BOOK CLUBS

“Book clubs are the Philosopher’s Stone for books and writers.” —Avraham Azrieli in a 2015 interview with Smashwords.

If you and your book club are interested in choosing one of Avraham’s books as a reading selection, please use the CONTACT page to let us know.
Free books: We’ll provide your book clubs with 1 free paperback copy of the novel of your choice and as many e-book copies as you need. (Please allow approximately 2 weeks for paperback shipment by the publisher. E-Books can be provided immediately.)
Author Appearance: Book Clubs have the option for an in-person meet and signing, if Avraham’s schedule permits. Otherwise, Video (Zoom, FaceTime, etc.) participation is possible.

Book Club Discussion Points:

Note to the Reader: These Book Club Discussion Points are offered as a courtesy by the author; the topics are mere suggestions, intended only to help ignite lively, freeform discussions of the novel.The Jerusalem Inception – Discussion Points for Book Clubs

The Jerusalem Inception – a novel by Avraham Azrieli – Discussion Points for Book Clubs:

Why is Tanya so vital to the plot? Discuss her significance. Why is she so conflicted about her relationship with Jerusalem? Does she see Jerusalem and Abraham as distinct people? Does she really care for Jerusalem?
Would Jerusalem have left Neturay Karta without Tanya’s influence? Did she turn him from gentle, obedient son to the rebellious teenager who reads forbidden books? What snapped inside of him?
If Rabbi Abraham Gerster doesn’t even believe in God, how can he be such a convincing Rabbi to thousands? What does he actually believe in? Does he believe in any aspect of what he preaches? Does Abraham truly care for his family, even as he longs for Tanya?
Discuss Elie’s character. Is he good or evil? Or both? Why? How would Abraham answer this? Tanya? Why Elie still jealous of Abraham Gerster after so many years? What’s his strongest motive—the future of Jews and the state of Israel, or his personal demons and jealousies?
What’s the significance of Redhead Dan to the story?
The story’s thread of preventing future existential threats towards Israel and Jews—how realistic? Then, and now?
In the novel, there is a hostile boundary between secular and ultra-Orthodox Jews. Is it the same today? In Israel vs the United States?
For true believers, like Benjamin, for example, where is the balance between relying on God and taking preventive actions in times of risk?
How could characters who claim not to believe in God continue to quote and refer to passages from the Torah and Talmud?
Do the characters identify more as Israeli or Jewish? Is there still a difference between Israeli and Jewish identities in today’s world? Do American Jews identify with Israel, or with Judaism?

The Jerusalem Assassin – a novel by Avraham Azrieli – Discussion Points for Book Clubs

Why would is be so terrible if Rabin lost the elections?
- Elie and Rabin have two different plans for Rabin’s upcoming election. How do their plans represent their characters?
Why is Abraham Gerster so interested in the young extremist group?
What does Lemmy feel his true purpose is, that allows him to drop his old life and take on a new one so convincingly?
- Does he see himself as Elie’s spy and nothing else?
Why does Elie not reveal to Batsheba and Gideon that he has another spy (Lemmy) working with them?
- Why did Elie not allow Lemmy to know that Christopher was backing him up (i.e. watching over him)?
- Is the safety of Israel and the Jewish people really Elie’s main motivator? Or are his own achievements and power the motive?
Why does Elie laugh when Rabin is assassinated? Wasn’t he the one who proposed a fake assassination?
Do you think Lemmy will continue with Elie’s Counter Final Solution now that he is President of the bank?
- Will Abraham and Tanya be able to convince him otherwise?
- Will Lemmy be able to fully accept who his father really is, not only his position in Neturay Karta, but also who he is as a person?
  - How will Abraham, Tanya, and Lemmy fit into each other’s lives now? What will Tanya’s relationship be with Abraham after seducing Lemmy?
- Does Abraham regret his involvement with Elie or does he believe that he made the right choices, and just regrets how he handled Lemmy and his late wife?
- Gideon is often urged by Tanya to return home and resume a normal life, mostly for his mother’s sake. Should a son/daughter choose the life that will satisfy his/her parents or cause them less worry? Or the life that will bring he/she the most satisfaction?
  - Lemmy followed in Abraham’s path without knowing it. It is inevitable that a child will follow a similar path as their parents?
    - How are Lemmy and Abraham similar or different? Their lives?
  - In the novel, the threat to Israel from within the state almost seems as great as the threat from outside. Is this the case today?
    - How have the goals and the struggles of Israel changed?

Christmas for Joshua – A Novel by Avraham Azrieli – Discussion Points for Book Clubs:

Has the experience of reading Christmas for Joshua been memorable and engaging? What were the emotions it raised (amusement, sadness, upset, confusion, anger)? How did it leave you feeling? Who would you recommend it to?
What did you feel about the leading and secondary characters—their personality, motives, strengths and weaknesses?
1. While Rusty was understandably devastated by what happened at his daughter’s wedding, what do you think of his actions later—in New York and in Arizona? Was he motivated by pain, regret, or revenge? Was he trying to reconnect with his past, or achieve a new type of ‘fairness’ in his family and community life?
2. What about Rebecca’s feelings and actions? Is she a good wife? Is she another victim in this situation? Does she really understand the depth of Rusty’s crisis? Can she understand it, considering how different her background is?
3. Debra is young, in love, and newly married. However, her father is facing a traumatic emotional crisis. How do you feel about her behavior along the story? How do you feel about the way Rusty and Rebecca treat Debra—are they too accommodating, or should they demand more of her?
4. Is Aaron Brutsky a good friend? A best friend? Or a fair-weather friend? How does he balance life, faith, and friendship?
5. What do you think of the two marriages at the center of Christmas for Joshua? Are the couples faithful emotionally and practically? Will either of these marriages last?
How did the main characters change along the story? How did the novel change your perspective about family, marriage, conversion, and faith?
Stepping back and looking at the story as a whole, was it a realistic crisis for an ‘interfaith marriage’ around Christmas? Is Christmas a source of joy, comfort, or conflict in your family life? Is Christmas a Christian/religious holiday, or a cultural/social holiday? Do you have to believe that Jesus Christ was God’s son and the Messiah in order to celebrate Christmas? Were you familiar with the fact that most popular Christmas songs were written by Jews? Does it mean anything?
What do you feel about the rabbi, the synagogue, and the congregation? Is the rabbi a victim, as well? Is embracing converts into the bosom of a Jewish congregation risky? Is the congregation responsible for Rusty’s pain, or has a duty to ease it by sharing in his celebration of Christmas? Who ‘owns’ a synagogue—the rabbi, the congregation, or the board—and who has the last word in a conflict?
What part of Christmas for Joshua strikes you as the most meaningful, or memorable? What part is the funniest? Makes you cry? Or fling the book across the room? What’s the most ‘discussion worth’ here?
If you could ask author Avraham Azrieli the author a question, what would you ask? Have you read his other books? How do they compare to Christmas for Joshua?
Has Christmas for Joshua changed you? Has it left you with new perspective on Christmas, interfaith marriage, or religion in general? Has it caused you to think of visiting Arizona? Or of celebrating Christmas (in or out of a synagogue)? Has any of Rusty’s modified Christmas songs stuck in your mind?

The Mormon Candidate – A Novel by Avraham Azrieli - Book Club Discussion Points:

1. Discuss Ben Teller’s personality:

A. What are the roots of Ben’s doggedness?

B. Is he just another paparazzi, or is he driven by moral reasons?

C. Is he transformed by what happened to him though this story?

2. Compare Ben’s respective relationships with his mother and with his girlfriend and discuss the reluctance he exhibits about committing to Keera. (Does the death and absence of his father impacts this reluctance?)

3. We know Zachariah only through his diary and past actions, but he triggered Ben’s curiosity and relentless pursuit. About Zachariah:

A. Why was he so upset by Morgan’s posthumous baptism of Captain Teller?

B. How did he balance his Mormon faith with this new realization that the

ritual is somehow wrong?

C. Was this objection rooted in his faith, or in newfound unfaithfulness? Did

he sincerely believe that he received a ‘personal revelation’ – or was he

mentally ill as the psychiatrist said?

D. Where is the line between religion and morality? Are the two supposed to

be aligned? Is the Mormon Church that different than other religions?

E. What about the Mormon principle of “Truth” vs. “Facts”?

4. Discuss the personal experiences of the ex-Mormons who kidnapped Ben.

A. Are these experiences representative of Mormons or unusual cases?

B. In that context, does the book emphasize anti-Mormon positions, or is it a

balanced story that shows the good and the bad?

5. Discuss Mormon women’s position in light of the recent excommunication of

Kate Kelly. For example: https://www.huffingtonpost.com/hippo-reads/mormon-

feminist-excommuni_b_5585410.html

6. Discuss the issue of presidential candidates and privacy.

A. How much must we know as voters in order to make an informed voting decision?

B. How much do we deserve to know about a candidate by virtue of his choice to seek our vote and become ‘public figure no. 1’?

C. How relevant is the candidate’s religious faith to the vote—and to the way the candidate will do his job as president.

The Bootstrap Ultimatum – a novel by Avraham Azrieli - Discussion Points for Book Clubs

What does Ben feel towards his late dad? Why does he feel this way? Is it justified?
How deep and/or committed is the relationship between Ben and his girlfriend? Is he keeping parts of himself away from her? Is she open with him? Is her work more important to her than he is? Or is it the other way around?
Ben and his mother: A strong bond or not? Open or not? Are there unresolved issues?
How did the hacker know to post an article disgracing Ben’s dad? How did the hacker know that this is a weak spot for Ben without ever having met him?
Why did the hacker choose to use the word “Bootstrap”?
Is J. Andrew’s imposter (Daphne Vigil) truly evil? Are her motives, and maybe actions, actually justifiable? Why?
- Are she and J. Andrews correct?
Memorial Day is meant to commemorate soldiers who have served. Should stores have sales on such a day?
- Do many Americans take the time to commemorate these soldiers? Or has Memorial Day simply become a day for shopping?
- Is a bad thing if it has become a day for shopping?
Andrews had killed himself after not being helped and instead being disrespected. Does America give its veterans the correct amount respect and help or is it lacking?

Deborah Rising – A Novel by Avraham Azrieli – Discussion Points for Book Clubs:

Has the experience of reading Deborah Rising been memorable and engaging? What were the emotions the story raised (sadness, shock, amusement, confusion, pity, anger)? How did the story leave you feeling? Who would you recommend it to?
What did you feel about Deborah (beyond the initial sympathy for her experience of seeing her sister being executed)? Have your feelings changed along the way? What about the other characters—their personalities, motives, strengths, weaknesses, virtues, wickedness?
While Deborah was understandably devastated by what happened to her sister, what do you think of her choices and actions later? Was she motivated by pain, anger, revenge, or hope? Was she trying to save herself from further suffering, or to achieve a new kind of ‘fairness’ in her life and condition? Is her quest to become a man an ‘overreaction’ to her situation?
What about Sallan’s feelings and actions? Is he a good person? Is he another victim in this situation? Does he really understand the depth of Deborah’s crisis? Can he understand it, considering how different his background is? What is his real agenda?
How do you feel about the priests–both in Emanuel and in Shiloh? What do their actions say about the relationship between faith, rituals, and social order? Is Deborah naive to believe the proverb: “When you pursue your True Calling, God provides the shortcuts” – considering the terrible setbacks she suffers continuously?
What about the spark between Zariz and Deborah? Does their relationship stand a chance? What about Deborah’s feelings for Barac?
Why do the lepers help Deborah? What do they see in her? And why is Deborah less afraid of the lepers than others? What does it reveal about her?
What do you think of the marriage with Seesya? Why is he continuing to chase her, now that the inheritance will pass to him anyway? Why does he hate Deborah (and her sister) so much?
Has the novel changed your perspective about the way of life in ancient Israel in terms of family, marriage, justice and faith?
Stepping back and looking at the story as a whole, could you find relevancy to our modern world and the place of women in it? Does Deborah’s struggle mean anything to contemporary girls and women? Do you agree with the idea of achieving personal change through “Imitate until you mutate”?
What do you feel about the connection between temple offerings and charity for the poor? The offerings seem to provide wealth to the priests, but also provide the givers a sense of ‘being good’ with God and a way to influence their fate somehow. How do you feel about it? And now that we no longer sacrifice animals, do prayers alone provide the same solace to faithful people? Are churches, synagogues and mosques the modern substitutes for the temple and its rituals? Who in today’s world fills the role of the priests of biblical times?
What part of Deborah Rising strikes you as the most meaningful, or memorable? What part is the saddest, scariest, or funniest? What’s the most ‘discussion worthy’ here?
If you could ask author Avraham Azrieli a question, what would you ask? Have you read his other books? How do they compare to Deborah Rising?
Has Deborah Rising changed you? Has it left you with new perspective on history, biblical life, or religion in general? Has it caused you to think of visiting the ancient sites of the Bible? Or of doing anything different in your own life? Has any of Deborah’s experiences or newly acquired wisdom stuck in your mind?