THE BOOK FAIR

Review:

In the year of 1911 CE, the Ottoman Empire stretches vast, over parts of the Middle East, and parts of Europe.  The Jews in Israel suffer under Ottoman rule.  Turkish soldiers roam the streets, punish offenders of Ottoman law and kidnap Jewish children to serve their army.  The Ottomans, embattled for control in their conquered lands, divert food sources to their armies.  Food in Jerusalem becomes scarce.

Eleven year old, Esther Kaminsky resides in Me’ah She’arim, an ultra religious neighborhood of Jerusalem.  In Esther’s Haredi (religious) community, life is transcribed for both men and women.  Esther, a talented and budding artist, struggles between her love of art, and the teachings of her Jewish sect. 

Esther strives to please her parents, and for acceptance by her community, although she questions the rigid limitations forced upon her.  Taught both French, and art by her beaituful teacher, Esther dreams of freedom from the shackles she is quick to defend, unable to relinquish the only life she knows.

In the effort to escape the inevitable, Esther succeeds in controlling certain small events in her life, but not for long.  As all Haredi girls, Esther is soon promised in betrothal, but not to a man not of her choice.  Though Esther leads the life transcribed for her, her heart dreams of another.  Albeit, unexpectedly, when a door of opportunity opens, Esther seizes upon her chance to grasp the life of which she has dreamt for so long.

 

The novel explores the reaches that one will pursue to attain personal desire when opposed to teachings of one’s family and community.  “Jerusalem Maiden” refers to the responsibility of Haredi women to uphold the religious traditions and thus hasten the coming of the messiah.