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A Rooftop in Jerusalem
"A meditation on the persistence of love and the power of an open heart to transcend seemingly inviolate borders." -Yossi Klein Halevi, author of Letters to My Palestinian Neighbor
When Daniel Jacobs decides to spend his junior year abroad in Israel, he never dreams he'll fall in love with both Jerusalem's Old City and an Israeli woman, Shoshana. It's the year religion becomes a part of his identity, from the heights of a simple rooftop. A year he encounters the tragic complexity of the Israeli-Palestinian struggle. A year that begins a four-decade-long love affair, as complicated and heartbreaking as the political conflict with which it's intertwined. As Daniel moves through life-through marriage and divorce, career and travel-he returns periodically to Jerusalem, where his heart faithfully remains.
A Rooftop in Jerusalem brings the Old City's walls, holy sites, and inhabitants to life, while putting a human face on headlines from the Middle East.
When Daniel Jacobs decides to spend his junior year abroad in Israel, he never dreams he'll fall in love with both Jerusalem's Old City and an Israeli woman, Shoshana. It's the year religion becomes a part of his identity, from the heights of a simple rooftop. A year he encounters the tragic complexity of the Israeli-Palestinian struggle. A year that begins a four-decade-long love affair, as complicated and heartbreaking as the political conflict with which it's intertwined. As Daniel moves through life-through marriage and divorce, career and travel-he returns periodically to Jerusalem, where his heart faithfully remains.
A Rooftop in Jerusalem brings the Old City's walls, holy sites, and inhabitants to life, while putting a human face on headlines from the Middle East.
248 pages, Hardcover
Published May 20, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
March 21, 2025
I received an ARC of A Rooftop in Jerusalem via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I’ve always wanted to visit Israel and you can tell that the author fell in love with Jerusalem because he writes about it so vividly. It’s easy to imagine yourself exploring the laneways of the Old City, enjoying falafel and fresh pomegranate juice at Samir’s café and climbing the rickety staircase at dusk to see the view of Mount of Olives from the titular rooftop.
Israel is often discussed through either a Jewish or Muslim lens but Daniel, the main character in A Rooftop in Jerusalem is Christian.
The author doesn’t shy away from delving deeper into the rich and complicated history of the country and includes both Israeli and Palestinian voices. One of the most interesting parts of the book is when Daniel leads an interfaith group on a tour around Israel and you get to experience the various historical sites (Yad Vashem, for example) from the perspectives of the Jewish, Muslim and Christian group members. Overall, I found it very thought-provoking.
I’ve always wanted to visit Israel and you can tell that the author fell in love with Jerusalem because he writes about it so vividly. It’s easy to imagine yourself exploring the laneways of the Old City, enjoying falafel and fresh pomegranate juice at Samir’s café and climbing the rickety staircase at dusk to see the view of Mount of Olives from the titular rooftop.
Israel is often discussed through either a Jewish or Muslim lens but Daniel, the main character in A Rooftop in Jerusalem is Christian.
The author doesn’t shy away from delving deeper into the rich and complicated history of the country and includes both Israeli and Palestinian voices. One of the most interesting parts of the book is when Daniel leads an interfaith group on a tour around Israel and you get to experience the various historical sites (Yad Vashem, for example) from the perspectives of the Jewish, Muslim and Christian group members. Overall, I found it very thought-provoking.
May 4, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Köehler Books for the ARC! This is my honest review:
I wanted to love this book. And for the first 1/3? I did. I personally love Jerusalem and have spent many happy hours wandering the Old City, so the beginnings of this novel absolutely captured me. It was a brilliantly realistic description of what it feels like to be in that specific place, amongst those specific people. Unfortunately for the reader (much like the main character) what follows can’t live up to that first sublime experience.
There is a throw-away line about midway through the book, where the MC’s wife tells him that he talks about his time in Jerusalem like a former high school quarterback reliving his glory days. Sadly, that’s an incredibly apt description for the author too, in the most tiresome ways.
What begins as rich and evocative quickly becomes repetitive. MC’s first experience of the Holy Sepulcher? Sublime. His return visit? Lovely. Every subsequent mention, where our protagonist tells tour group after tour group (each member of whom are mentioned by name) the same darn story? Boring and aggravating. And unfortunately, this is a problem repeated for every single place visited by the protagonist.
Speaking of aggravating, let’s take about our MC: a man so deeply committed to Jerusalem and interfaith dialogue between Christians, Muslims, and Jews that he devotes his ENTIRE LIFE to teaching these topics and working with these people… but never bothers to learn Hebrew or Arabic, never mentions his religious affiliation and (for reason never fully explained) repeatedly nags the Jerusalemite woman of his dreams to pack up her life and move to Ohio, rather than choosing to live in the city that’s at the heart of both his character, their relationship, and this whole novel. By the end? This protagonist’s myopic self-centeredness had lost me as a reader.
I suspect this novel is at least partially autobiographical. It reads like it was written by someone who wants to prove they’re “in the know” by casually name-dropping references only a fellow insider would recognize. “Rabbi Shlomo” makes an appearance, for example, which is referenced again several times throughout the novel… but the author never bothers to explain that this is the real-life Shlomo Carlebach, who he is, or why the reader should care. This does a disservice to the reader by denying them important context that would add meaning, depth, and richness to the story they’re reading.
The Carlebach cameo highlights my biggest issue is with this novel- namely, the author’s various decisions about what information he chooses to include and which details (big and small) he chooses to omit. The MC’s path to becoming a religious studies professor, for example, is triggered by his experience in Jerusalem; and yet his actual spiritual journey is never discussed. We go rather quickly from rooftop contemplation to full-time academic/religious work, and yet we never learn what our protagonist actually *believes*. The novel talks about his “denomination” and includes one vocal character described as a “denominational leader” but it never gets specific about what this actually is … a weird choice from an author who felt the need to give every single person the MC ever meets a name and a specific religious/political alignment. The obvious avoidance of disclosing the same for the protagonist gives the impression of a narrator (and possibly an author) with an over-inflated sense of his own neutrality.
This surface-level inclusivity shines through in the many, MANY, cardboard-cutout characters that make a one-time appearance just to editorialize or explicate a specific perspective on the Israel/Palestinian conflict and then disappear, never to be heard from again. Once again, who the author chooses to include and who he does not (the latter includes religious Jews who are referred to throughout the book as “awful Orthodox” which was frankly offensive to me as a non-Orthodox reader) belies any attempt to present a nuanced or sensitive portrayal of a very complicated situation.
For a story focused on the most contested city on earth and covering a span from 1969-2010’s, I found it shocking that the same protagonist who recounts the incident of the Al-Aqsa mosque fire over and over and over again would glide right over any mention either the Yom Kippur War OR September 11th- events which certainly would have impacted the characters experiences of both interfaith dialogue AND Jerusalem. The authors decisions about which ideas, perspectives, places, and events were included and which were left out became a serious believability barrier for me as I read.
In the end, after composing the longest review I’ve written yet; I’m giving a rating of 3 stars to the first third of the novel; which really did capture my soul in a way few novels do. But it devolved quickly and the MC- along with his creator- lost me due to a frustrating lack of self-awareness.
I wanted to love this book. And for the first 1/3? I did. I personally love Jerusalem and have spent many happy hours wandering the Old City, so the beginnings of this novel absolutely captured me. It was a brilliantly realistic description of what it feels like to be in that specific place, amongst those specific people. Unfortunately for the reader (much like the main character) what follows can’t live up to that first sublime experience.
There is a throw-away line about midway through the book, where the MC’s wife tells him that he talks about his time in Jerusalem like a former high school quarterback reliving his glory days. Sadly, that’s an incredibly apt description for the author too, in the most tiresome ways.
What begins as rich and evocative quickly becomes repetitive. MC’s first experience of the Holy Sepulcher? Sublime. His return visit? Lovely. Every subsequent mention, where our protagonist tells tour group after tour group (each member of whom are mentioned by name) the same darn story? Boring and aggravating. And unfortunately, this is a problem repeated for every single place visited by the protagonist.
Speaking of aggravating, let’s take about our MC: a man so deeply committed to Jerusalem and interfaith dialogue between Christians, Muslims, and Jews that he devotes his ENTIRE LIFE to teaching these topics and working with these people… but never bothers to learn Hebrew or Arabic, never mentions his religious affiliation and (for reason never fully explained) repeatedly nags the Jerusalemite woman of his dreams to pack up her life and move to Ohio, rather than choosing to live in the city that’s at the heart of both his character, their relationship, and this whole novel. By the end? This protagonist’s myopic self-centeredness had lost me as a reader.
I suspect this novel is at least partially autobiographical. It reads like it was written by someone who wants to prove they’re “in the know” by casually name-dropping references only a fellow insider would recognize. “Rabbi Shlomo” makes an appearance, for example, which is referenced again several times throughout the novel… but the author never bothers to explain that this is the real-life Shlomo Carlebach, who he is, or why the reader should care. This does a disservice to the reader by denying them important context that would add meaning, depth, and richness to the story they’re reading.
The Carlebach cameo highlights my biggest issue is with this novel- namely, the author’s various decisions about what information he chooses to include and which details (big and small) he chooses to omit. The MC’s path to becoming a religious studies professor, for example, is triggered by his experience in Jerusalem; and yet his actual spiritual journey is never discussed. We go rather quickly from rooftop contemplation to full-time academic/religious work, and yet we never learn what our protagonist actually *believes*. The novel talks about his “denomination” and includes one vocal character described as a “denominational leader” but it never gets specific about what this actually is … a weird choice from an author who felt the need to give every single person the MC ever meets a name and a specific religious/political alignment. The obvious avoidance of disclosing the same for the protagonist gives the impression of a narrator (and possibly an author) with an over-inflated sense of his own neutrality.
This surface-level inclusivity shines through in the many, MANY, cardboard-cutout characters that make a one-time appearance just to editorialize or explicate a specific perspective on the Israel/Palestinian conflict and then disappear, never to be heard from again. Once again, who the author chooses to include and who he does not (the latter includes religious Jews who are referred to throughout the book as “awful Orthodox” which was frankly offensive to me as a non-Orthodox reader) belies any attempt to present a nuanced or sensitive portrayal of a very complicated situation.
For a story focused on the most contested city on earth and covering a span from 1969-2010’s, I found it shocking that the same protagonist who recounts the incident of the Al-Aqsa mosque fire over and over and over again would glide right over any mention either the Yom Kippur War OR September 11th- events which certainly would have impacted the characters experiences of both interfaith dialogue AND Jerusalem. The authors decisions about which ideas, perspectives, places, and events were included and which were left out became a serious believability barrier for me as I read.
In the end, after composing the longest review I’ve written yet; I’m giving a rating of 3 stars to the first third of the novel; which really did capture my soul in a way few novels do. But it devolved quickly and the MC- along with his creator- lost me due to a frustrating lack of self-awareness.
July 21, 2025
I just finished reading A Rooftop to Jerusalem, and I’m still carrying the weight and wonder of it in my heart. Few novels have moved me as deeply as this one. Michael Kinnamon has crafted a story that is not only beautifully written, but also spiritually profound, emotionally rich, and unflinchingly honest about the pain and complexity of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Through the eyes of Daniel, the protagonist, we are drawn into the layered realities of Jerusalem—a city of tension, longing, beauty, and heartbreak. Kinnamon doesn’t offer easy answers. Instead, he invites us into the lived experience of people on all sides of the conflict. We see their hopes, their grief, their struggle for justice, and their aching humanity. The book holds these tensions with tenderness and truth.
What surprised me most was how deeply personal this journey becomes. Daniel’s story is not just about a city or a cause—it’s about his own spiritual awakening. His relationships—with Shoahana, with Valerie, and with the land itself—are written with such depth and vulnerability. Shoahana’s final letter brought tears to my eyes. And the grace with which Valerie honors that past while stepping into a future with Daniel is both rare and beautiful. It’s a love story rooted in maturity, compassion, and healing.
This is a novel that doesn’t just inform—it transforms. It stirs the conscience while also opening the heart. It resonates with anyone who cares about justice, reconciliation, faith, and the subtle ways our souls evolve through love and loss.
I will be recommending A Rooftop to Jerusalem to my friends, colleagues, and fellow seekers. It’s a story I won’t forget—and I hope many others will come to know its power, too.
—Jerry Zehr
Author of The Peacemaker’s Path
Through the eyes of Daniel, the protagonist, we are drawn into the layered realities of Jerusalem—a city of tension, longing, beauty, and heartbreak. Kinnamon doesn’t offer easy answers. Instead, he invites us into the lived experience of people on all sides of the conflict. We see their hopes, their grief, their struggle for justice, and their aching humanity. The book holds these tensions with tenderness and truth.
What surprised me most was how deeply personal this journey becomes. Daniel’s story is not just about a city or a cause—it’s about his own spiritual awakening. His relationships—with Shoahana, with Valerie, and with the land itself—are written with such depth and vulnerability. Shoahana’s final letter brought tears to my eyes. And the grace with which Valerie honors that past while stepping into a future with Daniel is both rare and beautiful. It’s a love story rooted in maturity, compassion, and healing.
This is a novel that doesn’t just inform—it transforms. It stirs the conscience while also opening the heart. It resonates with anyone who cares about justice, reconciliation, faith, and the subtle ways our souls evolve through love and loss.
I will be recommending A Rooftop to Jerusalem to my friends, colleagues, and fellow seekers. It’s a story I won’t forget—and I hope many others will come to know its power, too.
—Jerry Zehr
Author of The Peacemaker’s Path
April 25, 2025
The Old City of Jerusalem has enchanted me from afar for years. A Rooftop in Jerusalem is beautifully written and descriptive, a multi-sensory experience. I could taste the delectable food, hear the bustling souks, see the celebrations and ancient sites. The fictional story is vibrant, colourful and poignant, a love story to Jerusalem. In 1969, American Christian Daniel Jacobs became besotted with the culture, history and the people when he decided to study there. He met new friends and fell in love with Israeli Shoshana. Christian, Muslim and Jewish cultures simultaneously melded and clashed. As time went on, Daniel visited Jerusalem off and on into the 2000s. Over the span of four decades, his life changed in many ways but his passion for Jerusalem never waned, even when suicide bombings occurred with Israeli-Palestinian conflicts.
My favourite aspects of this book are the vivid descriptions, Jewish festivals, history, and learning more about cultures. I really connected with Daniel's obsession with Israel as I feel the same way about a country I live in part time, too. The story is raw yet tender, moving and fascinating. It's unique and special.
My favourite aspects of this book are the vivid descriptions, Jewish festivals, history, and learning more about cultures. I really connected with Daniel's obsession with Israel as I feel the same way about a country I live in part time, too. The story is raw yet tender, moving and fascinating. It's unique and special.
May 12, 2025
This novel recounts the history of Daniel Jacobs' 40+ year love affair with the old city of Jerusalem and with a Jewish Israeli woman, Shoshana. Daniel, who is Christian, first visits the Israel in 1969 for his junior year abroad. It's then that he has a kind of religious awakening on a rooftop that leads him to switch him major from poli sci to religion. He eventually becomes a professor of theology at a Christian seminary in Ohio, returning to Jerusalem a number of times with an interfaith group and with his students. At each visit he spends time with Shoshana, even after both are married to other people.
Maybe you have to love the old city the way I do and accept the complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to appreciate this book. I never tired of Daniel's descriptions of his time in the old city and of his efforts to be a bridge builder. I would recommended this book to anyone looking to really hold on to multiple truths.
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.
Maybe you have to love the old city the way I do and accept the complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to appreciate this book. I never tired of Daniel's descriptions of his time in the old city and of his efforts to be a bridge builder. I would recommended this book to anyone looking to really hold on to multiple truths.
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.
April 24, 2025
The Vibe
Christian theologian in Jerusalem reflects on living among Jews, Muslims, & Christians.
Faith meets reality.
🧠❤️🌍
Best Moments
• Quiet conversations with neighbors
• Real talk about justice and peace
• Walking the streets of a sacred city with an open heart
🚶♂️🗣️🕍
Emotional Impact
Thoughtful, honest, deeply human.
Felt more like a shared prayer than a memoir.
🙏💭
Underrated Insight
Peace is a practice, not a theory.
⚖️❤️🔥
Thank you NetGalley for the arc
Christian theologian in Jerusalem reflects on living among Jews, Muslims, & Christians.
Faith meets reality.
🧠❤️🌍
Best Moments
• Quiet conversations with neighbors
• Real talk about justice and peace
• Walking the streets of a sacred city with an open heart
🚶♂️🗣️🕍
Emotional Impact
Thoughtful, honest, deeply human.
Felt more like a shared prayer than a memoir.
🙏💭
Underrated Insight
Peace is a practice, not a theory.
⚖️❤️🔥
Thank you NetGalley for the arc
November 20, 2025
Michael Kinnamon’s A Rooftop in Jerusalem is a fascinating read. It tells the story of a young American man’s experience with love and heartbreak in the Old City of Jerusalem. Through his experience with people from the different faiths present in the city, we see him grow. I was very moved by the character’s emotional and philosophical journey, and grateful to have gained a better understanding of the Israeli Palestinian conflict.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews