Letters to Talia

by Dov Indig

Letters to Talia describes the rich cultural worlds of a yeshiva student and a kibbutz girl who succeed in creating a dialogue of understanding and compassion. Their distant outlooks meet in a meaningful and touching dialogue that reveals how much common ground they share despite their divergent worldviews. Letters to Talia is an exceptional, engaging book that brings hope to those seeking a serious dialogue and real understanding between the religious and secular in Israeli society today.

Genres: Jewish, Israel, Judaism, Nonfiction

190 pages, Paperback

First published October 9, 2012

Reviews

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was captivated when I read the back cover of Letters to Talia, since the concept of having an irreligious Jewish kibbutz girl writing corresponding letters to a soldier/ Yeshiva student about Judaism and learning more about her faith sounded almost too good to be true. But the book lived up to even the highest of standards I had set for it in my head. It's an everlasting read that had me bouncing from one emotion to the next.

Dov Indig was killed on October 7, 1973, in a holding action on the Golan Heights in Israel during the Yom Kippur War. Letters to Talia, published in his memory by family and friends, contains excerpts from an extensive correspondence Dov maintained with Talia, a girl from an irreligious kibbutz in northern Israel , in 1972 and 73, the last two years of his life. At the time, Talia was a high-school student, and Dov was a student in the Hesder Yeshiva Kerem B Yavneh, which combines Torah study with military service.

Coming into this right after having had to tolerate the non-stop infidelities in This Is How You Lose Her was like a breath of fresh air. Not only does Dov Indig, an only child of Holocaust survivors, have practically the perfect answer on literally everything regarding God, Jews and our identity, people, and homeland. We're left with lots of food for thought, and it was a real challenge trying not to write the whole book down into my notes so I wouldn't forget even the tiniest thing uttered by him. There was this genuine fear inside me that I would forget a convincing argument of his, and it stemmed out of how utterly convincing his points were in their nature. Dov Indig kept on surprising me with his knowledge page by page. A real wunderkind. It is these kind of quiet stories that tell the moving account of someone’s words and actions that affect me the most.

I mean, there were times when Talia presented a case seemingly unfit to contradict (such as, the recruitment of Yeshiva students into the IDF, and civil marriage in Israel), but he always pulled through with pages and pages of wise words on the relevant topics and sources to support his statements. And not only that, but his responses came across as really balanced and well-thought-out. You could feel his calm and welcoming nature reverberate off the page when it came to answering questions about Judaism.

Usually, I would insert some quotes of his here to prove my statement, but since I read the Hebrew edition that option isn't relevant at the time. But just know that there’s no denying the colossal wisdom and faithfulness behind Dov’s words. Knowing the end of his story, however, made every moment of his utterly melancholy and bittersweet. I’m thinking mainly about those parts when he got hopeful about what his future would entail as a believer. It’s impossible not to feel the weight of the words (and the world) in those pages.

Since this conversation is made up by two parts, I have to mention that I was displeased from the get-go with the way Talia handled the conversation. My annoyance stems from the fact that her personality relies heavily on not knowing really… anything. Talia tends to go for deep questions without inquiring first if what she's asking is fact or something she heard from ear to ear, which leads to a lot of naïve and shortsighted comments on her side. Over the course of Letters to Talia it began to feel like one of those plot devices, where one side asks foolish questions just so that the hero can appear more educated. So it became difficult to enjoy the conversations circling Dov and Talia because I was dreading for her point of view to appear. I mean it's pretty difficult to enjoy an educated conversation when one person isn’t adding anything remarkable to the table other than white noise.

The funny thing is that I then read this article that interviews Talia nowadays, and she seems to agree on her naïvety back in the day. So there was a tiny source of comfort knowing that she would somehow grow into her character over the years.

But luckily, Dov's writing, that showcased just how well-read and enlightened he was, made up for the negatives of the other side. It was a true privilege to bask in the wisdom of his words through the letters shared in this book.

As a last side note, I do wish we would’ve gotten to see some pictures of the letters they sent one another just because I’m curious as to how his writing style looked like on paper. But overall Letters to Talia is a highly recommended story that I'm utterly grateful to have read.

Note: I'm an Amazon Affiliate. If you're interested in buying Letters to Talia, just click on the image below to go through my link. I'll make a small commission!


This review and more can be found on my blog.

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a remarkable book. It bridges the gap between the religious and secular world of Judaism in such a fantastic way. I love how this book is a mixture of history, philosophy, and theology, granted it never was supposed to be. It was intended to just be letters, yet they are all so well written. I saw a TikTok saying this book would be life changing, and they weren’t kidding. This book is life changing. Dov is so incredibly smart, and his desire to learn and grow as an intellectual but also as a Jew (and just a human being) is inspiring.

[s · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading his constant and poetic hope for the future while knowing his ending. Heart broken.

[pylesjellydonut · Rating 5 out of 5]

10000/100 i just can’t

as i read my next book i couldn’t even focus because i kept thinking about this one 💔

dead people’s personalities, quirks, lessons, and remarks hold so much more weight posthumously
because you never want their memory to become victim to passing time…

-this book just resonated so much with my life this past year and a situation so oddly similar that completely turned my life upside down

- the lessons and teachings in the book are actually priceless ! and it’s a very special thing that it got to be published so the wisdom could continue to be spread

the book focuses on judaism and specifically the lifestyle differences and the dissonance that exists between secular judaism and religious judaism in israel (this might sound boring but i promise once you pick this book up you won’t put it down) it isn’t at all a difficult read but so so so so beautiful and amazing and perfect 😢

anyways i hope i added enough random enticing facts (that will only make sense once you read the book😏) for you to buy it and fall in love

would recommend to any secular jew who doesn’t know what the torah is and who generally doesn’t enjoy reading

[Grace Akkad · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given this book as a gift with the promise that if I did like it I would go back and tell the book owner that he was right in recommending it. And now I am due my promise.
I love this book and its very complex and beautiful way of describing the Israeli life and the different points of view. This book deals with the different perspectives between secular and non secular jews living in a developing country, the way Talia has so many smart questions and comebacks and how Dov responds to them is proof of undying faith and love for ones country.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book made up of actual correspondence between a religious yeshiva boy in Israel and a high school girl from a secular kibbutz. Talia (a fictionalized name) begins a correspondence with Dov, at the suggestion of her father. Growing up as a secular Jew, she has a wide variety of questions, and Dov answers them, in (mostly) a calm manner, explaining the reasons for what he does and believes. A very moving tribute to a young man of faith and courage.

[Corey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story pieced together via real letters between two Israelis, a religious Jewish man studying Torah and fighting in the army and a secular Jewish girl living on a kibbutz, in the 1970s. The letters focus on religious verse non-religious ways of living and philosophical conversations relating to Judaism over the course of two years. Maybe not the most exciting topic but I really liked it.

[Andrea Hernandez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this beautiful book....What an amazing exchange, and what an inspiring and brilliant person Dov Indig was. My only wish is that there had been something more from "Talia." It just ends rather abruptly, and I really wanted to know more about what happened to Talia.

[Orie · Rating 5 out of 5]

50 years later this short collection of letters still can move you deeply and presents a beautiful insight into two strong views about Jewish life. I will be thinking of the letter writers and their words to each other for a long time.

[Chava · Rating 5 out of 5]

A correspondence between Dov Indig, a Hesder (combination of army and yeshiva for compulsory military service) boy and Talia, a high school girl living on a secular kibbutz, the exchange of letters took place during 1972 and 1973. Dov had met Talia's father during the father's army reserve duty, and he suggested that Talia write letters to Dov. Dov was killed on October 7, 1973 in a holding action on the Golan Heights during the Yom Kippur War. He was 22 years old.

The letters are incredible. They give insight to issues that are still relevant in Israel - compulsory military service, secular versus religious Jews, urban versus rural citizens. The two have deep philosophical discussions, and it is all done with respect and admiration for the other. As the dates progressed, I was hesitant to read on, as I knew the last letter was coming. The world lost a very special person. He was in a group of friends that included Haim Sabato and Hagai Ben-Artzi, and he also seem destined to be accomplished and well known.

As January 16th, approaches, I also think of the Lamed-Heh, may God avenge their blood, more precious young men who served their country and died much too young.

[Saba Getaneh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this for a book club I’m in a few months ago and it’s one of my favorite books to date. The letters were so captivating that it only took a couple of days to get through the book. One of the most interesting parts of the book was when Dov and Talia talked about Zionism and what it means to each of them. The end was heart-wrenching.

[Cecilia · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredible exchange of letters between a secular Israeli girl and a religious boy who is part of the Hesder program. Every letter beautifully depicts Judaism and the land of Israel. Will definitely pick this book up again later on in life.

[Sandra Atallah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good booking for gathering a deeper understanding on Jewish life and culture. Obviously written from
A Jewish perspective, so not one to read if you were hoping for a balanced view of the Israeli conflicts

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

"אסור לנו לוותר על האופי היהודי של מדינת-ישראל; אסור לנו לקעקע את יסודות המשפט והצדק של מדינתנו על-ידי שחרור של מחבלים רוצחים. אלה הם ערכי יסוד, שבשבילם שווה להיאבק ולהילחם, ואם צריך אז גם למות. חיים שאין בהם אידיאל, ששווה למות למענו, אינם חיים שכדאי לחיות אותם."

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible book. This book impactfully explains some big questions regarding Judaism, but in a casual and very enjoyable way.

[Yehudit Epstein · Rating 5 out of 5]

Powerful, painful, very current! Loved it. Cried.

[Linda Srour · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting.

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

LETTERS TO TALIA by Dov Indig; translated from the Hebrew by Jehuda Burdman.
This translated edition, published in 2012, was delivered to me by Geffen Publishing House in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.
Contents include a foreword/ The Letters/ Chapters in Dov’s life/ Friends talk about Dov/Footnotes. Many pictures are also included.
Dov Indig 1951-1973

Dov was killed October 7, 1973, on the Golan Heights during the Yom Kippur War. His friends and family published a book in his memory and quote excerpts from a correspondence Dov maintained (for 2 years) with Talia, a girl from a secular kibbutz in northern Israel. At the time, Talia was a high school student and Dov was a student in the hesder Yeshiva (an orthodox Jewish elementary or secondary school) Kerem B’ Yavneh, near Aashdod. Dov’s schooling combined Torah study in yeshiva with military service. At one point, Dov met Talia’s father and they developed a dialogue about Judaism and Zionism. Talia’s father suggested a correspondence between Dov and his daughter, Talia, which she welcomed. At the time, she was being exposed to Judaism through the seminars of Gesher (an organization that sponsors programs to connect religious and secular Israelis and, thus, strengthen Jewish identity).
The letters reveal rich spiritual worlds of both Dov (yeshiva student) and Talia (from a secular kibbutz). The letters also attempt to bridge the gap between religious and secular Israeli thought and practice.
Dov became famous as the hero of the novel, ADJUSTING SIGHTS by Rabbi Haim Sabato. A movie was also made and many people became interested in the personage/character of Dov. Many feel that Dov’s greatness can best be defined in his letters to Talia and this correspondence became the center or purpose of this publication, LETTERS TO TALIA, by Dov’s family and friends.
The LETTERS included questions and discussions of many topics and questions, including:
Why separate traditional dancing for boys and girls?
What does mixed dancing of teens before marriage have to do with family stability and divorce rates?
Why wouldn’t Dov see the movie, Dr. Zhivago? Talia doesn’t understand what is bad about love between a married man and a married woman. Dov replies that loyalty to God surpasses love of a woman. Dov also recommended reading Erich Fromm’s THE ART OF LOVING.
Many discussions of passages from the Book of Job.
The necessity and benefits of mikve (a ritual cleansing/a purification cleansing for married men and women)
A discussion of the book, KUZARI by Rabbi Yehuda Halevi. This is a book about basic Jewish philosophy.
a secular Shabbot.
Dov’s declaration that “without faith in God there are no values or morality.” “Morality is associated with religion and faith.”
My favorite letter is from Dov, “The day after Pesach [April 24, 1974] Ras Sudr”, where he describes the beauty of the Sinai.
In his last letter to Talia (before he died), he muses on his true calling - education. He writes that “education is the word that resonates for me wherever I go: that is the key to the future of the Jewish people as a people of faith, Torah, and eternal values.”

I don’t mean to ‘ramble on’, but this book was so intense that I took copious notes and did a lot of thinking about my own religious values and thoughts. I am not Jewish and know little about the Jewish faith and the Hebrew language, so I was constantly looking up words and expressions and places. I learned a lot and was very impressed with the maturity and thoughtfulness of these two young people.
The letters exhibit such an intensity - of curiosity, of spirit, of intellect. If a book’s purpose is to help one examine one’s own beliefs and values and interests, this book, LETTERS TO TALIA, certainly fulfilled its intent.
I would heartily recommend reading this book. The courage, the love of learning, the love of faith which Dov expounds will inspire you, whatever your belief system.

[Donna Zeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are many reasons to read this amazing book. First of all, you should know that when it was originally published in Hebrew, it was a bestseller in Israel. It is exceedingly clear why it was so popular, and it should be just as widely read by the English speaking public.
The book is a translation of actual letters from a high school girl who grew up and lives on a secular kibbutz in the north of Israel. Out of curiosity about Judaism she attends a seminar whose aim is to bridge the gap between the religious and secular populations in Israel. She comes back full of questions, bombarding her father with her endless inquires about religion, which is not able to answer adequately. Lucky for her, her father met an impressive young man in the demanding ‘hesder’ program while he was on reserve duty, and asked if he would mind if his daughter wrote him with her questions.
The young man agrees, and thus begins the most inspiring correspondence between two incredible people. You will be enthralled by the sincerity, honesty and consideration these models of their respective communities possess. The young man is a truly devout, learned, and deep person, who is not afraid of any challenge as far as his faith and love of Judaism is concerned. He is an exemplary individual who models the best that the hesder world offers to the people of Israel and to the rebirth of the State of Israel.
The young woman, only 17 and in 11th grade when the letters begin, is equally bright, sincere and full of love for her people and country, and she is not afraid to challenge the young man on any issue. The flow of the correspondence between these people is exquisite, revealing the possibility of the deep connection that two people from different backgrounds are capable of sharing.
That is the first reason to read “Letters to Talia.” If you have read Haim Sabato’s heartbreakingly emotional book “Adjusting Sights” then you know that the main character was mourning for his childhood friend Dov throughout the book. Sadly, this is the Dov who wrote the letters to Talia. (Talia by the way is not her real name. Her true name was not revealed to protect her privacy.) So from the outset we know that the letters will come to a horrible, sudden end, sometime soon after the Yom Kippur War begins. Knowing this from the outset makes the book all the more poignant, and devastating as you grow to love this incredible young man through his letters.
In addition, the book takes place in a historical setting which is barely even remembered today. Several pivotal events in Israel’s history take place during the correspondence, and it is eye-opening to see the reaction to these events in the letters.
I loved this book, and I spent a long time writing this review because I think it is not only a great book, but it is an important book as well. My only criticism of “Letters to Talia” is that we never know what happened to Talia after the tragic death of someone she must have loved dearly. The book could have also been called “Letters to Talia; Letters to Dov.” Talia’s letters, for me, were just as wondrous as Dov’s. I would have loved to have seen one last letter from Talia to Dov, written after his death. Certainly her heart was broken when she heard the news of his tragic death. Mine was, and I never even knew Dov.
Don’t think that this book is morose. It is the opposite. It is a celebration of two lives seeking truth, connection and meaning. You will read it and be in awe.

[Betty · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was originally released in 2012 in Hebrew in Israel and it is now being released here in the US. This is a small book and doesn’t take long to read. The first half of the 190 pages is made up of letters from Talia (a real person but a fictional name) to Dov and his responses to her. Dov is a religious young man in the Israeli Army. Talia is a young lady living at a secular kibbutz and studying for her matriculation. Dov and Talia corresponded for two years after her father met Dov on reserve duty and recommended she contact him. Dov attended a hesder yeshiva which combines Israel’s requirement to serve in the military with time to study Torah.

Talia is very secular but has a strong desire to learn more about her religion and Zionism. In their letters, Dov and Talia are brutally honest with each other. His adherence to religious law often offends Talia. But Dov has that perfect mix of being incredibly intelligent and, I have to say, charismatic. While he is adamant regarding his position, he is also able to sway Talia in some of her beliefs. It is often in Talia’s pushing back at Dov after an offense that his best explanations are then offered. She wanted to learn, and he was happy to teach.

The two did meet face-to-face a couple of times. And there was definitely a tenderness developing between them. Some have called it love. I see it more as adulation on her side and fondness (like to a little sister) on his side. Unfortunately Dov is killed in the Yom Kippur War. The book stops abruptly there. This is probably why I am giving it only three stars. I feel that there should have been something more from Talia. Perhaps how she learned of his death, her reaction, what she went on to do. After this abrupt ending halfway through the book there is then a short section that is basically a biography of Dov’s life. Then it wraps up with his friends telling us what Dov was like.

It was interesting to read his explanation for why very religious Jews do certain things, why they believe a certain way. He was an exceptional young man. He had a wide interest in all types of topics. He did not limit himself to just religious texts. He loved learning just for the sake of learning. Dov embraced the beauty of his religion and never apologized for it. He loved nature and relished each gift from God, great or small. Several times he is quoted as seeing something and then exclaiming “How great are the wonders of God!”

I received the book from Geffen Publishing with a request for a review.

[E · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, I would like to thank Gefen Publishing for providing me with a copy of Letters to Talia.
In 1971 a correspondence began between Talia, a teenager living in a secular kibbutz in Israel, and Dov who was a yeshiva student. Talia had questions about Judaism and Zionism. Dov answered her questions and shared his philosophies with her. Even though they were very different people, their dialogue was always respectful. Reading the letters, I came away with a better understanding of Judaism and Zionism as well as the secular.
This is a very special book and I highly recommend reading it.

[Ayelet · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book. The most important part is that it is real letters written by real people. If it was fictional it would have felt contrived and preachy but these are things they actually said to each other. I don't generally like philosophy but I enjoyed reading the interchange between them. I only wish that there was more information about Talia. Did Dov keep copies of the letters that he sent or did they contact Talia to get them?

[Shari (Shira) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Talia, a secular kibbutznik teenage girl, and Dov, a young soldier/yeshiva student, are pen pals in the 1970s. They debate core issues in Judaism and issues about the development of the emerging Israel nation.

[Gil-or (readingbooksinisrael)]

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