Curious to dislodge the absurdity and helped by an enormous sense of humour - and appetite too, and some may even say that people who love food laugh the best - Tuvia Tenenbom - whose previous adventures in Israel I had the chance to review earlier - spent one year between Mea Shearim and Bnei Brak, experiencing life as a Haredi in Israel.
Gott spricht Jiddisch - translated from American English by Michael Adrian was published originally under the title Carefull, Beauties Ahead. I am not sure which title did the best and instead of wondering I better keep writing my review, at least until he is not publishing another book already (right now, it seems he is spending time with settlers and I can´t wait to see the results).
The stories - some of them a bit repetitive, but people in those places love to show their belonging to a group and do not fancy individualism as we do in other part of the world and even of Israel - are sometimes grotesque, sometimes written with full sarcasm, but nevertheless unique. And if you find normal to pray at a grave when looking for your soulmate, maybe you spent too much time or your entire life among Haredim.
He is curious especially about people and groups at the fringe of the Haredi society - like Toldot Aharonot and Neturei Karta - but there are also interactions with larger and brand names such as Belz or Ger - and he is getting a lot of insights following the split within the sect. Although, there is a lot of fluffy text - but delicious food - there are snipets of information that may help someone to make an idea about what does it mean to be Haredi in Israel nowadays, including in the author´s cartoonish version.
I do have another book by Tenenbom that may keep me company until his next one is ready, so will keep my humour - and sarcasm - levels high.
Rating: 3 stars
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