Transitions

by Yael Dayan, Maya Klein (Translator)

Yael Dayan, novelist daughter of the legendary Moshe Dayan and? a public figure with a long and illustrious political career behind her, looks back at her life, scrutinizing it without illusions. Once a desirable, free-spirited young woman and a successful author, she lived with the sense that she held the world in the palm of her hand. And the world adulated both her and the young state she came from. She was an officer in the Israel Defense Force, the daughter of a renowned general, a successful writer—Death Had Two Sons, A Soldier’s Sinai 1967—much in demand on the lecture tour, and a star of the gossip columns. Now in her 70s, she admits with touching honesty to missing both the vibrant 20-something she was, and the sober woman she became—a fierce political activist and parliamentarian for the left, a fighter for justice, women’s rights and peace. Having resigned her last public position, she must reconcile herself to being a mentor, a participant instead of a leader, yet remaining center-stage on the Peace Camp scene. The narrator’s warm, intimate voice and her rich intellect, as well as her insights, make for a powerful reading experience.

160 pages, Paperback

Published November 1, 2016

About the author

is an Israeli politician and author. She served as a member of the Knesset between 1992 and 2003, and from 2008 to 2013 was the chair of Tel Aviv city council.Her service on the city council ended with the 2013 election.She is the daughter of Moshe Dayan and sister of Assi Dayan.

Reviews

[Diana K S Holdsworth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dayan is intelligent, a good writer, and the memoir is literary to be sure. That said, I was disappointed. Her self-pity shines through, especially in the early pages where she details the misery of having to adjust to being an old person (75) in an older person's body instead of the self-proclaimed beauty of a vivacious young woman attractive to men.

True, today Dayan has, among other things, a serious lung disease which requires an oxygen tank, but given the enormous privileges of her younger years -- the princess of Israel, the daughter of the famous one-eyed General -- I hoped she would write about her difficulties with more courage and restraint. She could set an example for the many people of her generation who have far more sufferings to face.

Dayan lists a lot of her accomplishments in the public sphere, which are impressive. She is, to my way of thinking, on the right side of history -- justice for all, a two-state solution.

But throughout there is a lot of name- and place-dropping, from someone who by family connections had the privilege of meeting the great and the good, and the means to travel the world. There are too few descriptive scenes, but these are well done and very moving, especially toward the end. (No spoilers.) Otherwise, the memoir reads like a tragic recitation. I was hoping for much more from someone I have followed for years.