Rabbi David Cohen must reconcile a Holocaust survivor and his granddaughter while battling his own demons and struggling to keep his family together.
When Anna Rosenfeld writes a college philosophy paper, she never expects it to jeopardize her relationship with her grandfather, Avram, or leave her alone and afraid on the streets of Minneapolis. Help comes in the form of Rabbi David Cohen, spiritual leader of Avram’s synagogue, who is struggling with his own personal demons amidst difficulties with both his family and his congregation.
Trained in both psychology and Talmudic argument, and armed with his faith in God, David must help Anna and Avram face the real issue that divides them before time runs out. Set against the backdrop of Tisha b’Av – a time of mourning commemorating multiple instances of causeless hatred – they bring together their memories and experiences as they confront evil itself and answer a cry for help that no one expected.
Excerpt
"So what are you doing alone in a police station in the middle of the night?" David asked.
"You wouldn't understand," Anna said.
"Try me." (p. 68)
Professional Reviews
Chosen - for our Book Club - and we loved it!,
I've read this book twice now. The first time I read it on my own, and more recently I read it for a book club discussion.
Accessible to people from different backgrounds, relevant for both Jewish and non-Jewish readers, as others have written - this book is indeed insightful and deceptively easy to read. It is also fun. Our readers recognized each other in the pages, and I personally enjoyed (during my second reading) the specific relevance built in (whether intentionally or not!) to chapter 18.
I look forward to more books from this author and highly recommend this book!
through rabbinical eyes
this book is an easy read with some matter that lies on the threshold of very difficult philosophy/theology. it leaves open questions that the reader is allowed to answer for him/herself: questioning issues such as beliefs, historicity and the emotions which cause us both to rebel and to love. a very interesting start to what appears to be a very interesting series.
Very interesting book
The author of this book did a really nice job of incorporating a variety of spiritual questions and perspectives ranging from reform to orthodox. This incorporation, in conjunction with an interesting human tale, kept me committed to the story. I also enjoyed learning more about a rabbi's experience and the joys/struggles of the job.
Revenge is Fun series. Publisher Vinny Vitali deserves to be whacked, but for some reason he's like a cat with 9 lives. He's holding a mob widow's memoir hostage and the authors want to kill him, but he won't die.
