More than 40 years ago, Herman Wouk published an exploration of his faith entitled "This Is My God. He writes now, "I was something of a freak in American literary circles, a youngish novelist and playwright, subject of a TIME cover story, who kept kosher, observed the Sabbath, and studied the Talmud." He explains that he wrote "This Is My God" more or less to explain himself. Today, it remains an esteemed and popular work. Wouk sensed that another, very different, book was called for and began his work on "The Will To Live On."
Wouk, author of "The Caine Mutiny," "The Winds of War, "War and Remembrance," and "Marjorie Morningstar," returns with what I consider his masterpiece. "The Will To Live On" is nonfiction, but captures the mind and senses much like a popular novel. He confesses that the theme of this book broke into light when he and his wife were in Jerusalem on a visit. He snapped on the television and saw confused pictures of agitated crowds and racing, screaming police cars. This is how Wouk learned of the murder of Israel's Prime Minister, Yitzhak Rabin. He describes the funeral of his dear friend who he first met while Rabin was Israeli Ambassador in Washington.
"The lone assassin was a young Talmud scholar, psychopathic but sane. He was against Rabin's peace policy, and justified his act by morbidly misquoting the Talmud." At the funeral of Rabin, Egypt's Mubarak was there, rubbing shoulders with three American presidents, Clinton, Bush, and Carter; with the prime ministers of Russia, Germany, France, and Britain, with Shimon Peres, and Ezer Weizman of Israel. Such an event, according to Wouk, in its sheer magnitude, defeats and numbs the mind.
With consummate literary flair, Wouk writes of the apocalyptic twentieth-century experience of the Jewish people. In part One, he briefly explores the turbulent aftermath of the Holocaust against the Jewish historical background of recurring catastrophe, survival and resurgence over three millennia. Wouk calls this part "Searching the Wreckage."
Part Two surveys Jewish history and their sacred literature: Bible, Talmud, Kabbalah, titans like Rashi and Maimonides, and the rise of modern Zionism. Wouk writes, "This is the meat of the book, and I call it "The Heritage, or The Power of a Dream."
Part Three examines the present world scene of Jewry, the troubled wonder of Israel, and the remarkable though dwindling American diaspora. This section is named — "The Jewish Resurgence."
Throughout the work the author relates personal observations and conversations as well as various experiences pertaining to his theme. One such conversation touched me to the core. On a visit to Israel years ago, Wouk and Ben-Gurion were talking when Ben-Gurion said, "You must return here to live. This is the only place for Jews like you. Here you will be free."
Wouk replied, "Free? With enemy armies ringing you, with their leaders publicly threatening to wipe out the Zionist entity, with your roads impassable after sundown — free?"
Ben-Gurion said, "I did not say safe, I said free."
The statement hit home with Wouk
Wouk's examination of Jewish history brings to light a number of events that may surprise readers. His commentary on the changes affecting the Jewish world, especially the troubles in Israel and the dwindling American Jewry will raise eyebrows. He states that Santayana's apothegm that those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it may have a converse side. ". . . those who remember history may be empowered to surmount it."
I particularly appreciated the liberal sprinkling of stories of Wouk's encounters with luminaries such as Ben-Gurion, Isidor Raki, Yitzhak Rabin, Saul Bellow, and Richard Feynman. Each little tale teaches valuable life lessons.
Wouk is not timid in cautioning his people of the perils of the coming years, and the changes taking place in Jewish beliefs. These he documents with fascinating data on the various aspects of Conservatism, Reform, and Orthodox sects.
As entertaining as these lessons are, the most impressive parts of the book for me detailed the Jewish history. Wouk telescopes Jewish history into manageable images as he conveys the long-spread of the Jewish experience.
"The staying power of our scattered forebears through such an aeon must be called a wonder of world history. Swing back that arc of seventeen centuries from the pivot in Yavneh, and one is in the time frame of Abraham; swing it forward from the present day, and the year 4000 is nearly in sight! Who would be bold enough to predict that mankind as a whole, let alone the Jews, will survive to that year? Yet if our people are to fulfill in any modern sense our biblical destiny as a ‘light to the nations,' it is in setting this example of the will to live on, surmounting all odds to survive, and to pass on a heritage. We have been preserving our history and our Godly lore to the present day, as mankind itself is now challenged to preserve this water-girt globe, humanity's precarious little heritage and home, for the generations to come."
There is a faulty assumption that human talents crest and ebb in our middle years. Herman Wouk, at 84-years young, is one of the best examples I know of that creativity and brilliance recognizes no such barrier.
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(Jones is a published writer & literary critic)
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