To Be Israeli: The Heart of a Nation, the Soul of a People

American readers interested in Israeli politics are likely to be disappointed by this unfocused collection of essays. Lapid (Memories After My Death), a prominent politician and former finance minister once viewed as a serious rival to Benjamin Netanyahu, offers 78 short selections on topics including what it means to “To Be a Jew,” his experience dieting, and the phone company that continues to send his late father bills. The humor is often sophomoric, and context is only provided irregularly for the undated essays; for instance, a footnote explains who a settler leader is, but there is none regarding an Israeli singer whose name will be unfamiliar to many. Questionable statements—such as that Reform Judaism’s core tenet is to combat assimilation—don’t help, and stating that to “do your bills at night and decide you need to cut back” is somehow “to be Israeli” is just confusing. Sadly, this book doesn’t convey what makes Lapid a significant figure in his country: a national security centrist, who is also a secular Jew open to dialogue with the religious. This book represents a missed opportunity for Lapid to share his vision and experiences with Americans. [em](2017) [/em]

This review has been corrected to reflect a change in publication date; the book will be published in 2017.