A.B. Yehoshua

Very interesting exposition of Yehoshua. Though Wieseltier doesn´t speak much, his interventions are lucid, sometimes brilliant, and always taken some weight of the theme, which is desirable, for it is not light. It is surprising that the literature of the jews in Israel does so much “soul searching”, which actually looks very much auto critical. I thought most literature of them was apologetically or in praise of the Israel. There is, in literature and in people who are nourished by it, be it in Israel or in every place where there is real literature, a promise of a more mature conscience in those who are touched by that literary creativity. But if one reads the jews writers in U.S.A., one would conclude that Jewish literature is not so much pro-zionist, which would be somewhat explainable, but so much acritically pro-zionist, “best seller” in the worst sense of that thing, and happy ending much of the time. But now, hearing Yehoshua, I see that the jews writers in Israel are much sensitive and conscientious, much more than those of the U.S.A. I had read only Amos Elon, and found him very sincere. I am glad he is not alone. I am glad that the literature of the jews of Israel is a thing that commands respect.