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...

One Year among Haredim

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

Catch the Jew!

I was familiar with Tuvia Tenenbom from a previous book where he investigated in a very cynical-humorous way the state-of-the arts of the anti-Semitism in Germany, as well as from his public appearances in the German media. His writing is provocative, clowneresque at the limit, but he suceeds to reveal the ridiculous and the many layers hiding the truth.

Catch the Jew - with the German version Allein unter Juden - is taking over the topic of Israel and presents it on a plate with many mezzes, as any well respected Israeli breakfast should be. Tuvia Tenenbom is the follower of the trustworthy and small sect of the journalists that don't give up asking questions, regardless the circumstances. He needs to know and understand and when people are getting angry because of the boldness of the questions it means that he is a real 'tzaddik', because this is how real journalists used to behave. 

Although many of his trips in Israel have to do with the leftist and pro-Palestinian causes, he is also once in a while also visiting some wonder rabbi or paying his comical respects to some out-of-order strange custom. 

If you want to read a different story about Israel, which doesn't necessarily take any side but that of the inquisitive journalist, I recommend this book. Maybe you will not learn too much new things about this region, but at least will raise some questions about honesty, facts vehiculated in the media and the political realm. A very useful challenge to take once in a while.