Ruchama King

Wonderfully powerful story about...extraordinary human kindness.

In the Courtyard of the Kabbalist is the story of how much people have in common. We need love, respect, approval, companionship and compassionate mentors / teachers.

Rebbe Yehuda and his wife, Shaindel Bracha, and then Isaac Markowitz provide intuitive wisdom, a sweet, caring touch, a bit of food for the chorus-like group of needy, sorrowing souls who occupy the courtyard of the Kabbalist's home on Ninveh Street. These blessings of guidance continue after Rebbe Yehuda's death.

Isaac doesn't discriminate between Jew or Muslim and offers poor Mustafa much needed respect and friendship. In turn Mustafa brings ancient coins and pieces of pottery about to be thrown out to Isaac. Unfortunately, when there are treasures, politics and bureaucracy have a way of crashing the party.

A beautiful, hopeful, romantic, humorous and smart read not to be missed.… (plus d'informations)

This is a well-written story of Jewish Muslim engagement in modern-day Jerusalem. A unconfident rabbi under the shadow of a beloved Kabbalist/rebbe encounters a deformed young Muslim, who cleans the Temple Mount. Also in the story is a flamboyant young Israeli woman who provides the alternate third element in the story and falls in love with the rabbi who is very unsure of women and romance. The Muslim is permanent usure of himself because or deprecations from felow workers but sees the small things on the Mount including ancient artefacts one of which he brings to the rabbi. The story unfolds with a lot of sublte tension to an unsuspecting end. The prejudices of Jews and Muslims about each other are laid bare but without tacky moralizing. A compelling read.… (plus d'informations)