The Book of LightsAt the center of the novel is Gershon Loran -- a young rabbi, the product of a parochial New York Jewish upbringing -- whose early life [was] shaped by darkly irrational circumstances ... It is this young man -- raised in the absolute belief that 'the Jewish religion made a fundamental difference in the world' --who at the end of the Korean War, finds himself a chaplain in a country where Judaism has played no part ... Gershon begins to see his own people -- and himself -- in a new light ... Gershon has the most disturbing ... of his visions -- encompassing both light and dark, both good and evil, just as life must; just as, he begins to understand, Judaism must, if it is to remain a living faith. |
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afternoon Albert Einstein Aramaic Arthur Leiden Arthur's mother aunt and uncle battalion battalion commander bomb chair chap-san chapel chaplain chappy Charles Leiden cold crowded dark dear Gershon desk division door elevator eyes face father feel fire Gabriel Rosen gazed Gershon asked Gershon felt Gershon heard Gershon looked Gershon Loran Gershon sat hands Harry Truman hill Hiroshima Hong Kong Jakob Keter Jamesway Japan jeep Jewish John Kabbalah kabbalistic Karen knew Korea Kyoto later light listened Meron Metatron morning murmured Nathan Malkuson night Quonset Rabbi rain remember returned river rode Roger seemed seminary Seoul Shabbat silent sleep slowly smile snow softly Solomon Geiger stood strange street succah sunlight talk tall Talmud tell thought took Toshie turned Uncle Albert vision voice waiting walked warm watched week wind window woke Zohar