In this centenary year for Tel Aviv, the first Hebrew speaking city, an anthology of English stories captures many facets of the city that many know infinitely less well than they do Jerusalem. The stories range in quality, and some of it’s a matter of taste, but for an English language window into the world of Tel Aviv that you’ve probably missed thus far, this charming book is a great place to get started.
RECENTLY ADDED: Tel Aviv Short Stories / Shelley Goldman, Joanna Yehiel (2009)
A Tale of Love and Darkness / Amos Oz (2004)
Amos Oz’s autobiography captures the flavor of life in Palestine before Independence in ways that virtually nothing else I’ve read does. The passages that describe the events of November 29, 1947, the day of the UN vote on Israel’s creation, and his discussions with a Kibbutz member of whether the Arab “enemy” is really a “murderer,” are literally unforgettable. The entire book is a masterpiece.
Dancing Arabs / Sayed Kashua (2004)
Kashua is an Israeli Arab, who interestingly writes in Hebrew only. Funny and sad, he is far from an apologist for the “Zionist narrative.” He tells a story of a community that belongs nowhere, and exposes the complexity of Israeli Arab life. Watch also for his second book, “And It Was Morning,” not yet in English.
The Liberated Bride / A. B. Yehoshua (2003)
I read this book both in Hebrew and in English, and didn’t love it. But I’m a minority. Most people loved it. And it clearly reveals slices of Israeli academic, judicial, Arab and romantic life. It’s a good yarn, if a bit long, and gives a rich picture of dimensions of contemporary Israeli life.
Six Days of War / Michael B. Oren (2002)
Universally lauded, this book has become a classic. A history of the Six Day War, it reads like a novel. Of particular interest to many will be the opening sections that discuss the period called the “hamtanah,” the weeks prior to the war when many Israelis really feared that the end was at hand. The fragility of the new Jewish State is brought to live in vivid detail.
Righteous Victims / Benny Morris (1999)
This is a controversial book, and not an easy read for lovers of Israel. But Benny Morris is part of a group of historians whose work must be encountered. He shows that the Palestinians people have causes more complex than Israeli narratives often admit, and that Israeli behavior has been varied. To my mind, a serious engagement with Israel means thinking about these issues as well.
Israel: A History / Martin Gilbert (1998)
Simply put, a classic history of Israel (very sympathetic) that covers the pre-State and post-Independence periods, from one of our period’s great historians. Very readable.
The Book of Intimate Grammar / David Grossman (1994)
David Grossman is among Israel’s greatest novelists. This book, in addition to his “See Under: Love”, are wonderful introductions to his work. Intimate Grammar tracks the story of a poor adolescent in the period of the Six Day War, offering a glimpse into the two Israels of the period: the victor in the Six Day War, and the society still coming to terms with those on its fringes.
The Blue Mountain / Meir Shalev (1991)
Meir Shalev is also one of Israel’s finest novelists. Rather left wing in his politics, he combines a critical eye with a deep love of the Bible and of the scent and the feel of the land. I include him here not only because he is great, but because he breaks down the stereotype that love of the land must lead to the “right” in politics. His latest books, unfortunately, aren’t yet in English.
Dr. Daniel Gordis is Senior Vice President of the Shalem Center, where he is also a senior fellow. The author of numerous books on Jewish thought and currents in Israel...
The Jewish State must end, say its enemies, from intellectuals like Tony Judt to hate-filled demagogues like Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Even average Israelis are wondering if they wouldn't be better off somewhere else. 
