A Simple Guide to the Most Misunderstood Country on Earth

 

Israeli actress and activist Noa Tishby wrote a book in an effort to explain - in a ´simple guide´ - ´the most misunderstood country on earth´. It couldn´t be a better moment for such a book although I am afraid that most of the people who are vituperating against Israel are doing so as a daily job. In those times of crisis we are living, it´s too risky to get unemployed therefore I am not too optimistic that there will be too many that will change their mind.

However, a good deed is always worth the effort, no matter the result. The book - which I had access to in audio format - is smart and easy and contains a lot of general historical information (a short correction is needed maybe, as Rav Ovadia Yosef, of blessed memory who playsed a tremendous role in the creation of the Mizrahi - oriental Jews - identity was actually born in Iraq, not Egypt, where he was active late in life, as the chief of the religious court, the bet din), but also fragments of family history, as Tishby´s originary from a family which counts among its ranks diplomats - her grandfather was the first Israeli diplomat in Africa - and social activists that left more than an imprint on the country´s history. 

Although I was not very happy with the order of the chapters which outline different arguments and fragmets of history of Israel and Zionism in general - described ´as a verb, a work in process´ -, the book is hilarious, informative and outlines a couple of good arguments which are so simple that sometimes it´s hard to understand how people can ignore them. 

Tishby is an Israeli patriot and a pro-Palestinian voice and it is nothing wrong with this. And as far as I know she is not alone. It´s important that in the recent chaos and media manipulations, voice like hers -the audiobook was narrated by the author therefore I can say that she really has a nice voice - are raised because it makes a huge difference. A difference for being able to display normal people who don´t have to feel guilty or accused for loving their country. Their one and only country they have.

Noa Tishby is not a writer or a historian or a politician. She writes in full honesty having in mind the future. A future where I am sure Palestinians and Jews can live together in a land considered one of the most disputed on the planet. The fact that many good news about co-existence and everyday life in Israel, beyond the black-and-white narrative. For instance, did you know that there is a city build by and for Palestinians in the West Bank, Rawabi? This is a place on my visit list for my text trip to Israel. The multi-cultural aspects of Israel, a country who in a bit over two generation was able to assimilate millions of refugees from all over the world, with different backgrounds and languages, is a lesson for everyone, including through her mistakes and failures. 

For the naives and uninformed supporters and sympathisants of the BDS - Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions - Movement, there are a lot of details to make you think twice before supporting them. As a sidenote, the fierce supporter of boycotting Israel - and its high-ed institutions, Omar Barghouti, is a graduate of Tel Aviv University. Apartheid, indeed. I bet that some of their game is to simply manipulate the non-informed average citizen of a Western country, any country, too far away from the Middle East to really take his or her time to check the facts and figures. Among them, artists that were put under pressure to cancel their concerts in Israel. Thanks Gd that Tishby called Mike (the Jagger) and convinced Rolling Stones to go on with their show. History was written, indeed.  

If it´s one think to learn about Israel from this book is that it´s honest and fair to recognize the mistakes and learn from them how to build a better future. Being able to acknowledge one´s mistake it´s a sign of strength and maturity. 

Israel: A Simple Guide to the Most Misunderstood Country on Earth - indeed, this is exactly the case - is a book for the curious, open minded, the non-Jew and the Jew curious to understand something about a country and its conflicts. 

Rating: 4 stars

Cooking Jew-ish

It´s just me that once Pesach is coming close, had my mind focused only on food, recipes to test, menus to set. Kosher for Pesach, obviously. In my case, the menu should be as strict as possible - boiled eggs, matza shmura and boiled potatoes, anyone? - but I enjoy reading - more than usual - about the latest Jewish kitchen trends, especially in Pesach times. Last Sunday, I attended a very interesting German-speaking live cooking event with the German-born Israeli-based hobbycook Tom Franz, with some awesome inspiration. Today, just finished a cooking book that includes also some Pesach-related recipes, by Jake Cohen. In a couple of days I already have a long list of recipes that I have to test at least once before the Seder. To be continued...

Jew-ish. Reinvented Recipes from a Modern Mensch is Jake Cohen first cookbook, published early this month. A collection of various recipes - some from his Askenazi family home, some adapted, some inspired by the Persian-Iraqi heritage of his husband. Not all of them for the strictly kosher-kitchen, but they can be easily adapted easily. 

Addressed to a millenial audience, the book is based on recipes mostly tested during the various Shabbat evenings the couple hosted. As in the case of many millenials, they explore their identity through food and various culinary practices. ´This book has helped me define the pride I have for the rich culture of traditions and dishes I´ve inherited. It´s a love story. It´s a family tree. It´s me at my core. It´s Jewish´. 

Not all the recipes are traditionally Jewish, but can be easily integrated into Jewish menus tasted on different occasions. For instance, the Baharat smashed potatoes sound so delicious that it´s a pity not to have it on a Shabbat meal, eventually in the company of some heimische schnitzel. Shaksuka alla vodka may taste better than the penne alla vodka. The savory Babka and rugelach are already classical pastries offered in the hip bakeries of Brooklyn of Williamsburg in NYC. I am a very courageous person, but I have to really think four times before writing ´cardamom-spiced pear noodle kugel´...Can you repeat after me?

The recipes are well writen, with a lot of details that may help even the less experimented cook - me included - to prepare it right and understand the directions. As someone with a big heart for spices, I can only appreciate the diversity used for various recipes, including the less-known - and a real Kabbalistic challenge for the Askenazim - such as Baharat, Amba or Urfa Biber. I may have some observations regarding some of the recipes introduced in the book, but only if I completely take them out of the author´s identity story. Therefore, more than a general food story, Jew-ish is relevant for the generational and unique identity-in-the making Jewish story, one of the many built out of the classical framework but still relevant for its strive for identity. 

Rating: 3.5 stars

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

´What Would You Do If You Weren´t Afraid?´

Some book titles are strong enough for becoming a fascination for the mind. I love asking myself over and over again: ´What Would You Do If You Weren´t Afraid?´, although I conquered most of my big fears, one by one, many years ago. Still, there is fear left into my life, ungracefully brought in by the various ailments coming with age, disappearing relatives, sick children, unsafe world and hate. Feelings that the last 12 months of pandemic aggravated to all of us, no matter how fearless - as I describe myself - one can be. Thus, the need to think deeper and deeper about what really means to go beyond our limits and limitations, our mizraim. Just in due time before the holiday of freedom, Pesach.

Can a successful business woman living in London, relocated from Israel, with a big family and an impressive academic record, that was initially accepted in the Air Force Intelligence Unit for the military service be afraid? How? and especially why?

In this open memoir, Michal Oshman, currently head of TikTok Europe, the Culture, Diversity and Inclussion division is sharing her lessons learned as a Jewish woman and follower of Chasidut. Besides Chasidut, there is another Jewish author which is greatly inspiring her, one of my favorite post-WWII Jewish minds as well, Viktor Frankl. His search for meaning as the engine that keep people - literally - alive - means also a completely different approach on failure, mistakes and the overall life interaction. More than any classical therapy mindset, thinking about change and failure as a challenge helps to keep the mind fed with meaning instead of the toxic reactions of fear. 

´When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves´ said wisely Frankl and there is so much potential to completely revisit your life in just one quote. 

Born in a non-religious academic family, Oshman is navigating the terrains of fear with the orientation given by her refreshed discovery of Jewish sources: ´The Jewish ideas I was learning helped me control my thoughts and heal my life. They allowed me to move forward, towards a joyful, confident life´. Jewish practice is not for the sophisticated discussions, it is for life, and this life is our life, no matter our religion or lack thereof. As there are so many nonreligious people which keep doing loads of good deeds, while being nourished by the religious learning. Thus, the large variety of daily application of chasidut, which, as Oshman is explaining, chapter by chapter, covers personal development, company culture and diversity, as well as parenting. 

Through personal and passionate - allow your soul to burn like a flame - engagement in the moment, desire to change each and every one of us has the chance to reach his or her potential. ´You don´t have to be in full control. You only have to give space´. And how else can we achieve our potential unless we are bravely learning from our mistake, embrace them and make space for growth. (A mindset which is completely the opposite of the business and educational culture in Germany where I am living right now.) We have to allow ourselves to cross a bridge towards something not just to run through life away from something. 

I really enjoyed reading What Would You Do If You Weren´t Afraid for various reasons, the organised writing and the questions at the end of each chapter being one of them. As a reader, no matter your religion and professional level, you are invited to a journey of self-discovery and mind-investigation. You feel you matter more than a passive received of information. It is also honestly written which creates more than a bridge between the author and the readers.

For me, it was one of those books at the end of which really felt revigorated and happy to go through the reading experience. There is so much left to learn and I am grateful for being offered the chance of my life journey. 

Rating: 5 stars

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