The Book of Lights

This is truly an excellent read that I had the pleasure of experiencing.

I obtained the hardback copy from Stretford Library, which added a certain charm to the whole reading process.

The moment I picked up the book, I was immediately drawn into its captivating world.

The story unfolded in a way that kept me on the edge of my seat, eagerly turning the pages to discover what would happen next.

The characters were well-developed and relatable, making it easy for me to become emotionally invested in their lives.

The writing style was engaging and流畅, allowing me to effortlessly immerse myself in the narrative.

Overall, it was a wonderful reading experience that I would highly recommend to others.

I'm already looking forward to reading more from this author.

Sometimes when you find yourself lacking something to read, you can look back through all the books you truly love and pick up the other works written by the same authors. I did just that with Chiam Potok’s books and was pleasantly surprised by The Book of Lights.

The story weaves together the lives of two men and how greatness impacts both of them. One student, who is handsome, wealthy, intelligent, confident, and a lightweight Jew, has greatness as an external source. He is surrounded by it and carries the DNA and future hope of those truly great individuals around him. The other, an orphaned, poor, introverted Orthodox Jew from an Eastern European slum mentality, encounters greatness and must decide how to respond to it.

Through a series of events where fate clearly intervenes, the two men end up at an Orthodox Rabbinical school and become roommates. Their relationship is strange as they are very different, one might even say wildly different. Interestingly, they both date the same girl, one before entering the seminary and the other during his studies there.

A new teacher arrives at the seminary. He is a legend but a rebel in the eyes of his more traditional colleagues. This man teaches Kabbalah, the forbidden book of Jewish mysticism, as an academic subject to be studied, which he calls the history of the Jewish soul. Gershon, the introverted student, begins to find in Kabbalah a scholarship that speaks to his soul, while Charles, the favored student, starts to struggle a bit.

The Korean War disrupts the seminarians' lives. The military has appealed to the Jewish community for Rabbis to enter military service as the Jewish people are not sending their fair share of chaplains compared to other religions. The seminary effectively drafts the graduating class, of which these two men are students. They must sign up for military duty or not graduate.

The section on the Korean War provides a detailed account of life as a chaplain in a country where there is a declared official peace but the military has not actually left. The war has a significant impact on the men's lives and is a crucial point in the underlying story of greatness.

The polemic I want to add at the end of this review is about Kabbalah. It seems to have become a popular fad, which must be distressing and, well, crass to the Orthodox Jewish community to whom this knowledge belongs. In the past, a student had to be extremely proficient in traditional Jewish studies before being allowed to study Kabbalah, as they would then be ready to explore the intimate soul of their ancestry. Seeing Madonna and others wearing a bit of red string on their left wrist (they could just as easily get some from an ancient book of Celtic magic to protect themselves from evil spells) is, I must admit, disrespectful in my opinion. After reading Rabbi Potok’s book and gaining some understanding of how Orthodox Jews view their history and the place of this work in it, my sense of its irreverence has been greatly heightened.

I will refrain from revealing spoilers in this review and let the reader discover the outcome that both men reach after the brush of greatness has passed close enough to be grasped. It is truly worth the read.

This novel is firmly rooted in Chaim Potok's own experiences. He was first a rabbinical student and later served as a chaplain with the U.S. Army in Korea shortly after the Armistice Agreement was signed.

It vividly describes his arduous struggles to come to terms with and understand mystical Judaism. This is especially challenging in the context of a culture that has virtually no knowledge of Judaism, while his awareness of religious faith and practices is steadily growing.

Parallel to this, his close friend, who is also a rabbi and chaplain, grapples with reconciling his faith with the disturbing fact that his father was involved in the development of the atomic bomb and the subsequent bombing of Hiroshima.

After intense years of experiencing and reflecting on the profound meaning of religion, Potok, through his alter ego Gershon Loran, reaches a profound conclusion. He states that "What is of importance is not that there may be nothing. We have always acknowledged that as a possibility. What is important is that if indeed there is nothing, then we should be prepared to make something out of the only thing we have left to us – ourselves." This conclusion encapsulates the essence of his spiritual journey and the lessons he has learned along the way.

Potok never fails to astonish me.

Every time I complete one of his books, I am always left dumbfounded, with a silly smile on my face.

This particular work is definitely one of his more perceptive and thought-provoking ones.

There were instances where his language leaned towards more extensive, perhaps overly idealized declarations.

However, I don't mind because I have a deep affection for him, and in my eyes, he can do no wrong.

My favorite quotation is as follows:

[Truth said]: "Why do you shield your eyes behind your hands? Is my darkness too intense, too bright?...There is some value in darkness. There are moments when light is a menacing distraction...

"I am leaving now. It is almost dawn; your illusions will soon resurface."

Potok's words have the power to make us think deeply and question our assumptions.

His writing style is engaging and captivating, drawing the reader in and making them reluctant to put the book down.

This quote in particular speaks to the idea that sometimes, we need to embrace the darkness in order to see the truth more clearly.

It also reminds us that our illusions can be a source of comfort, but they can also prevent us from seeing the world as it truly is.

Overall, Potok's work is a must-read for anyone who loves literature that challenges and inspires.

Rating: 3.5 stars. To briefly describe this book, it's similar to The Chosen in terms of friendships, family, and the search for answers, yet it's far more tragic and ambiguous. The plot has its meandering moments. There are numerous pages dedicated to Gershon traveling to random locations or reciting prayers, with not enough dialogue or distinct events. However, that ending truly packs a punch. I found myself in tears.

"Gershon Loran sat in the light and shade amid the yellow jasmine and purple bougainvillaea and the red and white roses of Jakob Keter's Jerusalem gardens, waiting."

**Spoiler review** My heart is aching. Arthur. I'll admit that I didn't fully grasp the moral of this book. I believe it centered around guilt and responsibility regarding the Jews' role in the bombing of Hiroshima, and whether the sins of our parents or forefathers (the "giants") will drown us or give rise to a new generation that will mend, create, and destroy something of its own. Every era experiences this same guilt, and it's an inescapable fact of life. By the end of the book, Gershon reaches the conclusion that he need not suppress his potential out of guilt. He'll simply have to "wait" and observe how his achievements impact the world, much like how Arthur's parents' brilliant inventions led to destruction. I truly appreciate how the book ends on such an open-ended note of Gershon "waiting" as it not only captures the tone of the entire story but also emphasizes the reality that this is how life operates: some questions remain unanswered, so we must wait and trust that answers will emerge in the future.

Of course, I cried profusely over Arthur. I was relieved that he sent a letter to his parents, indicating that he had found peace with them and within himself. He achieved this peace not by going to the place where he wallowed in guilt (Hiroshima) but by traveling elsewhere (thanks to Gershon's coercion) and realizing that there is still beauty in the world. It's极其sad that Arthur dies just after finding that peace and joins his brother in death (something he dreaded at the beginning), but at least there's a sense of catharsis? *sobs uncontrollably*

Bottom line, this is a cerebral book whose morals can be somewhat obscure at times. However, the ambiguity is precisely what compelled me to dig deep and piece together this book like a puzzle. It may not be the easiest read initially, but I believe the author intended for the reader to search for answers in the same way that Gershon and Arthur did, and for that, I can have respect.

**Residual thoughts/criticisms** - The middle section dragged on a great deal. It was excellent at the start and end, but there were many dull details about the war. It reminded me very much of Steinbeck's For Whom the Bells Toll, which I wasn't overly fond of. - The prose had a stream-of-consciousness feel. Characters would ask a question and then answer it themselves. There were numerous long paragraphs, even when it came to dialogue. - The visions were extremely confusing, but perhaps I'll understand them upon a re-read?

This is my favourite Potok book so far.

I liked it much better than The Chosen, My Name Is Asher Lev, The Promise, more than Wanderings, and even than Davita's Harp.

As I delved into the story, I became completely immersed. I truly cared about the major characters, including the Kabbalah. I also found myself wondering about others. The accessible mysticism in the book was truly remarkable. It even made sections of The Zohar understandable! Additionally, the history, fascinating debates, and ambiguity added depth to the story.

I constantly found quotes that I wanted to remember. However, I soon realized that I'd have to underline lines on almost every page. There were a few loose ends, hints of further aspects to these family histories. But these loose ends didn't detract from the novel at all. In real life, the stories we tell each other or even ourselves don't include every single detail. If they did, we'd never be able to conclude the conversation.

I'm extremely glad that I read this book, and I will most likely read it again in the future.

A coming-of-age story unfolds about a disenchanted rabbinical student.

He finds himself unable to discover adequate emotional expression for his tragic life history within the traditional formulations of his faith.

However, his scholarly knack for Kabbalah gradually begins to inculcate in him a more transgressive and honest spirituality.

As the symbols of Kabbalah elucidate his experiences of darkness and death, they also invite him into a faith that is both hopeful and precarious.

This journey of the rabbinical student is a complex exploration of faith, identity, and the search for meaning in the face of life's hardships.

It shows how even within the framework of a traditional religious education, one can find new and unexpected ways to make sense of one's pain and find a path forward.

The story serves as a reminder that faith is not always a static and unchanging entity, but can evolve and transform in response to our experiences and inner turmoil.

Ultimately, it is a tale of growth and self-discovery that offers hope and inspiration to those who may be struggling to find their own way in the world.

Slow but Entralling

In a world that often seems to move at a breakneck pace, there is something truly special about the slow and enthralling.

Sometimes, it is the journey that matters more than the destination. The slow and steady progress allows us to fully appreciate the details, the nuances, and the beauty that might otherwise be overlooked.

It could be a long walk in the park, taking in the sights and sounds of nature. Or perhaps it is a meticulously crafted piece of art that demands our time and attention to truly understand and admire.

The slow but enthralling experiences have the power to calm our minds, reduce stress, and bring a sense of peace and fulfillment.

They remind us that not everything has to be fast and furious. Sometimes, it is in the slowness that we find the most profound and lasting joy.

So, let us embrace the slow and enthralling, and allow ourselves to be captivated by the simple pleasures of life.