THE BOOK FAIR

Rahama King Feuerman 

 IN THE COURTYARD

 OF THE KABBALIST

The novel, set in Israel, presents a beautiful mix of love, acceptance, romance and politics.  An American Jewish man looking for self-fulfillment moves to Jerusalem and becomes involved in learning Torah with a Rebbe and his wife.   Unexpected, kindly gestures to a crippled Arab and lonely Jewish woman change his life.

The author realistically describes the politics in Israel, the religious Jews disallowed to pray at the Temple Mount, the Jewish government squeezed between Jewish factions, the religious and the secular, and the enmity of the Arabs demonstrated by riots with any mention of Jewish claim to the Temple Mount, as Arabs scavenge the precious antiquities and artifacts of the Temple.

The beautifully depicted characters breathe life into the plot, characters who dream, hope and dare for acceptance.  The colorful figures easily advance the plot and the story holds mystery throughout.  Feuerman stays clear of stereotypes, yet describes sensitive scenes of delicate interactions between characters of the different faiths, the same faiths, and, as well, of those of diverse socio-economic realms.  The author also offers knowledgeable tidbits of Torah, Talmudic and Islamic teachings.