Jewish Noir II; Tales of Crime and other dark deeds by various

 

Title of the book: Jewish Noir II; Tales of Crime and other dark deeds

Author: Various 

Publisher: PM Press 

Publishing Date: 2022

ISBN: 9781629638225

Summary:

Jewish Noir 2 is unique collection of twenty-three all-new stories (and one reprint) by Jewish and non-Jewish literary and genre writers, including numerous award-winning authors such as Gabriela Alemán, Doug Allyn, Rita Lakin, Rabbi Ilene Schneider, E.J. Wagner, and Kenneth Wishnia, with a foreword by MWA Grand Master Lawrence Block. The stories explore such issues as the perpetual challenge of confronting resurgent anti-Semitism in the US, the enduring legacy of regional warfare in the land of Israel since biblical times, how the “entitled” behavior of certain ultra-Orthodox communities can fuel anti-Semitic attitudes, Jewish support of the civil rights movement, greedy Jewish businessmen who reinforce negative ethnic stereotypes, the excesses of “golden ghetto” American Jews, the appeal of “tough” Israeli-Jewish soldiers and mercenaries, how real estate fortunes are made, and the consequences of political corruption that feed into an exploitive system, how obsession can lead “good” people to do “bad” things.

Table of contents: 

Legacies:

Taking Names

Sanctuary 

The cost of something priceless 

The black and white cookie 

Scattered and Dispersed:

Islands 

Datura

 

Rhododendrons 

Mosquitoes over Bamako 

A shandeh far di goyim:

Wishboned 

The Shabbes Goy 

To catch a ganef 

Inheritance 

The God of mercy: 

Brothers keeper 

If it doesn't kill you just wait 

The almost sisters 

Crossover 

The God of vengeance: 

Bride of torches 

Paying the ferryman 

The just men of Bennett avenue 

Triangle 

American splendor: 

The Nazi in the basement 

The Hanukkah killer 

Hunter 

 

Authors:

Steven Wishnia, Doug Allyn Elizabeth Zelvin, Jeff Markowitz, Gabriela Aleman, Joy Mahabir, Xu Xi, Yigal Zur, Jill D. Block, Craig Faustus Buck, Lizzie Skurnick, Terry Shames, Eileen Rendahl, D.M. Evans, Ellen Kirschman, Zoe Quinton, Kenneth Wishnia, E.J. Wagner, A.J. Sidransky, Rabbi Ilene Schneider, Rita Lakin, Robin Henley, Jen Conley  

Personal Opinion:

Being Jewish is a very difficult task, and no it's not just the laws and commandments that more religious will obey. For many it's the weight of history, of living in a place where we constantly have to announce our presence and become a needle that pierces a Gentiles bubble, it's also where constant vigilance is a must and where parents through history have to impart daily trauma either through Holocaust or  pogrom or other events. This is also a world where Jewish kids feel exclusion around winter time because teacher has no idea she has Jewish kids and therefore chooses not to read Chanukkah tales, and parents worry if they mention who they are, will their child get in trouble or be treated badly? And yes, religious rulings don't make it any easier. That has been my experience, and it seems as if little has changed. The stories of Jewish Noir II have really spoken to me this way, reminding me of the good and the troubling parts of being Jewish, some from pre medidating a murder others to thievery and variety of peoples. There is also definitely a vulnerability to people and stories, showing us that we are not infallible but only human. Most of the stories focus on Jewish-American experiences rather than Israeli or European or Jewish people of color, but they are excellent tales and I am sure that they will appeal to all types of readers trying to explore Judaism and what it means to them and to the  world. 

This was given for review 

4 out of 5
(0: Stay away unless a masochist 1: Good for insomnia 2: Horrible but readable; 3: Readable and quickly forgettable, 4: Good, enjoyable 5: Buy it, keep it and never let it go.)