And the Bride Closed the Door by Ronit Matalon translated into English by Jessica Cohen

 

There is no better way to get from afar into the life of a country than through its literature. But when it comes to translations, the edition houses will most likely paid for those with a chance of profit. Which means books covering topics appealing to the general audiences more than the locals. And thus, the local flair is lost for the sake of general interest.

This applies in most cases of Israeli authors in translation, but my observation is that for the case of women writers there is a significantly high interest in covering women voices, beyond the biased editorial borders. Which is a huge advantage for the honest reader, here for the sake of literature not for confirming his or her political expectations.

Ronit Matalon is an important name of the contemporary Israeli literature,even being considered one of the most important Israeli novelist of our times and her And the Bride Closed the Door, translated into English by Jessica Cohen has a timeless relevance. Author of nine novels, a Jew of Egyptian origin growing up in a poor immigrant neighbourhood, she often gave voice to the Mizrahi identity in a non-identiy biased way though, being the recipient of many prestigious literary prizes. And the Bride... is her last book published during her lifetime. 

This book is a novella, about a chaotic event, when a bride refused to leave her room during her wedding ceremony. That´s the event allowing the characters, mostly Mizrahi, but there is also an Ashkenazi hypochondriac, among others, to reveal themselves, in the most absurd and nonsensical ways. And, in between lines, you have the Israel that you don´t see on the news: making new names, always ready for a challenge. And there is the humour with situation one cannnot stop from viewing or thinking about. Matalon gives space to the multiple actors of the everyday life in Israel: the Russian (psychologist specialized in remorseful wives), the Palestinian (fireworker). There is also a trans cousin, which is pretty normal in Israel - being trans, not the cousin part. Also, not forget about how important weddings are in Israel, as social and personal events.

This book left me with the desire to read more by Matalon, but also to start reading more Israeli authors, preferably in Hebrew. 

 

Advice for the Kosher Traveler

With only one week left from the period of three weeks when one may restrain from joyful activities like travel, it is the right time to consider you next journey. If you are a kosher traveler there are so many things to keep in mind though.

Compared to few decades and even years ago, the kosher traveler may encounter less - although enough - struggles while on the road. There are ways and apps to recognize kosher products and Chabad houses are spread all over the world - including in remote places, but with an interesting travel potential like Congo or Vietnam. 

Mordechai Hasofer´s book Guide for the Kosher Traveler, published in English and Hebrew by Gefen Publishing House  offers guidance and lots of details about specific circumstances a kosher traveler should consider for a better yet kosher-safe experience, particularly when staying in a rented facility or during flights. 

The language is clear and so are the information, appealing to both the mid-experienced and beginner kosher observant. It covers rather general circumstance than individual cases, turning the book in a convenient travel companion, no matter the destination. However, some specificities are always welcomed, but this should be kept in mind by the travel themselves. 

For instance, Australia and New Zealand, do not permit entry of non-local foods, which may present some difficulties for anyone planing to bring some tasty food supplies from Israel, for instance. I am sure the author - originary from Australia - may know those rules, but once you start with specific details, you may just need more than one book to deal with.

The book has less than 70 pages, and is available both in English and Hebrew and also includes a list of kosher and non-kosher products to check.

It is a very useful and practical book, recommended also for anyone looking to better understand the stringencies and rules of kosher.

Rating: 4 stars

Disclaimer: Book offered by the publisher in exchange for an honest review 

Whose is This Land?

 

Tuvia Tenenbom is back, this time with a book about his experience living in the midst of settlements. The book was recently translated into German from English by Michael Adrian. 

Only listening to the words ´settlement´ and ´settlers´ people cannot contain their disgust. Everyone seems to have something negative to say about those ´monsters´ and trouble makers, dangerous criminals poisoning the fragile peace in the Middle East. 

Genuinely curious, but informed enough for not getting trapped into various ideological temptations of all colours and directions, he is touring some less or well known settlements (not Gush Etzion though, which I was very keen to re-discover though but wel...priorities), living together with people labeled as ´settlers´ and their supporters. I forgot to add that this is happening during the recent war with Iran so he had to experience live the absurdity of the fireworks from Nablus celebrating the rockets sent by the mullah, oblivious to the fact that rockets may not make a difference between Arabs and Jews. 

But in addition to the irony and the fun which are part of his approoach, there are many seriuous thoughts to consider that cannot be ignored, such as the genealogy of places that cannot be ignored and the back and forth of politicians. The fact checking of No Other Land is a welcomed step against all the more or less naive admirers of a non-documentary.

The book is very much focused on documented realities and individuals and their stories, but found it a bit too long, with way too many personal intermezzos. However, I cannot wait to see what could be Tenenbom´s next editorial project. Really cannot wait...

Cast Out. The History of the Jews of Arab Lands by Lyn Julius

 ´850,000 Jews, more than 99% of the Jews living in Arab states, fled their countries of birth, in one of the largest displacements of non-Muslims from the region after WWIÍ´, outlines Lyn Julius in her 100-page essay published recently with The Jewish Quarterly. Julius, herself a Babylonian Jew, wrote before about the fate and the circumstances of Jews from Muslim lands - in the essay, the Iranian Jews are sometimes without too much academic care for precision included in the category of Arab states, as examples.

The essay is stating the realities of the Jewish communities shaking the myths supported by the zealots supporters of the ´traditional peace´ between Jews and their Arab neighbours. Few decades ago - and sometimes now, in some non-informed peaceniks milieus - it was bon ton to counter the pogroms with the ´tolerance´ between Jews and Muslims in the Middle East, eventually mentioning ´before the state of Israel was born´. But the reality is more nuanced and violent, as co-existence is not the precise word to describe the everyday life of Jews in Iraq, Algeria, Tunesia, Libya or Syria. And this is not necessarily related to the state of Israel.

Julius is quoting the Tunesian-Jewish intellectual Albert Memmi who addressed the Libyan dictator Ghadafi in France in 1973 as follows: ´The state of Israel is not the result of Auschwitz, but off the Jewish predicament at large, including its predicament in Arab countries´. Although the relationship between the state of Israel and its non-European Jews is complex and far from being perfect, but reflects the mentalities of the time. The European Jews were very much integrated into their European societies, like German or French or Polish, and once in Israel they brought with them the prejudices and sometimes the arrogance of their places of birth and education.

I particularly liked the comparative references and the informations about episodes from the Jewish life in Morocco or Tunesia or Iraq. The general framework is relatively unsurprising, but relies on the general knowledge - legal, historical - about the topic. 

Jews from Muslim lands aren´t officially recognized as ´refugees´. The issue of the properties took over by the states aren´t the subject of international/inter-state agremeents, like the Abraham Accords. Their cultural and linguistic heritage is struggling to survive - but the Internet is offering a safe and creative space for revival. 

Documenting and repeating those realities creates a framework for discussion and information. This essay adds historical information to a history too big to have been reached its end.

The Blue Mountain by Meir Shalev translated into German by Ruth Achlama

I was recently looking to update my list of recommended Israeli literature reads and from one reference to another, I´ve got The Blue Mountain by Meir Shalev, translated into German by Ruth Achlama as Ein Russischer Roman.  

I always love a good read featuring kibbutzniks as through the story of beginnings one can better understand the present, especially when it comes to the State of Israel. If they will still belong to the future, it is hard to say, but as for now, the kibbutzim - although in a more capitalistically-oriented form - still exist, and their resilience defines the nation. 

Told by Baruch, the third generation kibbutznik who set up a cemetery, it is a multi-generational story of (now) old people with funny ways of being. The characters are full of humour, wild, over-sexual, they love plants and animals. One bull´s name is Jean Valjean.

The story is going back and forth, with a timeline that it´s often confusing. There is not too much happening, as we are took into the story with the imagination of a voyeur: we are watching what the characters are doing - not that much - how they are getting old and dying. Some episodes are funny, some just life - not always exciting. And this takes about 500+ pages to share.

There are clearly parts of this book that I enjoyed, but concision is not the strongest feature of this book. I had some literary expectations - in terms of story structure, character and plot development - that were barely met, but at least I had a great laughs in the company of the kibbutzniks and their stories. Sometimes it may be enough when you are looking to some inspiration for better appreciating the flesh and blood brave kibbutzniks.

PS: Although I usually appreciate the German-speaking edition houses book covers, this time - a  1860 portrait of the French Catholic Louis Auguste Cézanne by Paul Cézanne - was not necessarily an inspired choice by the Swiss edition house Diogenes Verlag.

Nicht ohne meine Kippa! by Levi Israel Ufferfilge

'Für Antisemiten habe ich überhaupt keine anderen Eigenschaften. Keine eigene Geschichte´.

Levi Israel Ufferlige grew up in North Rhein Westphalia region of Germany. He graduated Jewish studies, was a religion teacher and speaker, and the director of the Masorti Jewish International School in Berlin, and currently he is the rabbi of the community in Oldenburg.

He is also proudly wearing his kippa on the German streets and further sharing his story in an account of his daily life in Germany as a Jew: Nicht ohne meine Kippa! (Not without my kippa!). The book was published in German and as far as I know was not yet translated into other languages.

In addition to the personal and family details, the author is extensively sharing his experience in facing and sometimes fighting against the antisemitism when openly Jewish. There may be voices complaining that there is maybe too much ´love for the Jews´ in this country, but for someone living as a Jew here, the experience is largely contrary to this assumption.

For Levi Israel Ufferfilge, as for many others before him, and many other right now, especially after 7th of October, there are the same challenges over and over again. Although holding official positions - including as a teacher - he is sharing the experience as an individual, without any institutional support or intervention. 

Although I´ve found his experience very relevant as an alternative and realistic version of the everyday Jewish life in Germany, some of the personal details shared weren´t necessarily a contribution to the main topic. But because I was so avid to find out all the possible details of his Jewish experiences as a visible religious person in Germany, that´s it.

Rating: 4 stars

Disclaimer: Book offered by the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Chopping Onions on My Heart by Samantha Ellis

I am always happy to discover new books about the rich heritage of Iraqi Jews, as each book brings more information about a world that once was. Most part of the books I´ve read are generally related to the issues of identity and belonging in the Israel context, Chopping Onions on my Heart. On Losing and Preserving Culture by Samantha Ellis is adding a different identity layer: the role of language in keeping alive a world that exist only in memories.

Iraqi Jews, as many other Jews from Arab lands, don´t have a place to come back for the summer vacations. Children cannot experience the flavors and language inflections of their mother tongue. They cannot build their own memories of the places where they are coming from. Iraq is a place out of reach and for the newest generation - diaspora-born - there is no direct connection with the place. The Iraq of their parents and grandparents doesn´t exist anymore either. 

Judeo-Iraqi is a language that for Ellis, as for many Jews of Iraqi origin living all over the world, may build that bridge to the world as it was once. Ladino or the many variations of Jewish Persian dialects are kept alive by a community of language enthusiasts, some joining the fantastic courses of the Oxford School of Jewish Language that I had the pleasure to visit twice. Ellis herself attended the Judeo-Baghdadi classes. There are even more initiatives lately where people, not necessarily with a direct connection to the realm, do learn, translate, converse in those ´lost´ languages. It´s the power of zachor - as long as we remember them, we talk about them, they will stay alive.

Ellis is following the usual intellectual format of identity memoirs: food, family history, language longing. But although the format is similar with other memoirs, the content is different and this is what enriches the story about Iraqi Jews. Each chapter was a door towards a cultural realm which is about to disappear.

For me, it was another topic that interested me dearly: how can you connect your children to a traumatic heritage. It is all about that life choreography which is so difficult to keep under control and repress without diminishing its authenticity. In the end, everything belongs and depends on the power of stories and their storytellers.

I had access to the book in audiobook format, read by the author.