Zach Levy is the son of two Holocaust survivors. Although not raised in a religious household, Zach’s family was culturally Jewish and his parents insisted on fighting for Jewish survival. Zach promised his mother he would marry a Jewish woman and raise his children to be Jewish. As he studied for his bar mitzvah, he was became obsessed with his Jewish identity and refused to participate in the Christmas festivities in his public school.
By the time Zach has become an attorney for ACLU, his parents have both passed. He fulfills his mother’s promise, marries a Jewish woman, and has a daughter. All was seemly going fine until his wife suddenly springs it on him that she has found someone else and is moving to Australia, taking their daughter with her.
In his legal practice, Zach becomes involved in controversial social issues. As such, he becomes involved in a community program to discuss Jewish-Black relationships. It is there that he meets Cleo Scott, a Black radio host and social activist. She grew up in a religious Baptist household. From the start, Zach has informed Cleo of his promise to his mother. Still, as their relationship develops, they fall in love and move in together.
His love for Cleo forces Zach to consider his identity as a Jew. Who is a Jew? How can he keep his promise to his mother and yet continue his relationship with Cleo?
The title of the book might suggest that this novel is a rom-com. It is not. It is a thoughtful discussion about identity with dialogue about Jews and Jewish tradition and theology without being heavy-handed.
I loved this book.
Read: September 9, 2023
5 Stars
No comments:
Post a Comment