The envelope

by Chaim Eliav

Chaim Eliav is a familiar and welcome name to Shaar Press readers. His In the Spider’s Web took us through a neo-Nazi intrigue in South America; The Runaway led us through a nefarious maze in Israel; The Persecution brought us back to Inquisition-era Portugal; The Mission had us fleeing the K.G.B. in Soviet Russia. In his every foray into intrigue, Eliav had us on the edge of our seats, turning pages, afraid to miss a single twist and turn of the plot. In The Envelope, he does it again, but this time with a new and more chilling twist. Avraham Rosenbaum is an only child of elderly parents, Holocaust survivors with a secret that embitters them and mystifies him. What is it? His father dies and Avraham finds an envelope that will change his life. He is not an only child! He has a sister he has never seen, a woman who has been banished from his parents’ lives — but never from their broken hearts. Her name is Rivkah. No, it used to be Rivkah — but now it is Samira, because as a young woman, Rivkah fell in love with an Arab. She and her parents disowned each other. She left their lives, but never their thoughts. Now Avraham has the envelope and he is obsessed, first with finding out what its message means and then with finding his long lost sister, and finally with bringing her back to her family and people. This book is the story of his dangerous, suspense-filled search, but it is not merely another exciting adventure story in the brilliant Eliav mold. In this book, Eliav reveals a new facet of his skill. He probes deep into the psyches of his characters and makes us understand the complexities of their choices and the pain of their decisions. When we turn the final page, we shake our heads in wonder and understanding. Read this book for enjoyment and adventure — and also for insight into human nature. But please — don’t reveal the surprising ending!

Genres: Jewish, Childrens

435 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2002

Reviews

[Harry · Rating 1 out of 5]

From the postscript, we learn that “The Envelope” was initially serialized in Mishpacha Magazine, a periodical for Orthodox and Ultra-Orthodox readers. As such, many stories evoke Divine Providence. According to the style, I believe the book is aimed at a young adult audience.
Yet the plot has to have some basis in reality. Elimelech Rosenbaum, a Holocaust survivor, Radomsk chasid, and resident of Bnei Brak, Israel dies. His son, Avraham,also a Charedi Jew, discovers envelopes hinting that his religious parents once led a secular lifestyle. To his shock, he also discovers that he has a previously unknown sister who had married an Arab terrorist. That husband had been killed by Israeli forces, and his sister still runs a hotel in a hotbed of terrorism in Shchem/Nablus. Even though he has never met this sister, Avraham is overcome with an uncontrollable, mad urge to travel to Shchem to meet his sibling and perhaps bring her back to Judaism, thereby endangering himself and his young family. But miracles do occur, and Avraham succeeds, despite twists and turns, to conclude with a fairytale ending.
Chaim Eliav never mentioned the sad plight of Jewish women who marry into Arab society. Nor did he mention the death sentence that a Moslem would incur if he tried to convert to another religion. And one would think that there is a porous border between Shchem and the rest of Israel.Shchem is in Area A. Jews cannot enter without military escort, and Arabs cannot leave (we hope) without special permission.
If I wanted fantasy literature, I would look elsewhere.

[Tamar Zakay · Rating 3 out of 5]

read this for school. nothing special...

[Eli Mandel · Rating 1 out of 5]

One can tell that it was written as a serial and not properly edited into a full length book.