By 
By Deborah Vietor
We are invited to follow the life journey though Jerusalem of Judah Loeb, struggling young and idealistic writer, attempting to save his career in 1983 to his claim as a Pulitzer Prize winner in 2005. His purpose? Travel to Israel and unveil the mystery of the death of his former college professor, Chaim Lerner.
Artfully crafted, the story paints vivid, sensual descriptions of the cuisine, sights and sounds of Jerusalem. Multi-layered, topics include the Holocaust, Zionism, Israeli politics, religion and history, romance, lies and deceits, truths, what it means to be a Jew, and specifically how often in life there truly is no why.
Joined by his 15-year-old daughter Hannah, learning later that she is along for a school project involving suicide bombers, the subject of her mother’s suicide when she was only five, presenting itself.
We meet Chaim Lerner, Auschwitz survivor with celebrated status in Israel, Loeb’s former girlfriend Michal, Chaim’s wife Zehava and their son Yoav. Charlie is Loeb’s former college roommate and plays an integral part in the story.
In Loeb’s investigation regarding the death of Chaim Lerner, the ultimate mystery, was it suicide due to illness and depression from the Holocaust or was he pushed from a balcony? His interest takes on an almost obsessional quality, spanning many years.
Lerner certainly had cultivated enough haters who despised his political views and sometimes cavalier description of G-d and Germans during the Holocaust. How and why did some people survive? While Loeb idolized him during his college years, his fascination piqued by the easy manner with which a survivor behaved, he learns there is much more to this man than anyone would believe. Many even thought of Lerner as some sort of a King of Auschwitz.
Hannah’s views regarding Israel, war and Palestine were most shocking to Loeb, yet due to their shared history he mostly listened and learned sparring with her regarding the history of the Jews, land and ideology. Michal and Hannah even interviewed a suicide bomber, much to the horror and fear of Loeb. We question and learn both sides of the Israeli conflict.
Context of the Holocaust is intertwined, forming a connection between father and daughter, touching on the sensitive subject of his own wife’s suicide, related to advanced cancer. He was certainly learning much about his daughter and she of him and his past relationship with Michal as the chapters switch from 1983 to 2005.
Lerner could be engaging, charming and fascinating one moment, then change immediately into a critical, overbearing, drunken bore much to the chagrin of Loeb.
All of the why’s we encounter, too many to count. What are the conflicting stories about how Lerner died? Why did Michal seem to keep her relationship with Loeb so secretive decades ago? Why was Hannah not forthcoming about joining her father on the trip? What was Loeb withholding from Hannah and others regarding his connection with Michal over the years? What were the true views of each of the characters, including Charlie regarding Judaism? This is truly a mystery within a mystery waiting to be solved.
Ultimately we learn about faith, truth, redemption of the human spirit through the exquisite storytelling of Philip Graubart, Rabbi and acclaimed writer. Author of eight books, he has served pulpits in Massachusetts and California, held leadership positions at the Shalom Hartman Institute, National Yiddish Book Center and the San Diego Jewish Academy where he currently teaches.
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