The Jewish War: A Novel

Library of Modern Jewish Literature

by Tova Reich

Set in the near future within a war-torn Israel, The Jewish War chronicles the rise to power of Jerry Goldberg, a Bronx teen who has devoted his life to hastening the arrival of the Jewish Messiah. Charismatic and ambitious, Jerry changes his name to Yehudi Hagoel and amasses a cadre of followers to help him establish and maintain the God-given boundaries of Palestine. Written with the humor and satire that have won her acclaim, Tova Reich narrates Hagoel's illicit passage to Israel, his coronation as king of secessionist Judea and Samaria, and his ultimate retreat from the Israeli armies.

Genres: Fiction, Humor, Jewish

288 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

Reviews

[Marlee Pinsker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tova Reich writes books that seem like they are cooked up at a frenetic pace, and I tend to swallow them down fast, intrigued with the wit and the incredible characterizations. It is a problem that there are often not a wealth of characters that one likes, but there are many who are interesting. As Shelly was removed from a rooftop in Yamit,in an iron cage attached to a helicopter, Reich writes, "Shelly sighed. "At last," she said, summoning up, in this wilderness, her Ivy League education, "a room of one's own." Then she noticed Carmela, howling at her side. "Well, almost," she amended, "almost, but not quite. Still it's probably the best I can expect under the circumstances."

I loved the line. The book was worth reading for this line. As with Tova Reich's other books, the ending is often problematic as the book proceeds so far along into extremity that the reader can't always keep up with the ability to believe.

[Ezra · Rating 5 out of 5]

what elan said!

[Elaine · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was described as a satire. I found it difficult to follow and flat.