Yedidya Readers Discussion
Welcome to the discussion page! You’re invited to share your thoughts and questions about the book so far. You can also respond to other people’s comments. Use your real name or a pen name.
All comments are moderated. Please be patient until we have a chance to publish your comment. Any comment that is not relevant to Yedidya will not be published. Any negative comment about a real person or group will not be published.
However, feel free to say what you like about fictional characters đ
The authors will respond to questions where possible.
WARNING! If you haven’t read the latest chapter yet, be aware that comments may contain spoilers.
Ooh, I get to be the first to comment! I’m the assistant at Team Yedidya, and I’m so excited about this forum to discuss the ideas raised by the book. Thank you, Naomi, for setting it up!
This week’s installment feels like a culmination of everything Yedidya has been working on since he got kicked out of yeshivaâboth in internalizing the message of Ein Od Milvado and in confronting his own character failings. I think the two are related; the kind of humility you need to be able to acknowledge your faults can only come from really knowing Ein Od Milvado.
I just read chapter 16! I am really enjoying this book. It’s great to see Yedidya developing and becoming more self-aware.
Nice to have such a page. Rooting for Yedidya – and I feel Motty also has some things to learn, so rooting for him also.
I like it how Ein Od Milvado gives Yedidya access to his own inner calm and confidence when he understands that no one can really hurt him, because everything he encounters in life is good for him in the long run.
It could have been presented as some kind of “segulah” but instead it came across very real, and meaningful, and something universal that anyone can connect with.
I was really angry at Yanky for humiliating Yedida like that. He was not OK.
But then I thought that really Yedidya doesn’t belong with those guys, but if he is going to live round them for whatever reason, he is OBLIGATED FROM THE TORAH to show them a ton of respect. Because they’re vulnerable weak guys. They’ve always been getting rejected. They’re sensitive about that.
And really Yedidya has been very selfish.
And the weird thing is that I never noticed that about him until now. I always bought his reasons for acting like that.
SB, I’m thinking about Yedidyas snobbishness in different way. I have to remind myself of this with certain people in my life, including myself at times! I think most of the way Yedidya comes across is because of his innate make-up — and even more– because of his painful past and the strategies he developed to suppress the pain. Like being a super conscientious rule follower, a masmid, a nerd, if you will.
When we meet people who seem standoff ish, often they are chalishing for connection even though their style conveys a different message to us. As I reread your comment, I do hear that he does need to internalize respect for all the people he is with, and to learn some new skills for projecting that respect. Point taken.
Basya I think you are 100% spot-on; Yedidya’s way of treating the other Beit Tikva guys is exactly how he acted in Rabbi Bregger’s yeshiva and how he has been living his life until now. He has been protecting himself by being standoffish, by just trying to exist around other people so that no one could hurt him. He’s afraid of vulnerability so he only lives his life parallel to those around him. But Yedidya always had a good reasonable excuse for why he was doing what he did: the guys in his old yeshiva had backgrounds too different from him, the guys at Beit Tikva were too “messed up” for him, etc. Now that Yedidya is becoming more aware of who he is and Hashem’s real role in his life, he is slowly accepting himself and thereby becoming able to accept others.
Yedidya is one of the most real characters I have ever “met!”
I just want to say thank you-since reading the first 2-3 chapters of Yedidya, saying ‘kol mah de’avid, rachmana l’tav avid’ has become a new part of my life. A painful situation occurred and through tears, it came to mind, and I managed to choke that out, then repeat it slowly…and it felt healing. I felt meaning. It reminded me who is in control. As a writer, I am amazed at the power and quality of words and Yedidya to impact me in this way. Since then it comes to mind more frequently and said aloud more, reinforced as I continue to read (and very much enjoy) Yedidya.
That aside, I love the story line, depth, psychology, and humor. Motty is probably my favorite character in his intuitiveness, giving, and understanding of others, supporting them, while aware of his own weaknesses. I like how he uses his past/pain to help others.
Thank you, and kol hakavod!
I feel I am reading a movie. It seems too real. Thanks to the amazing Writer Naomi!!! I always seem to have tears in my eyes.
Meir Simcha is really the star of the show.
Meir Simcha is Yedidya’s angle and he is always making funny faces. For that is really the real world, a big joke.
We just have to see it that way and laugh! If we can’t put laughter into what we are going through than it really
is to hard to take sometimes.
The whole reason why Yedidaya is there in the first place is to befriend Meir Simcha and help him be able to be him and so Meir Simcha is also helping Yedidya by letting him be himself too. For they are saving each others lives. I think that is the point of
A house of Hope to know that there is a place to have hope in.
Thank you again for a great story, it could be a movie one day!
Am I the only one that can’t imagine what my life will be like once “Yedidya” is over??? So I think “Yedidya” just needs to continue on forever and we’ll just keep living his life with him. The halfway point made me so sad because I can’t comprehend that Yedidya (though technically fictional, he’s the realest fictional character I’ve ever read about and I see myself reflected in him in so many ways) will go continue his life without us. Therefore, while I don’t usually like books that are long and drawn out forever, I think “Yedidya” will just have to keep going on forever. It’s not even a question. It just has to. Yedidya lives beyond the page, he doesn’t end where the story does. Therefore, how could you keep us in the dark about what’s going on in his life once there aren’t any more chapters?!
I agree. I too was upset that we got to the half way mark. Lets hope Naomi meant half way of book one, and book two will follow đ
I was SHOCKED by Yanky’s outburst. I wasn’t sure whether Yedidya would collapse or hold up. Was he ready for such an intense test? I really like the way it played out, with the exploration of his feelings.
Also, can’t wait to see how his nevuot ketanot play out.
And whether he actually finishes the Rashi book and gets it published.
Not a response to a comment, but a new thought/question.
Yedidya and R Gedalia’s dialogue has set me thinking (the one about how to change a middah. ) Where is the interface between the conscious incremental work we do–think small kabbalos–and the huge work we do when hit by major nisyonos? They almost seem unrelated. From R Gedalia’s chuckling reaction to Yedidya’s suggestions it almost seems like “why try?” HaShem will send you what you really need in areas you might not have even wanted to grow! OTOH I don’t really want to give up my puny efforts, after all, they are MINE. I chose the goal, set the parameters, even chose the incentive/reward. OTOH, I can see that my relationship with HaShem was largely formed by trying to find shalva and simcha amid humbling losses that I NEVER would have chosen. And probably the biggest middos changes also came from there. Thoughts, everyone?
I think they can be related or unrelated. Sometimes the major nisyonos are “tests” that bring out where you are. All the little work that you put in comes to fruition at that point. In my life, I often remember the little victories as being much more difficult than my “bigger tests.” And sometimes they are Hashem’s way of jumpstarting you to grow.
The more work you do on the own, the less of the other type of pain you need. Your own effort is the l’chatchilah, not outside pain.
Good point, Basya. I personally have experienced the sudden jolt of tests in areas that I never even thought of working on, but a lot of times for me it was actually the tiny kabbalot I took in other areas that pulled me through. I think for me the fact that I made myself accustomed to slow, steady work in whatever areas I chose, I also had the stability to carry me through the turbulent times. For me, the shalva and simcha that I found were because of the little things that I did every day, because I could look back at what I accomplished through the tiny things, and I already knew that I had the wherewithall to pull through the big ones. Finally, whenever I go through hard times, the consistent things I do every day (like doing tehillim yomi or learning a sefer each day), are the lifelines that pulled me through. When everything is upside down and nothing is certain anymore, I can still fall back on the small spiritual things I undertake.
I don’t know if what I said makes sense, or if you agree, but this has been my experience.
Hi Basya – this is Naomi Elbinger.
I love your comment.
I wonder how Gedalia would answer your questions đÂ
It’s obvious that your daily efforts to improve your middos are incredibly precious.
On the other hand, note that Gedalia and Yedidya are talking specifically about humility – the most difficult of all middos to acquire.
I think it is possible to practice humility consciously but first a person has to taste what it is. It’s not a middah that can be understood theoretically. Â
The Ribono shel Olam has His ways of teaching us what humility feels like, though it’s up to us to internalize the experience in a positive way and do the work from there.
This is just my personal opinion. I don’t claim to be an authority on the subject.
Rabbi Travis’ Response:
Chazal have taught us how to deal with nisyonos in this area. They have instructed us that a person should be âragilâ accustom oneself, to say kol mah dâavid rachmana lâtav avid. Accustoming oneself means say it (and preferably mean it) as many times as possible that you can say it during the day. If you do this then slowly you will see a metamorphosis take place and you will start to stop getting so upset (you will probably still get a little bit upset) and begin to see Hashemâs hand in everything. The tests may start to get a little harder so that you will be challenged to grow but as long as you have this powerful tool in your hands you are armed to face any situation.
I don’t think Yedidya is one drop snobbish or selfish. He just really values being private. I can identify with that.
I hope there is going to be a bit more detailed background about his past life that has left him so vulnerable.
I found it hard to empathise with Yanky despite his situation. After all Yedidya is the favourite here!!
I must say I also can’t believe a time will come when Yedidya will be finished. That’s sad.
Thank you for a great great read with a life changing eternal message.
So happy this chat page opened. I’m loving reading Yedidya, totally feels real and I identified with him all the way along. Yet I felt there is an elitist attitude (real not just in the book) that I never liked in him, that he is too much of a serious yeshiva bochor to be friendly with those guys and I LOVED the fact that for the first time it was shown to him in this chapter. Being a perfect learner didn’t make him a perfect person, the fact it was pointed out that he doesn’t have the same challenges as they had was so on point, we learn to be better people, and I questioned how “great” a guy he was if he feels so above everyone. Can we keep our values and yet accept others, can we not learn from everyone? Now I wonder how much he will learn about himself from that important lesson and how much he will open up, and can all learn if we were challenged as he was, in what ways do we sometimes feel elitist?
A huge fan! Thanks for this great book, I’m enjoying the adventure.
Thank you both for this powerful armchair mussar. It slips down so easily and is so nourishing for the middos.
Perfect for Ellul also. I’ve been searching for a way to relate to Our Absolute King.
Naomi – What a wonderfully written novel. You’ve done an amazing job of building the characters and truly bringing them to life and the divrei chizuk and divrei emunah are so masterfully weaved into the story line. I can’t wait to see what happens next!
Wow. This week was really powerful. I’m in a bit of a vulnerable position myself and the story really resonates… And by the way, without prompting, my 5 your old has begun to say ‘everything is for the good’ whenever he gets dissapointed (wrong cereal/sandwich, no ‘xyz’ left for him, mummy said no, etc!). I haven’t talked to him about it – but it has affected me a lot so i guess it is getting passed along. You have a lot of zechusim for rosh hashana, Naomi! You are changing worlds!
wow! Chapter 20 really threw me. I’m buying a subscription for my sister.
I have read the published chapters of Yedidya to date (21 chapters) and enjoyed the book tremendously; the book is written in such a way that you can identify in a deep way with one or more of the characters in the book, or with one or more facets of Yedidyaâs personality. The writing is very powerful and real. I have one comment on the saying that everything that happens, is for the good. Rabbi Akiva said this AFTER the incidents mentioned in the Gemarra happened, and then he looked back and assessed them. When bad things happen in real time, we need to identify them as bad and we may even be obligated to make a bracha of dayan emet when hearing “unusually bad news” (Art Scroll translation.); so while things may be FOR the good ex post facto, we still have to try and deal with such questions as tzaddik ve-ra lo, and “If God is good, why is the world so bad” (title of excellent book by Rabbi Benjamin Blech). I do not know how the book on Yedidya will end, and I do not know if Yedidya will come to a full understanding of why so many “bad” things happened to him on a personal level.
Prof. Joshua Golding once wrote as follows: “one can of course speculate as to why certain things happen to oneself or to others, but it is a risky business. It is always correct to take events that happen to us as possible tochacha and a spur to teshuvah and in certain cases that may very well be what is happening, but it is very hard to tell, and in any case one should always be looking to do teshuvah and improve. Thus for example some people speculate about why Covid happened but I doubt very much that anyone really knows except God. Yet at the same time there are many lessons we can learn from the experience with Covid and many things we have learned to be much more thankful for because of Covid. In sum, I do think it is appropriate to ask ourselves why things happen to us and to think about why things are happening to us but one must do this with great humility and circumspection.”
Looking forward to Chapter 22!!!
Wow! Thank you for such a well thought-out comment!
I will pass your question on to Rabbi Travis.
Naomi Elbinger
Rabbi Travis responds:
Perhaps I misunderstood your comment but after revisiting the story of Rebbi Akiva Berachos 60b it seems that Rebbi Akiva made this statement all long throughout the incident. The only difference is that at the end of the story he says it in Hebrew and not Aramaic. The Maharal explains that Aramaic is the language of hester panim and therefore before the good is revealed we say it in that language. Once the good is revealed Rebbi Akiva could say that it was all good in Hebrew.
Personally this Elul was once of the worst months of my life, perhaps Hashem wants me to put my money where my mouth is. I said Kol mah dâavid many times. But when people asked me how I was doing I told them LOUSY! In our minds we need to know that there is no bad even if in our hears we are human and we are allowed not to feel this way.
Thank each one of you for your thoughtful comments. I had hoped this would spark some introspection and dialogue! I’m rereading and internalizing all that you all have said. I hope others got something from it as well.
Is there going to be a sequel or another book like Yedidya after this finishes? I honestly don’t know what my life will be like without Yedidya to look forward to every week. Anything in the works??
Hi Rena,
Your message is so meaningful to us.
We have poured our hearts and souls (and bank accounts) into this project with the hope of making an impact on readers.
There has been much talk of a sequel to Yedidya (maybe 2!) Yedidya’s story could certainly continue.
Right now our focus is on delivering an incredible ending IYH and thereafter on getting the finished book into print.
But we will stay in touch with subscribers and let you know what develops.
Naomi
What a scoundrel! I don’t blame Yedidya for his feelings toward Motty after this bombshell, and it’s like reverse psychology that his anger/resentment was transferred from Rabbi Bregger to Motty. That was a brilliant twist! Love it!
I actually don’t think Motty was such a scoundrel at all, he is also a young man with failings and is trying his best. I think it was immature of Yedidya, after everything that has happened, to switch his blame from Rabbi Bregger to Motty. There was a reason that Motty couldn’t be straight with him, and it was the same one that Rabbi Bregger couldn’t have him in Yeshiva – Yedidya was too self-centered and didn’t see that he could need help. Instead of this bombshell humbling him and making him realize that there is something wrong if people who are genuinely caring about him can’t be honest with him, he is just reverting back to what he originally did with Rabbi Bregger – playing the victim. He still needs Beis Tikvah I think!
okay, I take it back. Motty is NOT a scoundrel. I guess I should’ve waited to form my opinion! Thanks for the lesson to have patience and not to jump to conclusions (and lots more lessons!).
Dear Goldie,
That made me laugh!
On behalf of Motty, I forgive you!
NE
wow wow wow! thank you naomi for this beautiful book! the progress that yedidya made in these 6 months is unbelievable! it seems so real! its true that its good not to let the a fear of failure and rejection get in the way of something you need and want! but gedalia had said that to Yedidya that he shouldn’t give up looking for a yeshiva because of fear, because that’s what he need. but i think that in this situation; to go back to the yeshiva where you had bad experience and where it didnt work out for you, its not only because of the fear but because if you want to ‘shtaig’ more you should start in a new envoironnement where they dont know you because i think that otherwise it will only put you down and not giving you a chance to grow! (sure when there are more great options…)?
I think it is very brave of Yedidya to want to go back to Rabbi Bregger’s yeshiva. He knows that Rabbi Bregger could help him get into any yeshiva he wants, and he could have a clean start, but he also knows that he wanted to go to Rabbi Bregger’s yeshiva in the first place for a reason, because he felt that he could learn his best there. I think it’s really brave of him to be willing to go back to a place where yeah, he might face some difficulty, because of the rumors about him, but he is willing to withstand that in order to be able to learn Torah to his greatest ability.
And besides for the rumors about him, there was a real reason why he was going to be asked to leave the yeshiva anyway (I for one totally never saw that coming! I mean, yeah, he was snobby but I never thought that he was going to be kicked out for that, before the drug thing even came up). And now, he wants to go back to the same situation he was in before and prove that he has changed. I think that takes a lot of courage on his part (especially when he could just start over somewhere else, and no one would know the truth about him. But he realizes that he doesn’t want to have to hide parts of himself anymore, he wants to be accepted by his own merits). Isn’t there a concept in Torah that you can’t know if you’ve overcome a nisayon until you’ve been in that same situation again and you react differently? So by choosing to return to his old yeshiva, Yedidya is choosing to prove to himself and everyone else that he really has come a long way.
I am wondering how Motty, who was trained as a Social Worker, could act so backhandedly. I don’t get how the excuse of, ‘I was meaning too, I should have, kept forgetting’, is any excuse. How could Motty think of giving Yedidya money from Rabbi Bregger without telling him? How could he have been expecting honesty from Yedidya while being two- faced himself? And most of all, how could he speak about Yedidya to Rabbi Bregger? I can’t understand how all that Motty did seemed remotely okay. And he was one of the first people that Yedidya trusted!
This part was so sad!
Thanks for a great read!
This yeshiva discussion is fascinating. So many strong, though-out perspectives expressed here. My two cents, having been around the block a few times and experienced people’s preconceived notions: 1) there are a lot of terrific yeshivas in Yerushalayim 2) Yedidya is not the same person he was when he chose R Bregger’s yeshiva. He chose partially for less-than-complete reasons. It doesn’t feel real for him to go back there without a lot more exploring of who he is now as a learner, how he feels about the system, and how strong he is to live with a set of people in yeshiva who aren’t developed enough to remake their impressions of him. It’s too risky. R Bregger cannot fix everyone in the yeshiva, with all the willingness in the world. Going somewhere else and making a fresh start is enough of a challenge for Yedidya, who still will be growing in his ability to connect to people and read the social stuff. He has gained a lot from the interesting characters at Motty’s place, but he hasn’t gotten any experience forming normal connections with a bunch of regular yeshiva guys. Don’t do it, Yedidya. There are a lot of fantastic yeshivas in Yerushalayim where you won’t have to compromise one iota, on your high learning standards. Thoughts?
1- Really enjoyed. Characters seem to real. Gonna miss them all, especially Gedalya!
2-So glad Yedidya going back to mainstream Yeshiva. Hope it works for him now. (This from a kollel wife/mom)
3-I like Motty no matter what – hardworking devoted person. I don’t think he was “sneaky”.
4-Still very upset with Rabbi Breger. No way for a Rosh Yeshiva to behave–chosheid bich-shairim loshon harah, etc.
…here us little folk try to improve our middos and this major, chashuva Rosh of a important yeshiva ignores all this. Even if he pays Yedidya’s bills and sets him up with Motty. Too little, too late. Very annoyed. He should be above reproach.
Thanks for interesting read. and yes…everything always turns out for the best even if we don’t see it right away (or ever).
While I don’t feel lots of love for Rabbi Bregger, I do respect him now.
Is a great person someone who never makes a mistake or falls or hurts person?
Or is it someone who admits their mistake and tries to fix it and does teshuva?
I think in our Torah we respect the second kind of person.
I wish we can all learn from Rabbi Bregger! he takes Yedidya back even though that’s the hardest thing for him.
BTW I noticed that his first name is Yhuda (biblical hint to his character?)
First, thank you, this awesome book has certainly made an impact in my life and my husband’s. We’re saying “Kol Ma D’Avid” much more frequently (possibly also bc of that new pop song ××× ××× × by Kobi Brummer).
Second, if Motty had revealed from the start that R’Bregger was paying for Yedidya, there’s no way Y. would have agreed to stay. His pride would have gotten in the way, obviously. The main tikkun he’s working on in the story.
Third, it would be great to hear that Beit Tikva got the permits and funds they so desperately need. And that Motty got ADD meds, extra administrative help or whatever he needs. They’re doing great work and we want to see them succeed too, even if they are the secondary characters.
Lastly, we’re still in denial that this whole journey is about to end with the last chapter. đ
I want to share a powerful insight I had this week – separation of pain from the evaluation of ones life situation. A person can be in the greatest pain possible but it does not mean that the situation is not completely good. Understand that we only see things short term, and in the long term picture this is completely good. Hashem wants us to love Him even when things are really difficult and this is how we show this. Leave the pain in its place and motivate your life with the recognition that Hashem is bringing good into your life. In truth, even the pain is not bad. It can improve your tefilos, humble you and do many other useful things. Just dont let the pain wrongly convince you that Hashem doesnt love you.
So glad I got around to getting to the comments page, if only for this alone.
Thank you, Rabbi Travis and Naomi, for this outstanding book and I look forward to buying the print edition too. May ou both see much personal and professional nachas!
I have been enjoying the story tremendously. I was a little behind and just read the last three chapters in one sitting. Wow. So moving, so real, so inspiring.
I agree with Basya that Yedidya doesnât seem quite strong enough emotionally for what he may run into at Rabbi Breggers Yeshiva.
I do not agree that Motty is a scoundrel. Really, what could he have done differently? Yedidya needed help so badly, Motty loved Yedidya and wanted so much to help him, and he did. How could he have done anything differently without Yedidya running away? The friendship was not fake. The connection and respect that Yedidya felt was real.
The only thing that could have have been done differently, to avoid breaking and hurting him, was that Yedidya didnât ever need to know that he had been a Beit Tikva resident, paid for by Rabbi Bregger. He could have known how much Rabbi Bregger cared about him by hearing how he was always calling to ask about him.
Of course, in retrospect, itâs all for the best that it came out, because Yedidya ended up growing more from this knowledge, painful as it was at the time.
Iâve been thinking recently, can you imagine how sad and awful Yedidyaâs future marriage would have been, if he had not spent this time growing emotionally in Beit Tikva?
I don’t think he is quite ready for Rabbi Breggers yeshiva yet either. I still think he could do with another few months at Beis Tikva, this time knowing that he is there to learn and join in, and that someone is paying for him, and he needs to appreciate that.
Naomi, please please please write a follow on! This is really keeping me going and the UK is just entering another lockdown… Also, when the book comes out, think I will buy a few copies, so that I can give them out as gifts…
Thank you Rabbi Travis for the teachings about pain. That was very helpful. It dovetailed nicely with your recent set on Torah Anytime: Hidden Treasures in the North. So, a double thank you.
I’ll miss this “book club”. I never got why people were into their book clubs. But with with a thought provoking novel and a thoughtful and spiritual bunch of readers/sharers, this has been a very special journey. The format has a lot of potential. I know you can’t pull such heartfelt writing out of a hat, Naomi, but I would love to do this again, when you’re ready. Does the subscription format bring in enough to make it work?
Shkoach to all who have shared of yourselves.
Chazak Chazak veNit’chazek!!
I’m sure that everyone who reads this book – whether in a single sitting or (especially) as we’ve done here, bit by bit and with much anticipation – will gain not only immediate pleasure but also much long-lasting chizuk from the experience.
Thank you and continued good health to all the Oskim baMelacha.
Such a wonderful story! Thank you Rabbi Travis and Naomi. I learned so much from this book and repeating kol mah d’avid often. It’s making a big difference in my life.
Regarding Rabbi Bregger, yes he definitely made a very wrong judgement call, but if that had not happened, Yedidya would not have gone to Beit Tikvah, Motti would have been struggling on his own without Yedidah’s help, they would not have become friends. Yedidya probably would not have meet Gedalia. Yedidya might have gone through his whole life with all of his insecurities and self-protective tactics that separated him from others….Wow. All those wonderful happenings from something so “bad”. I cried thru practically the whole book. I love it! I love what I have learned. It gives me hope that Hashem will help me overcome all of my issues and bad middot and that He never gives up on us, no matter how many years we have walked on this earth, and that he provides love and guidance and direction to all of us, whether we are yeshiva bochers or ‘not young’ eshet chayil. đ
Can we make a siyum? Lechaim!
Of course.
No sugar in my tea, please!
lechaim!
To our dear Yedidya readers,
Thank you for all your amazing comments and good wishes.
I always feel tempted to respond to each one, but I hold myself back, because I feel that might put a damper the discussion. After all, no one is going to “argue” with the author.
I’m quite happy to watch from the sidelines and let readers share their own thoughts.
Everyone is welcome to their own reaction to this story and its characters.
Naomi Elbinger
Thank you, thank you! for a story that will stay with me for a long time. Powerful messages encased in great storytelling. And the last sentence is both clever and sweet. Hatzlocha Raba on your next endeavors
Wow!!
I read the first few chapters when they came out, and then decided that waiting weekly for each chapter was too hard, so I just waited til the whole thing came out and then printed it. And I have to say, after those first few chapters I thought it was a pretty good concept, but it would be hard to write a whole book and bring the lessons to life in a way that still felt like part of a narrative and not like a mussar sefer. So I was skeptical.
Suffice it to say I have stayed up late the past three nights totally engrossed in Yedidya’s world, watching him get hit with challenge after challenge and finally realize the true extent of his own problems. The plot was lively, the characters were relatable, and the story itself was well-plotted, with an excellent twist at the end. And most importantly, the messages of the book came through. The lessons of emunah and humility were illustrated more vividly than in any sefer I’ve ever learned. Now to apply themâŚ
So a huge yasher koach to Rabbi Travis and Mrs. Elbinger for pulling off the impossible. You’ve set a new precedent in Jewish fiction, and I hope you’ve paved the way for others to follow.
It’s true, I do feel like the authors have just opened up a whole new ‘genre’ of Jewish novel writing. I hope more such brilliant novels come out.
I loved the format – I printed it every week to read during my Shabbes morning coffee. Now I’ll have to find something else to do, like maybe talk to the kids. And I loved the last line; what a cracker. And then I find out you’re Shosh’s younger sister; I didn’t even know you existed!
I’m glad you enjoyed the book and format BH.
Yes. Shoshana is my biggest sister.
I can tell just by your style of humor that you’re a fellow Australian đ