Gershom Scholem has arrived in Offenbach am Main to take on an impossible quest. This professor of Jewish mysticism wants to bring back as many of the books that formerly belonged to Jewish people murdered by the Nazis to Israel, where they can be kept safe for use by scholars. In the years after the war, the Offenbach Archival Depot held millions of books stolen by the Nazis while people tried to figure out what should be done with them. It wasn’t always possible to find the original owners or their descendants. Some books were repatriated to their countries of origin; others were sent to the US Library of Congress and other libraries around the world. A Fool’s Kabbalah, by Steve Stern, follows Gershom as he combs through the mountains of books in Offenbach am Main and travels around Germany, Czechia, and Poland to recover yet more Jewish books for his university in Israel. A Fool’s Kabbalah also contains the story of Menke Klepfisch, a man who cannot resist a joke or a prank even when his quest for a laugh gets people killed.

In the first chapters of A Fool’s Kabbalah, Gershom and Menke could not be more different. Gershom is a buttoned-up member of academia. He is deeply learned about the Torah and mystical Kabbalist texts. Before the war, he used to have endless discussions with renowned critic Walter Benjamin about everything under the sun. Menke, on the other hand, never held a job for longer than a few months. He is far from learned. Religion deeply bores him and he holds nothing sacred, not even his unrequited love for a rabbi’s daughter. Gershom is used to the finer things in life. Menke spends most of his life in a shtetl called Zyldzce in the countryside of what is sometimes Poland, Lithuania, or Belarus that the outside world barely touches until World War II and the Holocaust crashes down on them. Gershom is always very correct in his behavior. Menke is clearly afflicted with an imp of the perverse.

Though these characters could hardly be different—and they never actually meet—Gershom’s slow descent into a kind of holy madness brings him closer to Menke’s irrepressible foolish. Humor plays a huge role in A Fool’s Kabbalah, though not in the way we might expect. I laughed at a few of Menke and Gershom’s jokes. I love a good joke that punches up. But the role of humor in this book isn’t necessarily to make anyone laugh. Rather, humor more often seems to serve as a way to highlight the ghastly absurdity of Menke and Gershom’s worlds. The insanity of the world is a colossal joke because what else could it be? Relatedly, Gershom often thinks and talks about holy foolishness and Jews who were so close to the divine that it knocked them out of step with the rest of the world. They say and do things that make no sense to the rest of us. Their connection to the divine protects them while violence happens all around them.

By following these ideas about the role of humor and holy fools, I started to read Gershom’s quest to gather stolen and lost books for his university as a form of tikkun olam. Tikkun olam (in an oversimplified nutshell) is an attempt to restore a broken world to what it was before everything shattered. Gershom’s problem is that not only is it impossible to gather all of the broken shards of the pre-Holocaust world of European Jews, there is nowhere to assemble them. Arguments with librarians in Czechia and Germany are met with implacable refusals to hand over so much as a single volume. An attempt to smuggle books into the Palestinian Mandate ends in disaster. And even if Gershom did manage to bring back as many books as he liked to Jerusalem, who would read them? So many people who could read and use them were no longer alive.

A Fool’s Kabbalah is one of the bleakest books I’ve ever read, despite the fact that humor is such an important theme. Some of the violence described here turned my stomach. I’m glad I read it, however. This book is unlike any other work of Holocaust literature I’ve ever read. I was fascinated by the way that Stern explored kabbalistic ideas, especially tikkun olam, in Gershom and Menke’s stories.

An electronic advanced review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for a non biased review.


Steve Stern, celebrated for his magical realism and deep-rooted connection to Jewish folklore, presents "A Fool's Kabbalah," a novel that promises to blend historical intrigue with the mystical traditions of Kabbalah.

Summary

"A Fool's Kabbalah" transports readers to the post-World War II era, where the narrative centers on Gershom Scholem, a real-life figure renowned for his scholarship in Jewish mysticism. Commissioned by the Hebrew University in British-ruled Palestine at the war's end, Scholem's journey is one of recovery and redemption. He is tasked with reclaiming sacred Jewish texts, many of which were stolen by the Nazis or hidden by Jews across Europe.

The novel vividly illustrates Scholem's travels through the devastated landscapes of Europe, where he encounters the irony of salvaging books that outlasted their owners. His quest is not just a physical one but also an intellectual and spiritual journey, where he grapples with the magical essence of Kabbalah, something he had previously studied in a more theoretical context.

Stern's narrative intertwines historical facts with imaginative storytelling, featuring numerous historical figures like Walter Benjamin. The book explores themes of loss, memory, and the mystical underpinnings of Jewish identity, all while weaving a tale of adventure and philosophical reflection.

Analysis and Critique

Plot and Structure: Stern's storytelling is both a strength and a challenge. He masterfully blends real history with speculative elements, creating a rich tapestry that requires the reader to navigate both the known and the fantastical. However, the complexity of intertwining factual events with fiction can sometimes overwhelm the narrative's pace.

Character Development: Scholem is portrayed with depth, reflecting his real-life persona as a scholar yet introducing fictional elements that expand his character into realms of personal and mystical discovery. The supporting cast, while vibrant, sometimes feels underdeveloped due to the novel's focus on historical breadth rather than depth in character arcs.

Cultural and Historical Context: Stern's intimate knowledge of Jewish mysticism and history shines through, providing a backdrop that educates as much as it entertains. His depiction of Kabbalah is nuanced, avoiding the oversimplification often seen in popular culture, instead offering a respectful and profound exploration.

Writing Style: Stern's prose is lyrical and dense, filled with the poetic essence of Yiddish folklore, which might be a hurdle for some readers but a treasure for those who appreciate cultural narratives.

Themes: The novel delves into themes of preservation, the clash between ancient wisdom and modern disillusionment, and the quest for understanding in a world marked by destruction. It's a poignant reflection on the resilience of cultural identity and the power of knowledge.

Conclusion
"A Fool's Kabbalah" is not just a novel but a journey through time and the mystical, offering a unique perspective on Jewish history and Kabbalah through the lens of one man's extraordinary mission. Steve Stern crafts a narrative that is as enlightening as it is entertaining, though its dense historical and cultural references might require a committed reader.

Ratings Breakdown
Plot: 4/5 - Engaging but occasionally dense with historical detail.
Character Development: 3.5/5 - Complex and rich for the protagonist but less so for secondary characters.
Cultural Representation: 5/5 - Exceptional depth and respect for Jewish mysticism and history.
Writing Style: 4/5 - Beautifully crafted but might be challenging for some.
Overall Enjoyment: 4/5 - A rewarding read for those interested in historical fiction with a mystical twist.

This novel stands out for those looking to delve into the intersection of history, culture, and mysticism, though it might not appeal to everyone due to its stylistic density.

I have been interested in Gershom Schlomen and Kabbalah for quite a while, but this book was too slow paced to keep my attention. Plus with historical fiction you already know the ending.

This uses the historical fiction element that I was looking for and enjoyed about the genre. The characters had that feel that I was looking for and enjoyed the use of real life figure and glad I was able to read this. Steve Stern has a strong writing style and can't wait for more.