĸ ĐƵůƚ ƌĞůĂƟ ŽŶƐŚŝƉ͘ ^ŚĞ ŵŽǀĞĚ ŽŶ ƚŽ ŝŶƚĞƌǀŝĞǁŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞŶ ƉŚŽƚŽŐƌĂƉŚŝŶŐ ĨĂŵŝͲ ůŝĞƐ ŝŶ ŚĞƌ ,ŽƵƐƚŽŶ ZĞĨŽƌŵ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ĐŽŵŵƵŶŝƚǇ͕ ĂůƐŽ ŝŶ ĂŶ ĂƩ ĞŵƉƚ ƚŽ ƵŶĚĞƌƐƚĂŶĚ͘ /ŶĐůƵĚĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ďŽŽŬ ĂƌĞ Ă ƐĞƌŝĞƐ ŽĨ Į ǀĞ ƐŚŽƌƚ ĚŽĐƵŵĞŶƚĂƌǇ Į ůŵƐ ŽŶ ƚǁŽ s Ɛ͕ ƚŚĞ Į ƌƐƚ ŽĨ ǁŚŝĐŚ͕ A Tribute to Spirit: The Beth Israel Experience, chronicles the history of the ƵƌŽƉĞĂŶ :ĞǁƐ ǁŚŽ Į ƌƐƚ ĐĂŵĞ ƚŽ ,ŽƵƐƚŽŶ ŝŶ the 1800s. Block recounts the community’s ƚƌĂŶƐŝƟ ŽŶ ĨƌŽŵ KƌƚŚŽĚŽǆ ƚŽ ZĞĨŽƌŵ͕ ĂŶĚ ŚŽǁ ĂŶĚ ǁŚǇ ,ŽƵƐƚŽŶΖƐ :ĞǁƐ ǁĞƌĞ ĚƌŝǀĞŶ ƚŽ ĂƐͲ similate and obscure their Jewishness. Her South Beach photos, taken in the early ĞŝŐŚƟ ĞƐ͕ ĂƌĞ Ăůů ŝŶ ĐŽůŽƌ͕ ĐĂƉƚƵƌŝŶŐ ŶŽƚ ŽŶůǇ the blues of sky and sea, and the pastels of DŝĂŵŝΖƐ ƌƚ ĞĐŽ ĂƌĐŚŝƚĞĐƚƵƌĞ͕ ďƵƚ ƚŚĞ ďƌŝŐŚƚ͕ ĐŽůŽƌĨƵů ƉĂƩ ĞƌŶƐ ŽĨ ŚĞƌ ƐƵďũĞĐƚƐΖ ĐůŽƚŚŝŶŐ͘ ,Ğƌ ůĞŶƐ ƐŚŽǁƐ ƚŚĞ ĞůĚĞƌůǇ ĞŶũŽǇŝŶŐ ĐĂŵĂƌĂĚĞƌŝĞ on the beach and on benches and lawn chairs. /Ŷ ƚŚĞ ĂĐĐŽŵƉĂŶǇŝŶŐ ǀŝĚĞŽ͕ A Bie a Gesunt (As Long as You're WellͿ ůŽĐŬ ŝŶƚĞƌǀŝĞǁƐ ƚŚĞƐĞ zŝĚĚŝƐŚͲĂĐĐĞŶƚĞĚ :ĞǁƐ ŽĨ ^ŽƵƚŚ ĞĂĐŚ͕ ůŝǀŝŶŐ in small apartments on Social Security. She ĐĂƉƚƵƌĞƐ ƚŚĞŵ ƐŝŶŐŝŶŐ͕ ĚĂŶĐŝŶŐ͕ ƉůĂǇŝŶŐ ŝŶƐƚƌƵͲ ŵĞŶƚƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ĚŽŝŶŐ ĐĂůŝƐƚŚĞŶŝĐƐ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ďĞĂĐŚ͘ / ĨĞůƚ ƚŚĂƚ / ǁĂƐ ƐĞĞŝŶŐ ƚŚĞŝƌ ƐĞĐƌĞƚ ůŝǀĞƐ ŽĨ ũŽǇ

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ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞ ǇŽƵŶŐ ĂƌĞ ŶŽƚ ƵƐƵĂůůǇ ƉƌŝǀǇ ƚŽ͘ /Ŷ ƚŚĞ ůĂƚĞ ĞŝŐŚƟ ĞƐ͕ ůŽĐŬ ŝŶƚĞƌǀŝĞǁĞĚ ĂŶĚ ƉŚŽƚŽŐƌĂƉŚĞĚ ŽŶĞ ŚƵŶĚƌĞĚ ĂŶĚ Į ǀĞ ƌĞƐĐƵĞƌƐ ŽĨ :ĞǁƐ ĚƵƌŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ^ŚŽĂŚ͘ dŚĞ ƚǁĞŶƚǇͲĨŽƵƌ portraits chosen for this book of these heroic and extraordinary people are accompanied ďǇ Ă ǀŝĚĞŽ͕ They Risked their Lives: Rescuers of the Holocaust͕ ǁŚŝĐŚ ĐŽŶƐŝƐƚƐ ŽĨ ƌĞǀĞĂůŝŶŐ ŝŶƚĞƌǀŝĞǁƐ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ƌĞƐĐƵĞƌƐ͘ Another series of photos were taken in 1981 ŽĨ ŐŝƌůƐ ǁŚŽ ĂƩ ĞŶĚĞĚ ĂŶ ĞůŝƚĞ ƐĞĐƵůĂƌ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ƐƵŵŵĞƌ ƐůĞĞƉͲĂǁĂǇ ĐĂŵƉ ŝŶ DĂŝŶĞ͕ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞŶ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŐŝƌůƐ ĂƐ ǁŽŵĞŶ ƚǁĞŶƚǇͲĮ ǀĞ ǇĞĂƌƐ ůĂƚĞƌ͕ in 2006. The early photos show the campers ĞǆƵĚŝŶŐ ĞŶŶƵŝ͕ ĂǁŬǁĂƌĚŶĞƐƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ŝŶ Ă ĐŽƵƉůĞ of shots, a consciousness of their own beauty.

Ɛ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ůĂƩ Ğƌ ŝŵĂŐĞƐ͕ ƚŚĞǇΖƌĞ ůĞƐƐ ƐƚƌŝŬŝŶŐ ŽŶ ƚŚĞŝƌ ŽǁŶ͕ ůŝŬĞůǇ ďĞĐĂƵƐĞ͕ ĂƐ ůŽĐŬ ĂĐŬŶŽǁůͲ ĞĚŐĞƐ͕ ƚŚĞǇ ĂƌĞ ǁŽŵĞŶ ŝŶ ƚŚĞŝƌ ƚŚŝƌƟ ĞƐ ĂŶĚ ĨŽƌƟ ĞƐ ĂŶĚ ǀĞƌǇ ĐŽŶƐĐŝŽƵƐ ŽĨ ǁĂŶƟ ŶŐ ƚŽ ůŽŽŬ ŐŽŽĚ͘ ůŽĐŬ ǁŽƵůĚ ŚĂǀĞ ƉƌĞĨĞƌƌĞĚ͕ ƐŚĞ ƐĂǇƐ͕ ƚŽ ŐŽ Ă ďŝƚ ĚĞĞƉĞƌ͘ /ƚ ŝƐ ĨĂƐĐŝŶĂƟ ŶŐ͕ ƚŚŽƵŐŚ͕ ƚŽ ƐĞĞ ƚŚĞ ǁŽŵĂŶ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ Őŝƌů ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ Őŝƌů ŝŶ ƚŚĞ woman. In Camp Girls͕ ƚŚĞ ǀŝĚĞŽ͕ ƚŚĞƐĞ ǁŽŵͲ ĞŶ ƐƉĞĂŬ ĂďŽƵƚ ƚŚĞŝƌ ŵĞŵŽƌŝĞƐ ĂŶĚ ĨĞĞůŝŶŐƐ ĂďŽƵƚ ĐĂŵƉ͕ ĂŶĚ ĂďŽƵƚ ŚŽǁ ƚŚĞ ƉŚŽƚŽŐƌĂƉŚƐ make them feel now. ,Ğƌ ůĂƐƚ ƐĞƌŝĞƐ ŽĨ ƉŚŽƚŽŐƌĂƉŚƐ ƐƉĂŶƐ ĨƌŽŵ ϭϵϴϱͲϮϬϬϱ ĂŶĚ ŝŶĐůƵĚĞƐ ƉŚŽƚŽŐƌĂƉŚƐ ŽĨ ŚĞƌ ŵŽƚŚĞƌ͕ ŽĨ ĂŶ ĂƌƌĂǇ ŽĨ ǁŽƌŬŝŶŐ ĐůĂƐƐ ƉĞŽƉůĞ Ăƚ ƚŚĞŝƌ ũŽďƐ ĂŶĚ Ăƚ ůĞŝƐƵƌĞ͕ ŽĨ ƐĞǀĞƌĂů ĨĞŵĂůĞ spiritual leaders, and of lesbians, transsexuals, ĂŶĚ ĚƌĂŐ ŬŝŶŐƐ͘ dŚĞ ůĂƩ Ğƌ ƉŚŽƚŽƐ ĂƌĞ ŶŽ ŵŽƌĞ ƐĞŶƐĂƟ ŽŶĂů ƚŚĂŶ ƚŚĞ ĞĂƌůŝĞƌ ŽŶĞƐ͖ ƚŚĞǇ ĂƌĞ ũƵƐƚ ƉŚŽƚŽƐ ŽĨ ƉĞŽƉůĞ ǁŚŽƐĞ ĞƐƐĞŶĐĞ ůŽĐŬ ŝƐ ƚƌǇŝŶŐ ƚŽ ĐĂƉƚƵƌĞ͘ Ŷ ĂĚĚŝƟ ŽŶĂů ǀŝĚĞŽ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ s Ɛ͕ Bertha Alyce͕ ĂďŽƵƚ ůŽĐŬΖƐ ĐŽŵƉůŝĐĂƚĞĚ ƌĞůĂƟ ŽŶƐŚŝƉ ǁŝƚŚ ŚĞƌ ŵŽƚŚĞƌ͕ ŝƐ ĚŝƐĐŽŵĨŽƌƟ ŶŐ͕ ĚŝƐƚƵƌďŝŶŐ͕ ĂŶĚ ŵŽǀŝŶŐ͘ About Love ǁŽƵůĚ ƐƚĂŶĚ ƐƚƌŽŶŐ ŽŶ ŝƚƐ ŽǁŶ͕ ĂŶĚ ƐŽ ǁŽƵůĚ ĞĂĐŚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƐĞƌŝĞƐ ŽĨ ĚŽĐƵŵĞŶͲ ƚĂƌǇ ǀŝĚĞŽƐ͕ ďƵƚ ƚŽŐĞƚŚĞƌ ƚŚĞǇ ĂƌĞ Ă ƵŶŝƋƵĞůǇ ŵŽǀŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ ƉŽǁĞƌĨƵů ĞǆƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞ͘ EA

The Snowy Day and the Art of Ezra Jack Keats Claudia J. Nahson with Maurice Berger & Emily Casden Yale University Press, 2011 Hardcover 104 pp. $27.50 ISBN: 978-0-300-17022-1

nyone who has read picture books to ǇŽƵŶŐ ĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶ ŽǀĞƌ ƚŚĞ ůĂƐƚ ƐŝǆƚǇ ǇĞĂƌƐ ŝƐ

summer 5772/2012

Jewish Book World

nonfiction probably familiar with the work of writer and ŝůůƵƐƚƌĂƚŽƌ͕ ǌƌĂ :ĂĐŬ <ĞĂƚƐ ;ϭϵϭϲͲϭϵϴϯͿ͘ ĞĨŽƌĞ ŚŝƐ ϭϵϲϮ ĂůĚĞĐŽƩ ͲĂǁĂƌĚ ǁŝŶŶŝŶŐ ĐůĂƐƐŝĐ͕ The Snowy Day͕ ĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶ ŽĨ ĐŽůŽƌ ǁĞƌĞ ůĂƌŐĞůǇ absent from mainstream children’s books; <ĞĂƚƐ͛Ɛ ŵƵůƟ ͲŚƵĞĚ ŚĞƌŽĞƐ ƉůĂǇĞĚ ŽŶ ƚĞŶĞŵĞŶƚ ƐƚƌĞĞƚƐ͕ ŵŝŶŐůĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ ũƵŶŬ ƐĞůůĞƌƐ͕ ƐƚŽŽĚ ƵƉ ƚŽ ƐƚƌĞĞƚ ŐĂŶŐƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ǇĞƐ͕ ĨŽůůŽǁĞĚ ƚŚĞŝƌ ĚƌĞĂŵƐ͘ <ĞĂƚƐ͛Ɛ ŬŝĚƐ ǁĞƌĞ ŶĞǀĞƌ ŽďũĞĐƚƐ ŽĨ ƉŝƚǇ͖ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚ ŚŝƐ ĐŽůŽƌĨƵů ĐŽůůĂŐĞƐ͕ <ĞĂƚƐ ĐĞůĞďƌĂƚĞĚ ƵŶŝǀĞƌƐĂů ƚƌƵƚŚƐ ĂďŽƵƚ ƚŚĞ ĚŝŐŶŝƚǇ ĂŶĚ ǁŽŶĚĞƌ ŽĨ ĐŚŝůĚŚŽŽĚ͘ dŚŝƐ ƐůĞŶĚĞƌ ǀŽůƵŵĞ͕ ƉƵďůŝƐŚĞĚ ƚŽ ĂĐĐŽŵƉĂŶǇ Ă ƌĞƚƌŽƐƉĞĐƟ ǀĞ ŽĨ <ĞĂƚƐ͛Ɛ ǁŽƌŬ ŽƌŐĂŶŝǌĞĚ ďǇ ƚŚĞ :ĞǁŝƐŚ DƵƐĞƵŵ ŝŶ EĞǁ zŽƌŬ͕ ĨĞĂƚƵƌĞƐ ƚǁŽ ĞƐƐĂǇƐ ŽŶ <ĞĂƚƐ ĂŶĚ ƐŽŵĞ ĞŝŐŚƚǇ ƌĞƉƌŽĚƵĐƟ ŽŶƐ ŽĨ ŚŝƐ Ăƌƚ͘ /Ĩ ƚŚĞ ĞƐƐĂǇƐ ĂƌĞ Ă ďŝƚ ƌĂŶĚŽŵͶǁĞ ŵŝŐŚƚ ŚĂǀĞ ƉƌĞĨĞƌƌĞĚ Ă ĐŽŵƉƌĞͲ ŚĞŶƐŝǀĞ ďŝŽŐƌĂƉŚŝĐĂů ƐŬĞƚĐŚͶƚŚĞ ŚŝŐŚͲƋƵĂůŝƚǇ͕ ůƵƐŚ ƌĞƉƌŽĚƵĐƟ ŽŶƐ ŽĨ <ĞĂƚƐ͛Ɛ ǁŽƌŬ ƉŽƐŝƟ ǀĞůǇ ƉŽƉ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ ƉĂŐĞ͘ EŽƚ ŽŶůǇ ĂƌĞ ƚŚĞƐĞ ƉůĂƚĞƐ Ă ƌĞǀĞůĂƟ ŽŶ ĨŽƌ ƌĞĂĚĞƌƐ ĂĐĐƵƐƚŽŵĞĚ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ Ň ĂƩ Ğƌ͕ ƉĂƉĞƌďĂĐŬ ǀĞƌƐŝŽŶƐ ŽĨ ŚŝƐ ďŽŽŬƐ͕ ƐĞĞŝŶŐ ŚŝƐ ŝŵĂŐĞƐ ĚŝƐĞŵďŽĚŝĞĚ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞŝƌ ŽƌŝŐŝŶĂů ŶĂƌƌĂƟ ǀĞƐ ŚĞůƉƐ ƵƐ ƌĞĐŽŶƐŝĚĞƌ <ĞĂƚƐ ĂƐ ĂŶ ĂƌƟ Ɛƚ ǁŝƚŚ Ă ĚĞůŝďĞƌĂƚĞ͕ ĚĞǀĞůŽƉŝŶŐ ĂĞƐƚŚĞƟ Đ͘ ǀĞŶ ƌĞĂĚĞƌƐ ǁŝƚŚ Ă ĐŽŵƉůĞƚĞ ůŝďƌĂƌǇ ŽĨ <ĞĂƚƐ͛Ɛ ďŽŽŬƐ ǁŝůů ǁĂŶƚ ƚŽ ŽǁŶ ƚŚŝƐ ƐƵƌƉƌŝƐŝŶŐůǇ ƌĞĂͲ ƐŽŶĂďůǇ ƉƌŝĐĞĚ ƚƌŝďƵƚĞ ǀŽůƵŵĞ͘ ŝďůŝŽŐƌĂƉŚǇ͕ ŝůůƵƐƚƌĂƟ ŽŶƐ͕ ŝŶĚĞǆ͕ ŶŽƚĞƐ͕ Ɵ ŵĞůŝŶĞ͘ BEB

The Steins Collect: Matisse, Picasso, and the Parisian AvantGarde Janet Bishop, Cécile Debray & Rebecca Rabinow, eds. Yale University Press, 2011 Hardcover 492 pp. $75.00 ISBN: 978-0-300169-41-6

Jewish Book World

women’s studies The JPS Bible Commentary: Ruth Tamara Cohn Eskenazi & Tikva Frymer-Kensky, eds. Jewish Publication Society, 2011 Hardcover 103 pp. $40.00 ISBN: 978-0-8276-0744-6

Ŷ ƚŚĞ ĨĂůů ŽĨ ϭϵϬϯ͕ 'ĞƌƚƌƵĚĞ ^ƚĞŝŶ ĂŶĚ >ĞŽ Stein, an older brother, took an apartment ƚŽŐĞƚŚĞƌ Ăƚ Ϯϳ͕ ƌƵĞ ĚĞ &ůĞƵƌƵƐ͕ ŝŶ WĂƌŝƐ͘ dŚĞ ĨŽůůŽǁŝŶŐ :ĂŶƵĂƌǇ͕ DŝĐŚĂĞů ^ƚĞŝŶ͕ ĂŶŽƚŚĞƌ older brother, and Sarah, his wife, took an ĂƉĂƌƚŵĞŶƚ ŶĞĂƌďǇ͘ dŚƵƐ ďĞŐŝŶƐ ƚŚĞ ƐƚŽƌǇ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ^ƚĞŝŶƐ͛ ĐŽůůĞĐƟ ŶŐ ŽĨ ĂǀĂŶƚͲŐĂƌĚĞ ƉĂŝŶƟ ŶŐ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞŝƌ ƚŽǁĞƌŝŶŐ ŝŶŇ ƵĞŶĐĞ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ Ăƌƚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĞĂƌůǇ ƚǁĞŶƟ ĞƚŚ ĐĞŶƚƵƌǇ͘ /Ŷ ĞůĞǀĞŶ ĞƐƐĂǇƐ ďǇ ůĞĂĚŝŶŐ ƐĐŚŽůĂƌƐ͕ The Steins Collect͕ ǁŚŝĐŚ ĂĐĐŽŵƉĂŶŝĞƐ Ă ŵĂũŽƌ ĞǆŚŝďŝƟ ŽŶ ŝŶ WĂƌŝƐ͕ ^ĂŶ &ƌĂŶĐŝƐĐŽ͕ ĂŶĚ EĞǁ zŽƌŬ͕ ĞǆĂŵŝŶĞƐ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŶƚƌŝďƵƟ ŽŶƐ ĂŶĚ ĂĚǀŽĐĂĐǇ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ^ƚĞŝŶ ĨĂŵŝůǇ͕ ĚŝƐĐƵƐƐŝŶŐ ĞĂĐŚ ŵĞŵďĞƌ͛Ɛ ƌŽůĞ͘ >ĞŽ ǁĂƐ ĂŶ ĞĂƌůǇ ĂĚŵŝƌĞƌ ŽĨ ĠǌĂŶŶĞ͖ 'ĞƌƚƌƵĚĞ͛Ɛ ĨƌŝĞŶĚƐŚŝƉ ǁŝƚŚ WŝĐĂƐƐŽ ǁĂƐ ŝŶƐƚƌƵͲ ŵĞŶƚĂů ŝŶ ůĂƵŶĐŚŝŶŐ ŚŝƐ ĐĂƌĞĞƌ͖ DŝĐŚĂĞů ĂŶĚ ^ĂƌĂŚ ǁĞƌĞ ĐŚĂŵƉŝŽŶƐ ŽĨ DĂƟ ƐƐĞ͕ ǁŝƚŚ ǁŚŽŵ ƚŚĞǇ ŚĂĚ Ă ůŽŶŐ ĂŶĚ ĐůŽƐĞ ĨƌŝĞŶĚƐŚŝƉ ĞǀĞŶ ĂŌ Ğƌ ƚŚĞŝƌ ƌĞƚƵƌŶ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ hŶŝƚĞĚ ^ƚĂƚĞƐ͘ Ƶƚ ƚŚŝƐ ƐƵŐŐĞƐƚƐ ŽŶůǇ Ă ƉŽƌƟ ŽŶ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ^ƚĞŝŶƐ͛ ƉůĂĐĞ ŝŶ ĞĂƌůǇ ƚǁĞŶƟ ĞƚŚͲĐĞŶƚƵƌǇ ĐƵůƚƵƌĞ͘ dŚĞǇ ǁĞƌĞ ĚĞĞƉůǇ ŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƚĞĚ ŝŶ Ăůů ƚŚĞ ĂƌƚƐ͖ ŝŶĚŝǀŝĚƵĂůůǇ ƚŚĞǇ ůĞŌ ƚŚĞŝƌ ŵĂƌŬ ŽŶ ƉŚŽƚŽŐƌĂƉŚǇ͕ ĂƌĐŚŝƚĞĐͲ

ƚƵƌĞ͕ Ăƌƚ ĐƌŝƟ ĐŝƐŵ͕ ĂŶĚ ůŝƚĞƌĂƚƵƌĞ͘ ĂĐŚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĞƐƐĂǇƐ ŝƐ ĨŽůůŽǁĞĚ ďǇ ƌĞƉƌŽĚƵĐͲ Ɵ ŽŶƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ Ăƌƚ ĂƐƐŽĐŝĂƚĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ƐƵďũĞĐƚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĞƐƐĂǇ͕ ŵĂŬŝŶŐ ƵƉ Ă ůŝƩ ůĞ ŽǀĞƌ ŚĂůĨ ƚŚĞ book. The remainder documents the place of ƚŚĞ ^ƚĞŝŶƐ ŝŶ ĐƵůƚƵƌĂů ŚŝƐƚŽƌǇͶĂƌĐŚŝǀĂů ĨĂŵŝůǇ ƉŚŽƚŽŐƌĂƉŚƐ ĂƐ ǁĞůů ĂƐ ĂƌĐŚŝǀĂů ƉŚŽƚŽŐƌĂƉŚƐ of their homes with artwork in place; Sarah’s ŶŽƚĞďŽŽŬƐ ƌĞĐŽƌĚŝŶŐ DĂƟ ƐƐĞ͛Ɛ ĐŽŵŵĞŶƚƐ ƚŽ his students at the academy she and Michael ŚĞůƉĞĚ ĞƐƚĂďůŝƐŚ ĨŽƌ Śŝŵ͖ Ă ĐĂƚĂůŽŐƵĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ^ƚĞŝŶ ĐŽůůĞĐƟ ŽŶƐ͖ Ă ĐŚƌŽŶŽůŽŐǇ ŽĨ ƚŚĞŝƌ ůŝǀĞƐ͖ plus scholarly addenda. It should be noted that the book deals only with the cultural ƐŝĚĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ^ƚĞŝŶƐ͛ ůŝǀĞƐ ĂŶĚ ĚŽĞƐ ŶŽƚ ĚŝƐĐƵƐƐ͕ ĞǆĐĞƉƚ ŝŶ ƉĂƐƐŝŶŐ͕ ƚŚĞŝƌ ƉĞƌƐŽŶĂů Žƌ ƉŽůŝƟ ĐĂů ůŝǀĞƐ͘ ďŽǀĞ Ăůů͕ The Steins Collect ŝƐ Ă ŵĂƐƐŝǀĞ ďŽŽŬ ŽĨ ŵĂŐŶŝĮ ĐĞŶƚ Ăƌƚ͕ ďĞĂƵƟ ĨƵůůǇ ƉƌŝŶƚĞĚ ŽŶ ĞǆĐĞƉƟ ŽŶĂůůǇ Į ŶĞ ƉĂƉĞƌ ŝŶ Ă ƐŽŵĞǁŚĂƚ ůĂƌŐĞƌ ƚŚĂŶ ƵƐƵĂů ĨŽƌŵĂƚ͘ /ƚ ĐĂŶ ďĞ ĞŶũŽǇĞĚ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĂƚ ĂůŽŶĞ͘ ŽůŽƌ ĐĂƚĂůŽŐƵĞ ƉůƵƐ ĂůŵŽƐƚ ϱϬϬ ƉůĂƚĞƐ͕ ďŽƚŚ ĨƵůůͲĐŽůŽƌ Ăƌƚ ĂŶĚ ĂƌĐŚŝǀĂů ƉŚŽƚŽŐƌĂƉŚǇ͖ ĐŚƌŽŶŽůŽŐǇ͖ ŝŶĚĞǆ͖ ƌĞĨĞƌĞŶĐĞƐ͘ MLW

uth͕ ƚŚĞ ŶĞǁĞƐƚ ŝŶ dŚĞ :W^ ŝďůĞ ŽŵŵĞŶͲ ƚĂƌǇ ƐĞƌŝĞƐ͕ ŝƐ Ă ŵĂŐŶŝĮ ĐĞŶƚ ĂĐŚŝĞǀĞŵĞŶƚ͘ dŚŝƐ ĐŽŵŵĞŶƚĂƌǇ ďǇ dĂŵĂƌĂ ŽŚŶ ƐŬĞŶĂǌŝ ĂŶĚ dŝŬǀĂ &ƌǇŵĞƌͲ<ĞŶƐŬǇ ŝƐ ĂŶ ŝŵƉŽƌƚĂŶƚ ĂĚͲ ĚŝƟ ŽŶ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ĞǆƚĂŶƚ ƐĐŚŽůĂƌƐŚŝƉ ŽŶ ƚŚŝƐ ďŝďůŝĐĂů ďŽŽŬ͘ Ɛ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ŽƚŚĞƌ ǀŽůƵŵĞƐ ŝŶ ƚŚŝƐ :W^ ƐĞƌŝĞƐ͕ ƚŚĞ ďŽŽŬ Žī ĞƌƐ Ă ůĞŶŐƚŚǇ ŝŶƚƌŽĚƵĐƟ ŽŶ

summer 5772/2012

www.jewishbookcouncil.org

ƚŚĂƚ ƉƌŽǀŝĚĞƐ ĂŶ ŽǀĞƌǀŝĞǁ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƚĞǆƚ ĂƐ ǁĞůů ĂƐ ŚŝƐƚŽƌŝĐĂů ĂŶĚ ĐŽŶƚĞǆƚƵĂů ďĂĐŬŐƌŽƵŶĚ͘ &Žƌ ĞǆĂŵƉůĞ͕ >ĞǀŝƌĂƚĞ ŵĂƌƌŝĂŐĞ ŝƐ ĚŝƐĐƵƐƐĞĚ ŝŶ ĚĞƚĂŝů͕ ĂƐ ĂƌĞ ZƵƚŚ͛Ɛ ƉůĂĐĞ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ďŝďůŝĐĂů ĐĂŶŽŶ͕ ƚŚĞ ƚŚĞŵĞƐ ŽĨ ŝŶƚĞƌŵĂƌƌŝĂŐĞ ĂŶĚ ĐŽŶǀĞƌͲ ƐŝŽŶ͕ ƚŚĞ ƚŚĞŽůŽŐǇ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŽŽŬ ŽĨ ZƵƚŚ͕ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŶŶĞĐƟ ŽŶ ƚŽ ^ŚĂǀƵŽƚ͕ ĂŶĚ ŝŶƚĞƌƉƌĞƚĂƟ ŽŶƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŽŽŬ ŽĨ ZƵƚŚ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚŽƵƚ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ŚŝƐƚŽƌǇ͘ dŚĞ ĨƵůů ,ĞďƌĞǁ ƚĞǆƚ ŝƐ ƉƌŽǀŝĚĞĚ ĂůŽŶŐƐŝĚĞ ƚŚĞ :W^ ƚƌĂŶƐůĂƟ ŽŶ͘ dŚĞ ĐŽŵŵĞŶƚĂƌǇ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚŽƵƚ ĚƌĂǁƐ ĨƌŽŵ Ă ǁŝĚĞ ƌĂŶŐĞ ŽĨ ĚŝƐĐŝƉůŝŶĞƐ ĂŶĚ ƉƌŽǀŝĚĞƐ Ă ƌŝĐŚ͕ ĞǆƚĞŶƐŝǀĞ͕ ĂŶĚ ŶƵĂŶĐĞĚ ǁĞĂůƚŚ ŽĨ ŝŶƐŝŐŚƚ ŝŶƚŽ ƚŚĞ ,ĞďƌĞǁ ƚĞǆƚ͘ ƐŬĞŶĂǌŝ ĂŶĚ &ƌǇŵĞƌͲ<ĞŶƐŬǇ͛Ɛ ǁŽƌŬ ŝƐ ĂŶ ŝŶǀĂůƵĂďůĞ resource for any student of this brief but complex biblical book. There is a back story ƚŽ ƚŚŝƐ ĐŽŵŵĞŶƚĂƌǇ ĂďŽƵƚ ƚŚĞ ƌĞůĂƟ ŽŶƐŚŝƉ ďĞƚǁĞĞŶ ƚǁŽ ůĞĂĚŝŶŐ ĨĞŵŝŶŝƐƚ ďŝďůĞ ƐĐŚŽůĂƌƐ that is itself a kind of commentary, and so Į ƫ ŶŐ ĨŽƌ ƚŚŝƐ ƚĂůĞ͕ ǁŚŝĐŚ ŝƚƐĞůĨ ĚĞĂůƐ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ďŽŶĚ ďĞƚǁĞĞŶ ƚǁŽ ǁŽŵĞŶ͕ ZƵƚŚ ĂŶĚ EĂŽŵŝ͘ dŚĞ ǁŽƌŬ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŵŵĞŶƚĂƌǇ ǁĂƐ ďĞŐƵŶ ďǇ &ƌǇŵĞƌͲ<ĞŶƐŬǇ͕ ǁŚŽ ĚŝĞĚ ďĞĨŽƌĞ ƚŚĞ ƉƌŽũĞĐƚ ĐŽƵůĚ ďĞ ĐŽŵƉůĞƚĞĚ͘ ƐŬĞŶĂǌŝ ĐŽŵƉůĞƚĞĚ ƚŚĞ ǁŽƌŬ ƵƐŝŶŐ ďŽƚŚ &ƌǇŵĞƌͲ<ĞŶƐŬǇ͛Ɛ ŶŽƚĞƐ ĂŶĚ

There is a back story to this commentary about the relationship between two leading feminist bible scholars that is itself a kind of commentary, and so fitting for this tale, which itself deals with the bond between two women, Ruth and Naomi. her own scholarship. She is to be commended ĨŽƌ ĂůůŽǁŝŶŐ ŚĞƌ ĐŽůůĞĂŐƵĞ͛Ɛ ƵŶĐŽŵƉůĞƚĞĚ ǁŽƌŬ ƚŽ ůŝǀĞ ŽŶ ŝŶ ƚŚŝƐ ǁĂǇ͕ ĂŶĚ ĨŽƌ ĐƌĞĂƟ ŶŐ ĂŶ ŽƵƚͲ ƐƚĂŶĚŝŶŐ ĐŽŵŵĞŶƚĂƌǇ ǁŚŝĐŚ ĂĚĚƐ ŝŵŵĞĂƐƵƌͲ ĂďůǇ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ƐƚƵĚǇ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŽŽŬ ŽĨ ZƵƚŚ͘ /ŶĐůƵĚĞƐ ĞǆƚĞŶƐŝǀĞ ŶŽƚĞƐ͘ HEP

e v a S

! e t a d e th

Sunday, November 18th The 14th Annual Jewish Children's Book Writers & Illustrators Conference

Sunday, December 2nd Jewish Authors Conference: Writing for Adult Readers

NYC, 2012

children’s

Are Syd Hoff 's Books Jewish? ďǇ ŝŶĂ tĞŝŶƐƚĞŝŶ

ŚŝůĚƌĞŶ͛Ɛ ďŽŽŬ ĂƵƚŚŽƌ͕ ŝůůƵƐƚƌĂƚŽƌ͕ ĂŶĚ ĐĂƌƚŽŽŶŝƐƚ ^ǇĚ ,Žī ǁĂƐ ŬŶŽǁŶ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ,ĂƌƉĞƌ ŽůůŝŶƐ / E Z ďŽŽŬƐ Danny and the Dinosaur (1958) and Sammy the Seal ;ϭϵϱϵͿ͘ ,Žī ͛Ɛ ĐŚĂƌĂĐƚĞƌƐ ĂƌĞ ĂŶŝŵĂůƐ ĂŶĚ ƵŶĚĞƌĚŽŐƐ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞŝƌ ƐƚŽƌŝĞƐ ĂƌĞ ƋƵĞƐƚƐ ĨŽƌ ďĞůŽŶŐŝŶŐ͘ dŚĂƚ ƚŚĞŵĞ ĂůƐŽ ůŝŶŬƐ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ŵŝŶŽƌŝƚǇ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ĞǆƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞ͘ ^ĞĂƌĐŚ ĚĞĞƉĞƌ ĂŶĚ ǇŽƵ ǁŝůů Į ŶĚ ŝŵĂŐĞƐ ŽĨ ,Žī ͛Ɛ ĨĂŵŝůǇ ĂŶĚ ŶĞŝŐŚďŽƌƐ ĨƌŽŵ ŚŝƐ ĐŚŝůĚŚŽŽĚ͘ &Ğǁ ŽĨ ,Žī ͛Ɛ Ɵ ƚůĞƐ ĂƌĞ ŽǀĞƌƚůǇ :ĞǁŝƐŚ͕ ďƵƚ ŚŝƐ ĨŽĐƵƐ ŽŶ ƵŶĚĞƌĚŽŐƐ ƐƉĞĂŬƐ ǀŽůƵŵĞƐ͘ ,Žī ǁĂƐ ďŽƌŶ ^ǇĚŶĞǇ ,ŽĪ ĞƌŐ ŽŶ ^ĞƉƚĞŵďĞƌ ϰ͕ ϭϵϭϮ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƌŽŶǆ͕ EĞǁ zŽƌŬ͘ ,Ğ ĚƌŽƉƉĞĚ ŽƵƚ ŽĨ DŽƌƌŝƐ ,ŝŐŚ ^ĐŚŽŽů ĂŌ Ğƌ ǁŽǁŝŶŐ͕ ŝŶ Ă ƐĐŚŽŽů ĂƐƐĞŵďůǇ͕ Ă ĐĂƌƚŽŽŶŝƐƚ ŚĞ ŝĚŽůŝǌĞĚ͕ Dŝůƚ 'ƌŽƐƐ͘ ,Ğ ůĂƚĞƌ ĂƩ ĞŶĚĞĚ ƚŚĞ EĂƟ ŽŶĂů ĐĂĚĞŵǇ ŽĨ ĞƐŝŐŶ ŝŶ DĂŶŚĂƩ ĂŶ͘ ,Žī ŵĞƚ ŚŝƐ ǁŝĨĞ͕ ƵƚĐŚ͕ Ăƚ Ă ƌĞƐŽƌƚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĂƚƐŬŝůůƐ͘ &Žƌ ĚĞĐĂĚĞƐ͕ ,Žī ĚƌĞǁ ƐƚƌŝƉƐ ĂŶĚ ŽŶĞͲĨƌĂŵĞ ŐĂŐ ĐĂƌƚŽŽŶƐ ĨŽƌ King Features Syndicate, published in hundreds of ŶĞǁƐƉĂƉĞƌƐ ĂĐƌŽƐƐ ƚŚĞ ĐŽƵŶƚƌǇ͘ WĞƌŝŽĚŝĐĂůƐ ůŝŬĞ The Saturday Evening Post and The New Yorker ƉƵďůŝƐŚĞĚ ŚƵŶĚƌĞĚƐ ŽĨ ,Žī ͛Ɛ ĐĂƌƚŽŽŶƐ͘ ,Žī ǁƌŽƚĞ ŝŶ Ă ƚǁĞŶƚǇͲƉĂŐĞ ĂƵƚŽďŝŽŐƌĂƉŚǇ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ϭϵϴϳ ƌĞĨĞƌĞŶĐĞ ďŽŽŬ ͞^ŽŵĞƚŚŝŶŐ ďŽƵƚ dŚĞ ƵƚŚŽƌ ƵƚŽďŝŽŐƌĂƉŚǇ ^ĞƌŝĞƐ͕͟ ƚŚĂƚ The New Yorker ĞĚŝƚŽƌ ,ĂƌŽůĚ ZŽƐƐ ůŽǀĞĚ ƚŚŽƐĞ ŽĨ ŚŝƐ ĐĂƌƚŽŽŶƐ ĨŽĐƵƐŝŶŐ ŽŶ ŽƵƚĞƌͲďŽƌŽƵŐŚ ŝŵŵŝŐƌĂŶƚƐ ĂŶĚ ǁŽƌŬŝŶŐ ĐůĂƐƐ ƐƚƌŝǀĞƌƐ͘ ͞WůĞĂƐĞ ƐƟ ĐŬ ƚŽ ƚŚŽƐĞ ƌŽŶǆ ƚǇƉĞƐ͕͟ ZŽƐƐ ƚŽůĚ ,Žī ͘ ,ŝƐ ŐĂŐ ĐĂƌƚŽŽŶƐ ǁĞƌĞ ƚŚĞ ǀŝƐƵĂů ĞƋƵŝǀĂůĞŶƚ ŽĨ Ă ŽƌƐŚƚͲďĞůƚ ŽŶĞͲ liners. dŚĞ ,Žī Ɛ ŵŽǀĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞŝƌ ƚǁŽ ĚĂƵŐŚƚĞƌƐ ƚŽ DŝĂŵŝ ĞĂĐŚ͕ &ůŽƌŝĚĂ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ϭϵϱϬƐ ĚƵƌŝŶŐ ŝƚƐ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ŚĞǇĚĂǇ͘ Here he produced hundreds more ĐĂƌƚŽŽŶƐ ĂŶĚ ŽǀĞƌ ϭϬϬ ďŽŽŬƐ͘ ,Ğ ĂůƐŽ rode his bike around the beach town, swam in the ocean, played handball, ĂŶĚ ĂƚĞ Ăƚ tŽůĮ Ğ͛Ɛ ĚĞůŝ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ZĂƐĐĂů ,ŽƵƐĞ͘ ,Ğ ůŝǀĞĚ ƚŚƌĞĞ ďůŽĐŬƐ ĨƌŽŵ Ă ƚĞŵƉůĞ ďƵƚ ǁĂƐŶΖƚ ƌĞůŝŐŝŽƵƐ͘ He died in 2004.

Jewish Book World

summer 5772/2012

dŚĞ ĐƌŝƚĞƌŝŽŶ ĨŽƌ Ă :ĞǁŝƐŚ ďŽŽŬ ŝƐ Ă ĨŽĐƵƐ ŽŶ Ă ƉĂƌƟ ĐƵůĂƌ :ĞǁŝƐŚ Ɵ ŵĞ͕ ƉůĂĐĞ͕ ĐŚĂƌĂĐƚĞƌ Žƌ ƚŚĞŵĞ͘ ,Žī ŝŶũĞĐƚƐ ƚŚĞ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ĞǆƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞ ŝŶƚŽ Ogluk the Eskimo ;ϭϵϲϬͿ͘ KŐůƵŬ ƚĂŬĞƐ Ă ƉůĂŶĞ ƚŽ ǀŝƐŝƚ ŚŝƐ ƵŶƚ ,Ăƫ Ğ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƚƌŽƉŝĐƐ͕ ǁŚŝĐŚ ůŽŽŬƐ Ă ůŽƚ ůŝŬĞ DŝĂŵŝ ĞĂĐŚ͘ /ƚ ŝƐ ƌĞŵŝŶŝƐĐĞŶƚ ŽĨ ǀŝƐŝƚƐ ƚŽ ƐĞĞ ŽŶĞΖƐ ƵďďĞ ŵŝǆĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ds ƐŚŽǁ The Goldbergs. In :Ğī ƌĞǇ ƚ ĂŵƉ ;ϭϵϲϴͿ ,Žī ǁƌŽƚĞ͗ ͞dŚĞ ŽƚŚĞƌ ĐĂŵƉĞƌƐ ǁƌŽƚĞ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞǇ ǁĞƌĞ ŚĂǀŝŶŐ Ă ǁŽŶĚĞƌĨƵů Ɵ ŵĞ͕ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞǇ ǁĞƌĞ ĞŶũŽǇŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ůĂŬĞ͕ ƚŚĞ ŐĂŵĞƐ͕ ƚŚĞ ŽƵƚĚŽŽƌ ƚŚĞĂƚĞƌ͕ ƚŚĞ ŶĂƚƵƌĞ ƚĂůŬƐʹ:Ğī ƌĞǇ ǁƌŽƚĞ ƚŚĂƚ ŚĞ could use a salami." /Ŷ ,Žī ͛Ɛ ϭϵϳϮ ĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶ͛Ɛ ďŽŽŬ My Aunt Rosie͕ ƚŚĞ ǌĂŌ ŝŐ ĂƵŶƟ Ğ ůĂǀŝƐŚĞƐ ĂƩ ĞŶƟ ŽŶ ŽŶ ŚĞƌ ĞŵďĂƌƌĂƐƐĞĚ ŶĞƉŚĞǁ ^ŚĞƌŵĂŶ͘ /ƚ͛Ɛ ďĞƐƚ ƌĞĂĚ ŝŶ Ă ƌŽŶǆ ĐĂĚĞŶĐĞ͗ ͞^ƵĐŚ ƚĂůĞŶƚ͊ ^ƵĐŚ ŐĞŶŝƵƐ͊ ŐƌĞĂƚ ĂƌƟ Ɛƚ ŚĞ͛ůů ďĞ͕ ĂŶŽƚŚĞƌ ZĞŵďƌĂŶĚƚ͕͟ ƵŶƚ ZŽƐŝĞ ǁŽƵůĚ ƐĂǇ͕ ĂŶĚ ŶĂŝů ƵƉ ƚŚŽƐĞ ĂǁĨƵů ƉŝĐƚƵƌĞƐ Ăůů ŽǀĞƌ ŚĞƌ ŶŝĐĞ ĐůĞĂŶ ǁĂůůƐ͘ Ŷ ĂƌĐŚŝǀĞĚ ƚǇƉĞƐĐƌŝƉƚ ĨŽƌ Barney’s Horse ;,ĂƌƉĞƌ Θ ZŽǁ͕ ϭϵϴϳͿ ƐŚŽǁƐ ƚŚĞ ƉƌŽƚĂŐŽŶŝƐƚ ŽƌŝŐŝŶĂůůǇ ŶĂŵĞĚ zŽŶŬĞů ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŶŽƐƚĂůŐŝĐ ƚĂůĞ ŽĨ ĂŶ ŽůĚͲƟ ŵĞ ƉĞĚĚůĞƌ ǁŚŽƐĞ ŚŽƌƐĞ ďĞĐŽŵĞƐ ĨƌŝŐŚƚĞŶĞĚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŶŽŝƐǇ ŶĞǁ ŽǀĞƌŚĞĂĚ ƚƌĂŝŶƐ͘ DĂƐŬŝŶŐ ĂŶ ŽǀĞƌƚůǇ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ŵĞƌĐŚĂŶƚ ŵĂǇ ŚĂǀĞ ŵĂĚĞ ŝƚ ƉĂůĂƚĂďůĞ ĨŽƌ ŵĂŝŶƐƚƌĞĂŵ ĂƵĚŝĞŶĐĞƐ͘ dŚĞ ŵĞŵŽƌǇ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŽůĚ ŶĞŝŐŚďŽƌͲ ŚŽŽĚ ŝƐ ĐůĂƐƐŝĐ ,Žī ƐƚŽƌǇƚĞůůŝŶŐ͘ /Ŷ Ă ĞĐĞŵďĞƌ Ϯϲ͕ ϭϵϵϳ ĂƌƟ ĐůĞ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ >ŽƐ ŶŐĞůĞƐͲďĂƐĞĚ :ĞǁŝƐŚ :ŽƵƌͲ ŶĂů ĞŶƟ ƚůĞĚ͗ ^ŝŐŶŝŶŐ ,Žī ͙ dŚĞ ƌĞĂƚŽƌ ŽĨ ĂŶŶǇ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ŝŶŽƐĂƵƌ ĂŶĚ ŽƚŚĞƌ ŚŝůĚƌĞŶ͛Ɛ ŽŽŬ ůĂƐƐŝĐƐ ƐŬƐ ͞tŚĞƌĞ͛Ɛ WƌĂŶĐĞƌ͍͕͟ ƚŚĞ ŝŶƚĞƌǀŝĞǁĞƌ͕ DŝĐŚĂĞů ƵƐŚĞŶŬĞƌ͕ ǁƌŽƚĞ ,Žī ŽŌ ĞŶ ĚƌĞǁ ƵƉŽŶ ŚŝƐ ƉƌĞĚŽŵŝŶĂŶƚůǇ :ĞǁͲ ŝƐŚ ŝŵŵŝŐƌĂŶƚ ĞŶǀŝƌŽŶŵĞŶƚ ĨŽƌ ŝŶƐƉŝƌĂƟ ŽŶ͘ ,Žī ƚŽůĚ ƵƐŚĞŶŬĞƌ͗ ͞/ ǁĂƐ ƚƌǇŝŶŐ ƚŽ ďĞ ƌĞĂůŝƐƟ Đ͕ ĐĂƉƚƵƌŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ƉĞŽƉůĞ ƚŚĂƚ / ůŝǀĞĚ ĂŵŽŶŐ͘ ůů ŵǇ ŶĞŝŐŚďŽƌƐ͕ Ăůů ŵǇ ĨƌŝĞŶĚƐ͕ ŵǇ ƉĂƌĞŶƚƐ͘͟ ŝŶĂ tĞŝŶƐƚĞŝŶ ŝƐ Ă DŝĂŵŝ͕ &>ͲďĂƐĞĚ ũŽƵƌŶĂůŝƐƚ ĐƵƌĂƟ ŶŐ Ă ^ǇĚ ,Žī ĞǆŚŝďŝƟ ŽŶ ƚƌĂǀĞůŝŶŐ ƚŽ Ă ŶƵŵďĞƌ ŽĨ &ůŽƌŝĚĂ ůŝďƌĂƌŝĞƐ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ŽĐĐĂƐŝŽŶ ŽĨ ŚŝƐ ĐĞŶƚĞŶŶŝĂů͘ ^ŚĞ ǁĂƐ ďŽƌŶ ŝŶ ŽƐƚŽŶ͘ tĞŝŶƐƚĞŝŶ ĂƩ ĞŶĚĞĚ ŽƐƚŽŶ University School for the Arts and Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.

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children’s Syd Hoff 's Jewish Books Ogluk the Eskimo, 1960 Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduah, 1963 I Can't Dance, 1964 Jeffrey at Camp, 1968 Irving and Me, 1968 A Chanuka Fable for Christmas, 1969 Palace Bug, 1970 My Aunt Rosie, 1972 Herschel the Hero, 1972 Santa’s Moose, 1979 Barney’s Horse, 1987

CAMP

A Young Adult Novel by Elaine Wolf “the anti-bullying novelist”

A spellbinding mother-daughter story about bullying, Holocaust survivor guilt, and the collateral damage of family secrets.

CAMP

Every secret has a price...

authorelainewolf.com

ELAINE WOLF

Available everywhere June 1. www.jewishbookcouncil.org

summer 5772/2012

Jewish Book World

children’s A new symbol to look for!

PJ Library, a program of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, sends out more than 100,000 gifts of Jewish books and music each month to children and their families across North America. PJ Library titles are carefully selected by early childhood educators and children's literature experts.

The Astonishing Secret of Awesome Man Michael Chabon Jake Parker, illus. Balzer and Bray, 2011 Hardcover 40 pp. $17.99 ISBN: 978-0-0619-1462-1

Dayenu

ŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ůŽŽŬ ĂŶĚ Ň Ăŝƌ ŽĨ Ă ĐůĂƐƐŝĐ DĂƌǀĞů ŽŵŝĐ͕ ƚŚŝƐ ŝƐ Ă ďŽŽŬ ƐƵƌĞ ƚŽ ĚĞůŝŐŚƚ ǇŽƵŶŐ ƐƵƉĞƌŚĞƌŽ ĨĂŶƐ͘ ǁĞƐŽŵĞ DĂŶ ŚĂƐ ĞǀĞƌǇƚŚŝŶŐ ŽŶĞ ĞǆƉĞĐƚƐ ĨƌŽŵ Ă ĐŽŵŝĐ ďŽŽŬ ŚĞƌŽ͗ Ă ƐŶĂǌǌǇ ĨŽƌŵͲĮ ƫ ŶŐ ŽƵƞ ŝƚ ǁŝƚŚ Ă ŚƵŐĞ ůĞƩ Ğƌ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ĨƌŽŶƚ͕ Ă ƌĞĚ ĐĂƉĞ͕ Ă ďůĂĐŬ ŵĂƐŬ͕ Ă ůŽǇĂů ƐŝĚĞŬŝĐŬ ;DŽƐŬŽǁŝƚǌ ƚŚĞ ǁĞƐŽŵĞ ŽŐͿ ĂŶĚ͕ ďĞƐƚ ŽĨ Ăůů͕ Ă ƐĞĐƌĞƚ ŝĚĞŶƟ ƚǇ͘ ǁĞƐŽŵĞ Man also has a few especially awesome superpowers like positronic rays that shoot ŽƵƚ ŽĨ ŚŝƐ ĞǇĞďĂůůƐ ĂŶĚ ŚŝƐ ƚƌĂĚĞŵĂƌŬ ǁĞͲ ƐŽŵĞ WŽǁĞƌ 'ƌŝƉ͘ dŚĞƐĞ ĐŽŵĞ ŝŶ ŚĂŶĚǇ ǁŚĞŶ ĐŽŶĨƌŽŶƟ ŶŐ ǀĂƌŝŽƵƐ ĨŽƌĐĞƐ ŽĨ Ğǀŝů ůŝŬĞ ƚŚĞ &ůĂŵŝŶŐ ǇĞďĂůů ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ZĞĚ ^ŚĂƌŬ͘ hƟ ůŝǌŝŶŐ ŶĂƌƌĂƟ ǀĞ ĂŶĚ ǀŝƐƵĂů ĐůƵĞƐ͕ ƚŚĞ ƐĞĐƌĞƚ ŝĚĞŶƟ ƚǇ ŽĨ ŽƵƌ ƐƵƉĞƌŚĞƌŽ ƐůŽǁůǇ ĐŽŵĞƐ ƚŽ ůŝŐŚƚ͕ ƌĞǀĞĂůͲ ŝŶŐ ƚŚĂƚ ǁĞƐŽŵĞ DĂŶ ŝƐ ƌĞĂůůǇ Ă ǇŽƵŶŐ ďŽǇ͘ tŚŝůĞ ŚŝŐŚͲƉŽǁĞƌ ůŝŶŐŽ ůŝŬĞ ͞ƚŚĞƌŵŽǀƵůĐĂŶŝǌĞĚ ƉƌŽƚĞŝŶͲĚĞůŝǀĞƌǇ Žƌď͟ ĚĞůŝǀĞƌƐ Ă ĐŽŵŝĐ ďŽŽŬ punch, more contemporary phrases such ĂƐ ͞ƐƚǇůŝŶ͛͟ ĂŶĚ ͞ŐŝŶŽƌŵŽƵƐ͟ ďƌŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ƚĞǆƚ ŝŶƚŽ ƚŚĞ ƉƌĞƐĞŶƚ͘ ŽůĚůǇ ĐŽůŽƌĞĚ ŝůůƵƐƚƌĂƟ ŽŶƐ

Jewish Book World

ŝŶĐůƵĚĞ ƐŽŵĞ ŚĂůĨͲƚŽŶĞ ďĂĐŬŐƌŽƵŶĚƐ ƚŚĂƚ ŐŝǀĞ ƚŚĞŵ ĂŶ ĂƵƚŚĞŶƟ Đ ƌĞƚƌŽ ĨĞĞů͘ dŚĞ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ƐĞŶƐŝďŝůŝƚǇ ĨŽƌ ǁŚŝĐŚ ŚĂďŽŶ ŚĂƐ ďĞĞŶ ŶŽƚĞĚ ŝŶ ŚŝƐ ĂĚƵůƚ Žī ĞƌŝŶŐƐ͕ ĂůƚŚŽƵŐŚ unspoken, permeates this story in a subtle ǇĞƚ ĚĞĮ ŶŝƚĞ ǁĂǇ͘ ůƚŚŽƵŐŚ ƚŚŝƐ ŝƐ ŶŽƚ Ă :ĞǁŝƐŚ ďŽŽŬ͕ ƉĞƌ ƐĞ͕ ƚŚŝƐ ĨĞĞůƐ ůŝŬĞ ƉĂƌƚ ŽĨ ŚĂďŽŶ͛Ɛ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ĐĂŶŽŶ͕ ƉĂƌƟ ĐƵůĂƌůǇ ŝŶ ůŝŐŚƚ ŽĨ ŚŝƐ ŶŽǀĞů The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay, which explored the Jewish roots of the comic ďŽŽŬ ŝŶĚƵƐƚƌǇ ŝŶ Ăůů ŝƚƐ ĐŽůŽƌĨƵů ŐůŽƌǇ͘ /ƚ ŝƐ ŚŝŐŚůǇ ƌĞĐŽŵŵĞŶĚĞĚ ĨŽƌ ĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶ ŽĨ Ăůů ĂŐĞƐ ĂŶĚ ĂĚƵůƚƐ ǁŚŽ ŽŶĐĞ ůŽǀĞĚ ĐŽŵŝĐ ďŽŽŬƐ ĂŶĚ ƉĞƌŚĂƉƐ ƐƟ ůů ĚŽ͘ TM

Miriam Latimer, illus. Scholastic Books, 2012 Hardcover 14 pp. $7.99 ISBN: 978-0-545-31236-3

ŚŝƐ ďŽĂƌĚ ďŽŽŬ ƉƌĞƐĞŶƚƐ ĨŽƵƌ ǀĞƌƐĞƐ ŽĨ Η ĂǇĞŶƵ͕Η Ă ƐŽŶŐ ƚƌĂĚŝƟ ŽŶĂůůǇ ƐƵŶŐ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ WĂƐƐŽǀĞƌ ƐĞĚĞƌ͕ ŝŶĐůƵĚŝŶŐ ƉůĞŶƚǇ ŽĨ ĐŚŽƵƐĞƐ ŽĨ ĂǇͲĚĂǇͲĞǇŶƵ͘ dŚĞ ƵŶŝĚĞŶƟ Į ĞĚ ĂƵƚŚŽƌ ƵƐĞƐ ůĂŶŐƵĂŐĞ ƚŚĂƚ ǇŽƵŶŐ ĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶ ǁŝůů ďĞ ĂďůĞ ƚŽ ƵŶĚĞƌƐƚĂŶĚ͕ ŚŝŐŚůŝŐŚƟ ŶŐ ƚŚĞ :ĞǁƐ ĐŽŵŝŶŐ ŽƵƚ ŽĨ ŐǇƉƚ͕ ƚŚĞ ƐƉůŝƫ ŶŐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƐĞĂ͕ ƚŚĞ ƌĞĐĞŝǀŝŶŐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ dŽƌĂŚ͕ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ :ĞǁƐ ĞŶƚĞƌŝŶŐ /ƐƌĂĞů͕ ĞĂĐŚ ĨŽůůŽǁĞĚ ďǇ ͞dŚĂƚ ǁĂƐ ĞŶŽƵŐŚ ƚŽ ŵĂŬĞ ƵƐ ŚĂƉƉǇ͘ ^ŝŶŐ Ă ƐŽŶŐ ĂŶĚ ƐŚŽǁ ǁĞ͛ƌĞ ŚĂƉƉǇ͘ ĂǇĞŶƵ͘͟ dŚĞ ĐŽůŽƌĨƵů ĐĂƌƚŽŽŶͲůŝŬĞ ŝůůƵƐƚƌĂƟ ŽŶƐ ĚĞƉŝĐƚ ƚŚĞ ƐĐĞŶĞƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƐŽŶŐ ǀĞƌƐĞƐ ĂŶĚ Ă happy, modern family at its seder, complete ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ƐŵŝůŝŶŐ ůŝƩ ůĞ Őŝƌů ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ĐŽǀĞƌ ĨĂƐƚ ĂƐůĞĞƉ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ ĞŶĚ͘ dŚŝƐ ŝƐ Ă ŐƌĞĂƚ ĂĚĚŝƟ ŽŶ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ƐŚŽƌƚ ůŝƐƚ ŽĨ WĂƐƐŽǀĞƌ ďŽŽŬƐ ĨŽƌ ǀĞƌǇ ǇŽƵŶŐ ĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶ͘ ,ŝŐŚůǇ ƌĞĐŽŵŵĞŶĚĞĚ ĨŽƌ ĂŐĞƐ ϯͲϱ͘ MLB

summer 5772/2012

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Dinosaur Goes To Israel Diane Levin Rauchwerger Jason Wolff, illus. Kar-Ben Publishing, 2012 Paperback 24 pp. $7.95 ISBN: 978-0-7613-5134-4

ŚŝƐ ŝƐ ŝŶŽƐĂƵƌΖƐ ĨŽƵƌƚŚ ĂĚǀĞŶƚƵƌĞ͕ ŚĂǀŝŶŐ celebrated Jewish holidays and Shabbat in Dinosaur on Passover, Dinosaur on Hanukkah, and Dinosaur on Shabbat. This one takes him ƚŽ /ƐƌĂĞů ĂƐ Ă ƚŽƵƌŝƐƚ͘ ,Ğ ĚŝŐƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƐĂŶĚ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ďĞĂƵƟ ĨƵů ďĞĂĐŚ ŝŶ dĞů ǀŝǀ͕ ĞĂƚƐ Ă ĨĂůĂĨĞů ĨŽƌ ůƵŶĐŚ͕ ƉƵƚƐ Ă ŵĞƐƐĂŐĞ ŚŝŐŚ ƵƉ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ tĞƐƚĞƌŶ Wall, climbs Masada, takes a mud bath in ƚŚĞ ĞĂĚ ^ĞĂ͕ ĂŶĚ ŐŽĞƐ ƐŶŽƌŬĞůŝŶŐ ŝŶ ŝůĂƚ͘ dŚƌŽƵŐŚŽƵƚ͕ ŚĞ ŝƐ ĞŶƚŚƵƐŝĂƐƟ Đ ĂďŽƵƚ ŚŝƐ ĞǆƉĞͲ ƌŝĞŶĐĞƐ ĂŶĚ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ ĞŶĚ ĐĂŶŶŽƚ ǁĂŝƚ ƚŽ ŐŽ ďĂĐŬ͘ dŽůĚ ŝŶ ƌŚǇŵĞ͕ ƚŚŝƐ ŝƐ Ă ůŽǀĞůǇ͕ ũŽǇĨƵů ƐƚŽƌǇ͕ ŚŝŐŚůŝŐŚƟ ŶŐ ŝŵƉŽƌƚĂŶƚ ƐŝƚĞƐ ŝŶ /ƐƌĂĞů͘ ^ĞǀĞƌĂů simple Hebrew words are incorporated into ƚŚĞ ƚĞǆƚ͕ ǁŝƚŚŽƵƚ ŶĞĞĚŝŶŐ ĞǆƉůĂŶĂƟ ŽŶ͕ ƐƵĐŚ ĂƐ ^ŚĂůŽŵ͕ ƌĞƚǌ zŝƐƌĂĞů͕ dŽĚĂŚ ZĂďĂŚ ĂŶĚ ^ŚŽĨĂƌ͘ ŽƵďůĞͲƉĂŐĞ ŝůůƵƐƚƌĂƟ ŽŶƐ ĂƌĞ ĐŽůŽƌĨƵů and humorous, work well with the text, and ĂƌĞ ƉĞƌĨĞĐƚůǇ ĂŐĞͲĂƉƉƌŽƉƌŝĂƚĞ͘ &ĂŵŝůŝĂƌŝƚǇ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ŵĂŝŶ ĐŚĂƌĂĐƚĞƌ ǁŝůů ĚĞĮ ŶŝƚĞůǇ ŝŶĐƌĞĂƐĞ ƚŚĞ ĂƉƉƌĞĐŝĂƟ ŽŶ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ǇŽƵŶŐ ƌĞĂĚĞƌƐ͘ ZĞĐŽŵͲ ŵĞŶĚĞĚ ĂƐ Ă ƌĞĂĚͲƚŽ ĨŽƌ ĂŐĞƐ ϯͲϲ. SF

The Doll Maker’s Gift Sashi Friedman Jessica Schiffman, illus. Kehot Publication Society, 2011 Hardcover 36 pp. $14.95 ISBN: 978-0-8266-0040-0

ŽŐƌŽŵƐ ŚĂǀĞ ďĞĞŶ ŽĐĐƵƌƌŝŶŐ ŵŽƌĞ ĂŶĚ ŵŽƌĞ ŽŌ ĞŶ ŝŶ EŽƌĂ͛Ɛ ůŝƩ ůĞ ƚŽǁŶ ŝŶ ĂƐƚĞƌŶ

children’s ƵƌŽƉĞ͘ ,Ğƌ ĨĂŵŝůǇ ĚĞĐŝĚĞƐ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞ ŽŶůǇ ǁĂǇ to ensure the safety of Nora and her sister ƐĂĨĞƚǇ ŝƐ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ĨĂŵŝůǇ ƚŽ ůĞĂǀĞ ĨŽƌ ŵĞƌŝĐĂ͕ ŚŽǁĞǀĞƌ ƚŚĞǇ ŵƵƐƚ ƚƌĂǀĞů ƐĞƉĂƌĂƚĞůǇ ĂƐ ŵŽŶĞǇ ŝƐ ǀĞƌǇ Ɵ ŐŚƚ͘ EŽƌĂ͛Ɛ ĨĂƚŚĞƌ͕ ŝŶ ŵĞƌŝĐĂ Į ƌƐƚ͕ ďĞŐŝŶƐ ƚŽ ƐĞŶĚ ďĂĐŬ ŵŽŶĞǇ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ƐŚŝƉ͛Ɛ ƉĂƐƐĂŐĞ ďƵƚ ƐŽŽŶ ƚŚĞ ĨĂŵŝůǇ ƌĞĂůŝǌĞƐ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞǇ ĐĂŶŶŽƚ ǁĂŝƚ ĂŶǇ ůŽŶŐĞƌ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞǇ ŬŶŽǁ ƚŚĞǇ ŵƵƐƚ ďŽĂƌĚ ƚŚĞ ƐŚŝƉ͘ /Ŷ ƚŚĞ ŵĞĂŶƟ ŵĞ͕ ƚŚĞ ƉƌŝĐĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ Ɵ ĐŬĞƚƐ ŚĂƐ ŝŶĐƌĞĂƐĞĚ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞǇ ŽŶůǇ ŚĂǀĞ ĞŶŽƵŐŚ ŵŽŶĞǇ ĨŽƌ ƚǁŽ Ɵ ĐŬĞƚƐ͘ /ƚ ŝƐ ĚĞĐŝĚĞĚ ƚŚĂƚ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ǇŽƵŶŐĞƐƚ͕ EŽƌĂ ŵƵƐƚ ƐƚĂǇ ďĞŚŝŶĚ ǁŝƚŚ Ă ĐĂƌŝŶŐ ĚŽůů ŵĂŬĞƌ ĂŶĚ ŚŝƐ ǁŝĨĞ ƵŶƟ ů ƚŚĞ ĨĂŵŝůǇ ĐĂŶ Ăī ŽƌĚ ĂŶŽƚŚĞƌ Ɵ ĐŬĞƚ͘ hŶĂďůĞ ƚŽ ďĞĂƌ ƚŚĞ ƚŚŽƵŐŚƚ ŽĨ EŽƌĂ ďĞŝŶŐ ůĞŌ behind, the doll maker creates a special doll with a secret compartment which will enable ŚĞƌ ƚŽ ũŽŝŶ ŚĞƌ ŵŽƚŚĞƌ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ƚƌŝƉ͘ /ůůƵƐƚƌĂƟ ŽŶƐ ŝŶ ǁĂƌŵ ƉĂƐƚĞů ĐŽůŽƌƐ ĚĞƉŝĐƚ ĞĂĐŚ ƐƚĂŐĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƐƚŽƌǇ͘ ŚŝůĚƌĞŶ ǁŝůů ǁŽŶĚĞƌ Ăƚ EŽƌĂ͛Ɛ ŵŝƌĂĐƵͲ ůŽƵƐ ǀŽǇĂŐĞ ĂŶĚ ǁŝůů ůĞĂƌŶ ƚŚĞ ŝŵƉŽƌƚĂŶĐĞ ŽĨ ƐĂǀŝŶŐ ĂŶŽƚŚĞƌ͛Ɛ ůŝĨĞ͘ dŚŝƐ ďŽŽŬ ŝƐ ƌĞĐŽŵͲ ŵĞŶĚĞĚ ĨŽƌ ĂŐĞƐ ϴ ĂŶĚ ƵƉ͘ DA

Friends Forever Amy Ariel Yotzeret Publishing, 2011 Paperback 148 pp. $8.95 ISBN: 978-1-59287-112-4

ůĞǀĞŶͲǇĞĂƌͲŽůĚƐ ďŝŐĂŝů ĂŶĚ ,ĂŶŶĂŚ ďĞĐŽŵĞ friends when Hannah suddenly appears in ďŝŐĂŝů͛Ɛ ^ƚ͘ WĂƵů ǇĂƌĚ ŝŶ ϭϵϭϮ ĂŌ Ğƌ ďŝŐĂŝů͛Ɛ ĂƵŶƚ ŐŝǀĞƐ ŚĞƌ Ă ďŽŽŬ ĞŶƟ ƚůĞĚ The Secret Garden͘ dŚŝƐ ŝƐ Ă Ɵ ŵĞ ƚƌĂǀĞů ƐƚŽƌǇ ǁŝƚŚ Ă ƐǁŝƚĐŚ͖ ďŝŐĂŝů ĂŶĚ ,ĂŶŶĂŚ ďŽƚŚ ůŝǀĞ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƐĂŵĞ ŚŽƵƐĞ ŽŶůǇ ƚŚĞǇ ůŝǀĞ ƚŚĞƌĞ ŽŶĞ ŚƵŶĚƌĞĚ ǇĞĂƌƐ ĂƉĂƌƚ͘ dŚŝƐ ĞǆĐĞůůĞŶƚ ƌĞĂĚ ŚŝŐŚůŝŐŚƚƐ ǁŚĂƚ Ă DŝĚǁĞƐƚĞƌŶ :ĞǁŝƐŚ Őŝƌů ŵŝŐŚƚ ŚĂǀĞ ĞǆƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞĚ ĚƵƌŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ƐŽĐŝĂů͕ ĐƵůƚƵƌĂů͕ ĂŶĚ

ƉŽůŝƟ ĐĂů ƚƌĂŶƐĨŽƌŵĂƟ ŽŶƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĞĂƌůǇ ƚǁĞŶƟ ĞƚŚ ĐĞŶƚƵƌǇ͘ dŚĞǇ ĚŝƐĐƵƐƐ ŝƐƐƵĞƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ Ɵ ŵĞ ƐƵĐŚ ĂƐ ǁŽŵĞŶ͛Ɛ ƌŝŐŚƚ ƚŽ ǀŽƚĞ͕ ǁŽƌŬĞƌƐ͛ ƌŝŐŚƚƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ƌĂĐŝĂů ĞƋƵĂůŝƚǇ͘ dŚĞ ƚƌĂĚŝƟ ŽŶƐ ĂŶĚ ƉƌĂĐƟ ĐĞƐ ŽĨ :ƵĚĂŝƐŵ ĂƌĞ ŝŶƚĞŐƌĂƚĞĚ ŝŶƚŽ ƚŚĞ ĚĂŝůǇ ůŝǀĞƐ ŽĨ ďŽƚŚ ŐŝƌůƐ͕ ǁŚŽ ŽďƐĞƌǀĞ ƚŚĞŝƌ ƌĞůŝŐŝŽŶ ƐŝŵŝůĂƌůǇ ŽŶĞ ŚƵŶĚƌĞĚ ǇĞĂƌƐ ĂƉĂƌƚ͘ ďŝŐĂŝů ĂŶĚ ,ĂŶŶĂŚ ƐŚĂƌĞ ƚŚĞ ĞǆĐŝƚĞŵĞŶƚ ŽĨ ŚĂǀŝŶŐ ƌĞĂĚ ŵĂŶǇ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƐĂŵĞ ďŽŽŬƐ͕ ĂůƚŚŽƵŐŚ ƚŚĞŝƌ ƉĞƌƐƉĞĐƟ ǀĞƐ ŽŶ ƚŚŽƐĞ ďŽŽŬƐ ƌĞŇ ĞĐƚ ƚŚĞ Ěŝī ĞƌĞŶƚ Ɵ ŵĞƐ ŝŶ ǁŚŝĐŚ ƚŚĞǇ ůŝǀĞ͘ ůƚŚŽƵŐŚ ,ĂŶŶĂŚ ŬŶŽǁƐ ƚŚĂƚ ƐŽŵĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŝƐƐƵĞƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĚĂǇ ǁŝůů ƌĞƐŽůǀĞ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĨƵƚƵƌĞ͕ ƐŚĞ ĚŽĞƐŶ͛ƚ ŐŝǀĞ ďŝŐĂŝů ƚŚĞ ĚĞƚĂŝůƐ͘ dŚĞ ŐŝƌůƐ ŝŶŐĞŶŝŽƵƐůǇ ƐŽůǀĞ ƚŚĞ ƉƌŽďůĞŵ ŽĨ ŚŽǁ ƚŽ ŐĞƚ ,ĂŶŶĂŚ ďĂĐŬ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ĨƵƚƵƌĞ ǁŝƚŚŽƵƚ ďĞŝŶŐ ŵŝƐƐĞĚ ŝŶ ŚĞƌ ŽǁŶ Ɵ ŵĞ͘ ůĂĐŬ ĂŶĚ ǁŚŝƚĞ ĚƌĂǁŝŶŐƐ ƉŽƌƚƌĂǇ ƚŚĞ ĐŚĂƌĂĐƚĞƌƐ ĂŶĚ ƐŚŽǁ ƉůĂĐĞƐ͕ ĐůŽƚŚĞƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ĚĞĐŽƌĂƟ ǀĞ ŝƚĞŵƐ ŵĞŶͲ Ɵ ŽŶĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƐƚŽƌǇ͘ dŚŝƐ ďŽŽŬ ŝƐ ƌĞĐŽŵŵĞŶĚĞĚ ĨŽƌ ĂŐĞƐ ϴͲϭϮ͘ BS

Grandma Rose's Magic Linda Elovitz Marshall Ag Jatkowska, illus. Kar-Ben Publishing, 2012 Paperback 24 pp. $7.95 ISBN: 978-0-7613-5216-7

ŐƌŽƵƉ ŽĨ ĨŽƵƌͲ ĂŶĚ Į ǀĞͲǇĞĂƌ ŽůĚƐ ůŽǀĞĚ ƚŚŝƐ ŵĂŐŝĐĂů ƐƚŽƌǇ ŽĨ Ă ƐƉĞĐŝĂů 'ƌĂŶĚŵĂ ǁŚŽ ĂĚĚƐ Ă ůŝƩ ůĞ ĞǆƚƌĂ ƐŽŵĞƚŚŝŶŐ ƚŽ ǁŚĂƚĞǀĞƌ she sews. When she sews the bank teller’s ǁĞĚĚŝŶŐ ĚƌĞƐƐ͕ 'ƌĂŶĚŵĂ ZŽƐĞ ƐƵƌƉƌŝƐĞƐ ŚĞƌ ďǇ ĂĚĚŝŶŐ Ă ůĂĐǇ ďƌŝĚĂů ǀĞŝů͘ ^ŚĞ ĂĚĚƐ ďĞĂƵƟ Ͳ ĨƵů ƉŝŶŬ ĂŶĚ ƌĞĚ ďƵƩ ŽŶƐ ƐŚĂƉĞĚ ůŝŬĞ ƌŽƐĞƐ ƚŽ Ă ƐŬŝƌƚ ƐŚĞ ŝƐ ŚĞŵŵŝŶŐ ĨŽƌ DƌƐ͘ &ĞůĚŵĂŶ͕ ĂŶĚ ƚǁĞůǀĞ ďĞĂƵƟ ĨƵů ŶĂƉŬŝŶƐ ;ǁŝƚŚ ďůƵĞ ĂŶĚ ŐŽůĚ ďŽƌĚĞƌƐͿ ŵĂŐŝĐĂůůǇ ĂƉƉĞĂƌ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ďůƵĞ ƚĂďůĞĐůŽƚŚ DƌƐ͘ ŽŽƉĞƌ ŚĂƐ ŽƌĚĞƌĞĚ ĨŽƌ ŚĞƌ ĚĂƵŐŚƚĞƌ ǁŚŽ ŝƐ ŐĞƫ ŶŐ ŵĂƌƌŝĞĚ͘

www.jewishbookcouncil.org

'ƌĂŶĚŵĂ ZŽƐĞ ƚĞůůƐ ŚĞƌ ŐƌĂŶĚĚĂƵŐŚƚĞƌ ƚŚĂƚ ƐŚĞ ŝƐ ƐĂǀŝŶŐ Ăůů ŚĞƌ ĞĂƌŶŝŶŐƐ ƐŽ ƐŚĞ ĐĂŶ ďƵǇ the dishes she saw in the department store. dŚĞǇ ŚĂǀĞ ƉŝŶŬ ĂŶĚ ƌĞĚ ƌŽƐĞƐ ĂŶĚ ďůƵĞ ĂŶĚ ŐŽůĚ ƚƌŝŵ͕ ĂŶĚ ůŽŽŬ ůŝŬĞ ƚŚĞ ĚŝƐŚĞƐ ŚĞƌ ŐƌĂŶĚͲ mother used for Shabbos meals. But when ƚŚĞ ďĂŶŬ ƚĞůůĞƌ ĐŽŶǀĞƌƚƐ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŝŶƐ ŝŶ 'ƌĂŶĚŵĂ ZŽƐĞ͛Ɛ ũĂƌ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ΨϮϬϬ ƐŚĞ ŚĂƐ ĞĂƌŶĞĚ ĂŶĚ ƐŚĞ ŐŽĞƐ ƚŽ ƉƵƌĐŚĂƐĞ ƚŚĞ ĚŝƐŚĞƐ͕ 'ƌĂŶĚŵĂ ZŽƐĞ ŝƐ ǀĞƌǇ ĚŝƐĂƉƉŽŝŶƚĞĚ͘ ůů ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĚŝƐŚĞƐ ĂƌĞ ŐŽŶĞ͊ ^ŚĞ ŝƐ ƐĂĚ͕ ďƵƚ ĚĞĐŝĚĞƐ ƚŽ ŐĞƚ Ă ůŽƚ ŽĨ ĚĞůŝĐŝŽƵƐ ĨŽŽĚ ǁŝƚŚ ǁŚŝĐŚ ƚŽ Į ůů ŚĞƌ ŽůĚ ĚŝƐŚĞƐ͘ ^ƵƌƉƌŝƐĞ͊ When she opens the doors to her house, all of ŚĞƌ ĐƵƐƚŽŵĞƌƐ͕ ĨƌŝĞŶĚƐ ĂŶĚ ĨĂŵŝůǇ ĂƌĞ ŐĂƚŚĞƌĞĚ ƚŚĞƌĞ͕ ĞĂĐŚ ŚŽůĚŝŶŐ Ă ƉŝĞĐĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĚŝƐŚ ƐĞƚ ƚŽ ƚŚĂŶŬ ŚĞƌ ĨŽƌ Ăůů ŚĞƌ ǁŽŶĚĞƌĨƵů ƐƵƌƉƌŝƐĞƐ͊ dŚĞ ƐƚŽƌǇ ĞŶĚƐ ǁŝƚŚ ŚĞƌ ƐĂǇŝŶŐ ͞ŵƵƐƚ ďĞ ŵĂŐŝĐ͟ ǁŚĞŶ Dƌ͘ ŽŚĞŶ ĂƐŬƐ ŚŽǁ ƐŚĞ ŬŶĞǁ ƚŽ ŚĂǀĞ all that delicious food for them (which is, of ĐŽƵƌƐĞ͕ ďĞŝŶŐ ƐĞƌǀĞĚ ŽŶ ƚŚŽƐĞ ŶĞǁ ĚŝƐŚĞƐ͘Ϳ ŚĞĞƌĨƵů͕ ďƌŝŐŚƚůǇ ĐŽůŽƌĞĚ ŝůůƵƐƚƌĂƟ ŽŶƐ ǁŝƚŚ ƐƉƌŝŐŚƚůǇ ƐŵŝůŝŶŐ ƉĞŽƉůĞ ĂƌĞ ƚŚĞ ƉĞƌĨĞĐƚ ĐŽŵͲ plement to the text. Marshall, who also wrote Talia and the Rude Vegetables͕ ŚĂƐ ǁƌŝƩ ĞŶ Ă ŚŽƉĞĨƵů ƐƚŽƌǇ ďƌŝŵŵŝŶŐ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ũŽǇƐ ŽĨ ŐĞŶĞƌͲ ŽƐŝƚǇ ĂŶĚ ĞŵƉŚĂƐŝǌŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ŵĞƐƐĂŐĞ ŽĨ Ɵ ŬŬƵŶ ŽůĂŵ ;Į ǆŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ǁŽƌůĚͿ ǁŝƚŚŽƵƚ ďĞŝŶŐ ĚŝĚĂĐƟ Đ͘ ,ŝŐŚůǇ ƌĞĐŽŵŵĞŶĚĞĚ ĨŽƌ ĂŐĞƐ ϰͲϲ͘ AD

Hannah’s Way Linda Glaser Adam Gustavson, illus. Kar-Ben Publishing, 2012 Paperback 24 pp. $7.95 ISBN: 978-0-7613-5138-2

Ō Ğƌ ,ĂŶŶĂŚ͛Ɛ ĨĂƚŚĞƌ ůŽƐĞƐ ŚŝƐ ũŽď ĚƵƌŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ĞƉƌĞƐƐŝŽŶ͕ ƚŚĞ ĨĂŵŝůǇ ŵŽǀĞƐ ƚŽ Ă ƌƵƌĂů town in northern Minnesota where he will ǁŽƌŬ ŝŶ ŚŝƐ ďƌŽƚŚĞƌ͛Ɛ ŐĞŶĞƌĂů ƐƚŽƌĞ͘ ,ĂŶŶĂŚ ŝƐ

summer 5772/2012

Jewish Book World

children’s ŶŽƚ ŽŶůǇ ƚŚĞ ŶĞǁ Őŝƌů ŝŶ ŚĞƌ ĐůĂƐƐ͖ ƐŚĞ͛Ɛ ĂůƐŽ ƚŚĞ only Jewish child in the whole school. When the teacher announces the date of the class ƉŝĐŶŝĐ ĂŶĚ Žī ĞƌƐ ƚŽ ĂƌƌĂŶŐĞ ĐĂƌƉŽŽůƐ͕ ,ĂŶŶĂŚ ĚĞƐƉĞƌĂƚĞůǇ ǁĂŶƚƐ ƚŽ ŐŽ͘ Ƶƚ ƚŚĞ ƉŝĐŶŝĐ ŝƐ ŽŶ a Saturday and her family is Orthodox. “Why ĐĂŶ͛ƚ / ƌŝĚĞ ŝŶ Ă ĐĂƌ͍ /ƚ͛Ɛ ŶŽƚ ĚƌŝǀŝŶŐ͘ /ƚ͛Ɛ ũƵƐƚ ƐŝƚͲ Ɵ ŶŐ͟ ƐŚĞ ďĞŐƐ ŚĞƌ ƉĂƌĞŶƚƐ͘ ,ĂŶŶĂŚ Į ŶĂůůǇ ƚĞůůƐ her teacher she can’t ride on a Saturday, but says she can walk with someone. To Hannah’s surprise, when the teacher asks who would like ƚŽ ǁĂůŬ ǁŝƚŚ ŚĞƌ͕ ĞǀĞƌǇ ƐŝŶŐůĞ ŚĂŶĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĐůĂƐƐ ŝƐ ƌĂŝƐĞĚ͘ ĚĂŵ 'ƵƐƚĂǀƐŽŶ͛Ɛ ƉĂŝŶƟ ŶŐƐ ĂĐĐƵͲ ƌĂƚĞůǇ ƌĞŇ ĞĐƚ ƚŚĞ ƉĞƌŝŽĚ͕ ĂŶĚ ĂŶ ĂƵƚŚŽƌ͛Ɛ ŶŽƚĞ explains that the story was inspired by a true ĞƉŝƐŽĚĞ͘ ZĞĐŽŵŵĞŶĚĞĚ ĨŽƌ ĂŐĞƐ ϱͲϵ͘ SK

Harry Houdini: The Legend of the World’s Greatest Escape Artist Janice Weaver Chris Lane, illus. Abrams Books For Young Readers, 2011 Hardcover 48 pp. $18.95 ISBN: 978-1-4197-0014-9

arry Houdini: The Legend of the World’s 'ƌĞĂƚĞƐƚ ƐĐĂƉĞ ƌƟ Ɛƚ ŝƐ Ă ĐŽŵƉƌĞŚĞŶƐŝǀĞ ďŝŽŐƌĂƉŚǇ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĨĂŵĞĚ ŵĂŐŝĐŝĂŶ ĂŶĚ ŝůůƵƐŝŽŶͲ ŝƐƚ͘ /ƚ ƚĞůůƐ ,ŽƵĚŝŶŝ͛Ɛ ƐƚŽƌǇ͗ ŚŝƐ ďŝƌƚŚ ŝŶ ,ƵŶŐĂƌǇ͕ ŝŵŵŝŐƌĂƟ ŽŶ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ hŶŝƚĞĚ ^ƚĂƚĞƐ͕ ƉŽǀĞƌƚǇͲ ƌŝĚĚĞŶ ĐŚŝůĚŚŽŽĚ͕ ĚĞǀĞůŽƉŵĞŶƚ ĂƐ Ă ŵĂŐŝĐŝĂŶ͕ ƉĞƌƐŽŶĂů ƌĞůĂƟ ŽŶƐŚŝƉƐ͕ ĂŵĂǌŝŶŐ ĨĞĂƚƐ͕ ĨŽƌĂǇ ŝŶƚŽ ĐŝŶĞŵĂ͕ ŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƚ ŝŶ ĚĞĨĞĂƟ ŶŐ ƐƉŝƌŝƚƵĂůŝƐƚƐ͛ ƋƵĂĐŬĞƌǇ ĂŶĚ ĞŶŝŐŵĂƟ Đ ĚĞĂƚŚ͘ dŚĞ ƐƚŽƌǇ ƚŽƵĐŚĞƐ ŽŶ ,ŽƵĚŝŶŝ͛Ɛ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ďĂĐŬŐƌŽƵŶĚ͖ ŚĞ ǁĂƐ ďŽƌŶ ƌŝĐŚ tĞŝƐƐ ĂŶĚ ŚŝƐ ĨĂƚŚĞƌ ǁĂƐ Ă ƌĂďďŝ͘ dŚĞ ďŽŽŬ ŝŶĐůƵĚĞƐ ƌŝĐŚ ĂƌĐŚŝǀĂů ŚŝƐƚŽƌŝĐĂů ŝŵĂŐĞƐ ĂŶĚ ŵŽĚĞƌŶ ŝůůƵƐƚƌĂƟ ŽŶƐ ƚŚĂƚ ĨƵƌƚŚĞƌ Ň ĞƐŚ ŽƵƚ ,ŽƵĚŝŶŝ͛Ɛ ƐƚŽƌǇ͘ /ƚ ŝƐ͕ ŝŶ ĨĂĐƚ͕

Jewish Book World

ũĂŵͲƉĂĐŬĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ ŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƟ ŽŶ͘ dŚĞ ďŽŽŬ ŝƐ ďĞƐƚ ĚŝŐĞƐƚĞĚ ďƌŽŬĞŶ ƵƉ ŝŶƚŽ ƐŵĂůů ĂŶĞĐĚŽƚĞƐ͘ dŚĞ ŵĂŶǇ ƐŝĚĞďĂƌƐ ƚĞůů ĨĂĐƚƵĂů ŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƟ ŽŶ ĂďŽƵƚ Ă ŵǇƌŝĂĚ ŽĨ ƐƵďũĞĐƚƐ ŝŶĐůƵĚŝŶŐ ŝŵŵŝŐƌĂƟ ŽŶ͕ ĐŚŝůĚ ůĂďŽƌ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ h͘^͕͘ ŽůĚ Ɵ ŵĞ ĚŝŵĞ ŵƵƐĞƵŵƐ ĂŶĚ ƐƉŝƌŝƚƵĂůŝƐƚƐ͘ dŚĞ ƐƚĂŶĚͲĂůŽŶĞ ƐĞĐƟ ŽŶƐ ƉƵƚ Houdini into an historical context. This thin, ĞǆĐŝƟ ŶŐ ďŝŽŐƌĂƉŚǇ ƉĂĐŬƐ Ă ƉƵŶĐŚ͘ /ƚ ŝƐ ƌĞĐŽŵͲ ŵĞŶĚĞĚ ĨŽƌ ĂŐĞƐ ϵ ĂŶĚ ƵƉ͘ DW

It's Tot Shabbat Naomi Danis Tod Cohen, illus. Kar-Ben Publishing, 2011 Hardcover 22 pp. $14.95 ISBN: 978-0-7613-4515-2

t’s Tot Shabbat ŝƐ ƉĂƌƚ ŽĨ Ă <ĂƌͲ ĞŶ ƐĞƌŝĞƐ ƐŚŽǁŝŶŐ ĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶ ĐĞůĞďƌĂƟ ŶŐ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ŚŽůŝĚĂǇƐ ĂƌŽƵŶĚ ƚŚĞ ǇĞĂƌ͘ ,ĞƌĞ ǁĞ ĨŽůůŽǁ Ă ŐƌŽƵƉ ŽĨ ĂƉƉĞĂůŝŶŐ ƉƌĞƐĐŚŽŽůĞƌƐ ĂƩ ĞŶĚŝŶŐ Ă ƐǇŶĂŐŽŐƵĞ ǇŽƵƚŚ ƉƌŽŐƌĂŵ ŽŶ ^ŚĂďďĂƚ ŵŽƌŶŝŶŐ ǁŚŝůĞ ƚŚĞŝƌ ƉĂƌĞŶƚƐ ƉƌĂǇ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĂĚũĂĐĞŶƚ ƐĂŶĐƚƵĂƌǇ͘ dŚĞ ĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶ ƉůĂǇ ŐĂŵĞƐ ƌĞůĂƟ ŶŐ ƚŽ ƐƚŽƌŝĞƐ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ ǁĞĞŬůǇ dŽƌĂŚ ƉŽƌƟ ŽŶ ĂŶĚ ƐŚĂƌĞ Ă ƐŶĂĐŬ ĂŌ Ğƌ ŵĂŬŝŶŐ Ă ďůĞƐƐŝŶŐ ŽŶ ƚŚĞŝƌ ĨŽŽĚ͘ They listen to a story, share toys, and model ŽƚŚĞƌ ĂƉƉƌŽƉƌŝĂƚĞ ĂŶĚ ĞŶũŽǇĂďůĞ ďĞŚĂǀŝŽƌƐ ĨŽƌ ǇŽƵŶŐ ƌĞĂĚĞƌƐ͘ dŚĞǇ ŚĂƉƉŝůǇ ƌĞũŽŝŶ ƚŚĞŝƌ ƉĂƌĞŶƚƐ ŝŶ ƐŽŶŐ ĂŶĚ ƉƌĂǇĞƌ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ ĞŶĚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƐĞƌǀŝĐĞ͘ dŚĞ ŝůůƵƐƚƌĂƟ ŽŶƐ ĂƌĞ ďƌŝŐŚƚ͕ ĐůĞĂƌ ƉŚŽͲ ƚŽŐƌĂƉŚƐ ŽĨ ĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶ ůĞĂƌŶŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ ŚĂǀŝŶŐ ĨƵŶ͕ ŽďǀŝŽƵƐůǇ ĞŶũŽǇŝŶŐ ƚŚĞŝƌ ƐǇŶĂŐŽŐƵĞ ĞǆƉĞƌŝͲ ence. The text is simple and easily understood ĂŶĚ ŝƐ ĨŽůůŽǁĞĚ ďǇ Ă ŐůŽƐƐĂƌǇ ĂƐ ǁĞůů ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ǁŽƌĚŝŶŐ͕ ĞǆƉůĂŶĂƟ ŽŶ͕ ĂŶĚ ƚƌĂŶƐůŝƚĞƌĂƟ ŽŶ ŽĨ the brachot Žƌ ďůĞƐƐŝŶŐƐ ŵĞŶƟ ŽŶĞĚ ǁŝƚŚŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƐƚŽƌǇ͘ ,ŝŐŚůǇ ƌĞĐŽŵŵĞŶĚĞĚ ĨŽƌ ĂŐĞƐ ϮͲϱ͘ MHM

summer 5772/2012

www.jewishbookcouncil.org

Jodie’s Passover Adventure Anna Levine Ksenia Topaz, illus. Kar-Ben Publishing, 2012 Paperback 32 pp. $7.95 ISBN: 978-0-7613-5642-4

ƵƌŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ǁĞĞŬ ŽĨ WĂƐƐŽǀĞƌ͕ :ŽĚŝĞ͛Ɛ ĐŽƵƐŝŶ ĂĐŚ ǀŝƐŝƚƐ :ŽĚŝĞ ĂŶĚ ŚĞƌ ĨĂŵŝůǇ͘ dŚĞ ƐŝďůŝŶŐƐ Ăůů ǁĂŶƚ ƚŽ ƐƉĞŶĚ Ɵ ŵĞ ǁŝƚŚ ĂĐŚ ĂŶĚ ĂƌŐƵĞ ĂďŽƵƚ ǁŚŽ ŝƐ ƚŽ ĞŶƚĞƌƚĂŝŶ Śŝŵ͘ :ŽĚŝĞ ƐƵĐĐĞĞĚƐ ŝŶ ƉĞƌƐƵĂĚŝŶŐ ĂĐŚ͕ ǁŚŽ ŝƐ ŝŶŝƟ ĂůůǇ ĨĞĂƌĨƵů͕ ƚŽ ĂĐĐŽŵƉĂŶǇ ŚĞƌ ŽŶ ĂŶ ĂƌĐŚĞŽůŽŐŝĐĂů ĂĚǀĞŶƚƵƌĞ ƚŽ ,ĞǌĞŬŝĂŚ͛Ɛ dƵŶŶĞů͘ WůĂĐĞƐ ŝŶ :ĞƌƵƐĂůĞŵ ĂƌĞ ĂůůƵĚĞĚ ƚŽ ǁŝƚŚ ŝůůƵƐƚƌĂƟ ŽŶƐ ĂŶĚ ďƌŝĞĨ ŚŝƐƚŽƌŝĐĂů ĚĞƐĐƌŝƉƟ ŽŶƐ͘ :ŽĚŝĞ ŚĞůƉƐ ĂĐŚ ŽǀĞƌĐŽŵĞ ŚŝƐ ĨĞĂƌƐ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚ ŚĞƌ ůŽŐŝĐͲďĂƐĞĚ ĞǆƉůĂŶĂƟ ŽŶƐ͘ tŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ŚĞůƉ ŽĨ Ă Ň ĂƐŚůŝŐŚƚ :ŽĚŝĞ ŚĂƐ ƌĞĐĞŝǀĞĚ ĨŽƌ Į ŶĚŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ĂĮ ŬŽŵĞŶ͕ ƚŚĞ ĐŽƵƐŝŶƐ ƐŽůǀĞ ƚŚĞ ΗƌŝĚĚůĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŵŝĚĚůĞΗ ƉŽŝŶƚĞĚ ŽƵƚ ďǇ :ŽĚŝĞ͛Ɛ ĂƌĐŚĞŽůŽŐŝƐƚ ĨĂƚŚĞƌ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ ďĞŐŝŶŶŝŶŐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞŝƌ ƚŽƵƌ͖ ƚŚĞ ŽƌŝŐŝŶĂů ƚƵŶŶĞů ǁĂƐ ĚƵŐ ĨƌŽŵ ƚǁŽ ƐƚĂƌƟ ŶŐ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ǁŽƌŬĞƌƐ ŵĞĞƟ ŶŐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŵŝĚĚůĞ͘ ŽƵďůĞͲƉĂŐĞ ŝůůƵƐƚƌĂƟ ŽŶƐ ŵŽǀĞ ƚŚĞ ƐƚŽƌǇ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ ƐƚĂƌƚ ŽĨ :ŽĚŝĞ͛Ɛ ĞǆƉůŽƌĂƟ ŽŶ ŽƵƚƐŝĚĞ ƚŚĞ ƚƵŶŶĞů ǁŚĞƌĞ no clear entrance is indicated, to a wall that ƐŚŽǁƐ ŵĂƌŬŝŶŐƐ ƉƵƚ ƚŚĞƌĞ ďǇ ƚŚĞ ŽƌŝŐŝŶĂů builders and then back to the outside where ƚŚĞǇ ĂƌĞ ŵĞƚ ďǇ Ă ďƵƌƐƚ ŽĨ ƐƵŶůŝŐŚƚ͘ tŝƚŚŽƵƚ ĂŶǇ ŬŶŽǁůĞĚŐĞ ŽĨ :ĞƌƵƐĂůĞŵ͕ ĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶ ŵĂǇ ďĞ ŽǀĞƌǁŚĞůŵĞĚ ďǇ ƚŚĞ ŵĂŶǇ ƵŶĨĂŵŝůŝĂƌ ƉůĂĐĞƐ ŵĞŶƟ ŽŶĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƚĞǆƚ͘ dŚĞ ƐƚŽƌǇ ŝƚƐĞůĨ ŝƐ ůŽŽƐĞůǇ ƌĞůĂƚĞĚ ƚŽ WĂƐƐŽǀĞƌ ŝŶ ƚŚĂƚ ŝƚ ŽĐĐƵƌƐ ĚƵƌŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ŚŽůŝĚĂǇ͕ Ă WĂƐƐŽǀĞƌ ƉŝĐŶŝĐ ŝƐ ƉĂĐŬĞĚ ĂŶĚ <ŝŶŐ ,ĞǌĞŬŝĂŚ ŽŶĐĞ ŚĞůĚ Ă ǀĞƌǇ ůĂƌŐĞ seder. The tunnel, itself, the main focus of the ƐƚŽƌǇ͕ ŝƐ ŶŽƚ ƌĞůĂƚĞĚ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ŚŽůŝĚĂǇ͘ ZĞĐŽŵͲ ŵĞŶĚĞĚ ĨŽƌ ĂŐĞƐ ϲͲϵ͘ DA

children’s Let My People Go Alison Greengard, adapter Carol Racklin-Siegel, illus. EKS Publishing, 2011 Paperback 28 pp. $10.95 ISBN: 978-0-939144-67-9

et My People Go ŝƐ ƚŚĞ ŶĞǁĞƐƚ ĂĚĚŝƟ ŽŶ ƚŽ Ă ƐĞƌŝĞƐ ŽĨ ďŽŽŬƐ ǁŚŝĐŚ ĐŽŵďŝŶĞ ĂŶ ĂƵƚŚĞŶƟ Đ dŽƌĂŚͲƌĞĂĚŝŶŐ ĞǆƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞ ǁŝƚŚ Ă ůĞƐƐ ĨŽƌŵĂů ŝďůĞͲƐƚŽƌǇ ĂƉƉƌŽĂĐŚ͘ dŚŝƐ ŽŶĞ ƚĞůůƐ ƚŚĞ ƐƚŽƌǇ ŽĨ DŽƐĞƐ ĂƐ ŚĞ ĂƉƉĞĂůƐ ƚŽ WŚĂƌĂŽŚ ƚŽ ƌĞůĞĂƐĞ ƚŚĞ /ƐƌĂĞůŝƚĞƐ ĨƌŽŵ ďŽŶĚĂŐĞ ŝŶ ŐǇƉƚ͕ ƚŽ ůĞƚ ŚŝƐ ƉĞŽƉůĞ ŐŽ ĨƌŽŵ ƐůĂǀĞƌǇ ƚŽ ĨƌĞĞĚŽŵ͘ /ƚ ǁŽƵůĚ ďĞ Ă ǁĞůĐŽŵĞ ĂĚĚŝƟ ŽŶ Ăƚ Ă WĂƐƐŽǀĞƌ ƐĞĚĞƌ͕ ŚĞůƉͲ ŝŶŐ ƚŽ ďƌŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ƐƚŽƌǇ ƚŽ ůŝĨĞ͘ ĂĐŚ ƉĂŐĞ ďĞŐŝŶƐ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ƌĞůĞǀĂŶƚ ƉĂƐƐĂŐĞ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ dŽƌĂŚ ŝŶ ĐůĂƐƐŝĐĂů ,ĞďƌĞǁ ĨŽŶƚ ĨŽůůŽǁĞĚ ďǇ ĂŶ ĞůĞŐĂŶƚ ƉĂƌĂƉŚƌĂƐŝŶŐ ŝŶƚŽ ŶŐůŝƐŚ͘ dŚĞ ƐǇŶƚŚĞƐŝƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƚǁŽ ĂƉƉƌŽĂĐŚĞƐ ůĞĂĚƐ ƚŽ ĂŶ ŝŶŶŽǀĂƟ ǀĞ ůĞĂƌŶŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ ůŝƚĞƌĂƌǇ ĞǆƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞ ƚŚĂƚ ŝƐ Ă ƌĞĨƌĞƐŚŝŶŐ ĐŚĂŶŐĞ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ ŽƌĚŝŶĂƌǇ͘ dŚĞ ďŽŽŬ ŝƐ ƌĞĂĚ ,ĞďƌĞǁ ƐƚǇůĞ͕ ĨƌŽŵ ƌŝŐŚƚ ƚŽ ůĞŌ ͕ ĂŶĚ ĐŽŶƚĂŝŶƐ ĂŶ ŝŶƚƌŽĚƵĐƚŽƌǇ ŽǀĞƌǀŝĞǁ͕ ĂƐ ǁĞůů ĂƐ Ă ,ĞďƌĞǁ ĂŶĚ ƚƌĂŶƐůŝƚĞƌĂƚĞĚ ŐůŽƐƐĂƌǇ͘ dŚĞ Ăƌƚ ŝƐ Ă ŵĂŐŶŝĮ ĐĞŶƚ ũĞǁĞůͲůŝŬĞ ƐŝůŬƐĐƌĞĞŶ ƚĞĐŚŶŝƋƵĞ which enhances the beauty and depth of the ĞǆƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞ͘ dŚŝƐ ďŽŽŬ ŝƐ ŚŝŐŚůǇ ƌĞĐŽŵŵĞŶĚĞĚ ĨŽƌ Ăůů ĂŐĞƐ ĞŝƚŚĞƌ ĂƐ Ă ƌĞĂĚͲĂůŽƵĚ Žƌ ƌĞĂĚͲĂůŽŶĞ experience. MHM

Levi Strauss Gets a Bright Idea: A Fairly Fabricated Story of a Pair of Pants Tony Johnston Stacy Innerst, illus. Harcourt Children’s Books, 2011 Hardcover 32 pp. $16.99 ISBN: 978-0-15-206145-6

ŚŝƐ ŚŝůĂƌŝŽƵƐ ĐŽŶƚĞŵƉŽƌĂƌǇ ƚĂůů ƚĂůĞ ĚĞͲ ƐĐƌŝďĞƐ ŚŽǁ >Ğǀŝ ^ƚƌĂƵƐƐ ǁĞŶƚ ƚŽ ĂůŝĨŽƌŶŝĂ ĚƵƌŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ 'ŽůĚ ZƵƐŚ ĂŶĚ ďĞĐĂŵĞ ƚŚĞ ŬŝŶŐ ŽĨ ũĞĂŶƐ͘ dŽŶǇ :ŽŚŶƐƚŽŶ ĐĂƉƚƵƌĞƐ ƉĞƌĨĞĐƚůǇ ƚŚĞ ŚǇƉĞƌďŽůŝĐ ƐƚŽƌǇƚĞůůŝŶŐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŐĞŶƌĞ͕ ĐŽŵƉůĞƚĞ ǁŝƚŚ ƌĞĨĞƌĞŶĐĞƐ ƚŽ ŵŝŶĞƌƐ ǁŽƌŬŝŶŐ ŝŶ ůŽŶŐ ũŽŚŶƐ͕ ƚŚĞ 'ƌĞĂƚ WĂŶƚƐ ZƵƐŚ͕ ĂŶĚ ^ƚƌĂƵƐƐ ďƵŝůĚͲ ŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ĐŝƚǇ ŽĨ ^ĂŶ &ƌĂŶĐŝƐĐŽ͘ ŚŝƐƚŽƌŝĐĂů ŶŽƚĞ ŝŶ the back of the book lets readers separate the ĨĂĐƚƐ ĂďŽƵƚ ^ƚƌĂƵƐƐ͛ ůŝĨĞ ĨƌŽŵ :ŽŚŶƐƚŽŶ͛Ɛ Į ĐƟ ŽŶ͘ ^ƚĂĐǇ /ŶŶĞƌƐƚ ƉĂŝŶƚĞĚ ƚŚĞ ĐƌĞĂƟ ǀĞ ŝůůƵƐƚƌĂƟ ŽŶƐ ŽŶ ũĞĂŶƐ ƵƐŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ƐĞĂŵƐ͕ ƉŽĐŬĞƚƐ ĂŶĚ ŽƚŚĞƌ structural elements as details in the pictures. They are an ideal accompaniment to Johnston’s ƚĞǆƚ͘ EŽƚĞ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞƌĞ ŝƐ ŶŽ ŵĞŶƟ ŽŶ ŽĨ >Ğǀŝ ^ƚƌĂƵƐƐ ďĞŝŶŐ :ĞǁŝƐŚ͘ ,ŝŐŚůǇ ƌĞĐŽŵŵĞŶĚĞĚ ĨŽƌ ĂŐĞƐ ϱͲϭϬ͘ MLB

Recipe and Craft Guide to Israel

ŚŝƐ ďŽŽŬ ďĞŐŝŶƐ ǁŝƚŚ Ă ďƌŝĞĨ ŝŶƚƌŽĚƵĐƟ ŽŶ ƚŽ the country of Israel and explains that the ŚŽůŝĚĂǇƐ ŽĨ /ƐƌĂĞů ƌĞǀŽůǀĞ ĂƌŽƵŶĚ ƚŚĞ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ĐĂůĞŶĚĂƌ͘ /ƚ ĂĚĚƌĞƐƐĞƐ ƚĞŶ ŚŽůŝĚĂǇƐ ĂŶĚ ŐŝǀĞƐ Ă ďƌŝĞĨ ĞǆƉůĂŶĂƟ ŽŶ ŽĨ ĞĂĐŚ ĨŽůůŽǁĞĚ ďǇ Ă ƌĞĐŝƉĞ ĨŽƌ Ă ƚƌĂĚŝƟ ŽŶĂů ŚŽůŝĚĂǇ ĨŽŽĚ ĂŶĚ Ă ĐƌĂŌ ƚŚĂƚ

www.jewishbookcouncil.org

The Stranger Within Sarah Stein Thane Rosenbaum Texas Tech University Press, 2012 Hardcover 160 pp. $19.95 ISBN: 978-0896727472

Laya Saul Mitchell Lane Publishers, 2012 Hardcover 64 pp. $33.95 ISBN: 978-1612280813

Ɵ ĞƐ ŝŶ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĂƚ ŚŽůŝĚĂǇ͘ dŚĞ ĂĐĐŽŵƉĂŶǇŝŶŐ ƉŚŽƚŽŐƌĂƉŚƐ ŝůůƵƐƚƌĂƚĞ ĞĂĐŚ ŚŽůŝĚĂǇ ǁĞůů ĂŶĚ ƐŽŵĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƌĞĐŝƉĞƐ ŝŶĐůƵĚĞ ƐƚĞƉͲďǇͲƐƚĞƉ ƉŚŽƚŽŐƌĂƉŚƐ ĂƐ ǁĞůů ĂƐ ŝŶƐƚƌƵĐƟ ŽŶƐ͘ dŚĞ ĐƌĂŌ Ɛ ĂƌĞ ĨƵŶ ĂŶĚ ƐŝŵƉůĞ ĞŶŽƵŐŚ ĨŽƌ ĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶ ĂŐĞƐ ĞŝŐŚƚ ĂŶĚ ƵƉ ƚŽ ĚŽ ƚŚĞŝƌ ŽǁŶ͘ zŽƵŶŐĞƌ ĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶ ĐĂŶ ĚŽ ƚŚĞ ĐƌĂŌ ƉƌŽũĞĐƚƐ ǁŝƚŚ ŚĞůƉ from an older child or an adult. The kitchen Ɵ ƉƐ ƌĞĐŽŵŵĞŶĚ ĂĚƵůƚ ĂƐƐŝƐƚĂŶĐĞ ĨŽƌ ǀĂƌŝŽƵƐ ĂĐƟ ǀŝƟ ĞƐ͘ dŚĞ ƌĞĐŝƉĞƐ ĂƌĞ ĂƵƚŚĞŶƟ ĐĂůůǇ /ƐƌĂĞůŝ ĂŶĚ ǁŚĞŶ ƉĂĐŬĂŐĞĚ ĨŽŽĚ ŝƐ ƐŚŽǁŶ͕ ŝƚ ŝƐ ĨƌŽŵ /ƐƌĂĞů ǁŝƚŚ ,ĞďƌĞǁ ǁƌŝƟ ŶŐ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ůĂďĞůƐ͘ ^ŽŵĞ of the recipes may not appeal to children. tŚŝůĞ ƚŚĞǇ ŵĂǇ ďĞ ŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƚĞĚ ŝŶ ŵĂŬŝŶŐ ŚĂŵĂŶƚĂƐĐŚĞŶ͕ ŶŽͲďĂŬĞ ĐŚĞĞƐĞĐĂŬĞ ĂŶĚ ĞŐŐ challah with raisins, perhaps they would be ůĞƐƐ ĞǆĐŝƚĞĚ ĂďŽƵƚ ĐŽŽŬŝŶŐ ĐŚŽůĞŶƚ Žƌ ƐƉŝĐǇ Į ƐŚ͘ dŚŝƐ ďŽŽŬ ŝƐ ĂƉƉƌŽƉƌŝĂƚĞ ĨŽƌ ĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶ ĂŐĞƐ ϴͲϭϰ͘ ŚŝůĚƌĞŶ ϭϮ ĂŶĚ ƵƉ ƐŚŽƵůĚ ďĞ ĂďůĞ ƚŽ ĨŽůůŽǁ ƚŚĞ ƌĞĐŝƉĞƐ ǁŝƚŚ ƐŽŵĞ ƐƵƉĞƌǀŝƐŝŽŶ͘ DB

ŚŝƐ ďŽŽŬ ŝƐ Ă ƉĂŐĞ ƚƵƌŶĞƌ͘ /ƚ ĚĞĂůƐ ǁŝƚŚ ƐŽŵĞ ŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƟ ŶŐ ƚŚĞŵĞƐͶĚŝǀŽƌĐĞ ĂŶĚ ŝƚƐ Ğī ĞĐƚƐ͕ ƚƌĂƵŵĂ ĂŶĚ ƐƵƌǀŝǀĂů͕ Ěŝī ĞƌĞŶĐĞƐ ďĞƚǁĞĞŶ ƚŚĞ ĞǆƚĞƌŝŽƌ ŽĨ ĂŶ ŝŶĚŝǀŝĚƵĂů ĂŶĚ ǁŚŽ ƚŚĂƚ ƉĞƌƐŽŶ ŝƐ ŝŶƐŝĚĞ͕ ĂŶĚ ĐůĞĂƌŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ŶĂŵĞ ŽĨ person who has been falsely accused. ^ĂƌĂŚ͕ ǁŚŽ ŝƐ ƚǁĞůǀĞ ǇĞĂƌƐ ŽůĚ͕ Į ŐŚƚƐ ƚŽ ŵĂŝŶƚĂŝŶ ŚĞƌ ƐĂŶŝƚǇ ĂŌ Ğƌ ŚĞƌ ƉĂƌĞŶƚƐ ĂŶͲ ŶŽƵŶĐĞ ƚŚĞǇ ĂƌĞ ŐĞƫ ŶŐ Ă ĚŝǀŽƌĐĞ͘ ^ŚĞ ĚŽĞƐ this in a unique way. She clearly understands the personality each of her parents expects ŚĞƌ ƚŽ ďĞ͘ ^Ž͕ ƐŝŶĐĞ ƚŚĞǇ ŚĂǀĞ ũŽŝŶƚ ĐƵƐƚŽĚǇ͕ when she is with her mother she is a proper,

summer 5772/2012

Jewish Book World

children’s ǁĞůů ĚƌĞƐƐĞĚ ǇŽƵŶŐ ůĂĚǇ͘ Ƶƚ ǁŚĞŶ ƐŚĞ ŝƐ ǁŝƚŚ ŚĞƌ ĨĂƚŚĞƌ͕ ƐŚĞ ŝƐ Ă ŵŽƚŽƌĐǇĐůĞͲũĂĐŬĞƚ͕ 'ŽƚŚͲŵĂŬĞƵƉ ŬŝŶĚ ŽĨ ƉĞƌƐŽŶ͘ ƌƵƐŚĞĚ ďǇ ƚŚĞŝƌ ĚĞĐŝƐŝŽŶ ƚŽ ĚŝǀŽƌĐĞ͕ ƐŚĞ ƋƵĞƐƟ ŽŶƐ ǁŚĂƚ ƚŚĞǇ ŚĂǀĞ ĚŽŶĞ͘ ͞,Žǁ ĚŽ ƉĞŽƉůĞ ĨĂůů ŽƵƚ ŽĨ ůŽǀĞ͍ ,Žǁ ŝƐ ŝƚ ƉŽƐƐŝďůĞ ƚŽ ůŽǀĞ ƐŽŵĞŽŶĞ ƐŽ ŵƵĐŚ ŽŶĞ ĚĂǇ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞŶ ƚŚĞ ŶĞǆƚ ƚƌĞĂƚ ƚŚĞŵ ůŝŬĞ Ă ƐƚƌĂŶŐĞƌ͍͟ ͞/Ŷ Ăůů ǁĂǇƐ ƚŚĞǇ ĂƌĞ Ăƚ ǁĂƌ͕ ĂŶĚ / Ăŵ ƚŚĞ ƚƌŽƉŚǇ͘͟ ^ŝŶĐĞ ^ĂƌĂŚ ĨĞĞůƐ ŚĞƌ ƉĂƌĞŶƚƐ ĂƌĞ ŶŽ ůŽŶŐĞƌ ĂĐƟ ŶŐ ĂƐ ƉĂƌĞŶƚƐ͕ ƐŚĞ ĞŶůŝƐƚƐ ĂĚĚŝƟ ŽŶͲ Ăů ƐƵƉƉŽƌƚ ĂŶĚ ĚŝƌĞĐƟ ŽŶ ĨƌŽŵ ŚĞƌ ŐƌĂŶĚŵŽƚŚĞƌ ĂŶĚ ĨƌŽŵ Ă ŚŽŵĞůĞƐƐ ŵĂŶ ǁŚŽŵ ƐŚĞ ŵĞĞƚƐ ǁŚĞŶ ŚĞ ĂƐƐŝƐƚƐ ŚĞƌ ĂŌ Ğƌ ƐŚĞ ŚĂƐ Ă ďŝŬĞ ĂĐĐŝĚĞŶƚ͘ dŚĞƐĞ ŝŶƚĞƌĂĐƟ ŽŶƐ ƚĂŬĞ the reader into some unexpected twists and turns. /Ŷ ĂĚĚŝƟ ŽŶ ƚŽ ĨĂŶƚĂƐǇ͕ ƐƵƐƉĞŶƐĞ͕ ĂŶĚ ŵǇƐƚĞƌǇ͕ ƚŚĞ ĂƵƚŚŽƌ ŐŝǀĞƐ ƌĞĂĚĞƌƐ ƐŽŵĞ ǁŽŶĚĞƌĨƵů ĚĞƐĐƌŝƉƟ ŽŶƐ ŽĨ EĞǁ zŽƌŬ ŝƚǇ͗ ͙͞ƚŚĞ ŶŽŝƐĞƐ Ăƚ ŶŝŐŚƚͲͲĂůů ƚŚŽƐĞ ůŽƵĚ ĨŽŽƚƐƚĞƉƐ ƚŚĂƚ ũĂŵ ůŝŬĞ ũĂĐŬŚĂŵŵĞƌƐ͕ ƚŚĞ ƚĂǆŝƐ ďƵǌǌŝŶŐ ůŝŬĞ ǇĞůůŽǁ Į ƌĞŇ ŝĞƐ͙͘ dŚĞ ĐŝƚǇ ĨĞĞůƐ ůŝŬĞ ƐŽŵĞŽŶĞ͛Ɛ ďƵƩ ǁŽŶ͛ƚ ŐĞƚ Žī ƚŚĞ ƌĞŵŽƚĞ ĐŽŶƚƌŽů͖ ŝƚ͛Ɛ Ăůů ĨĂƐƚ ĨŽƌǁĂƌĚ ĂŶĚ ƐŽŵĞŽŶĞ ŚŝĚ ƚŚĞ ƉĂƵƐĞ ďƵƩ ŽŶ͘͟ ,Ğ ĂůƐŽ ŐŝǀĞƐ ƵƐ ŐůŝŵƉƐĞƐ ŝŶƚŽ ƉŽƐƚ ϵͬϭϭ EĞǁ zŽƌŬ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ,ŽůŽĐĂƵƐƚ͘ ZĞĐŽŵŵĞŶĚĞĚ ĨŽƌ ƌĞĂĚĞƌƐ ĂŐĞƐ ϭϭͲϭϲ͘ MLK

We Visit Israel

ŝƚĐŚĞůů >ĂŶĞ WƵďůŝƐŚĞƌƐ͛ ǁĞďƐŝƚĞ ƐƚĂƚĞƐ ƚŚĂƚ ŝƚƐ ŐŽĂů ŝƐ ƚŽ ƉƌĞƐĞŶƚ ƋƵĂůŝƚǇ ŶŽŶĮ ĐƟ ŽŶ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚ ƵƐĞ ŽĨ ͞ďƌĞĞǌǇ ŶĂƌƌĂƟ ǀĞƐ͟ ǁŚŝĐŚ ǁŝůů ŬĞĞƉ ŬŝĚƐ ƌĞĂĚŝŶŐ ǁŚŽ ĚŽŶ͛ƚ ŶŽƌŵĂůůǇ ůŝŬĞ ƚŽ ƌĞĂĚ ĂŶĚ ĂůƐŽ ŚĞůƉ ƚŽ ƐƚƌĞŶŐƚŚĞŶ ƚŚĞŝƌ ƌĞĂĚŝŶŐ ƐŬŝůůƐ͘ DĞĂŶƚ ĂƐ Ă ƚĞǆƚďŽŽŬ ĨŽƌ ƐƚƵĚĞŶƚƐ ŝŶ ŐƌĂĚĞƐ ϰͲϳ͕ We Visit Israel is marred by errors and ƐŽŵĞ ƵŶĨŽƌƚƵŶĂƚĞ ǁŽƌĚŝŶŐ͘ dŚĞ ďŽŽŬ ŝƐ ĐĞƌƚĂŝŶůǇ ǁƌŝƩ ĞŶ ŝŶ Ă ďƌĞĞǌǇ ƐƚǇůĞ͕ ƐƚĂƌƟ ŶŐ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ďĞŐŝŶŶŝŶŐ͕ ǁŚĞƌĞ ƚŚĞ ƌĞĂĚĞƌ ŝƐ ƚŽůĚ ͞dŚŝƐ ƐƚŽƌǇ ŝƐ ďĂƐĞĚ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ĂƵƚŚŽƌ͛Ɛ ǇĞĂƌƐ ŽĨ ůŝǀŝŶŐ ŝŶ /ƐƌĂĞů ĂŶĚ ŽŶ ŚĞƌ ĞǆƚĞŶƐŝǀĞ ƌĞƐĞĂƌĐŚ͕ ǁŚŝĐŚ ƐŚĞ ďĞůŝĞǀĞƐ ƚŽ ďĞ ĂĐĐƵƌĂƚĞ͘͟ dŚŝƐ ŝƐ ŶŽƚ Ă ƐƚŽƌǇ͖ ŝƚ ŝƐ Ă ŶŽŶĮ ĐƟ ŽŶ ďŽŽŬ ƚŚĂƚ ĚŝƐĐƵƐƐĞƐ /ƐƌĂĞů͛Ɛ ŚŝƐƚŽƌǇ͕ ŝƚƐ ŐĞŽŐƌĂƉŚǇ͕ ƚŚĞ /ƐƌĂĞůŝ ƉĞŽƉůĞ͕ ƚŚĞŝƌ ĐƵůƚƵƌĞ͕ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞŝƌ ŐŽǀĞƌŶŵĞŶƚ͘ >ŝŬĞ ƚŚĞ ŽƚŚĞƌƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ zŽƵƌ >ĂŶĚ ĂŶĚ DǇ >ĂŶĚ ƐĞƌŝĞƐ͕ ŝƚ ŝŶĐůƵĚĞƐ ĨƵůůͲĐŽůŽƌ ƉŚŽƚŽƐ͕ ŵĂƉƐ͕ Ă ŐůŽƐƐĂƌǇ͕ ĂŶ ŝŶĚĞǆ͕ ĂŶĚ Ă ďŝďůŝŽŐƌĂƉŚǇ ŽĨ ǁŽƌŬƐ ĐŽŶƐƵůƚĞĚ͕ ĂƐ ǁĞůů ĂƐ ĂŶ ĂĐƟ ǀŝƚǇ ;Ă ƌĞĐŝƉĞ ĨŽƌ ŵĂŬŝŶŐ ŚĂŵĂŶƚĂƐĐŚĞŶͿ ĂŶĚ Ă ĐƌĂŌ ;ŵĂŬŝŶŐ Ă ŚĂŵƐĂͿ͘ /ƚ ĂůƐŽ ŝŶĐůƵĚĞƐ ŵĂŶǇ ĞƌƌŽƌƐ͘ ĂďǇůŽŶŝĂŶƐ ĚĞƐƚƌŽǇĞĚ ƚŚĞ dĞŵƉůĞ ŝŶ :ĞƌƵƐĂůĞŵ ĐĞŶƚƵƌŝĞƐ ďĞĨŽƌĞ ƚŚĞ 'ƌĞĞŬ conquerors, yet the book states in two places that it was destroyed by the Assyrian 'ƌĞĞŬƐ͘ dŚĞ ŽŽŬ ŽĨ ƐƚŚĞƌ ŝƐ ƐĂŝĚ ƚŽ ďĞ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ dĂůŵƵĚ͕ ƌĂƚŚĞƌ ƚŚĂŶ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŝďůĞ͘ /Ŷ ƚŚĞ ƐĞĐƟ ŽŶ Ɵ ƚůĞĚ ͞&ĂŵŽƵƐ /ƐƌĂĞůŝƐ͟ ^ĂƵů ǁƌŝƚĞƐ ƚŚĂƚ :ĞƐƵƐ ŽĨ EĂǌĂƌĞƚŚ ͞ŵĂǇ ďĞ ƚŚĞ ŵŽƐƚ ĨĂŵŽƵƐ :Ğǁ ďŽƌŶ ŝŶ /ƐƌĂĞů͕͟ ƐƚƌĂŶŐĞůǇ ůƵŵƉŝŶŐ Śŝŵ ƚŽŐĞƚŚĞƌ ǁŝƚŚ 'ŽůĚĂ DĞŝƌ͕ /ƚǌŚĂŬ WĞƌůŵĂŶ͕ ĂŶĚ /ƐƌĂĞůŝͲďŽƌŶ ĂĐƚƌĞƐƐ͕ EĂƚĂůŝĞ WŽƌƚŵĂŶ͘ It is admirable that the author writes with no bias toward either the Jews or the ƌĂďƐ͘ ,ŽǁĞǀĞƌ͕ ƚŚĞ ŵĂŶǇ ŵŝƐƚĂŬĞƐ ŶĞĞĚ ƚŽ ďĞ ĐŽƌƌĞĐƚĞĚ ĂŶĚ͕ ďĞĐĂƵƐĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĞƌͲ rors listed, We Visit Israel is not recommended. AD

Jewish Book World

His Name Was Raoul Wallenberg Louise Borden Houghton Mifflin, 2012 Hardcover 144 pp. $18.99 ISBN: 978-0-618-50755-9

Laya Saul Mitchell Lane Publishers, 2012 Hardcover 64 pp. $33.95 ISBN: 978-1-58415-957-5

starred ƌĞǀŝĞǁƐ

summer 5772/2012

www.jewishbookcouncil.org

ĂŽƵů tĂůůĞŶďĞƌŐ͕ ďŽƌŶ ŝŶ Ă ƚŽǁŶ ŶĞĂƌ ^ƚŽĐŬŚŽůŵ͕ ^ǁĞĚĞŶ ŝŶ ϭϵϭϮ͕ ĐĂŵĞ ĨƌŽŵ Ă ĚŝƐƟ ŶŐƵŝƐŚĞĚ ĨĂŵŝůǇ ǁŚŽ ƚŽŽŬ ƉƌŝĚĞ ŝŶ ŝƚƐ ŚĞƌŝƚĂŐĞ ĂŶĚ ǁĂƐ ŚŝŐŚůǇ ĂĚŵŝƌĞĚ ĨŽƌ ŝƚƐ ŐĞŶĞƌŽƵƐ ĐŽŶƚƌŝďƵƟ ŽŶ ƚŽ ^ǁĞĚŝƐŚ ƐŽĐŝĞƚǇ͘ ůƚŚŽƵŐŚ ZĂŽƵů͛Ɛ ĨĂƚŚĞƌ ĚŝĞĚ ǁŚĞŶ ŚĞ ǁĂƐ Ă ďĂďǇ͕ ZĂŽƵů ŝŶŚĞƌŝƚĞĚ ŚŝƐ ƉĂƐƐŝŽŶ ĨŽƌ ĚƌĂǁŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ Ăƌƚ͖ ŚŝƐ ŐƌĂŶĚĨĂƚŚĞƌ ǁĂŶƚĞĚ Śŝŵ ƚŽ ďĞ Ă ĐŝƟ ǌĞŶ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ǁŽƌůĚ ĂŶĚ ƐĞŶƚ Śŝŵ ƚŽ ĐŽůůĞŐĞ ŝŶ ŵĞƌŝĐĂ ǁŚĞƌĞ ŚĞ ĞǆĐĞůůĞĚ ŝŶ ĂƌĐŚŝƚĞĐƚƵƌĞ͘ ĂĐŬ ŝŶ ƵƌŽƉĞ͕ ǁĂƌ ďƌŽŬĞ ŽƵƚ ǁŝƚŚ ,ŝƚůĞƌ ŝŶ ĐŽŵŵĂŶĚ ĂŶĚ tĂůůĞŶďĞƌŐ ŚĂĚ Ěŝĸ ĐƵůƚǇ Į ŶĚŝŶŐ Ă ũŽď͘ ,ŝƐ ŐŝŌ ĨŽƌ ůĂŶŐƵĂŐĞƐ ůĞĚ Śŝŵ ƚŽ ǁŽƌŬ ĂƐ ĂŶ ĞǆƉŽƌƚͲŝŵƉŽƌƚ ƚƌĂĚĞ ƌĞƉƌĞƐĞŶƚĂƟ ǀĞ ƚƌĂǀĞůŝŶŐ ĂƌŽƵŶĚ ƵƌŽƉĞ͘ tŚŝůĞ ƚƌĂǀĞůŝŶŐ ƚŽ ,ƵŶŐĂƌǇ͕ ŚĞ ǁĂƚĐŚĞĚ ĂƐ :ĞǁƐ ŝŶ ƵĚĂƉĞƐƚ ďĞŐĂŶ ƚŽ ůŽƐĞ ƚŚĞŝƌ ƌŝŐŚƚƐ͖ ƚŚĞǇ ǁĞƌĞ ĨŽƌĐĞĚ ƚŽ ŐŝǀĞ ƵƉ ƚŚĞŝƌ ƌĂĚŝŽƐ ĂŶĚ ďŝĐǇĐůĞƐ ĂŶĚ ƚŽ ƐĞǁ Ă ǇĞůůŽǁ ƐƚĂƌ ŽŶ ƚŚĞŝƌ ĐůŽƚŚŝŶŐ͕ ƚŚĞŶ ůĂƚĞƌ͕ ƐǇƐƚĞŵĂƟ ĐĂůůǇ ƌŽƵŶĚĞĚ ƵƉ ĂŶĚ ůĞĚ ƚŽ ĐŽŶͲ ĐĞŶƚƌĂƟ ŽŶ ĐĂŵƉƐ͘ tĂůůĞŶďĞƌŐ͛Ɛ ĞǇĞǁŝƚŶĞƐƐ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ EĂǌŝ ďƌƵƚĂůŝƚǇ ĂŶĚ ŚŝƐ ƐƚƌŽŶŐ ŵŽƌĂů ĐŽŶǀŝĐƟ ŽŶƐ inspired him to do what he could to try to help the :ĞǁƐ͘ ƐƐŝŐŶĞĚ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ŶĞƵƚƌĂů ^ǁĞĚŝƐŚ ůĞŐĂƟ ŽŶ ŝŶ ƵĚĂƉĞƐƚ͕ tĂůůĞŶďĞƌŐ ŚĂĚ ƚŚĞ ƉĞƌĨĞĐƚ ĐŽǀĞƌ ƚŽ ĂĐƚ͘ ,Ğ ŚŝƌĞĚ Ă ŶĞƚǁŽƌŬ ŽĨ ƚƌƵƐƚĞĚ ǁŽƌŬĞƌƐ ĂŶĚ ŽƌŐĂŶŝǌĞĚ a unique set of documents call shutzpass which ǁŽƵůĚ͕ ŚĞ ŚŽƉĞĚ͕ ƉĂƐƐ ĂƐ ĚŽĐƵŵĞŶƚĂƟ ŽŶ ƚŽ ƉƌŽƚĞĐƚ ƚŚĞ ,ƵŶŐĂƌŝĂŶ :ĞǁƐ͘ ůǁĂǇƐ Ăƚ ƌŝƐŬ ŽĨ ďĞŝŶŐ ĨŽƵŶĚ ŽƵƚ͕ ZĂŽƵů tĂůůĞŶďĞƌŐ ƐŚŽǁĞĚ ŐƌĞĂƚ ĐŽƵƌĂŐĞ ĂŶĚ ƚŽŽŬ ŐƌĞĂƚ ƌŝƐŬƐ ƚŽ ƐĂǀĞ ƚŚĞ ůŝǀĞƐ ŽĨ ŽǀĞƌ ƚĞŶ ƚŚŽƵƐĂŶĚ :ĞǁƐ͘ dĞůůŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ƐƚŽƌǇ ŝŶ ĨƌĞĞ ǀĞƌƐĞ͕ ĂĐĐůĂŝŵĞĚ ǁƌŝƚĞƌ >ŽƵŝƐĞ ŽƌĚĞŶ ŚĂƐ ƚƌĂǀĞůĞĚ Ăůů ŽǀĞƌ ƚŚĞ ǁŽƌůĚ ƚŽ ƌĞƚƌĂĐĞ ZĂŽƵů tĂůůĞŶďĞƌŐ͛Ɛ ƉĂƐƚ ĂŶĚ ĂĐƚƵĂůůǇ ďĞĐĂŵĞ ĨƌŝĞŶĚƐ ǁŝƚŚ ŚŝƐ ůĂƐƚ ƌĞŵĂŝŶŝŶŐ ĨĂŵŝůǇ ŵĞŵďĞƌƐ͘ ,Ğƌ ƐŝŵƉůĞ ǇĞƚ ĞůĞŐĂŶƚ ƉƌŽƐĞ ƐƵĐĐŝŶĐƚůǇ ĐĂƉƚƵƌĞƐ ƚŚĞ ĞǆͲ traordinary life of a special hero and is supplemented ďǇ ĐůĞĂƌ ďůĂĐŬ ĂŶĚ ǁŚŝƚĞ ƉŚŽƚŽŐƌĂƉŚƐ͕ ŵĂƉƐ ĂŶĚ ĚŽĐƵŵĞŶƚƐ ƚŚĂƚ ĂƌĞ ĐĂƌĞĨƵůůǇ ĂƌƌĂŶŐĞĚ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚŽƵƚ ƚŚĞ ƚĞǆƚ͘ ŽŵƉůĞƚĞ ŶŽƚĞƐ͕ ŝŶĚĞǆ ĂŶĚ ďŝďůŝŽŐƌĂƉŚǇ ŵĂŬĞ ƚŚŝƐ Ă ƵƐĞĨƵů ƌĞƐŽƵƌĐĞ͘ ZĞĐŽŵŵĞŶĚĞĚ ĨŽƌ ĂŐĞƐ 12 and up. DG

children’s for children at a homeless shelter where they ŐŽƚ ƚŽ ŵĂŬĞ ƚŚĞŝƌ ŽǁŶ ŝĐĞ ĐƌĞĂŵ ƐƵŶĚĂĞƐ͘ zĞƚ ĂŶŽƚŚĞƌ ǀŽůƵŶƚĞĞƌĞĚ Ăƚ Ă ĨŽŽĚ ďĂŶŬ ǁŚŝůĞ Ă ĨŽƵƌƚŚ͕ Ă ŬŝĚ ǁŚŽ ůŽǀĞĚ ƌĞĂĚŝŶŐ͕ ƉƵƌĐŚĂƐĞĚ ďŽŽŬƐ ĨŽƌ Ă ůŝďƌĂƌǇ ŽŶ Ă ƌĞƐĞƌǀĂƟ ŽŶ͘ The Mitzvah Project Book ŝƐ Ă ĐĂůů ƚŽ ĂĐƟ ŽŶ͕ ĞŶĐŽƵƌĂŐŝŶŐ ŬŝĚƐ ŽĨ ďĂƌ ĂŶĚ ďĂƚ ŵŝƚǌǀĂŚ ĂŐĞ to do all they can do to help repair the world. dŚĞ ĂƵƚŚŽƌƐ ŐŝǀĞ ŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƟ ŽŶ ĂŶĚ ƐƵŐŐĞƐƚ ĂĐƟ ǀŝƟ ĞƐ ŝŶƚĞŶĚĞĚ ƚŽ ƐƉĂƌŬ ƚŚĞ ŝŵĂŐŝŶĂƟ ŽŶƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞŝƌ ƌĞĂĚĞƌƐ ĂŶĚ Žī Ğƌ Ă ƉůĂŶŶŝŶŐ ŐƵŝĚĞ ƚŽ ŚĞůƉ ŬŝĚƐ ŐĞƚ ƐƚĂƌƚĞĚ͘ dŚĞƌĞ ĂƌĞ ŵŝƚǌǀĂŚ ƉƌŽũĞĐƚ ŝĚĞĂƐ͕ ƉƌŽĮ ůĞƐ ŽĨ ǇŽƵŶŐ ƉĞŽƉůĞ ĨƌŽŵ ĂƌŽƵŶĚ ƚŚĞ ĐŽƵŶƚƌǇ ǁŚŽ ŚĂǀĞ ĚŽŶĞ ŵŝƚǌǀĂŚ ƉƌŽũĞĐƚƐ ĂŶĚ ũŽƵƌŶĂů ƉĂŐĞƐ ŬŝĚƐ ĐĂŶ ǁƌŝƚĞ ŝŶ ĂƐ ƚŚĞǇ ĚĞǀĞůŽƉ ƚŚĞŝƌ ŽǁŶ ŝŶŝƟ ĂƟ ǀĞƐ͘ dŚĞƐĞ ĞǆͲ ĂŵƉůĞƐ ĂƌĞ ŝŶƐƉŝƌŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ďŽŽŬ͛Ɛ ŵĞƐƐĂŐĞ ŝƐ ĐůĞĂƌ͗ ĞĂĐŚ ŽĨ ƵƐ ĐĂŶ ŚĂǀĞ Ă ŵĞĂŶŝŶŐĨƵů ŝŵƉĂĐƚ ŝĨ ǁĞ ĂƌĞ ƚƌƵůǇ ĐŽŵŵŝƩ ĞĚ͘ ZĞĐŽŵŵĞŶĚĞĚ ĨŽƌ ĂŐĞƐ ϭϬʹϭϯ͘ LK

Room Enough for Daisy Debby Waldman & Rita Feutl Cindy Revell, illus. Orca Books, 2011 Hardcover 28 pp. $19.95 ISBN: 978-1-55469-255-2

Kishka for Koppel Aubrey Davis Sheldon Cohen, illus. Orca Book Publishers, 2011 Hardcover 32 pp. $19.95 ISBN: 978-1-55469-299-6

ishka for Koppel ŝƐ Ă ĐĂƉƟ ǀĂƟ ŶŐ ĨƌĞƐŚ ƚĂŬĞ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ĐůĂƐƐŝĐ ĨŽůŬƚĂůĞ ƚĞĂĐŚŝŶŐ ƵƐ ͞ Ğ ĐĂƌĞͲ ĨƵů ǁŚĂƚ ǇŽƵ ǁŝƐŚ ĨŽƌ͘͟ ŵĂŐŝĐ ŵĞĂƚ ŐƌŝŶĚĞƌ ŝƐ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŶĚƵŝƚ ĨŽƌ ŐŝǀŝŶŐ Ă ƉŽŽƌ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ĐŽƵƉůĞ ƚŚĞ ƌĞĂůŝǌĂƟ ŽŶ ƚŚĂƚ ĚĞƐƉŝƚĞ ƚŚĞŝƌ ďĞŝŶŐ ƉŽŽƌ͕ ƚŚĞǇ ĚŽ ŚĂǀĞ Ă ůŽƚ ŽĨ ƚŚŝŶŐƐ ƚŽ ďĞ ŐƌĂƚĞĨƵů ĨŽƌ͘ <ŽƉƉĞů ĂŶĚ ŚŝƐ ǁŝĨĞ͕ zĞƩ Ă͕ ĐŽŶƚƌŝďƵƚĞ ŵŽƐƚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŶǀĞƌƐĂƟ ŽŶ ŝŶ Ă ůŝŐŚƚŚĞĂƌƚĞĚ ĚŝĂůŽŐƵĞ͘ dŚĞ ĂƵƚŚŽƌ͛Ɛ ƐĞŶƐĞ ŽĨ ŚƵŵŽƌ ŐůĞĂŵƐ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚŽƵƚ͕ ŐŝǀŝŶŐ Ă ƐĞŶƐĞ ŽĨ ĐŽŵĞĚǇ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ĞǀĞŶƚƐ ĂƐ ƚŚĞǇ ƚƌĂŶƐƉŝƌĞ͘ ŐůŽƐƐĂƌǇ ŽĨ zŝĚĚŝƐŚ ĞǆƉƌĞƐƐŝŽŶƐ ĨŽůůŽǁƐ ƚŚĞ ƐƚŽƌǇ͕ ŝŶƚƌŽĚƵĐŝŶŐ ƚĞƌŵƐ ǁŝƚŚ ǁŚŝĐŚ ǇŽƵŶŐ ƌĞĂĚĞƌƐ ŵĂǇ ŶŽƚ ďĞ ĨĂŵŝůŝĂƌ͘ ƵďƌĞǇ ĂǀŝƐ ŚĂƐ ǁƌŝƩ ĞŶ ƐĞǀĞƌĂů ĂĐĐůĂŝŵĞĚ ƐƚŽƌŝĞƐ ďĂƐĞĚ ŽŶ ĨŽůŬƚĂůĞƐ ŝŶĐůƵĚŝŶŐ ŽŶĞ ƵƩ ŽŶ ŽƌƐĐŚƚ and Bagels from Benny. dŚĞ ůŽǀĞůǇ ĂĐƌǇůŝĐ ŝůůƵƐƚƌĂƟ ŽŶƐ ďǇ ^ŚĞůĚŽŶ ŽŚĞŶ ĂƌĞ ĨŽůŬƐǇ͕ ǁŚŝŵƐŝĐĂů͕ ĂŶĚ Į ůůĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ ďƌŝŐŚƚ ĐŽůŽƌƐ͘ dŚĞǇ ƉĞƌĨĞĐƚůǇ ĐŽŵƉůĞŵĞŶƚ ƚŚĞ ůŝŐŚƚ ƚŽŶĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƐƚŽƌǇ͘ ZĞĐŽŵŵĞŶĚĞĚ ĂƐ ĞŝƚŚĞƌ Ă ƌĞĂĚͲƚŽ ĨŽƌ Į ǀĞ ƚŽ Ɛŝǆ ǇĞĂƌ ŽůĚƐ Žƌ ĂƐ ĂŶ ŝŶĚĞƉĞŶĚĞŶƚ ƌĞĂĚ ĨŽƌ ƐĞǀĞŶ ƚŽ ŶŝŶĞ ǇĞĂƌ olds. SF

The Mitzvah Project Book: Making Mitzvah Part of Your Bar/Bat Mitzvah and Your Life Liz Suneby & Diane Heiman Jewish Lights Publishing, 2011 Paperback 224 pp. $16.99 [e] ISBN: 978-1-58023-458-0

ƚ͛Ɛ ĞĂƐǇ ƚŽ ůŽƐĞ ƐŝŐŚƚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ͞ŵŝƚǌǀĂŚ͟ ƉĂƌƚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ Ăƌ Žƌ Ăƚ DŝƚǌǀĂŚ ĐĞůĞďƌĂƟ ŽŶ͕ ďĞƚǁĞĞŶ ůĞƐƐŽŶƐ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ƌĂďďŝ ĂŶĚ Ă ĐŽƵƉůĞ ŽĨ ƉĂƌƟ ĞƐ ƚŽ ƉůĂŶ͘ /Ŷ ŵĂŶǇ ĐĂƐĞƐ͕ ƚŚĞ ĐŚĂŝƌͲĐŽǀĞƌƐ ĂŶĚ ŚŽƌƐ Ě͛ŽĞƵǀƌĞƐ ƚĂŬĞ ƉƌĞĐĞĚĞŶĐĞ ŽǀĞƌ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŶǀĞǇĂŶĐĞ ŽĨ ĂŶǇ ƐƉŝƌŝƚƵĂů ŵĞĂŶŝŶŐ ĂƐƐŽĐŝͲ ated with this milestone in a child’s life. So ŚŽǁ ĚŽ ǁĞ ƵƐĞ ƚŚĞ ďĂƌ Žƌ ďĂƚ ŵŝƚǌǀĂŚ ĂƐ Ă ƐƚĞƉƉŝŶŐƐƚŽŶĞ ƚŽ Ă ůŝĨĞƟ ŵĞ ŽĨ ĐŽŵŵŝƚŵĞŶƚ ƚŽ ĐĂƌŝŶŐ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ǁŽƌůĚ͍ dŚĂƚ͛Ɛ ƚŚĞ ƋƵĞƐƟ ŽŶ ^ƵŶĞďǇ ĂŶĚ ,ĞŝŵĂŶ ĂŶͲ swer in The Mitzvah Project Book. A resource ĨŽƌ ǇŽƵŶŐ ĂĚƵůƚƐ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞŝƌ ƉĂƌĞŶƚƐ͕ ƚŚŝƐ ďŽŽŬ ŝƐ full of ideas about how to repair the world in Ă ǁĂǇ ƚŚĂƚ͛Ɛ ŝŶĚŝǀŝĚƵĂůůǇ ŵĞĂŶŝŶŐĨƵů͘ ƌĂǁͲ ŝŶŐ ŽŶ Ă ǁŝĚĞ ƌĂŶŐĞ ŽĨ ǇŽƵŶŐ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ĂĚƵůƚƐ͕ ƚŚĞ ĂƵƚŚŽƌƐ ĐŝƚĞ ĞǆĂŵƉůĞƐ ŽĨ ŬŝĚƐ ǁŚŽ ŚĂǀĞ ŐŝǀĞŶ ďĂĐŬ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ǁŽƌůĚ ďǇ ĨŽůůŽǁŝŶŐ ƚŚĞŝƌ ƉĂƐƐŝŽŶƐ͘ KŶĞ ƚĞĞŶ ǁŚŽ ůŽǀĞĚ ƚŽ ŬŶŝƚ ĐŽŵŵŝƚͲ ƚĞĚ ƚŽ ŬŶŝƫ ŶŐ ĐĂƉƐ ĨŽƌ Ă :ĞǁŝƐŚ ŽƌŐĂŶŝǌĂƟ ŽŶ that collects them and distributes them to ĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶ Į ŐŚƟ ŶŐ ĐĂŶĐĞƌ͘ ŶŽƚŚĞƌ ƌĂŶ Ă ƉĂƌƚǇ

www.jewishbookcouncil.org

ŝƚŚ Ă ŶŽĚ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ zŝĚĚŝƐŚ ĨŽůŬƚĂůĞ ĂďŽƵƚ Ă house that feels too small, this picture book skillfully tackles the topic of children who ǁĂŶƚ ŵŽƌĞ ĂŶĚ ŵŽƌĞ ͞ƐƚƵī ͘Η ĂŝƐǇ͛Ɛ ƌŽŽŵ ŝƐ already crowded, and with her birthday only ƚŚƌĞĞ ǁĞĞŬƐ ĂǁĂǇ ƐŚĞ͛Ɛ ƉůĂŶŶŝŶŐ ŽŶ ŐĞƫ ŶŐ ůŽƚƐ ŽĨ ƉƌĞƐĞŶƚƐ͘ ,Ğƌ ƐŽůƵƟ ŽŶ͍ ďŝŐŐĞƌ ƌŽŽŵ͊ &ŽƌƚƵŶĂƚĞůǇ ĂŝƐǇ͛Ɛ ŵŽŵ ŵĂŬĞƐ ƵƐĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŽƉƉŽƌƚƵŶŝƚǇ ƚŽ ĚŝƐĐƌĞĞƚůǇ ƚĞĂĐŚ ŚĞƌ ĚĂƵŐŚƚĞƌ Ă ůĞƐƐŽŶ ďǇ ďƌŝŶŐŝŶŐ ĞǀĞŶ ŵŽƌĞ ŽĨ ĂŝƐǇ͛Ɛ ƐƚƵī ŝŶƚŽ ŚĞƌ ƌŽŽŵ ǁŚŝůĞ ƉƌŽŵŝƐŝŶŐ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞ ĂĚĚŝͲ Ɵ ŽŶƐ ǁŝůů ŵĂŬĞ ƚŚĞ ƌŽŽŵ ďŝŐŐĞƌ͘ tŚĞŶ ĂŝƐǇ ĐĂŶ͛ƚ ŵĂŬĞ ŚĞƌ ǁĂǇ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚ ƚŚĞ ƌŽŽŵ ǁŝƚŚŽƵƚ ďĂŶŐŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ ďƵŵƉŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ ĨĂůůŝŶŐ ŽǀĞƌ ŚĞƌ ƚŚŝŶŐƐ͕ ƐŚĞ ĚĞĐŝĚĞƐ ƚŚĂƚ ƐŚĞ ŚĂƐ ƚŽŽ ŵƵĐŚ ƐƚƵī and packs up what she doesn’t need or want ĨŽƌ ŚĞƌ ƐǇŶĂŐŽŐƵĞ͛Ɛ DŝƚǌǀĂŚ ĂǇ ƌƵŵŵĂŐĞ ƐĂůĞ͘ dŚĞ ƌĞƐƵůƚ ůĞĂǀĞƐ ĂŝƐǇ ǁŝƚŚ ͞ƚŚĞ ƉĞƌĨĞĐƚ ƌŽŽŵ͘͟ ŽůŽƌĨƵů ĚŝŐŝƚĂůůǇ ƉĂŝŶƚĞĚ ŝůůƵƐƚƌĂƟ ŽŶƐ ŝŶ ďƌŝŐŚƚ ƚŽŶĞƐ ŽƵƚůŝŶĞĚ ŝŶ ďůĂĐŬ ĚĞƉŝĐƚ ƚŚĞ ĐůƵƩ Ğƌ ǁŝƚŚŽƵƚ ŽǀĞƌǁŚĞůŵŝŶŐ͕ ĂŶĚ ĂŝƐǇ ŝƐ ĐƵƚĞ ĂŶĚ ĞǆƉƌĞƐƐŝǀĞ ǁŝƚŚ ŚĞƌ ǁŝĚĞ ĨƌĞĐŬůĞĚ ĨĂĐĞ ĂŶĚ ƉŝŐƚĂŝůƐ͘ /Ŷ Ă ĐƵůƚƵƌĞ ƚŚĂƚ ĚĞĐƌĞĞƐ ƚŚĂƚ ŚĂǀŝŶŐ ŵŽƌĞ ŝƐ ďĞŝŶŐ ŵŽƌĞ͕ ŝƚ ŝƐ ƌĞĨƌĞƐŚŝŶŐ ƚŽ Į ŶĚ Ă ďŽŽŬ ƚŚĂƚ ďƌŽĂĐŚĞƐ ƚŚĞ ƚŽƉŝĐ ŽĨ ŽǀĞƌͲ ĐŽŶƐƵŵƉƟ ŽŶ ĂƐ ǁĞůů ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ŝĚĞĂ ŽĨ ŐŝǀŝŶŐ ďĂĐŬ͘ /ŶĐůƵĚĞƐ Ă ŶŽƚĞ ĂďŽƵƚ DŝƚǌǀĂŚ ĂǇ ĂĐƟ ǀŝƟ ĞƐ͘ ZĞĐŽŵŵĞŶĚĞĚ ĨŽƌ ĂŐĞƐ ϰͲϳ͘ TM

summer 5772/2012

Jewish Book World

booknotes Note: All blurbs have been compiled from information provided by the publisher.

ĂƵƚŽďŝŽŐƌĂƉŚǇ Θ ŵĞŵŽŝƌ Drop Dead Healthy: One Man’s Humble Quest for Bodily Perfection

Nine Lives Žī ĞƌƐ Ă ŐůĂŶĐĞ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ ůŝǀĞƐ ŽĨ ƐŽŵĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ǁŽƌůĚ͛Ɛ ŵŽƐƚ ŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƟ ŶŐ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ƉĞŽƉůĞ ŝŶ Ă ǀĂƌŝĞƚǇ ŽĨ ůŝŶĞƐ ŽĨ ǁŽƌŬ͕ ƌĂŶŐŝŶŐ ĨƌŽŵ ďƌŝůůŝĂŶƚ ƐĐŝĞŶƟ Ɛƚ ůďĞƌƚ ŝŶƐƚĞŝŶ ƚŽ ƐŝŶŐŝŶŐ ƐĞŶƐĂƟ ŽŶ Žď ǇůĂŶ͘

Return to Centro Historico: A Mexican Jew Looks for His Roots

A.J. Jacobs Simon and Schuster, 2012. 416 pp. $26.00 [e] ISBN: 978-1-4165-9907-4 The author of Living Biblically ƚĂŬĞƐ Ă Ěŝī ĞƌĞŶƚ ƚƵƌŶ ŝŶ ƚŚŝƐ ĨƵŶŶǇ ǇĞƚ ŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƟ ǀĞ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚ ŽĨ ŚŝƐ quest to become “the healthiest person in the ǁŽƌůĚ͟ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚ ƐƵďũĞĐƟ ŶŐ ŚŝŵƐĞůĨ ƚŽ Ă ŐƌƵĞůŝŶŐ ƌĞŐŝŵĞŶ ŽĨ ĞǆĞƌĐŝƐĞ͕ ĚŝĞƚƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ĞǆƉĞƌŝŵĞŶƚƐ͘

Ilan Stavans Rutgers University Press, 2012. 208 pp. $24.95 ISBN: 978-0-8135-5191-3 ǁĂƌĚ ǁŝŶŶŝŶŐ ĞƐƐĂǇŝƐƚ /ůĂŶ ^ƚĂǀĂŶƐ ƌĞƐĞĂƌĐŚĞƐ ŚŝƐ ƌŽŽƚƐ ǁŚŝůĞ ĚĞůŝǀĞƌŝŶŐ ĂŶ ŝŶͲ ĚĞƉƚŚ ŚŝƐƚŽƌǇ ŽĨ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ŝŵŵŝŐƌĂŶƚƐ ƚŽ DĞǆŝĐŽ͘ ,Ğ ũŽƵƌŶĞǇƐ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚ ƚŚĞ ĚĞǀĞůŽƉŵĞŶƚ ŽĨ ĂŶ ĞŶƟ ƌĞ ĐƵůƚƵƌĞ ďĞŐŝŶŶŝŶŐ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚŽƐĞ Ň ĞĞŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ /ŶƋƵŝƐŝƟ ŽŶ͕ ĂŶĚ ďŽƚŚ ƐŚŬĞŶĂǌŝŵ ĂŶĚ ^ĞƉŚĂƌĂĚŝŵ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ KƩ ŽŵĂŶ ŵƉŝƌĞ͘

Kasher in the Rye: The True Tale of a White Boy from Oakland Who Became a Drug Addict, Criminal, Mental Patient and Then Turned 16

Į ĐƟ ŽŶ

Moshe Kasher Grand Central Publishing, 2012. 320 pp. $24.99 [e] ISBN: 978-0446584265 ZŝƐŝŶŐ ǇŽƵŶŐ ĐŽŵĞĚŝĂŶ DŽƐŚĞ <ĂƐŚĞƌ ŝƐ ůƵĐŬǇ ƚŽ ďĞ ĂůŝǀĞ͘ ,Ğ ƐƚĂƌƚĞĚ ƵƐŝŶŐ ĚƌƵŐƐ ǁŚĞŶ ŚĞ ǁĂƐ ũƵƐƚ ƚǁĞůǀĞͶĂƚ ǁŚŝĐŚ ƉŽŝŶƚ ŚĞ ŚĂƐĚ ĂůƌĞĂĚǇ ďĞĞŶ ŝŶ ƉƐǇĐŚŽĂŶĂůǇƐŝƐ ĨŽƌ ĞŝŐŚƚ ǇĞĂƌƐ͘ Ǉ ƚŚĞ Ɵ ŵĞ ŚĞ ǁĂƐ Į Ō ĞĞŶ͕ ŚĞ ŚĂĚ ďĞĞŶ ŝŶ ĂŶĚ ŽƵƚ ŽĨ ƐĞǀĞƌĂů ŵĞŶƚĂů ŝŶƐƟ ƚƵƟ ŽŶƐ͕ ŚĂǀŝŶŐ ĚƌŝŌ ĞĚ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞƌĂƉǇ ƚŽ ƌĞŚĂď ƚŽ ĂƌƌĞƐƚ͘ ,ŽǁĞǀĞƌ ƚŚŝƐ ďŽŽŬ ŝƐ ŶŽƚ ĂŶ ͞ĞǇĞ ŽƉĞŶĞƌ͟ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ŚŽƌƌŽƌƐ ŽĨ ĂĚĚŝĐƟ ŽŶ ďƵƚ ƌĂƚŚĞƌ Ă ŚŝůĂƌŝŽƵƐ memoir about the absurdity of it all.

Guide to Yiddish Short Stories Bennett Muraskin Ben Yehuda Press, 2011. 104 pp. $14.95 ISBN: 978-1-934730-31-7 ĞŶŶĞƚ DƵƌĂƐŬŝŶ ŚĂƐ ďƌŽƵŐŚƚ ƚŽŐĞƚŚĞƌ ŽǀĞƌ ϭϯϬ ƐƚŽƌŝĞƐ ƚƌĂŶƐůĂƚĞĚ ŝŶƚŽ ŶŐůŝƐŚ͕ ƌĂŶŐŝŶŐ ĨƌŽŵ ĐůĂƐƐŝĐƐ ďǇ ^ŚŽůŽŵ ůĞŝĐŚĞŵ ĂŶĚ DĞŶĚĞůĞ DŽǇĞĐŚĞƌ ^ĨŽƌŝŵ ƚŽ ƚŚŽƐĞ ǁƌŝƩ ĞŶ ďǇ ,ŽůŽĐĂƵƐƚ ƐƵƌǀŝǀŽƌƐ͘ dŚĞ ƐƚŽƌŝĞƐ ĐƌĞĂƚĞ

ďŝŽŐƌĂƉŚǇ A Life of Leadership: Eli Zborowski Rochel & George Berman KTAV Publishing, 2011. 318 pp. $25.00 ISBN: 978-1-602890-190-5 dŚŝƐ ďŝŽŐƌĂƉŚǇ ĐŚƌŽŶŝĐůĞƐ ƚŚĞ ůŝĨĞ ŽĨ ůŝ ďƌŽǁƐŬŝ͗ ĨƌĞĞĚŽŵ Į ŐŚƚĞƌ ĂŶĚ ,ŽůŽĐĂƵƐƚ ƐƵƌǀŝǀŽƌ͖ ĂŶ ŝŵŵŝŐƌĂŶƚ ĂŶĚ Ă ƉĞĚĚůĞƌ͖ ĂŶĚ Į ŶĂůůǇ ĂŶ ĞŶƚƌĞƉƌĞŶĞƵƌ ĂŶĚ ĐŽŵŵƵŶŝƚǇ ůĞĂĚĞƌ͘ ZŽĐŚĞů ĂŶĚ 'ĞŽƌŐĞ ĞƌŵĂŶ ƚƌĂĐĞ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚ ďƌŽǁƐŬŝ͛Ɛ ŵĂŶǇ ĂĐĐŽŵƉůŝƐŚŵĞŶƚƐ ŝŶĐůƵĚŝŶŐ ƌĞƐĐƵŝŶŐ ϭϬϬ ŽƌƉŚĂŶƐ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ ĐůƵƚĐŚĞƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ EĂǌŝƐ͕ ĂƐ ǁĞůů ĂƐ ŝŶĂƵŐƵƌĂƟ ŶŐ ƚŚĞ Į ƌƐƚ ,ŽůŽĐĂƵƐƚ ZĞŵĞŵďƌĂŶĐĞ ĂǇ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ hŶŝƚĞĚ States in 1964.

Nine Lives: Favorite Profiles of Famous People from the Annals of Moment Magazine Marcy Epstein & Nadine Epstein, eds. MomentBooks, 2011. $18.95 ISBN: 978-0-9839951-0-4 With excerpts from Moment Magazine,

Jewish Book World

summer 5772/2012

www.jewishbookcouncil.org

a window into the deep and rich Jewish ƚƌĂĚŝƟ ŽŶ ĂŶĚ ĐŽǀĞƌ ƚŽƉŝĐƐ ƐƵĐŚ ĂƐ ůŝĨĞ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ shtetl, holidays, and spirituality.

history Among Righteous Men: A Tale of Vigilantes and Vindication in Hasidic Crown Heights Matthew Shaer John Wiley & Sons, 2012. 256 pp. $25.95 [e] ISBN: 978-0-470-60827-2 Among Righteous Men explores how a ƐŝŵƉůĞ ĂƌŐƵŵĞŶƚ ŝŶ Ă ƌŽǁŶ ,ĞŝŐŚƚƐ ĚŽƌŵŝͲ ƚŽƌǇ ĞǀŽůǀĞĚ ŝŶƚŽ ĂŶ ĂůůͲŽƵƚ ďƌĂǁů ĂŶĚ ƌŝŽƚ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚƌĞǁ Ă Ɵ ŐŚƚ ĐŽŵŵƵŶŝƚǇ ŝŶƚŽ ƚƵƌŵŽŝů ŝŶ ǁŚŝĐŚ ŵĞŵďĞƌƐ ǁĞƌĞ ĐŚĂƌŐĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ ŵƵůƟ ƉůĞ ĨĞůŽŶǇ ĂŶĚ ŐĂŶŐ ĐŚĂƌŐĞƐ͘ ^ŚĂĞƌ ĂŶĂůǇǌĞƐ ƚŚĞ ůĂƌŐĞƌ ƌĞůŝŐŝŽƵƐ ĐŚĂƐŵ ƚŚĂƚ ƐƵƌƌŽƵŶĚĞĚ ƚŚĞ ĞǀĞŶƚ͕ ĂŶĚ ŚŽǁ Ă ƉƵďůŝĐ ĐŽƵƌƚ ĐĂƐĞ ĂůůŽǁĞĚ Ă ŐůŝŵƉƐĞ ŝŶƚŽ ƚŚĞ ŽŌ ĞŶ ƉƌŝǀĂƚĞ ǁŽƌůĚ ŽĨ ,ĂƐŝĚŝĐ :ĞǁƌǇ͘

Beyond Religious Borders: Interaction and Intellectual Exchange in the Medieval Islamic World David M. Freidenreich & Miriam Goldstein, eds. University of Pennsylvania Press, 2012. 232 pp. $55.00 ISBN: 978-0-8122-4374-1 Beyond Religious Borders presents a

booknotes ƌĞǀŽůƵƟ ŽŶĂƌǇ ƐƚƵĚǇ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ǁĂǇ :ĞǁƐ͕ ŚƌŝƐͲ Ɵ ĂŶƐ͕ ĂŶĚ DƵƐůŝŵƐ ŝŶƚĞƌĂĐƚĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ ĞĂĐŚ ŽƚŚĞƌ ǁŝƚŚŝŶ ƚŚĞ DĞĚŝƚĞƌƌĂŶĞĂŶ ƌĞŐŝŽŶ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŶƚĞǆƚ ŽĨ ĐƵůƚƵƌĂů ĞǆĐŚĂŶŐĞ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ƚƌĂŶƐĨĞƌ ŽĨ ŬŶŽǁůĞĚŐĞ͘

A Confiscated Memory: Wadi Salib and Haifa’s Lost Heritage Yfaat Weiss Columbia University Press, 2011. 272 pp. $60.00 ISBN: 978-0231152266 zĨĂĂƚ tĞŝƐƐ ƚĞůůƐ ƚŚĞ ƐƚŽƌǇ ŽĨ tĂĚŝ ^Ăůŝď͕ ĂŶ ƌĂď ŶĞŝŐŚďŽƌŚŽŽĚ ŝŶ ,ĂŝĨĂ ƚŚĂƚ ůĂƚĞƌ ĂĐͲ ƋƵŝƌĞĚ ŝĐŽŶŝĐ ƐƚĂƚƵƐ ŝŶ /ƐƌĂĞůŝ ŚŝƐƚŽƌǇ͘ ƐƚĂďůŝƐŚͲ ŝŶŐ ĂŶ ĂƐƐŽĐŝĂƟ ŽŶ ďĞƚǁĞĞŶ tĂĚŝ ^Ăůŝď͛Ɛ ƌĂď ƌĞĨƵŐĞĞƐ ĂŶĚ ƐƵďƐĞƋƵĞŶƚ DŽƌŽĐĐĂŶ ĞǀĂĐƵĞĞƐ͕ tĞŝƐƐ ĂůůĞŐŽƌŝǌĞƐ ƚŚĞ /ƐƌĂĞůŝ ĂŵŶĞƐŝĂ ĂďŽƵƚ ďŽƚŚ ƐƚŽƌŝĞƐͶŽĐĐƵƌŝŶŐ Ăƚ Ěŝī ĞƌĞŶƚ Ɵ ŵĞƐ ďƵƚ ŝŶ ŽŶĞ ƉůĂĐĞͶĂŶĚ ƵŶĐŽǀĞƌƐ Ă ĐŽŵƉůĞǆ͕ ŵƵůƟ ůĂǇĞƌĞĚ͕ ĂŶĚ ŚŝĚĚĞŶ ŚŝƐƚŽƌǇ͘

Cursing the Christians?: A History of the Birkat Haminim Ruth Langer Oxford University Press, 2012. 400 pp. $74.00 ISBN: 978-0-19-978317-5 >ĂŶŐĞƌ ƋƵĞƐƟ ŽŶƐ ƚŚĞ ŵĞĂŶŝŶŐ ŽĨ Birkat Haminim, which in its earliest form cursed ĂƉŽƐƚĂƚĞƐ͕ ŚƌŝƐƟ ĂŶƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ĞŶĞŵŝĞƐ ŽĨ /ƐƌĂĞů͘ ^ŚĞ ĐŽŶƐŝĚĞƌƐ ƚŚĞ ƚƌĂŶƐĨŽƌŵĂƟ ŽŶ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƉƌĂǇĞƌ ŽǀĞƌ Ɵ ŵĞ ĂŶĚ ŚŽǁ ŝƚ ƌĞŇ ĞĐƚƐ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ƚŚŽƵŐŚƚ

ŽĨ ŚƌŝƐƟ ĂŶƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ĚĞƚĞƌŵŝŶĞƐ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞ ŵŽĚĞƌŶ ǀĞƌƐŝŽŶ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƉƌĂǇĞƌ ůŽƐƚ ĂŶǇ ƌĞĨĞƌĞŶĐĞ ƚŽ Ă ƐƉĞĐŝĮ Đ ŐƌŽƵƉ ŽĨ ƉĞŽƉůĞ͘

Diasporic Modernisms: Hebrew and Yiddish Literature in the Twentieth Century Allison Schachter Oxford University Press, 2011. 208 pp. $35.00 ISBN: 978-0-19-981263 In Diasporic Modernisms͕ ^ĐŚĂĐŚƚĞƌ ĞǆĂŵͲ ŝŶĞƐ ŚŽǁ ŵŽĚĞƌŶŝƐƚ ƉƌŽƐĞ ĞǀŽůǀĞĚ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ŚŝƐƚŽƌŝĐĂů ĐŽŶĚŝƟ ŽŶƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ĐƵůƚƵƌĞ͕ ĂŶĚ ŚŽǁ ůŝƚĞƌĂƚƵƌĞ ĐĂŶ ĨƵŶĐƟ ŽŶ ǁŝƚŚŽƵƚ ŽƵƚƐŝĚĞ ŶĂƟ ŽŶĂů ďŽƌĚĞƌƐ͘

More Powerful Than Dynamite: Radicals, Plutocrats, Progressives, and New York’s Year of Anarchy Thai Jones Walker Publishing, 2012. 416 pp. $26.00 [e] ISBN: 978-0-8027-7933-5 More Powerful Than Dynamite tells the ƐƚŽƌǇ ŽĨ ϭϵϭϰ͕ ǁŚĞŶ ŐƌŽƵƉƐ ŽĨ ĂŶĂƌĐŚŝƐƚƐ ǁĞƌĞ ƐĞĞŬŝŶŐ ƚŽ ďĂůĂŶĐĞ ŽƵƚ ĐŽƌƉŽƌĂƚĞ ƉŽǁĞƌ ĂŶĚ ŝŵƉƌŽǀĞ ƚŚĞ ƐƚĂŶĚĂƌĚ ŽĨ ůŝǀŝŶŐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŵĂƐƐĞƐ͘ The year quickly tumbled into protests and ǀŝŽůĞŶĐĞ͕ ǁŝƚŚ ĞǆƉůŽƐŝŽŶƐ ĂŝŵĞĚ Ăƚ ŵŽŶŽƉŽͲ ůŝƐƚƐ ƌŽĐŬŝŶŐ EĞǁ zŽƌŬ ŝƚǇ͘

The Music Libel Against the Jews

The Jewish Dark Continent: Life and Death in the Russian Pale of Settlement Nathaniel Deutsch Harvard University Press, 2011. 384 pp. $35.00 ISBN: 978-0-674-04728-0 EĂƚŚĂŶŝĞů ĞƵƚƐĐŚ Žī ĞƌƐ Ă ĐŽŵƉƌĞŚĞŶƐŝǀĞ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚ ŽĨ ŶͲƐŬǇ͕ ǁŚŽ ĂƩ ĞŵƉƚĞĚ ƚŽ ĐŽŵƉŝůĞ ĂŶĚ ƉƌĞƐĞƌǀĞ ƚŚĞ ǀĂƐƚ ƋƵĂŶƟ ƚǇ ŽĨ ƐŽŶŐƐ͕ ůŝƚĞƌĂƚƵƌĞ͕ ĂŶĚ ƚƌĂĚŝƟ ŽŶƐ ƚŚĂƚ ǁĞƌĞ ƉĂƌƚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ WĂůĞ ŽĨ ^ĞƩ ůĞŵĞŶƚ͘ ,Ğ ĐƌĞĂƚĞƐ Ă ƉŽƌƚƌĂŝƚ ŽĨ ƐŚƚĞƚů ůŝĨĞ ƚŚĂƚ ǁŽƵůĚ ďĞĐŽŵĞ ƚŚĞ ĨŽƵŶĚĂƟ ŽŶ of modern Jewish culture.

Ruth HaCohen Yale University Press, 2012. 523 pp. $55.00 [e] ISBN: 978-0-300-16778-8 ZĞůŝŐŝŽƵƐ ĂŶĚ ƉŽůŝƟ ĐĂů ĐŽŶŇ ŝĐƚ ŚĂƐ ŶĞǀĞƌ ďĞĞŶ ƐŽ ŝŵĂŐŝŶĂƟ ǀĞ ĂƐ ŝŶ ƚŚŝƐ ďŽŽŬ͕ ǁŚŝĐŚ ĨŽĐƵƐĞƐ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ƵƐĞ ŽĨ ŵƵƐŝĐ ŝŶ ĞƐĐĂůĂƟ ŶŐ ƚĞŶƐŝŽŶ ďĞƚǁĞĞŶ :ĞǁƐ ĂŶĚ ŚƌŝƐƟ ĂŶƐ ƐŝŶĐĞ ƚŚĞ DŝĚĚůĞ ŐĞƐ͘ ,Ă ŽŚĞŶ ƵƐĞƐ tĞƐƚĞƌŶ ĐƵůƚƵƌĂů ŚŝƐƚŽƌǇ͕ ĂƐ ǁĞůů ĂƐ ĂŶĂůǇƐŝƐ ĨƌŽŵ Ă ǀĂƌŝĞƚǇ ŽĨ ƉĞƌƐƉĞĐƟ ǀĞƐ ƚŽ ĞŵƉŚĂƐŝǌĞ ƚŚĞ ŚƌŝƐƟ ĂŶ ĂƐͲ ƐŽĐŝĂƟ ŽŶ ŽĨ :ĞǁƐ ǁŝƚŚ ͞ŶŽŝƐĞ͟ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞŵƐĞůǀĞƐ ǁŝƚŚ ͞ŚĂƌŵŽŶǇ͘͟

The Waning of Emancipation: Jewish History, Memory, and the Rise of Fascism in Germany, France, and Hungary Guy Miron Wayne State University Press, 2011. 308 pp. $49.95 [e] ISBN: 978-0-8143-3470-6 In dŚĞ tĂŶŝŶŐ ŽĨ ŵĂŶĐŝƉĂƟ ŽŶ͕ 'ƵǇ DŝƌŽŶ ĚĞůǀĞƐ ŝŶƚŽ ƚŚĞ ĚĞĐƌĞĂƐŝŶŐ ĚĞŐƌĞĞ ŽĨ ĨƌĞĞĚŽŵ ŽĨ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ĐŝƟ ǌĞŶƐ ŝŶ ĨĂƐĐŝƐƚ ƵƌŽƉĞ͘ DŝƌŽŶ ƵƐĞƐ ƉƌĞͲ,ŽůŽĐĂƵƐƚ 'ĞƌŵĂŶǇ͕ &ƌĂŶĐĞ͕ ĂŶĚ ,ƵŶŐĂƌǇ ƚŽ ŵĂŬĞ Ă ƐƚĂƚĞŵĞŶƚ ĂďŽƵƚ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ĞŵĂŶĐŝƉĂͲ Ɵ ŽŶ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ Ğī ĞĐƚ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞŝƌ ĐŽŵƉůĞǆ ƉŽůŝƟ ĐĂů cultures had on it.

The Word Unheard: Legacies of Anti-Semitism in German Literature and Culture Martha B. Helfer Northwestern University Press, 2011. 264 pp. $34.95 ISBN: 0-8101-2794-6 &ŽĐƵƐŝŶŐ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ĞŵĂŶĐŝƉĂƟ ŽŶ ĚĞďĂƚĞƐ ŽǀĞƌ ŐƌĂŶƟ ŶŐ :ĞǁƐ Đŝǀŝů ĂŶĚ ƉŽůŝƟ ĐĂů ƌŝŐŚƚƐ ŝŶ ϭϳϰϵͲϭϴϱϬ 'ĞƌŵĂŶǇ ĂƐ ǁĞůů ĂƐ ĐůŽƐĞ ƌĞĂĚͲ ŝŶŐƐ ŽĨ ǁŽƌŬƐ ďǇ 'ŽƩ ŚŽůĚ ŵƉŚƌĂŝŵ >ĞƐƐŝŶŐ͕ ĚĂůďĞƌƚ ^Ɵ Ō Ğƌ ĂŶĚ ŵĂŶǇ ŵŽƌĞ͕ ,ĞůĨĞƌ ŶŽƚĞƐ ƚŚĞ ƉƌĞǀĂůĞŶĐĞ ŽĨ ĂŶƟ Ͳ^ĞŵŝƟ Đ ƌĞƉƌĞƐĞŶƚĂƟ ŽŶƐ ŽĨ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ĐŚĂƌĂĐƚĞƌƐ ŝŶ 'ĞƌŵĂŶ ůŝƚĞƌĂƚƵƌĞ ŝŶ that era.

www.jewishbookcouncil.org

summer 5772/2012

Jewish Book World

booknotes israel studies A New Shoah: The Untold Story of Israel’s Victims of Terrorism Giulio Meotti Encounter Books, 2009. 428 pp. $27.95 [e] ISBN: 978-1-59403-477-0 dŚĞ /ƚĂůŝĂŶ ƌĞƉŽƌƚĞƌ ĚĞƚĂŝůƐ ŚŝƐ ĐŽǀĞƌĂŐĞ ŽĨ Ă ƐƵŝĐŝĚĞ ĂƩ ĂĐŬ ƚŚĂƚ ŬŝůůĞĚ ϮϬ ƉĞŽƉůĞ ŝŶ ,ĂŝĨĂ ŝŶ ϮϬϬϯ͕ ŝŶĐůƵĚŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ƉĂŝŶĨƵů ƐƚŽƌŝĞƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ǀŝĐƟ ŵƐ͛ ĨĂŵŝůŝĞƐ ĂŶĚ ƐƵƌǀŝǀŽƌƐ͘ ĞƐŝĚĞƐ ĚĞƐĐƌŝďŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ĞǀĞƌǇĚĂǇ ƌĞĂůŝƟ ĞƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ƉĞŽƉůĞ ŝŶ /ƐƌĂĞů͕ DĞŽƫ ĚĞůŝǀĞƌƐ ĂŶ ŽƌĂů ŚŝƐƚŽƌǇ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ DŝĚĚůĞ ĂƐƚ ĐŽŶŇ ŝĐƚ ƚŽůĚ ďǇ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ƐƵƌǀŝǀŽƌƐ ŽĨ ƚĞƌƌŽƌ͘

ũĞǁŝƐŚ ƐƚƵĚŝĞƐ Holy Dissent: Jewish and Christian Mystics in Eastern Europe Glenn Dynner, ed. Wayne State University Press, 2011. 432 pp. $44.95 [e] ISBN: 978-0814335178 /Ŷ ƚŚŝƐ ďŽŽŬ͕ ĞĚŝƚŽƌ 'ůĞŶŶ ǇŶŶĞƌ ƉƌĞƐĞŶƚƐ ƚǁĞůǀĞ ĞƐƐĂǇƐ ƚŚĂƚ ĐŚĂƌƚ ĐŽŶƚĂĐƚƐ͕ ƉĂƌĂůůĞůƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ŵƵƚƵĂů ŝŶŇ ƵĞŶĐĞ ďĞƚǁĞĞŶ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ĂŶĚ ŚƌŝƐƟ ĂŶ ŵǇƐƟ ĐŝƐŵ͘ dŚƌŽƵŐŚ ƌĞƐĞĂƌĐŚ ŽŶ ĨŽůŬ ŚĞĂůĞƌƐ͕ ŵĞƐƐŝĂŶŝƐƚƐ͕ ,ĂƐŝĚŝŵ͕ ĂŶĚ ŚƌŝƐƟ ĂŶ ƐĞĐƚĂƌŝĂŶƐ͕ ƚŚŝƐ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ƉƌĞƐĞŶƚƐ ŝŶƐƚĂŶĐĞƐ ŽĨ ƌŝĐŚ ĐƵůƚƵƌĂů ŝŶƚĞƌĐŚĂŶŐĞ ĂŶĚ ďŽůĚ ďŽƌĚĞƌ ƚƌĂŶƐŐƌĞƐƐŝŽŶ͘

ŚƌŝƐƟ ĂŶƐ ƚŚĞ ƌĞĂů ƐƚŽƌǇ ŽĨ :ĞƐƵƐ͕ Ă ǁŚŽůůǇ ŽďƐĞƌǀĂŶƚ͕ WŚĂƌŝƐĂŝĐ ZĂďďŝ ǁŚŽ ĨŽƵŐŚƚ ZŽŵĂŶ ƉĂŐĂŶŝƐŵ ĂŶĚ ŽƉƉƌĞƐƐŝŽŶ ĂŶĚ ǁĂƐ ŬŝůůĞĚ ĨŽƌ ŝƚ͘

Simple Actions for Jews to Help Green the Planet: Jews, Judaism and the Environment

Make Yourself a Teacher: Rabbinic Tales of Mentors and Disciples

Rabbi Dov Peretz Elkins Alternadox Press, 2011. 274 pp. $17.99 ISBN: 978-1463777654 :ĞǁƐ ŚĂǀĞ ĂůǁĂǇƐ ďĞĞŶ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĨŽƌĞĨƌŽŶƚ ŽĨ ƐŽĐŝĂů ŝƐƐƵĞƐ͘ dŽĚĂǇ ŽƵƌ ƉůĂŶĞƚ ŝƐ ŝŶ ƐĞƌŝͲ ŽƵƐ ĚĂŶŐĞƌ ĨƌŽŵ Ă ŚŽƐƚ ŽĨ ĞŶǀŝƌŽŶŵĞŶƚĂů ĐƌŝƐĞƐ͘ ƌĂǁŝŶŐ ƵƉŽŶ ƚŚĞ ǁŝƐĚŽŵ ŽĨ ďŝďůŝĐĂů͕ midrashic and other texts, as well as modern ƐĐŝĞŶƟ Į Đ ƌĞƐĞĂƌĐŚ͕ ZĂďďŝ ůŬŝŶƐ ůŝƐƚƐ ƐĐŽƌĞƐ ŽĨ ƐƉĞĐŝĮ Đ ĂĐƟ ŽŶƐ ƚŚĂƚ ǁĞ ĐĂŶ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵ ƚŽ ƐůŽǁ͕ ĂŶĚ ŚŽƉĞĨƵůůǇ ƌĞǀĞƌƐĞ͕ ƚŚĞ ĚĞƚĞƌŝŽƌĂƟ ŽŶ ŽĨ ŽƵƌ ĞŶǀŝƌŽŶŵĞŶƚ͘

Susan Handelman University of Washington Press, 2011. 176 pp. $30.00 ISBN: 978-0295991290 dŚŝƐ ďŽŽŬ ŝƐ Ă ƚĞĂĐŚŝŶŐ ďŽŽŬ ĂŶĚ Ă ďŽŽŬ ĂďŽƵƚ ƚĞĂĐŚŝŶŐ͘ /ƚ ĚŝƐĐƵƐƐĞƐ ƚŚƌĞĞ ĚƌĂŵĂƟ Đ͕ well known stories about the student and ƚĞĂĐŚĞƌ ZĂďďŝ ůŝĞǌĞƌ ďĞŶ ,ǇƌĐĂŶƵƐ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ KƌĂů dŽƌĂŚ͕ ǁŚŝĐŚ ƐĞƌǀĞ ĂƐ ƚĞĂĐŚŝŶŐ ƚĞǆƚƐ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ƚĞĂĐŚĞƌͬƐƚƵĚĞŶƚ ƌĞůĂƟ ŽŶƐŚŝƉ ŝŶ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ƚƌĂĚŝƟ ŽŶ͘ ,ĂŶĚĞůŵĂŶ ĐŽŶƐŝĚĞƌƐ ŚŽǁ ƚŚĞƐĞ ƌĞůĂƟ ŽŶƐŚŝƉƐ ƐƵƐƚĂŝŶ ĂŶĚ ƌĞŶĞǁ ƚŚĞ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ƚƌĂĚŝƟ ŽŶ͕ ĞƐƉĞĐŝĂůůǇ ĚƵƌŝŶŐ ƚƌŽƵďůĞĚ Ɵ ŵĞƐ͘

Relationship 1:1: The Genesis of Togetherness Gavriel Goldfeder Alternadox Press, 2011. 139 pp. $14.95 ISBN: 978-0983905103 ZĂďďŝ 'ĂǀƌŝĞů 'ŽůĚĨĞĚĞƌ ŵŝŶĞƐ ƚŚĞ ĨĂŵŝůǇ ƐƚŽƌŝĞƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ďŽŽŬ ŽĨ 'ĞŶĞƐŝƐ ĨŽƌ ƚĞĂĐŚŝŶŐƐ ŽŶ ŚŽǁ ƚŽ ŵŽǀĞ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚ ƚŚĞ ĐŚĂůůĞŶŐĞƐ ƚŚĂƚ Ă ĐŽŵŵŝƩ ĞĚ ƌĞůĂƟ ŽŶƐŚŝƉ ŶĂƚƵƌĂůůǇ ƉƌĞƐĞŶƚƐ͘

Returning to Babel: Jewish Latin American Experiences, Representations and Identity Amalia Ran & Jean Axelrad Cahan, eds. Brill, 2011. 242 pp. $144.00 ISBN: 978-9004203952 dŚŝƐ ǀŽůƵŵĞ Žī ĞƌƐ Ă ƌĞͲĞǆĂŵŝŶĂƟ ŽŶ ŽĨ ƐŽŵĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƉƌĞǀĂůĞŶƚ ƉĂƌĂĚŝŐŵƐ ŝŶ >ĂƟ Ŷ ŵĞƌŝĐĂŶ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ^ƚƵĚŝĞƐ ĂŶĚ ĂŶ ŝŶƐƟ ŐĂƟ ŽŶ ƚŽ ĨƵƌƚŚĞƌ ĞǆƉůŽƌĂƟ ŽŶƐ ŝŶ ƚŚŝƐ ĂƌĞĂ͘ /ƚ ĞůĂďŽƌĂƚĞƐ ŽŶ ƚŚĞŵĞƐ ŽĨ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ŝĚĞŶƟ ƚǇ ĂƐ ƌĞƉƌĞƐĞŶƚĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŚŝƐƚŽƌǇ͕ ĐƵůƚƵƌĞƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ƐŽĐŝĞƟ ĞƐ ŽĨ >ĂƟ Ŷ America in the current era of hybridism and ƚƌĂŶƐĂƟ ŽŶĂůŝƐŵ͘

ŵŽĚĞƌŶ ũĞǁŝƐŚ ƚŚŽƵŐŚƚ Θ ĞǆƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞ Kosher Jesus Rabbi Shmuley Boteach Gefen Publishing House, 2012. 300 pp. $26.00 [e] ISBN: 978-9652295781 dŚŝƐ ďŽŽŬ ƐĞĞŬƐ ƚŽ Žī Ğƌ ƚŽ :ĞǁƐ ĂŶĚ

Jewish Book World

summer 5772/2012

www.jewishbookcouncil.org

Walter Benjamin: A Philosophical Portrait Eli Friedlander Harvard University Press, 2012. 300 pp. $39.95 [e] ISBN: 978-0-674-06169-9 WŚŝůŽƐŽƉŚǇ ƉƌŽĨĞƐƐŽƌ ůŝ &ƌŝĞĚůĂŶĚĞƌ ĂƩ ĞŵƉƚƐ ƚŽ ĐŽŶŶĞĐƚ ƚŚĞ ďƌŝůůŝĂŶƚ ǇĞƚ ĚŝƐƉĂƌĂƚĞ ǁƌŝƟ ŶŐƐ ŽĨ tĂůƚĞƌ ĞŶũĂŵŝŶ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚ ĂŶ ĂŶĂůǇƐŝƐ ŽĨ ĞŶũĂŵŝŶ͛Ɛ ǁŽƌŬ͘ ,Ğ Į ŶĚƐ ƚŚĞƌĞ ŝŶŝƟ Ăů ĨŽƌŵƵůĂƟ ŽŶƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ Ěŝī ĞƌĞŶƚ ĚŝŵĞŶƐŝŽŶƐ ŽĨ ŚŝƐ ƉŚŝůŽƐŽƉŚŝĐĂů ƚŚŝŶŬŝŶŐ͕ Ă ƌĂƌĞ ŝŶƐŝŐŚƚ ŝŶƚŽ ƚŚĞ ĞŶŝŐŵĂƟ Đ ĞŶũĂŵŝŶ͘

booknotes poetry

scholarship

Sanctuary in the Wilderness: A Critical Introduction to American Hebrew Poetry

The Jewish Annotated New Testament

Alan Mintz Stanford University Press, 2012. 544 pp. $65.00 [e] ISBN: 978-0-8047-6293-9 /Ŷ ƚŚŝƐ ĂŶƚŚŽůŽŐǇ͕ ůĂŶ DŝŶƚǌ ĐŽŵƉŝůĞĚ poetry from a dozen American Hebraists, ǁŚŽ ƐŽƵŐŚƚ ƚŽ ŵŽĚĞƌŶŝǌĞ ƚŚĞ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ƉĞŽƉůĞ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚ ,ĞďƌĞǁ ǁŚŝůĞ ŵĂŝŶƚĂŝŶŝŶŐ ƚŚĞŝƌ ĐŽŶͲ ŶĞĐƟ ŽŶ ƚŽ ŝŽŶ͘

Yannai on Genesis: An Invitation to Piyyut Laura S. Lieber Hebrew Union College Press, 2010. 798 pp. $75.00 ISBN: 978-0-87820-464-9 Lieber’s work analyzes the mostly unknown ǁŽƌŬ ŽĨ ƐŝǆƚŚͲĐĞŶƚƵƌǇ ,ĞďƌĞǁ ĂŶĚ ƌĂŵĂŝĐ ƉŽĞƚ zĂŶŶĂŝ͕ ǁŚŽƐĞ ƉŝǇǇƵƟ ŵ ŝŶŇ ƵĞŶĐĞĚ ƉŽĞƚƌǇ ĨŽƌ ĐĞŶƚƵƌŝĞƐ ĂŌ Ğƌ ŚŝƐ ĚĞĂƚŚ͘ ĞƐŝĚĞƐ ƚŚĞŝƌ ƐŝŐŶŝĮ ĐĂŶĐĞ ĂƐ ĂŶ Ăƌƚ ĨŽƌŵ͕ ƚŚĞ ƉŽĞŵƐ ĂůƐŽ ƐĞƌǀĞ ĂƐ Ă ŐĂƚĞǁĂǇ ƚŽ ŽƚŚĞƌ ĚŝǀĞƌƐĞ ĚŝƐĐŝͲ ƉůŝŶĞƐ ƐƵĐŚ ĂƐ ůŝƚƵƌŐŝĐĂů ƐƚƵĚŝĞƐ ĂŶĚ ǇǌĂŶƟ ŶĞ ŚƌŝƐƟ ĂŶ ĐƵůƚƵƌĞ ĂŶĚ ŝƚƐ Ăƌƚ͘

<ĂŅ Ă ĂƐ Ă ƉƌŝŵĂƌŝůǇ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ǀŽŝĐĞ͘

ǁŽŵĞŶΖƐ studies

Amy-Jill Levine & Marc Z. Brettler Oxford University Press, 2011. 700 pp. $35.00 ISBN: 978-0195297706 EĞǁ dĞƐƚĂŵĞŶƚ ĞǆƉĞƌƚƐ͕ 'ƌĞĐŽͲZŽŵĂŶ ƐŽĐŝĂů ŚŝƐƚŽƌŝĂŶƐ͕ ƚŚĞŽůŽŐŝĂŶƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ŽƚŚĞƌƐ ũŽŝŶƚůǇ ĐŽŶƚƌŝďƵƚĞ ƚŽ Ă ĐŽŵƉůĞƚĞ EĞǁ dĞƐƚĂŵĞŶƚ ǁŝƚŚ ŝŶƚƌŽĚƵĐƟ ŽŶƐ ƚŽ ĞĂĐŚ EĞǁ dĞƐƚĂŵĞŶƚ ďŽŽŬ͕ ĂŶŶŽƚĂƟ ŽŶƐ ŽŶ ĞĂĐŚ ƉĂŐĞ ŽĨ ƚĞǆƚ ĂŶĚ ƐŝŐŶŝĮ ĐĂŶƚ ĞƐƐĂǇƐ ŽŶ EĞǁ dĞƐƚĂͲ ŵĞŶƚ ďĂĐŬŐƌŽƵŶĚƐ͘ dŚĞǇ ďƌŝŶŐ ŽƵƚ ƚŚĞ :ĞǁŝƐŚ context of the New Testament and present :ƵĚĂŝƐŵ ďĞĨŽƌĞ͕ ĚƵƌŝŶŐ͕ ĂŶĚ ĂŌ Ğƌ ƚŚĞ Ɵ ŵĞ ŽĨ Jesus and his immediate followers.

Kafka’s Jewish Languages: The Hidden Openness of Tradition David Suchoff University of Pennsylvania Press, 2011. 280 pp. $65.00 ISBN: 978-0-8122-4371-0 ŶŐůŝƐŚ ƉƌŽĨĞƐƐŽƌ ĂǀŝĚ ^ƵĐŚŽī ƵŶǀĞŝůƐ ƚŚĞ ǌĞĐŚ ǁƌŝƚĞƌ͛Ɛ ŝŶƚƌŝŶƐŝĐ ůŝŶŬ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ƚƌĂĚŝͲ Ɵ ŽŶ ĂŶĚ ůĂŶŐƵĂŐĞ͘ dŚƌŽƵŐŚ ĂŶ ĂŶĂůǇƐŝƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ zŝĚĚŝƐŚ ĂŶĚ ,ĞďƌĞǁ ƐŽƵƌĐĞƐ ƚŚĂƚ ŝŶŇ ƵĞŶĐĞĚ ŚŝƐ ǁƌŝƟ ŶŐ͕ ũƵǆƚĂƉŽƐĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ ƐŽŵĞ ŽĨ <ĂŅ Ă͛Ɛ ŵĂũŽƌ ǁŽƌŬƐ ƐƵĐŚ ĂƐ The Trial and The Castle, ^ƵĐŚŽī ŝůůƵƐƚƌĂƚĞƐ ĂŶ ŝŶŶŽǀĂƟ ǀĞ ŝŶƐŝŐŚƚ ŝŶƚŽ

Forsaken: The Menstruant in Medieval Jewish Mysticisms Sharon Faye Koren Brandeis University Press, 2011. 306 pp. $35.00 ISBN: 978-1584659822 dŚŝƐ ďŽŽŬ ĂĚĚƌĞƐƐ Ă ĐĞŶƚƌĂů ƋƵĞƐƟ ŽŶ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƐƚƵĚǇ ŽĨ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ŵǇƐƟ ĐŝƐŵ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŵĞĚŝĞǀĂů and early modern periods: why are there no ŬŶŽǁŶ ĨĞŵĂůĞ ŵǇƐƟ ĐƐ ŝŶ ŵĞĚŝĞǀĂů :ƵĚĂŝƐŵ͕ ƵŶůŝŬĞ ĐŽŶƚĞŵƉŽƌĂŶĞŽƵƐ ŵŽǀĞŵĞŶƚƐ ŝŶ ŚƌŝƐƟ ĂŶŝƚǇ ĂŶĚ /ƐůĂŵ͍ <ŽƌĞŶ Žī ĞƌƐ Ă ƉƌŽǀŽĐĂͲ Ɵ ǀĞ ůŽŽŬ ŝŶƚŽ ƚŚĞ ƉƌĞŵŽĚĞƌŶ ƌĂďďŝŶŝĐĂů ǀŝĞǁƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĨĞŵĂůĞ ďŽĚǇ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞŝƌ ƌĂŵŝĮ ĐĂƟ ŽŶƐ ĨŽƌ ǁŽŵĞŶ͛Ɛ ƐƉŝƌŝƚƵĂů ĚĞǀĞůŽƉŵĞŶƚ͘

ǀŝƐƵĂů ĂƌƚƐ The Last Bright Days: A Young Woman’s Life in a Lithuanian Shtetl on the Eve of the Holocaust Frank Buongurio, ed. Jewish Heritage, 2011. 165 pp. $39.95 ISBN: 978-0-9677697-9-0 dŚŝƐ ĐŽůůĞĐƟ ŽŶ ŽĨ ƉŚŽƚŽŐƌĂƉŚƐ ƚĞůůƐ ƚŚĞ ƐƚŽƌǇ of both a small Lithuanian shtetl as well as that ŽĨ ŽŶĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ǀŝůůĂŐĞƌƐ͕ ĞŝůĞ ĞůĞĐŚǇ͕ ǁŚŽ ƚŽŽŬ Ăůů ŽĨ ƚŚĞƐĞ ƉŚŽƚŽŐƌĂƉŚƐ ǁŝƚŚ ŚĞƌ ǁŚĞŶ ƐŚĞ ĞŵŝŐƌĂƚĞĚ ƚŽ ŵĞƌŝĐĂ͘ The Last Bright Days ĐƌĞĂƚĞƐ Ă ůŝǀŝŶŐ ŵĞŵŽƌǇ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ǁŽƌůĚ ƚŚĂƚ ǁĂƐ ĚĞƐƚƌŽǇĞĚ ĚƵƌŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ǁĂƌ͘

The Modern Jewish Experience in World Cinema Lawrence Baron, ed. Brandeis University Press, 2011. 464 pp. $39.95 ISBN: 978-1611681994 dŚŝƐ ĂŶƚŚŽůŽŐǇ ŝŶĐŽƌƉŽƌĂƚĞƐ Į Ō ǇͲĨŽƵƌ ĞƐƐĂǇƐ ƚŚĂƚ Žī Ğƌ Ă ƐǁĞĞƉŝŶŐ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚ ŽĨ ŚŽǁ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ŚŝƐƚŽƌǇ ŝŶŇ ƵĞŶĐĞĚ ĐŝŶĞŵĂ ƐŝŶĐĞ ƚŚĞ ƐƚĂƌƚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ Į ůŵ ŝŶĚƵƐƚƌǇ͘ dŚĞ ďŽŽŬ ĂĚĚƌĞƐƐĞƐ Ă ǀĂƌŝĞƚǇ ŽĨ ƚŽƉŝĐƐ ƐƵĐŚ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ŵĞƌŝĐĂŶ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ŝŵͲ ŵŝŐƌĂŶƚ ĞǆƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞ ĂŶĚ ĐŽŶƚĞŵƉŽƌĂƌǇ /ƐƌĂĞůŝ and American Jewish cinema, and analyzes ƐĞǀĞƌĂů Į ůŵƐ ĨŽƌ ĞĂĐŚ ƚŽƉŝĐ ;ƚŚĞ ŵŽŶĞǇůĞŶĚĞƌ͕ prophet, etc.).

www.jewishbookcouncil.org

summer 5772/2012

Jewish Book World

contributors MIRIAM BRADMAN ABRAHAMS (MBA) is Cuban born, Brooklyn bred, lives in Woodmere, NY, Hadassah Nassau Region’s One Book chairlady and liaison to the Jewish Book Network, Hewlett Hadassah Herald editor, retired book fair chairlady, certified yoga instructor.

ADA BRUNSTEIN (AB) is a freelance writer and an acquisitions editor for Cambridge University Press. She has an MA in Linguistics from NYU and an MS in Science Writing from MIT. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, New Scientist, Discover, and The Vocabula Review.

ERIC ACKLAND (EA) is a freelance writer, and edits the Ideas and Innovation section for Presentense Magazine.

SUSAN M. CHAMBRÉ (SMC) ) is a professor of sociology at Baruch College. She studies Jewish philanthropy, civil society, and health policy. Her recent books are Fighting for Our Lives: New York's AIDS Community and the Politics of Disease and Patients, Consumers and Civil Society.

BARBARA ANDREWS (BA) holds a Masters in Jewish Studies from the University of Chicago, has been an adult Jewish education instructor, and works in the corporate world as a professional adult educator. DRORA ARUSSY (DA), Ed.D., is an educational consultant who specializes in integrating Jewish and secular studies, the arts into education, and creative teaching for excellence in Jewish education. She is the mother to four school age children and has taught from pre-school through adult. Currently Drora is an adjunct professor of Hebrew language at Drew University. BETTINA BERCH (BEB), author of the recent biography, From Hester Street to Hollywood: The Life and Work of Anzia Yezierska, teaches part-time at the Borough of Manhattan Community College. BARBARA M. BIBEL (BMB) is a librarian at the Oakland Public Library in Oakland, CA; and at Congregation Netivot Shalom, Berkeley, CA. YAAKOV BIELER (JB) is currently Rabbi of Kemp Mill Synagogue in Silver Spring, MD. He has been associated with Jewish day school education for over thirty years. R. Bieler served as a mentor for the Bar Ilan University Lookstein Center Principals' Seminar and he has published and lectured extensively on the philosophy of Modern Orthodox education DANA BJORNSTAD (DB) is a mother of three and a teacher. She taught middle school for 13 yearsͶ reading, social studies, science, and art. She currently substitute teaches all grade levels and subjects. MARCI LAVINE BLOCH (MLB) holds an MLS from the University of Maryland, a BA from the University of Pennsylvania, and an MA in English Literature from Fordham University. She worked in synagogue and day school libraries before moving to the corporate world. BILL BRENNAN (BB) is an independent scholar and entertainer based in Las Vegas. Brennan has taught literature and the humanities at Princeton and The University of Chicago. He holds degrees from Yale, Princeton, and Northwestern. SHARON BRUCE (SB) is the program associate at the Jewish Book Council.

Jewish Book World

DAVID COHEN (DC) is a senior editor at Politico. He has been in the journalism business since 1985 and wrote the book Rugged and Enduring: The Eagles, The Browns and 5 Years of Football. He resides in Rockville, MD; his wife, Deborah Bodin Cohen, writes Jewish children’s books. ANDREA DAVIDSON (AD) is the librarian of The Temple-Tifereth Israel in Beechwood, OH. She holds and M.L.S. from the University of Michigan and is a former member of the Sydney Taylor Book Awards Committee. She enjoys trying out the books she reviews on the kids at the Temple and on her grandchildren. MICHAEL N. DOBKOWSKI (MND) is a professor of religious studies at Hobart and William Smith Colleges. He is co-editor of Genocide and the Modern Age and On the Edge of Scarcity (Syracuse University Press); author of The Tarnished Dream: The Basis of American Anti-Semitism; and co-author of The Nuclear Predicament. ERIKA DREIFUS (ED) is the author of Quiet Americans: Stories, which has been named a 2012 ALA Sophie Brody Medal Honor Title for outstanding Jewish literature. Based in New York, she is a contributing editor for The Writer magazine and Fiction Writers Review. Web: www.erikadreifus.com. ABRAHAM J. EDELHEIT (AJE) ) is an associate professor of history at Kingsborough Community College (CUNY) and the author, co-author, or editor of eleven books on the Holocaust, Zionism, Jewish and European history, and Military affairs. His most recent publication appeared in Armor magazine, the official journal of the US Army Armor and Cavalry Command. SHELLY FEIT (SF) has an M.L.S. and a Sixth-year Specialist’s Certificate in Information Science. She is currently the library director and media specialist at the Moriah School in Englewood, NJ. JACK FISCHEL (JF) is professor emeritus of history at Millersville University, Millersville, PA and author of The Holocaust (Greenwood Press) and Historical Dictionary of the Holocaust (Rowman and Littlefield).

summer 5772/2012

www.jewishbookcouncil.org

MIMI FRANK (MF) is the secretary of the Jewish Book Council. DEBRA GOLD (DG) has been a children’s librarian for over 20 years in the Cuyahoga County Public Library System. An active member of the ALA, she has served on many committees including the Caldecott, Newbery, and Batchelder committees. BOB GOLDFARB (BG) is director of marketing and audience development at The Forward and the president of the Center for Jewish Culture and Creativity. He lives in New York. WALLACE GREENE (WG), Ph.D., has taught Jewish history at Yeshiva University, Queens College, and Upsala College. MICAH D. HALPERN (MDH) is a columnist and a social and political commentator. He is the author of What You Need To Know About: Terror, and maintains The Micah Report at www.micahhalpern.com. WAYNE HOFFMAN (WH) is the author of the novels Sweet Like Sugar and Hard. His short stories and fiction appear in such anthologies as Mama’s Boy, Generation Q, and Best Gay Stories 2010. He is managing editor of Tablet Magazine. SUSAN KANTOR (SK) is a senior writer/editor for Girl Scouts of the USA. She is a published children’s book author, has worked as children’s book editor and is a past judge for the National Jewish Book Awards in the illustrated children’s book category. MARGE KAPLAN (MLK) is a retired English as a Second Language teacher. She is a consultant for the children’s literature group for the Roseville, MN school system and is a storyteller of Jewish tales. RAY KATZ (RMK) is a former Jewish Book Council intern. She currently lives in Manhattan, works on product development for a small company that makes interactive digital products for kids, and writes freelance when she gets the chance. BETH KISSILEFF (BK) has taught Bible and English literature at Smith and Mount Holyoke Colleges, and holds a Ph.D. in comparative literature from the University of Pennsylvania. She is finishing her first novel, Questioning Return, about graduate students and baalei teshuvah in Jerusalem. LAUREN KRAMER (LK) is a Vancouver-based journalist, wife, and mother with a lifelong passion for literature. Born in Cape Town, South Africa she has won awards for her writing and reported from many corners of the world. Read more of her work at www.laurenkramer.net.

contributors NAOMI KRAMER (NDK) is a retired reading consultant teacher who developed curriculum for using literature to educate children and adults in the history of the Holocaust. She is a docent and educator at the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Education Center of Nassau County.

ESTHER NUSSBAUM (EN), the head librarian of Ramaz Upper School for 30 years, is now education and special projects coordinator of the Halachic Organ Donor Society. A past editor of Jewish Book World, she continues to review for this and other publications.

DANIÈLE GORLIN LASSNER (DGL) ) (wife, mother, grandmother) retired after 35 years at Ramaz where she served as Dean of Admissions, Foreign Language Department Chair and teacher of French and Spanish. She owns hundreds of cookbooks. She has translated several children's books from French into English. She has recently translated A Memoir of Sanctity by Mayer Moskowitz (Mazo Publishers, Jerusalem, Israel) from Hebrew into English. No matter the language, food is a “constant.”

HARA E. PERSON (HEP) was ordained by Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. She is a writer and editor.

RENITA LAST (RL) is a member of Hadassah Nassau Region’s Education Committee. She is currently involved in volunteer work at the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center of Nassau County. A retired teacher of the Gifted and Talented, she participates in book clubs and writing projects. SAMUEL LIEBMANN (SL) is a student at Emory University and a past Jewish Book Council intern. STEVEN A. LUEL (SAL)), Ph.D., is associate professor of education and psychology at Touro College, New York. He is a developmental psychologist and psychoanalyst in private practice. He is co-editor (with Paul Marcus) of Psychoanalytic Reflections on the Holocaust: Selected Essays. MICHAL HOSCHANDER MALEN (MHM) is a librarian and editor of reference books. She is the children’s editor of Jewish Book World. TERI MARKSON (TM) has been working with children in public and school libraries for over 18 years. She has also been a book reviewer for many years and is still delighted when a children’s book makes her laugh, cry, or both. She is currently a children’s librarian at the Fairfax Branch of the Los Angeles Public Library where children and books go together like a cat in a hat. MORTON MEROWITZ (MJM) holds a B.A. in English from Yeshiva College, a B.H.A. from NYU, and an M.A. in History from SUNY, and was involved in Jewish education for some ten years. PENNY METSCH (PGM), MLS, formerly a school librarian on Long Island and in New York City, now focuses on early literacy programs in Hoboken, NJ. MARK D. NANOS (MDN), Ph.D., Rockhurst University, is the author of Mystery of Romans, winner of the 1996 National Jewish Book Award, Charles H. Revson Award in Jewish-Christian Relations.

ROBERT MOSES SHAPIRO (RMS) teaches about East European Jewish history, the Holocaust, Yiddish language and literature, and Jewish communal selfgovernment. His most recent book is The Warsaw Ghetto Oyneg Shabes-Ringelblum Archive: Catalog and Guide (Indiana University Press in association with the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and the Jewish Historical Institute in Warsaw, 2009). He is currently engaged in translating Holocaust diaries and writing a history of the Jews in Lodz, Poland, during the twentieth century.

AMANDA POGANY (AP) is an educator, consultant, mentor and coach. She is a trained facilitator through the Center for Leadership Initiatives. She is co-founder of Altshul, an independent egalitarian minyan in Brooklyn, where she lives with her husband Aaron Bisman and their two children, Asher and Maisie. CAROL POLL (CP), Ph.D., is a professor of sociology at the Fashion Institute of Technology of the State University of New York. Her areas of interest include the sociology of race and ethnic relations, the sociology of marriage, family and gender roles, and the sociology of American Jews. SARA LIBBY ROBINSON (SLR) received her Ph.D. in Comparative History from Brandeis University. Her book, Blood Will Tell: Vampires as Political Metaphors Before World War I (Academic Studies Press, 2011), explores the ways in which vampires and blood were used to express political and cultural anxieties in Western Europe and America in the decades before the First World War.

BARBARA SILVERMAN (BS) has an MLS from Texas Woman’s University. She worked as a children’s librarian at the Corpus Christi Public Libraries and at the Corpus Christi ISD before retiring. She now works as a volunteer at the Astor Judaic Library of the Lawrence Family JCC in La Jolla, CA. JACLYN TROP (JT) is a business reporter for The Detroit News and a graduate of Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism. NAOMI TROPP (NT) recently retired after a long career in nonprofit management. She worked on the Ann Katz Festival of Books at the Indianapolis JCC for 9 of its twelve years and directed the festival for three of those years. JANE WALLERSTEIN (JW) worked in public relations for many years. She is the author of Voices from the Paterson Silk Mills and coauthor of a national criminal justice study of parole for Rutgers University. MARON L. WAXMAN (MLW), retired editorial director, special projects, at the American Museum of Natural History, was also an editorial director at HarperCollins and Book-of-the-Month Club. She also leads editorial workshops.

PETER L. ROTHHOLZ (PLR) headed his own Manhattan-based public relations agency and taught at the Business and Liberal Arts (BALA) program at Queens College. He lives in East Hampton, NY and Santa Monica, CA and is a frequent contributor to Jewish publications. CLAIRE RUDIN (CR) is a retired director of the New York City school library system and former librarian at the Holocaust Resource Center and Archives in Queens, NY. She is the author of The School Librarian's Sourcebook and Children's Books About the Holocaust. ARNOLD D. SAMLAN (ADS) is a rabbi and the founder & owner of Jewish Connectivity, a coaching and consulting practice. He is a staff member of The Jewish Education Project's New Center for Collaborative Leadership. HEIDI SAX (HS) is a marketing professional, specializing in the fashion industry. Originally from the Chicago area, Heidi has a Bachelor's Degree in English from Emory University and resides in New York City.

DINA WEINSTEIN (DW) is a Miami, FL-based journalist. She is currently working on a series of articles and an exhibition about author, illustrator, and cartoonist Syd Hoff for his 2012 centennial. She can be reached at dina_w@hotmail.com. JOSEPH WINKLER (JW) is a freelance writer living in New York City. He writes for Vol1Brooklyn, The Huffington Post, Jewcy, and other sites. While not writing, Joe is getting a Masters in English Literature at City College. To support his extravagant lifestyle, Joe also tutors and unabashedly babysits. Check out his blog at noconversationleftbehind.blogspot.com ETHAN A. ZIMMAN (EAZ) is a proposal writer for an IT Government Contractor by day and freelance writer by night in Arlington, VA

SYDELLE SHAMAH (SS) has been leading book club discussions for many years, and is a published science fiction writer. She was president of the Ruth Hyman Jewish Community Center of Monmouth County, NJ.

www.jewishbookcouncil.org

summer 5772/2012

Jewish Book World

index A complete alphabetical listing of titles included in issue 30-1 of Jewish Book World 50 Jewish Artists You Should Know, van Voolen, NR About Love, Tucker, NR The Aleppo Codex, Friedman, NR Alice's Piano, Müller, Piechocki, NR All That I Am, Funder, FR Among Righteous Men, Shaer, BN The Astonishing Secret of Awesome Man, Chabon, CR The Bais Yaakov Cookbook, Weinstein, NR Berlin Cantata, Lewis, FR The Best of Mexican Kosher Cooking, Witt, Heller, NR Beyond Religious Borders, Freidenrich Goldstein, BN Beyond the Sling, Bialik, NR Blood in the Promised Land, Sefrin, FR A Boy in Terezin, Weiner, NR The Centaur in the Garden, Scliar, FR A Century of Wisdom, Stoessinger, NR Change and Renewal, Steinsaltz, NR Children of Wrath, Grossman, FR The Commandmant, Hoess, NR A Confiscated Memory, Weiss, BN Crap at My Parents’ House, Dovev, NR Crossing the Borders of Time, Maitland, NR Cursing the Christians, Langer, BN Dayenu, Latimer, CR Diasporic Modernisms, Schachter, BN A Difficult Woman, Kessler-Harris, NR Dinosaur Goes To Israel, Rauchwerger, Wolff, CR The Doll Maker’s Gift, Friedman, CR The Dreyfus Affair, Read, NR Drop Dead Healthy, Jacobs, BN The End, Kershaw, NR Epistolophilia, Sukys, NR Failure to Thrive, Oliver, FR The Fallback Plan, Stein, FR Flags Over the Warsaw Ghetto, Aren, NR The Flame Alphabet, Marcus, FR Flatscreen, Wilson, FR The Forgotten Palestinians, Pappe, NR Forsaken, Koren, BN Fresh and Easy Kosher Cooking, Schapira, NR Friends Forever, Ariel, CR From Within the Tent, Feldman, NR Grandma Rose's Magic, Marshall, Jatkowska, CR A Guide to Jewish Practice: Volume 1, Teutsch, NR Guide to Yiddish Short Stories, Muraskin, BN Hannah’s Way, Glaser, Gustavson, CR Harry Houdini, Weaver, Lane, CR Harvest of a Decade, Laqueur, NR HHhH, Binet, FR

Jewish Book World

55 55 43 37 18 66 60 40 18 40 66 38 18 46 25 37 51 18 46 67 50 35 67 60 67 36 60 60 43 66 47 36 20 20 46 20 17 50 60 41 61 51 61 38 66 61 62 52 22

50 A High Price, Byman, NR His Name Was Raoul Wallenberg, 64 Borden, CR The History of the Holocaust in 48 Romania, Ancel, NR 48 Hitlerland, Nagorski, NR Hitler: Beyond Evil and Tyranny, 48 Stolfi, NR 68 Holy Dissent, Dynner, BN 22 Hot Pink, Levin, FR 22 Hope: A Tragedy, Auslander, FR The Independent Orders of B’nai B’rith and True Sisters, Wilhelm, NR 34 Inside the Jewish Bakery, Ginsberg, 41 Berg, NR 62 It’s Tot Shabbat, Danis, Cohen CR The Jewish Annotated New Testament, 69 Levine, BN 44 Jewish Art, Baskind, NR The Jewish Dark Continent, 67 Deutsch, BN Jewish Gentle and Other Stories of 24 Gay-Jewish Living, Jaffe, FR 53 The Jewish Gospels, Boyarin, NR Jewish Mysticism and Kabbalah, 54 Greenspahn, NR 36 Jews in Service to the Tsar, Berdnikov, NR Jodie’s Passover Adventure, Levine, CR 62 24 Joshua, Kane, FR The JPS Bible Commentary: Ruth, Eskenazi, Frymer- Kensky, NR 56 Kafka’s Jewish Languages, Suchoff, BN 69 25 Kafka’s Leopards, Scliar, FR 66 Kasher in the Rye, Kasher, FR 65 Kishka for Koppel, Davis, CR 68 Kosher Jesus, Boteach, FR 45 The Lady in Gold, O'Connor, NR The Last Bright Days, Buongurio, BN 69 63 Let My People Go, Greengard, CR Levi Strauss Gets a Bright Idea, 63 Johnston, CR The Life and Thought of Louis Lowy, 36 Gardella, NR 66 A Life of Leadership, Berman, BN Make Yourself a Teacher, 68 Handelman, BN 35 Man Seeks God, Weiner, NR 36 Max Lilienthal, Ruben, NR 39 The Men’s Section, Sztokman, NR 52 Mesillat Yesharim, Luzzatto, NR The Mitzvah Project Book, Suneby, CR 65 The Modern Jewish Experience in 69 World Cinema, Baron, BN More Powerful Than Dynamite, 67 Jones, BN Mornings at Stanton Street Shul, 39 Boyarin, NR 52 Moses Mendelssohn, Gottlieb, NR 24 Mr. g, Lightman, FR The Music Libel Against the Jews, 67 HaCohen, BN

summer 5772/2012

www.jewishbookcouncil.org

FR = Fiction Review NR = Nonfiction Review CR = Children’s Book Review BN = BookNote The Nazi Séance, Magida, NR New American Haggadah, Foer, NR A New Shoah, Meotti, BN Nine Lives, Epstein, BN No More Mr. Nice Guy, Jacobson, FR One More River, Glickman, FR The Origins of Israel, 1882-1948, Kaplan, NR The Paranoid Apocalypse, Landes, NR Pirke Avot, Berkson, NR Portrait of the Mother as a Young Woman, Delius, FR Portraits in Literature: The Jews of Poland, Ben-Zvi, NR A Prophetic Peace, Isaacs, NR Recipe and Craft Guide to Israel, Saul, CR Relationship 1:1, Goldfeder, BN Returning to Babel, Ran, Cahan, BN Return to Centro Historico, Stavans, BN The Road to Fatima Gate, Totten, NR Room Enough for Daisy, Waldman, Feutl, Revell, CR Sanctuary in the Wilderness, Mintz, BR The Scattered Tribe, Frank, NR The Shift, Klein, NR Simple Actions for Jews to Help Green the Planet, Elkins, BN The Snowy Day and the Art of Ezra Jack Keats, Nahson, NR The Steins Collect, Bishop, Debray, Rabinow, NR The Stranger Within Sarah Stein, Rosenbaum, CR The Street Sweeper, Perlman, FR The Submission, Waldman, FR These Days Are Ours, Haimoff, FR The Torah Revolution, Hammer, NR Trotsky, Service, NR Vienna Is Different, Herzog, NR Walter Benjamin, Friedlander, BN Walther Rathenau, Volkov, NR The Waning of Emancipation, Miron, BN We Visit Israel, Saul, CR Whatever It Is, I Don’t Like It, Jacobson, FR What We Talk About When We Talk About Anne Frank, Englander, FR When General Grant Expelled the Jews, Sarna, NR The Word Unheard, Helfer, BN Yannai on Genesis, Lieber, BN The Zohar, Vol. 6, Matt, NR

49 32 68 66 21 25 50 54 52 26 34 53 63 68 68 66 51 65 69 43 51 68 55 56 63 26 27 27 53 38 45 68 38 67 64 21 26 34 67 69 54

$24.95 U.S.A. $27.95 Can.

riveting account of General Ulysses S. Grant’s decision, in the middle of the

When > nextbook

jonAthAn d. SArnA

hat

when general grant expelled the jews

ge n e r al gr an t e x pe l l e d the j e ws

the reverberations of that decision on Grant’s

community, and on the American political process. On December 17, 1862, just weeks before Abraham Lincoln announced the Emancipation Proclamation, General Grant issued what remains the most notorious anti-Jewish order by a government official in American history. His attempt to eliminate black marketeers by targeting for expulsion all Jews “as a class” unleashed a firestorm of controversy that made newspaper headlines and terrified and enraged the approximately 150,000 Jews then living in the United States, who feared the importation of European antisemitism onto American soil. Although the order was quickly rescinded by a horrified Abraham Lincoln, the scandal came back to haunt Grant when he ran for president in 1868. Never before had Jews become an issue in a presidential contest, and never before had they been confronted so publicly with the question of how to balance their “American” and “Jewish” interests. Award-winning historian Jonathan D. Sarna gives us the first complete account of this

jonat h a n D . Sar na

little-known episode—including Grant’s subsequent apology, his groundbreaking appointment of Jews to prominent positions in his administration, and his unprecedented visit to the land of

; AMERICAN HISTORY

-9

Civil War, to order the expulsion of all

Jews from the territory under his command, and

political career, on the nascent American Jewish

al-

Israel. Sarna sheds new light on one of our most

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enigmatic presidents, on the Jews of his day, and on the ongoing debate between group loyalty and national loyalty that continues to roil

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