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. 

Funny, You Don´t Look Like a Rabbi by Rabbi Lynnda Targan

At 50, Lynnda Targan was accomplished PR professional with an intense and busy family life. Not necessarily an observant Jew - in the ´orthodox´ sense of the word - but with a strong Jewish identity. Somehow though, she was feeling she needs and she can do a bit more; both inspire and get inspired herself.

Hence, her search for a new personal and in the end, professional too, pathway: she started to study about Judaism and eventually ended up receiving the smicha - the rabbinic ordination. A trajectory that was not lacking stumbling block, particularly as a woman, and especially as a woman looking for a position of prestige and ultimately, power. 

Her memoir of ´Unorthodox Transformation´ - Funny, You Don´t Look Like a Rabbi is an account of her pursuing and eventually achieving her midlife professional and personal dream. Her insights are very useful for anyone trying to follow a similar pathway but also share a personal story facing the complexities of the contemporary life. With resilience and motivation, even the difficulties of the Hebrew language can be conquered. 

I´ve found the memoir honest, personal and direct. It explains her personal Jewish perspective as well as her lessons learned. At the same time, this book offers some good insights regarding the take of non-Orthodox denominations on a various daily Jewish practices and interpretations and I am definitely curious to learn out more about the diversity within the Jewish diverse practices.

The Hidden Hand by Warren Kinsella

Jewish life after October 7th is sometimes unbearable. Israeli - no matter the age - abroad are literally hunted by rabid individuals accusing them of atrocities; Jewish institutions and events are guarded to teeth; visible Jewish symbols may turn you into a clear victim of verbal and physical aggressivity. Some people may believe in some misinterpreted ´social justice´. But the overwhelming majority is following, as Warren Kinsella remarks in his latest book The Hidden Hand, a seasoned agenda meticulously prepared by states and terrorist organisations with a clear agenda. 

Kinsella, who is not Jewish, analyses the details of the violent communication and public strategies implemented shortly after October 7th leave no doubt about the high level of planning of the operations per se, probably years in advance. The level of mediatic planning and protest strategies with well chosen actors and generous financing, explained in the book with examples, sets the reasons for the overwhelming propaganda war happening in the last three years.

Most of the things exposed in The Hidden Hand are clear and no secret for anyone carefully observing the media messaging and the structure of mass protests all over the world - just visit the regular ´Pro Palestinian´ protest in your nearest town few times and the patterns are obvious as well as the role distribution and the logistics. 

The questions I was left with at the end of the book - even after reading some lines of actions that may lay the ground for a possible challenge of the current situation were: It is too late to change something? Are we condamned to remain in the self-righteous bubble knowing the truth, but nevertheless unable to change anything while helplessly noticing how everything is just getting worse for the Jews - no matter where?

It is hard to be optimistic after the toxic roller coaster of the last three years. Democracies should be taken responsible for guaranteeing the safety of their citizens, no matter the religion. Media should  be reminded of its obligations to inform, and sanctioned when turns into activism. Facts needs to be explained and published smartly using the many social media tools available. 

It is no time to give up.

Dog by Yishay Ishi Ron translated into English by Yardenne Greenspan

´I´m not in Gaza, I´m in Tel Aviv, and there are no shells here, only a dying dog, and no one is helping, no one comes´.

A short and intellectually sharp novel set in Tel Aviv, Dog by Yishay Ishi Ron, brilliantly translated into English by Yardenne Greenspan is emotionally powerful and dramatically realistic. It is a very well constructed story, that doesn´t dramatize, but inserts the elements of drama into the characters in a seamless way. 

Nicknamed Geller - the magician able to bend a spoon with the power of his mind, the main character was wounded during the Operation Pillar of Defense, suffering of severe, untreated PTSD. (The author himself is a survivor of severe PTSD). ´Everyone was so proud of me. They say I´m a hero, but I didn´t feel like one´. Now, he is a heroine-addict, living with other addicts in Tel Aviv. He is befriended - against his will, but he doesn´t have any will anyway ´So I seem friendly to you? (...) I´m a heroin addict. I need drugs, no friends´. - by a woman who lost her son many years ago, living alone with a dog. 

There are short dialogues and short scenes succeeding, sometimes similar with traumatic episodes, only that for Geller - who is only later on named with his real name, Barak, when he is arrested for a framed murder - those episodes are now more than isolated flashes; his whole ife is a long endless traumatic flash.

Depictions are realistic, as well as the life-like setting. It ends - after a crime-story intermezzo - with no promise, but it as the end of a sequence. The end of a tragic story beautifully told.

For me, it was the best Jewish/Israeli-related read of the year so far. 

Israeli Movie Review: Barren directed by Rabbi Mordechai Vardi

Long time no Israeli movie, but the last one I´ve watched, Barren (Akara, the original Hebrew version), directed by Rabbi Mordechai Vardi, offered me enough food for thought for the next weeks.

Feigi and Naftali are a young couple in their early 20s, living in Tzfat by Nafali´s baal teshuva parents. Feigi desperately wants a baby, and so wants her husband, but as he is away for Rosh Hashana in Uman, a wandering wonder rabbis Rabbi Eliahu is hosted in the house. He is manipulating her and sexually abuses her, which creates a big rift in the relationship. 

What I really liked about this movie is the nuanced, empathic and non-judgemental approach of the film director. There is no judgement or critique, it just shows the ways in which faith can mislead and can be abused. The inflexible, non-emotional way of the halacha is faced with the more diverse human realities they may not necessarily match. 

Well played, this movie opens up so many questions while leaving room for human connection and understanding. It also opens up on a topic carefully or rarely touched upon in religious communities, namely sexual abuse. 

A film that would love to watch again at a certain time. I also added this film director on the list of Israeli film directors to watch.