Photo Credit: Reut Miryam Cohen
Shabbat shalom.
Tag Archive for ‘Anti-Semitism’ 
Jewish Literary Links for Shabbat
From My Bookshelf: A Town of Empty Rooms, by Karen E. Bender
I jumped at the chance to read a complimentary advance copy of Karen E. Bender‘s second novel, A Town of Empty Rooms. Although I have yet to read Bender’s acclaimed first novel, Like Normal People (2000), one of her short stories, “Candidate,” stayed with me long after I read it. And certain details about the new novel, which features a Jewish protagonist in North Carolina, resonated with my experience/interests.
In essence, the book traces three major connected conflicts. First, there’s the marital dissatisfaction between protagonist Serena Hirsch and her husband, Dan Shine. Among the problems this nominally Jewish couple faces is a curious development that follows their move from New York to Waring, N.C. (a move prompted by a serious misdeed on Serena’s part): Serena is pulled to join the sole local synagogue, Temple Shalom, whereas Dan resists even setting foot in the place.
Next, there’s the outsider experience of Serena and Dan in their new hometown, where ubiquitous billboards proclaim messages along the lines of “Jesus says: I will make my home with you.” Serena and Dan’s son, Zeb, is the only Jewish child in his public kindergarten; it isn’t long before another kindergartner throws pennies at Zeb, commanding him to pick them up. Zeb, thinking the other boy his friend, complies. “Ryan had laughed at him, and said ‘See? See?’ and said to a group of kids, ‘I told you he’d pick them up.’” One infers that the episode is especially painful for Serena, whose recently-deceased father was a child emigrant from Nazi Germany.
Finally, there’s the intramural discord within Temple Shalom, conflict surrounding the charismatic yet unconventional Rabbi Josh Golden. Embedded within the not-always-admirable behavior depicted here are serious questions about the complicated meanings of religious policies and practice and the roles and responsibilities of spiritual leaders.
In short, there is a great deal to absorb and consider as one reads this novel. Karen E. Bender has set the bar high here, attempting to depict and explore the souls of individuals and communities. The result is a novel well worth reading.
Side note for fiction fans: Karen Bender and Aimee Bender, who helped launch Tablet magazine’s fiction feature in September of this year, are sisters.
Words of the Week: Deborah Lipstadt
“I have long inveighed against the tendency of some Jews to see anti-Semitism behind every action that is critical of Israel or of Jews. In recent years some Jews have been inclined to hurl accusations of anti-Semitism even when they are entirely inappropriate. By repeatedly crying out, they risk making others stop listening—especially when the cry is true.
Here the charge is absolutely accurate. This was the greatest tragedy to ever occur during the Olympic Games. Yet the IOC has made it quite clear that these victims are not worth 60 seconds. Imagine for a moment that these athletes had been from the United States, Canada, Australia, or even Germany. No one would think twice about commemorating them. But these athletes came from a country and a people who somehow deserve to be victims. Their lost lives are apparently not worth a minute.”
Read Deborah Lipstadt’s full essay, “Jewish Blood is Cheap,” on Tablet.
Image courtesy of StandWithUs
Jewish Literary Links for Shabbat
Photo Credit: Reut Miryam Cohen
Shabbat shalom!
Daniel Pearl Investigative Journalism Initiative
From Moment magazine: The Daniel Pearl Investigative Journalism Initiative, “[c]reated in memory of the 38-year-old Wall Street Journal reporter slain by terrorists in 2002, is designed to encourage young journalists to write in-depth stories about a modern manifestation of anti-Semitism or another deeply ingrained prejudice. The DPIJI will help writers develop their ideas, mentor them and provide them with a stipend of $5000 ($2500 upon selection and $2500 upon completion of the project). Moment will edit and publish their stories, possibly in conjunction with another media outlet. Applicants must be between the ages of 22 and 38.” No application fee. Deadline: April 4, 2012.
