A.B. Yehoshua has done it again with his novel entitled Friendly Fire. His past novels have incorporated family, daily life, Israeli politics, and religion within the pages, and Friendly Fire is no different.

Yehoshua has brilliantly infused this novel with familial relationships, death, Israeli politics, mysticism, and religion. The primary relationship in the novel is one between Daniela and Amotz (Ya’ari), husband and wife. Daniela is on a week-long trip to Africa to stay with her brother-in-law, Yirmi, whose son was killed by Israeli friendly fire seven years prior. Yirmi is an administrator for an archaeological dig, and is often at the excavation site. Daniela is traveling alone, by choice, in order to work through the death of her sister (three years prior), leaving Amotz behind to contend with daily life in Israel.

Friendly fire is usually associated with military fire that is from one’s own side, and not from the enemy. It comes in many forms, and throughout this excellent novel, we are exposed to the various formats of friendly fire, including Daniela’s leaving Amotz behind. The story begins on the second day of Hanukkah, and that theme is reinforced throughout the book, as each chapter is devoted to the succeeding Hanukkah days, alternating between Israel and Africa. The African rituals of spirits and fire play a symbolic role. The Festival of Lights is implied to be a form of “friendly fire”, as families light the Menorah candles, and huge candles light up the night sky in public parks and venues. They are also symbolic of the continuing political issues there, and the discord and bombings, “not so friendly fire”. The fire is constantly stoked, in more ways than one.

Friendly Fire is interesting in the way Yehoshua presents it, in alternating sections between Daniela and Amotz, within each chapter.

I don’t want to divulge too much of the novel, because there are pertinent parts of the whole that will cause me to reveal too much of the story. Suffice it to say that each member of the family, from Daniela and Amotz, to their children and grandchildren, and all the characters in between, exhibit some force of friendly fire, whether it be physical or verbal, threatening, or non-threatening, mystical or a symbolic element, comical or poignant. Each character brings “friendly fire” to the forefront, exhibited through their personalities and traits. Each character is still reeling from, and feeling the effects of the death of Yuri’s son. Yirmi has decided to drop out of life as he once knew it, and assimilate into the Tanzanian landscape, no longer wanting to have anything to do with Judaism. It presents a burden to the rest of the family. It is almost as if we are inside their heads, reading their thoughts, the ideas that prompt their actions, or lack of action…more flames of “friendly fire”.

Yehoshua brings us a thought-provoking book on many levels. He gives us food for our soul, emotionally, mentally and spiritually speaking. He is masterful at delving into, and describing the internal facets and the minds of others, and bringing believable characters of substance into a novel. From the deepest recesses of Africa, a country in turmoil and a country still developing, to Jerusalem and Tel Aviv in Israel, a developed country, the novel flows with the essence of war, family, identity, and spirituality. Religious belief and strength are seen from various sides of the issue in each presented geographical corner. Surreal life forms are ever present, and noisly “spirits” haunt and echo through some of the pages. One also gains insight into how Jewish people are seen by their enemy. It also moves us to question the similarities within the two countries, within the context of man’s origins. Symbolism and Biblical references abound. Humankind is prevalent in many ways, within the state of “friendly fire”. Man’s beginnings are discovered and scrutinized, through words, rituals and through archaeological finds.

Friendly Fire, like his other novels, deals with the burdens thrust upon Jewish people, not only as individuals, but as a community, a state, and as a whole within the global environment. The past is ever present. Yehoshua vividly paints the ties that bind each individual, whether or not the characters in the novel agree with each other or not, they are bound, not only as family, but as a universal whole. Their “friendly fire” interactions, often verge on the edge of sarcasm, with undertones of humor. The comparisons and contrasts are strong, and that is how A.B. Yehoshua is masterful in Friendly Fire. Like many of his other books, it involves a Jewish holiday. Candles are lit each night, beginning on the second day. It is a compelling story, and one I read straight through. It is a perfect Hanukkah story, and one for adults, complimented with an ending that brings unity and redemption, up to the night of the last candle being lit on the Menorah by the shamash.

I personally own and have read this book.
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Jew Wishes…Peace to you all.
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Thursday March 5, 2009 – 9th of Adar, 5769