Not the Israel My Parents Promised Me

This short book, only 172 pages, is presented in the uniquely personal Pekar comic book style and has many of the trademarks of Harvey Pekar's graphic format: controversial with a direct, often aggressive and angry stance about life and...in this case... Judaism and Jewish identity. And, of course, there is Pekar's take on Israel.Pekar's views about Jewish nationalism and even the existence of God differed greatly from his parents. Some readers are sure to be outraged about his conclusions - as can be the case with books focused on religion.Illustrator JT Waldman and Pekar are shown discussing Jewish history as they roam through Cleveland, Ohio. They touch on a huge variety of topics ( especially for such a brief book), including Zionism, Pekar's attempt to emigrate to Israel, Palestinian history and more. In addition to the main material, there is also a fascinating epilogue written by Pekar's wife, Joyce Brabner.I think it is important to note that Illustrator JT Waldman is not just a minor part of this memoir. He is also listed as a co-author of Not the Israel My Parents Promised Me as well as a significant figure in the narrative. That raises some questions about the complexities of co-authorship when one author dies before a book's publication.Based on the information I found, this book was a work in progress, not fully completed before Pekar's death in 2010. So it was impossible for me to read it without wondering if he would have been satisfied with Not the Israel My Parents Promised Me in final form. It definitely seems abbreviated, a bit rushed, to me. But perhaps he would have left it that way.The book is bound to offend some readers - not unique for works by Pekar. But fans will gain added insight into the author's childhood, time spent in Hebrew school, and his evolving views about Judaism and Jewish history. His parents' beliefs, backgrounds, and personalities are also revealed.Pekar's mother was not nearly as committed to Jewish traditions as his father although she supported Israel and was proud of her Jewish relatives. As depicted in the book, Pekar's father was a more traditonally observant Jew while his mother didn't attend temple regularly, not even during Jewish holidays.Although Pekar attended Hebrew School he questioned his religion from an early age. He was confused about learning to read Hebrew when he didn't understand how to translate the words. Ultimately, he came to see himself as Jewish but not a nationalist, a point noted by Pekar's wife, Joyce Brabner, in the book's Epilogue (also illustrated as a graphic narrative). This Epilogue, while extremely brief, adds extra perspective about Pekar's complicated relationship with his parents and Judaism.Because it is an illustrated book, with relatively little text per page, Not the Israel My Parents Promised Me is a quick - and intriguing- read.

I have followed the writings of Harvey Pekar for many years. His insights and observations have always been frank and honest. We have seen him as a young man, as a middle age person negotiating the perils of everyday life and also surviving health problems and living to tell how he dealt with them. All of his stories revolved around him walking the streets of Cleveland showing to all the culture and sights of his beloved Western Reserve. Again Harvey, along with the talented artwork of JT Waldman goes back in time to show to all how Harvey grew up as a Jew on the Eastside of Cleveland. He shows his religious father who instills to Harvey the virtues of being Jewish. On the other hand Harvey's mother although Jewish is not a religious person whose main concern is the politics of Communism. All is graphically displayed as we see a young boy become a man living in the Jewish section of Cleveland Heights, Ohio. It is here that Harvey along with the talents of Mr. Waldman tells the story of the Jewish people. How as a religious people who became ostracized and persecuted throughout the centuries. He tells the stories of the Jewish migration to Spain and onto Eastern Europe. In doing this Mr. Pekar gives me an education as to how the Jewish people evolved over the centuries to become the people they are today. In fact Harvey shows to all that his allegiances are not motivated by blind followings. Mr. Pekar is a thoughtful and open minded person who may have been raised Jewish but in reality is a man for all the people. His assessment that the Jewish state of Israel is a nation that was formed with the help of Great Britain and that the land was actually taken away from the Arabs is something Harvey thinks will always be the basis of eternal conflict. Harvey's rationale is simple and very correct. Even the very founding fathers of Israel acknowledge what Mr. Pekar has so eloquently brought forth in this book. Again Harvey weaves the story of the Jewish people and brings forth his arguments as he travels from the Westside of Cleveland to the Eastside. As always we learn of the Jewish story as Harvey cruises his favorite haunts of his beloved Cleveland. I truly will miss this man who as an expatriate of Cleveland always found home in his simple and good commentaries on life on the shores of Lake Erie. This is a fitting final book done by a good and I might add a talented man.

Harvey Pekar was one of our great unsung authors. He wrote his last book just before his death. It covers his lifelong love/hate relationship with Israel. As a boy, he was taught to love the concept of a Jewish homeland by his Polish emigre parents. They wanted not only a homeland to prevent future holocausts, but a country run on their own communist ideals. As Harvey grew to adulthood and kept an open mind, he began to notice that Israel was becoming more nationalist and increased abuses towards Arab Palestinians. For pointing this out, he was labeled a self-hating Jew, just like dissenting opinions are listed as fake news. His history of the conflict goes back to biblical days and come forward past each turn and twist of history that led to the current Jewish State. The overall picture drawn is that of a resilient, tough people who fought for centuries to maintain their culture and beliefs.

Insightful