Strength to Stand

Rabbi David Cohen #2

by Sheyna Galyan

When Rabbi Batya Zahav first suspects she’s the victim of an anti-Jewish stalker, she enlists the help of her colleague, Rabbi David Cohen. Soon her husband Arik, an Israeli-born Minneapolis cop, is also on the case. As the stalker’s anonymous persecution increases in violent intensity, it falls to David to identify the stalker before someone gets hurt, and before the stalker carries out the latest chilling threat.

306 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2015

About the author

Sheyna Galyan is a multi-award-winning author and former mental health counselor who writes and speaks about the intersection of creativity, mental health, and spirituality. The founder of Soul Guides®, Sheyna coaches people privately to help them trust themselves and their own soul guides. Also the author of suspense fiction set in the Twin Cities, Sheyna holds advanced degrees in psychology and education and can be found on social media engaging in Sheynanigans.

Reviews

[Andrea Stoeckel · Rating 5 out of 5]

[I received this book free from the publisher through NetGalley. I thank them for their generousity. In exchange, I was simply asked to write an honest review, and post it. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising]

This book was amazing! It is set, according to the author, around six months after the first book in the series. The time is Chanukah 2000 in the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis/ St. Paul, MN. Rabbi David Cohen, his family and friends, are still recovering from the situation that was described in the first book ( which I am on the lookout for). And then, a friend and colleague at another Temple, is being threatened as episodes begin to happen that look more and more like hate crimes aimed directly at Rabbi Batya, a leader of a schul is St. Paul Park.

As this story opens, Rabbi David has been asked to speak at an interfaith peace service. He uses this venue to teach about education and acceptance as a way to bring peace, and ruffles some feathers in an audience of mostly Christians. This attitude around what is the largest Christian Holiday in the year, trickles down from closer to home. All this makes the Jewish community hypervigilant regarding these incidents. Batya's husband is also a Sargent in the police force, and his hands are tied because its his wife who is being stalked.

The Cohen household gets ready for Chanukah and a visit from old friends Eli and his wife. With a houseful of guests and holiday stress, there is tension as David gets further involved in Batya's case.

I'm not going into specifics because that will bring on spoilers. This is a very well written book. Ms.Gaylan loves the Twin Cities and her community and is very respectful of them. As a seminarian some 25 years ago, this Rhode Islander fell hard for Minneapolis/ St. Paul, and did an internship in St. Paul Park. The characters are real, believeable people. The situations and their solutions really could happen ( may it never be so). In its own way, the book is doing what Rabbi Cohen wanted to do at that peace service because, in the end, peace is really the only solution.

(NOTE: I am a retired minister who served in small country churches almost my whole career. I understand the dilemmas associated with our multi-cultural society, which makes this book one of my favorites of 2015o

[Audra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was fantastic! Witty and intelligent, held my attention to the very last page. Characters are multidimensional and easy to identify with. This suspenseful story was overlaid with charm and humor. I highly recommend Strength to Stand!

[Shelley Kubitz Mahannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Sheyna Galyan writes her novels she tries to answer "big questions." When I'm reading fiction, my basic quest is to be entertained - but if I end up learning something because of what I've read or if it spins my mind in different directions where I want to research something that the author mentions or if I come away having learned something different about culture or religion ... that's time well spent.

Ms. Galyan's books do not disappoint. "Strength to Stand" is the second book in her Rabbi David Cohen series and starts six months after the conclusion of "Destined to Choose." In Ms. Galyan's words: "When Rabbi Batya Zahav first suspects she’s the victim of an anti-Jewish stalker, she enlists the help of her colleague, Rabbi David Cohen. Soon her husband Arik, an Israeli-born Minneapolis cop, is also on the case. As the stalker’s anonymous persecution increases in violent intensity, it falls to David to identify the stalker before someone gets hurt, and before the stalker carries out the latest chilling threat."

"Strength" follows characters that were featured and introduced in Ms. Galyan's first book. For a reader, this is like settling in for a conversation with an old friend. In this case, catching up on this conversation is full of tension and suspense. Again, time well spent.

Galyan writes strong characters and offers insight on Jewish culture. As a reader and writer, it was interesting to see how Galyan's skills as an author strengthened from her debut novel to Rabbi Cohen's second outing. I am happy to hear that she's penning a third that will prominently feature Arik.

My review is based on an ARC. "Strength to Stand" was released on September 1st.

[Jenna Zark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Though I’m not a mystery lover, you don’t have to be to enjoy this book. Intense and gripping from beginning to end, Strength to Stand explores the complexities inherent in Jewish communities and being Jewish; and also shows us how extremism can poison any community. Author Sheyna Galyan’s full bodies characters and innate understanding of observant Jewish life make for the kind of book you just won’t see every day.

[Merrillcat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I must admit that being of 100% Jewish ancestry, raised by an atheist and an agonistic, made this book especially good reading for me. But you don't need to be of any particular faith or lack of faith to appreciate "Strength to Stand." It's a top notch and sometimes frightening book, not only because of a well written plot but because of the infighting and intolerance amongst the characters and the pettiness of which we're all capable.

Not that all the characters aren't capable of deep love, for each other and for their religion. The are all riveting and I missed them when I was finished. The author paid particular intention to keep the characters true to themselves, as well as making the many facets of Judaism consistent.

"Strength to Stand" is a brilliant character study, a fascinating study of religion, and a well crafted suspense story, with a feminist bent. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants a " behind the scenes" study of a world they might or not be familiar with, or a love song, or a good suspense story.

The author is never didactic, and makes a good practise of defining Hebrew words in a seamless fashion. She gives the same attention to cultural and religious study as she does to her characters and plot. Ultimately, "Strength to Stand" is a love story of the Jewish religion and its followers.

[Dawn Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Strength to Stand (Rabbi David Cohen Book 2) by Sheyna Galyan

306 Pages
Publisher: Yotzeret Publishing Inc., Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members’ Titles
Release Date: September 1, 2015

Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Religious Zealots Jewish

David Cohen is a Rabbi handing the day-to-day duties of his office. His wife, Sara wants to take on more duties and become more active with the congregation. His longtime friend, Rabbi Eli and his wife, Bev, are visiting from Washington State.

Betya Zahav, a female Rabbi, begins receiving threatening messages to her office and home. She asks David for advice. He tells her to contact the Jewish Community Center and to tell her husband, Arik, a sergeant with the Minneapolis police. When the threats against Betya escalate, David and Eli help Arik by talking with other Rabbis. Soon they find themselves over their heads.

The story is fast paced, the characters are somewhat developed, and it is written third point of view. Some of the action in the book was very realistic to current events. If you like Father Brown or Sidney Chambers and Grantchester, you will enjoy this book.

[Orit · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I read the 'Destined to Choose' over the summer and enjoyed it, but this book takes things to another level for me. The suspense aspect of the book was a nice side story for the first 3/4 of the book and then genuine suspense for the last 1/4. What I really loved about this book was the depth of character development, especially in the character of Sara. I felt that not only did I get to know her better, I WANTED to get to know her even better. The book touched a bit on how she and her husband, Rabbi Cohen, met; but I'd love a book entirely from her perspective of that time in her life.
This book made me realize there is a genre of Jewish literature missing from my life. Most books I read that are 'Jewish' are either about the holocaust or focus on orthodox Jewish life. I could identify with these characters in a way I'm not used to. How do we live a religious Jewish life, yet still participate in the secular world? How does that look for our children? What about spouses that have different levels (observance and comfort) of their Jewishness? How does a family define it's Jewishness during a conversion?
I hope to see a lot more books like this one from Sheyna Galyan in the future.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great book!

The characters really come alive, leaving me feeling like I'll be missing my new friends. That withdrawal is always the sign of a great book for me.

The pace of the plot built gradually at first, keeping me enthralled with the characters and guessing what would happen next. Then the pace picked up to the point where there was no way I could put it down during the last several chapters - another sign of a great book as far as I'm concerned.

I love the interweaving of Jewish concepts and history, practice and diversity and disagreement. I never felt insulted or like the material was dumbed down, yet it flowed well and was easy to follow. I think it would be pretty accessible to a non-Jew as well, especially with the help of the glossary at the back.

I can't wait for the next one!

[Philip Bailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Certainly an interesting book but best read by someone of the Jewish faith and Hebrew speaking. A good story and there is a glossary of the Hebrew words at the end, but it is not all inclusive, at least one word was used as a different meaning than I know of, as it was used in conversation in Israel, but certainly not a distraction. Anyone who follows events in Israel will know that terrorism exists between different sects of Jews. This story portrays that very issue imported to America, not surprising but something I never thought about. It also portrays a misogynistic side to some Jewish men. An interesting read but much of it is lost on people who do not understand or know of the various rituals observed by members of the Jewish faith.

[Marlene Chabot · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sheyna wove her modern day mystery around Jewish communities in the Twin Cities, specifically covering the lives of Rabbis, Batya Zahav and David Cohen. Both are involved with different synagogues, but when Rabbi Batya's life is threatened with hate mail she reaches out to David first,
instead of her husband, Arik, a cop. As the person harassing Batya increases his scare tactics, others are soon drawn int0 the drama too. This story not only brings attention to faith hate-crimes, but it delves into personal relationships between the Rabbis and their spouses. If you're not familiar with Jewish customs and laws like me, Sheyna has conveniently interspersed details throughout her novel.

[Shirley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Liked it since I always am interested in learning more about the Jewish faith, and the plot was good as well