Jewish Books

Review: All Other Nights



All Other Nights
W. W. Norton Publishing

This was a book club pick for our book club. It will be discussed in April right before Passover. Ironic isn't it.  I will post my thoughts what our book club thought of the book as a whole.

Also, this book coincides with the Southern challenge.

I received this book last year from the publisher, W.W. Norton Publishing.
 I don't know why it took me so long to read it.  Because the book was wonderful.  Dara Horn did a nice mitzvah( good deed), by donating several books this past January for our Silent auction at the Greek Orthodox church. This was the first time going.  Great fun was had by all, especially out bidding a few people.

The novel takes place during the Civil War. Jacob Rappoport is a 19 year old. His father, a immigrant from Bavaria, and a successful business man. He owned Rappaport Mercantile Import, Export.

He's father told him he must marry Emily. Another successful Jewish family.
 In the Jewish religion, arranged marriages are done. Emily was homely and seemed something wrong with her.

  Instead of confronted his parents, he runs away to enlist as a Union officer.  He is eventually given a assignment to murder his uncle in New Orleans.  He is told his Uncle has been plotting to murder President Lincoln.

  It is Passover, one of the important major Jewish holidays.  Jacob Rappaport, recruited as a Union spy. observes Benjamin as he walks into a New Orleans home for a Passover Seder, the ritual meal during which the story of Moses leading the Israelite slaves to freedom is commemorated. 
A quote, from All Other Nights:

 "Southern Hebrews saw him as the messenger of the Messiah, the herald who would proclaim liberty throughout the land to anyone who had ever felt that Jewish fear of power. Northern Hebrews saw him as the beginning of a descent into an American Jewish hell, and whispered at Friday night tables that if the Confederacy were to prevail, the rot of centuries would eat through even the freshness of America and the Jews would be blamed again." There are many guests at his home. He has with him, some poison and his uncle drinks it. All the guests think it was the slave that served him wine, killed him because he ran.

Jacob runs back to Union lines. He is given another assignment by his superiors. This time he is told to go to Virginia. There they want him to meet up with his father's old associate, Phillip Levy. This time to marry one of Phillip's daughters, Eugenia.

Eugenia is always traveling, she is a actor, escape artist, etc.  Phillip Levy wants Jacob to get involved with Eugenia because she is always traveling. She is a actor, and escape artist. Phillip suspects she is a confederate spy. She is sending cryptic note over enemy lines. Phillip wants her to break off the engagement to William. Instead to get involved with Jacob. Because William is a Confederate spy.

At the wedding, they are married, and then William comes to the wedding uninvited. William is upset that he was not invited.  He wants to have a duel with Jacob. Jacob refuses.  Then there is a skirmish, Phillip gets in between the scuffle, and kills William.  Phillip is taken to jail.

I am not going to spoil the rest of the story. Instead you will have to read the rest yourself.

My Review: The novel is about loyalty to yourself, and to your country, family, identity. 

 I was angry at Jacob, for not standing up for himself, and not being loyal to himself. There were several times he did not stand up for himself, he could have but was afraid to. He was a slave to himself.  He should have felt obligation to himself.   But the choices are obligation to make other people happy, not ourselves, that can be called slavery.  That is what motivated Jacob to be unhappy, and always running.   But, Caleb the slave that took Jacob in was free to make he's choice, and felt free to do so. That is called freedom. Ironic isn't that Caleb was the slave,and he was free to himself, but Jacob was physically free, but he was a slave to himself, emotionally.

The passover dinner, was interesting. Can you imagine being in a room full of slaves and you are reading the Passover Hagaddah.  How contradictory.

Actually I had a situation, a few years ago myself. I was invited for Passover meal. It was a observant family. We were being served. They of course were being paid. But I felt so funny about this, and it was Passover. I felt that they should have been having dinner with us. Not sure why, but it bothered me.  Even though they are being paid, I don't think they should be serving us. Anybody else have this situation. What are your thoughts about this?

The book was typically written in straight narrative. Only in the beginning of the book is there one part that he does go back in time.  The book was sprinkled with Jewish traditions, and Jewish theology. I enjoyed reading the story and mixed it with true historical facts.  But, it still made the story not heavy.  Because there are books that are so heavy in historical facts it just doesn't make the story enjoyable. The book seems to be a quick pace, with lots of twists and suspense.

You could feel the tension between the Northern Yankee, and the Southern Confederate.  But, what captured the the essence of the Jewish experience. Most people think all Jews stick together. Did you think they would stick together if you were a Northern Jew or a Southern Jew.  NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT IT, DID YOU!!!, You could feel the tension in the air. The divide. There have been stories, of a Yankee Jewish soldier coming to the home, of a Southerner Jewish home.

 A little boy is at the stoop. The Union Jewish soldier asks the boy for a piece of matzah( it is Passover).  The boy yells, and tells his mom.  I am not sure what happens, but you could imagine.

I have lived in the south for about 10 years. I am a Yankee. I was raised in Massachusettes, Michigan, and NJ most of my life. It was very difficult with differences here.   There still is a divide of the north,and south
( they still call it confederate).  If you are not southern born, you are still treated differently. Especially if you are Jewish. But that is another story.  Did you know in SC, only a few years ago, did the confederate flag stop waving at the capital.  That was "2005".

The anti-antisemitism, in the story I was not aware of. That Gen. Grant passed a order 11. Jews were not considered a class. Then re-instated by President Lincoln.  Wonder why that was left out in history books.


Another part taken from the book: 
When the commanders of his New York regiment discover that Jacob has relatives in New Orleans of whom is in fact a Confederate agent intent on assassinating the president, they give him the assignment of saving Lincoln by poisoning his uncle. They imply that refusing this task or even failing it could be dangerous for Hebrews in America. There is no doubting the condescension and genteel anti-semitism of Jacob's Chrisitan officers. " Lincoln himself will thank you, on behalf of your entire race... You would be another Hebrew spy, like in Scripture.. Cunning ... inscrutable...
This tells you, that there is still I divide in the U.S. between the north, and the south.  I organized a Hadassah event, in a temple. The event was called the Southern Jewish Experience. I still remember, there was a argument with the lecturer and some of the audience.  Some of the audience were from N.Y. The lecturer argued that, the largest Jewish community was not N. Y., but Charleston.

 After this event, I still think there is bitterness, and rivalry between the north and the south, Northern Jew, and Southern Jew. I never thought that would be. It is bad enough that you are a Jew but southern Jew against Northern Jew. Who would ever think that would be?

There were approximately 150,000 Jews in the U.S. in 1861. On the eve of the Civil War, 40,000 in NYC alone.  The loyalty to the confederacy was a matter of gratitude.  In the south, Southern Jews had for the first time were allowed to practice their religion, and be able to express themselves.
Many Southern Jews were slaveholders as well.

I just learned that Louisiana was the second largest Jewish community in the U.S. There is a discussion of Ulysses S. Grant, Judah Benjamin, Edwin Booth,  In the author's note, she discusses the fact from fiction in this novel. She also explains that coding and encrypted note were sent over the lines.   

The only critique is, the art work of the book. If you are into romance, this is a cover you may want.  I personally did not like  the book cover. Why is it, they change the book cover's the second time around to my liking.  It always seems like I like the cover art the second time around. Why is that? I would love to know, if someone has the answer let me know.

I enjoyed reading this novel.  If you are a Southern Jew you will appreciate this novel.  This is up for the Southern Challenge, it is posted there. 








Book Club Review: Saturday Wife




The Saturday Wife
By Naomi Ragen



Saturday Wife, is the story of a pretty Jewish, Modern Orthodox young girl, Delilah Goldgrab.  Her family is not from money like the other girls. She attends Yeshivah.  She starts dating , and meets Yitzi. She is warned not to be alone with him by her good friend Rivkie. But she doesn't listen. She sleeps with him.  Her reputation is smeared.

She meets Chaim, a nice young quiet young man.  After he attends seminary he inherits his grandfather's synagogue.   Delilah and Chaim marry, and move to the Jewish community.

Once married, Delilah complains about her living situation. The apartment is too cramped, she complains. The members of the congregation take too much of Chaim and her time. She does not take care of the house. She says things, that most Jewish proper Rebbitzen would not repeat or say. She would rather not look like a Jewish Orthodox woman. She would like to wear short dresses and skirts. She wants to keep up appearances.  She is very materialistic, and wants, wants, wants, from Chaim. Which Chaim does give in.
 But Chaim has rose colored glasses. He loves he's wife.  He was told by a friend about her escapades as a young girl. Before Chaim, she did have sex with someone.  Chaim knew, but had rose colored glasses.

Most of the members of the temple don't like Delilah. The ladies from the temple know what kind of person she is. She is not happy and wants her husband to apply at another position at Swallow Lake.

One Sabbath dinner, Chaim invites a man for dinner a few times. The man invites Delilah to dinner and to a show. They go back to his apartment. Chaim's grandfather sees her.  He has a heart attack. He is in a hospital for a few days.  But then he passes away. The cat is not let out of the bag. Delilah can now breathe.

Delilah finds out she is pregnant. Most Jewish women don't prepare for the arrival because they are afraid they will jinx the good fortune. But the way they do prepare for the delivery is have a doula.
A doula is not a midwife, but she helps her through the delivery. With soothing words, oils and relaxation.
Her friend Rivkie, advised her to hire a doula.

When she is in the delivery room with the doula. Doula tells her to relax.  It is a three ring circus. She does not handle the pain very well.
" I know you are in pain, Delilah. But try to remember, your pain has purpose. It's actually a gift, It's actually a blessing, this pain. It's preparing your body. Just think if your body was not prepared how would your baby come out to the world"
" Delilah grabbed her hand and bit down on her fingers. The doula screamed. " Oh,my g-d, oh my g-d there's blood! Say a prayer for that pain, you incompetent piece of garbage!! I should have known.

Since Delilah married and become a Rebbitzin, Delilah is always nagging her husband about another youger, and wealthier synagogue. A position has opened. But, this temple has been black balled by most prospective rabbi's searching for a congregation. No one wants to touch it.  But Delilah has her wants and needs, and Chaim can't say no to her.  He agrees to take the position.

Chaim is not very smart as talmud scholars go. But, he is a pleasant and personable person. Most of the members like him. As most people know in any religious organization there are grumbles and gossip.
Most of them don't like Delilah. They criticize how she dresses, and scrutinize if the food is kosher and how kosher she is.

In the meantime she meets another young woman, named Joie, at the country club.  She is wealthy and pretty.
Just like someone Delilah wants to be friends with. It turns out her husband, Victor Shamanov,  is a wealthy Russian investor.
They are Jewish but not observant.  She invites Delilah back to her house. They hit it off, and become inseparable.

After the two women become friends, Joie invites Chaim and Delilah to their house for dinner. Which she accepts for him willingly.  When they come to the house, Victor, asks Chaim to help his son( from a previous marriage )to prepare his son for a bar mitzvah. Which Chaim accepts.

The bar mitzvah is the biggest buzz in the Jewish community. The rich and famous are invited. All of a sudden, as Delilah says, people were coming out of the woodwork, to be kind to Delilah. Before, everyone was criticizing her.

Victor wants to have the entire Bar Mitzvah in Hawaii. He is paying for the airfare, and hotel accomodations for the entire guests.  The Bar Mitzvah is a farce, we learn Victor's son is not Jewish. Victor is Jewish, but his marriage to his first wife, she is not Jewish.   Delilah finds out, but doesn't tell.

Next, the bar mitzvah party is playing music on the sabbath. In Jewish law, this is forbidden on the sabbath.
Chaim, and the observant congregants are not happy with this situation.  Most of the congregants are happy that the bar mitzvah is over, and they are homeward bound.

When they arrive home, Victor wants to thank the congregation and the Chaim. He's way of appreciation, will be to build a new synagouge, and build a large home for the Rabbi and his wife. Delilah is so thrilled, she has ideas what she wants to do.  To build on the old ground of the temple, they decide to tear down the old temple first.

After the temple is thrown down, everyone hears the news. That Mr. Savanov is a fake, a swindler, he does not have millions. It is too late, the temple is destroyed, and the new temple is not rebuilt.

If you would like to read my review you will have to go to my other blog, Bagels, Books and Schmooze
and read what our book club thought of this book

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