Scan barcode
thebookstagrambabe's review
challenging
emotional
informative
tense
medium-paced
5.0
I found this audiobook to be captivating and impactful. Two people of very different beliefs come together to have a conversation, they can disagree and still come out as friends at the end. I feel like our current climate is so divisive and toxic (especially when it comes to this topic) that it was so nice to see two adults not go low when they disagreed. I find Emmanuel Acho so eloquent. I am so envious of him for that and for tackling this issue that no one wants to face or hear out! I also didn't know much about Noa Tishby before the 10/7 massacre and while she is known to be the who's who of this topic, I still didn't know much about her. Like I didn't realize she wasn't raised religiously Jewish. She just grew up in Israel. However, reading this book as a Jewish person did feel much like preaching to the choir. You didn't have to convince me to agree on these points, but it did give me some good facts to use if I ever debate issues on the Middle East conflict. More likely, I would just point someone to Noa's social media.
bookbug17's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
kari_f's review
3.5
This book is a good introduction to issues facing Jewish people, especially for someone who isn’t Jewish and doesn’t know much about the historical precedence of prejudice that Jews have faced for centuries. It isn’t a complete resource by any means, but the conversations had by the authors brought up some really good dialogue.
I really wish there was more information about the experiences of Jews of Color worldwide, as well as bringing in stories of those who have converted to Judaism. I also felt that there were some double standards promoted in the book, where the authors discuss not attributing actions or decisions of the Israeli government or military to the Jewish population as a whole, but then they do exactly this when talking about atrocities done against Jewish people at the hands of other people. There were a few other inconsistencies I saw while reading, which felt disappointing.
I think the book did a good job in its effort to combat anti-semitism, and I appreciate that the authors included information about the Palestinian refugee camps that have existed since the 1940s. I also appreciated the dialogue stating full stop that Palestinians and Jewish people all deserve to exist freely in a place that is safe for them. Some of the information specifically concerning more recent disagreements about Israel and Palestine have more nuance than what I felt was presented though, and I would have liked to see some of these tackled in more depth to address these.
okiecozyreader's review against another edition
informative
medium-paced
4.25
I am glad Zibby Owens chose this book for her bookclub. I haven’t known a lot of Jewish people. I grew up in rural Oklahoma and I don’t think there are many in the areas I have lived. Recently, I have made several Jewish friends online in bookstagram and I have read several books by Jewish authors that discuss things related to their faith. I don’t feel like I have had or known a lot of the history or pre-conceived ideas people have about Jews mentioned in this book, because of my lack of experience. So that part of the book is new information to me. I felt like some parts were repetitive.
I do think the audiobook, which is somewhat of a conversation back and forth between the two authors, would be helpful. There is also a recording of the original podcast where he interviewed her, and then an appendix where she discusses some Jewish terms (both to say and know and not to say). I wish I had a physical copy so I could refer to the table of contents or see some information.
“It made me wonder, “in whose life am I the oppressor and what if the line between the oppressor and the oppressed isn’t as clear as we thought. So this time, instead of answering the questions, I’m asking them. I’m getting curious, getting vulnerable, and of course, getting uncomfortable.” A Word from Immanuel
On Learning to read and write to pass on Jewish stories:
“The teachers would smear honey over each letter of their little tablets so that the children would lick it off, forming a sweet association with the written word, and it’s been love with a hint of obsession ever since.” Part 1 chapter 3
Misconceptions on Jewish faith:
Not a definitive race - “the key reason why it’s important to establish that there is no such thing as a Jewish race is because the idea that it is a race foundational to antisemitism for decades.”
Biological distinct - no similarities. Part 1 ch 4
3D test by us department of state in 2010
Demonization (caricatures like power hungry, Double standard (judged by a different standard), Delegitimization (denying Israel’s right to exist)
Part 2, ch 20
I do think the audiobook, which is somewhat of a conversation back and forth between the two authors, would be helpful. There is also a recording of the original podcast where he interviewed her, and then an appendix where she discusses some Jewish terms (both to say and know and not to say). I wish I had a physical copy so I could refer to the table of contents or see some information.
“It made me wonder, “in whose life am I the oppressor and what if the line between the oppressor and the oppressed isn’t as clear as we thought. So this time, instead of answering the questions, I’m asking them. I’m getting curious, getting vulnerable, and of course, getting uncomfortable.” A Word from Immanuel
On Learning to read and write to pass on Jewish stories:
“The teachers would smear honey over each letter of their little tablets so that the children would lick it off, forming a sweet association with the written word, and it’s been love with a hint of obsession ever since.” Part 1 chapter 3
Misconceptions on Jewish faith:
Not a definitive race - “the key reason why it’s important to establish that there is no such thing as a Jewish race is because the idea that it is a race foundational to antisemitism for decades.”
Biological distinct - no similarities. Part 1 ch 4
3D test by us department of state in 2010
Demonization (caricatures like power hungry, Double standard (judged by a different standard), Delegitimization (denying Israel’s right to exist)
Part 2, ch 20
nikkislix's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
EX CEL LENT. I’d encourage anyone who is either curious about Judaism/ Jewishness, or has questions they think they can’t or shouldn’t ask because they are worried about offending or believe they *should* already know (and this includes Jews). Listen to this book. It’s so worth it. Emmanuel + Noa: thank you 🙏