Leizar

by David Gelernter

Leizar is a gripping story through five generations, of one man’s journey against incredible adversity

“It’s 1843 in a little shtetl village in Russian occupied Poland. The baby is delivered amidst blood and pain into squalor. Mother dies in childbirth…….”

Through 100 years and five generations of the Domansky family, the story takes in a huge sweep of human history. From the pogrom-plagued shtetls of Eastern Europe in the 1800s to post-WW2 suburban London.

A champion of early democracy, Leizar is a writer who faces pogroms, prison, antisemitism, and the travails of two world wars. He survives the injustice reined on downtrodden people from the Cossacks. With death and destruction all around, desecration of his wedding in Poland, kangaroo trials and brutal punishment. The family live in four countries, eventually sheltering from bombs blowing out the windows in North-West London in WW2.

And yet there are tender human moments of true love he shares with his wife Chaya. Together they build a dynastic family.

Genres: Historical Fiction

430 pages, Paperback

First published November 15, 2021

Reviews

[Caroline Palmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

The amazing and heart rending story of a Jewish family through the generations from the 1800s to the end of WWII

[Eunice Chin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Walking a mile in someone else's shoes can give perspective of their life. Author David Gelertner certainly helps the compassionate reader gain that perspective of the Jewish plight through the eyes and life of Leizar and the Domansky family who suffered so much at the hands of the Cossacks and others through the ages.

Although this is historical fiction it all seems very plausible and reads like a biography. Because of this I found some of the story hard to read but realized it must have been so much more heartbreaking and devastating for those in real life who had to live through and suffer it all. I think it crucial for serious empathetic people to read this work. I admit there were points in which some detail was too draggy for me so I did skip over some portions but otherwise pressed on to the end of the story.

~Eunice C., Reviewer/Blogger~

October 2023

Disclaimer: This is my honest opinion based on the complimentary review copy sent by NetGalley and the publisher.

[jeannette Dooley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jean38no

A most interesting story of a Jewish family. From a small village in Poland it tells the journey of a man that moved away from traditions of his small village that consisted of mostly his family. They were under the Russian yoke, though they didn’t have much barely surviving themselves but they had to pay taxes to Russia . He felt that it was not right for the poorest people to pay for others to be rich . Because of what he saw happening to the poor people how they were abused by the rich. He began writing about it. He had a brother murdered by Russian Cossacks. He was recruited by a leftist group to write for them. So he left his hamlet and moved to the city. It seemed that no matter where he lived the same things happened to poor people . This influenced him to feel that communism was a good thing. It seemed wherever he lived the poor were exploited. He did marry , had children and grandchildren . He lived in several countries .He saved his family from two world wars. He continued to write his articles whenever he heard of injustices in his country where ever he lived.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Leizar" by David Gelernter reminds me of one of my favourite authors Bryce Courtney. He writes epic sagas across generations of families.
This book starts in Poland in 1843 in a shtetl called in Kawetchka where Leizar’s father Zelman Domansky is born. We follow 5 generations of the Domansky family from 1843 to 1947, focussing on Leizar, who leaves his small village (and the horrible memories that live there) moving to Warsaw, Glasgow, Berlin and finally London.
I became more and more invested in the book as it continued....I guess because I knew the family, I was more personally attached to them and felt their hurt and championed their successes.
Knowing the history of Polish Jews, I knew the ultimate outcome for their race through
the world wars. But amid the chaos and devastation, Leizar's heart beats with love and hope......sometimes with his passionately tempered outbursts. Alongside the love of his life, Chaya, Leizar crafts moments of tenderness and connection, building a family legacy that withstands the test of time, witnessing shifts in history and humanity....the best of and the worst of.
Thanks to NetGalley, David Gelernter and Book Whisperer for my copy.

[Kathleen Riggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding Book and a Piece of Fascinating History.

This book Lezar by David Gelernter is a truly fascinating read which is based on both history and fiction. It is set in 1843 in a little shtetl village in Russian which at the time was occupied by Poland. The story is first set when a mother dies in childbirth and the baby Leizar is delivered into squalor amidst blood and pain. The book Spans five generations and is made from the stories of good, honest, everyday people whose memories are passed down through generations. It reads from the pogrom-plagued shtetls of Eastern Europe in the 1800s to post-WW2 suburban London.
This book is a lesson in triumph over adversity as you follow Leizar after being put into an orphanage and his journey as he grows up to find his birth family. Although this book is classed as fiction is a great reminder of the historical persecution of the Jews. I loved the attention to detail of the delicious foods and ceremonies. It is a very engaging read and a remarkable story which is a real page turner, and I found the book impossible to put down as it records memorable events in history in graphic detail. Thanks to NetGalley and to the publishers of this book for giving me a free advance copy of the book to preview and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Victoria Baldin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leizar by David Gelernter

I enjoyed reading this book very much, at times this story felt so similar to the movie Fiddler on the Roof, one of my favourite movies.

The book starts in Poland in 1843 in a small village or shtetl called in Kawetchka where Leizar’s father Zelman Domansky is born. The book goes on to tell us about the Domansky family from 1843 to 1947 from their lives in the small village to Warsaw, Glasgow, Berlin, London and Wales.

This is truly an unforgettable story of all four generations of the Domansky family. I know they are not a real family but after reading this book I feel like I have been welcomed in to their fold and I have been a part of them. I was sorry when the book ended and I could not find out what other adventures they had in store

I would like to thank Net Galley and Book Whisperer for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Matthew Rosen-Marsh · Rating 2 out of 5]

I chose this book on the basis of the reviews and an interest in Jewish history. It reads like you are reading the Bible, one dimensional characters, lots of loose ends, simple plot development - historical fiction as colour by numbers. The kind of book you read and then wonder how much you could better use your time on something else. The author dating Kristallnacht as happening after the beginning of the WW2 was a particular irritation. Characters come and go with little depth - what is going on with Lena (Leizar's oldest daughter) is one example. I would have given it a one star but it was saved by some interesting historical descriptions - the arbitrary nature of Russian rule for instance. If you want a much better written book on a similar theme I suggest 'The Wealthy' by Hamutal Bar-Yosef.

[Gary · Rating 3 out of 5]

The was an interesting read. A long story of over 100 years following one family and their turmoil being Jewish in several periods of continuous struggles and exploitation. If was a good view of the political wind changes in several different countries.
I never understood the where it was going and never felt it ended. It just stopped. Historical relevance but from 20,000 feet. It passed through the growth of socialism, Nazi Germany, and the Soviets under Stalin.
Other than following one family and their numerous heartaches, I didn't get the point. A long read but I finished thinking- well OK...

[Ellie · Rating 5 out of 5]

LEIZAR by David Gelernter begins as a tome of Jewish life in a shtetl in Russia, and ends with the end of World War II. First of all, I loved the Yiddish in this book, it brought me back to my childhood. Secondly, I loved the attention to detail of the delicious foods and ceremonies. It does ring of Fiddler, but that was life in a shtetl. Following this family’s story from Russia to England, is incredible! Heartfelt and beautifully written, this is a MUST READ, especially in today’s times! It can happen again! As LEIZAR says, NEVER EVER GIVE UP!

[Melissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received an ARC to review.

I really wanted to like this book, but unfortunately, I didn't. It was historical fiction set in Eastern Europe beginning in the late 1800s, through WWII. There were a lot of publishing errors, even for an ARC. I can't recommend it as is. It needs more editing, both for length and publishing errors.

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a powerful read about life for those who lived and died through the time Russia controlled Poland. He was born as his mother died and this book follows him as he grows up. An emotional roller coaster of a book but well worth it

[Julie R · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review

The story was good, but not one of my favorites. Needed better editing. The same name was spelled 3 different ways and the date marked 2014 instead of 1914.

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a tremendous, impossible to put down odyssey of the Domansky family, a poor Polish family living in the shtetl of Kawetchka. With engaging detail, Gelernter first introduces the reader to Zelman, Leizer’s father born in the mid 1800’s. As was typical in Poland at that time, Domansky family was very large and the story not only includes multiple generations but also extended family members.

The story includes so many details about many of its characters, their voices are very clear and memorable. Often stubborn but extremely hard working, the Domanskys are faithful to their Jewish religion and become leaders in their faith communities. Again, all the details of living as devout Jews are fascinating.

The historical accuracy of the story’s timeline and settings makes the book read as nonfiction. As Leizar moves from his tiny shtetl to Warsaw, then Berlin and finally the UK, the continual horrific threats to Jewish survival are profound.
Galernter’s writing is as smooth as silk. Over 400 pages effortlessly melt into the reader’s heart and mind. I read almost one book of WWII historical fiction per week, mounting to hundreds of stories. This book grabbed me as one of the best! Congratulations to David Gelernter!

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leisar; a struggle across generations by David gelernter, this book has way too many happenings in it to give a full summary so I will just say this is about leizar, who from the time of his birth and his mother Esther‘s death being Jewish would effect his life in the worst and the absolute best ways possible. Threw it all despite where they live changing the one thing that didn’t change was a staunch belief in his God and his love for his family and sadness of all the hatred of others. From Poland to England the only thing that changed was their language and the name of the country. if success is the best revenge I do believe he definitely got his not saying he wanted it nor that it was a subject of the book because where others wanted violence he believed in having faith and whether he was the child the new husband the father friend or something else he maintained his dignity the book starts in Poland in 1840 at the time of his birth right after his parents were beaten by Russian officers to England during World War II the thing I loved the best about this book is it didn’t matter how little his family had they always had enough to share they always celebrated God did their rituals and always put faith and family first. More than once I almost cried while reading this book and I’m not a person who cries but the way humans can treat each other is a devastating thing and the way the author writes it it almost is as if you’re there but can definitely imagine what they went through. this is a great book and one I definitely recommend if you love real fictionalized history just know he was a real man and the events were real things that happened to him and his family and if that sounds good to you then you will absolutely love this book.#NetGalley, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview, #DavidGelernter,#Leizar,