Foodie Lit
Susan Shalev's Across A Starlit Sky
Two eras are linked in this exciting, well-crafted historical novel set in 17th century Portugal and 20th century Holland. Both countries’ leadership are obsessively driven to eliminate the Jewish people, through subterfuge and brutality. Especially in Portugal, many Jews hid their identity, thus the younger generation often weren’t educated in their traditions and culture. Author Susan Shalev told me, “The two eras are of particular importance to the Jewish people. Many Jews in Germany were completely assimilated, denying their faith, but this did not keep them from the gas chambers. In Spain and Portugal, the Jews were forced to convert and deny their religion. But there were always those who stuck loyally to their faith in spite of the possible consequences.”
There are numerous memoirs and historical novels about these two eras, often detailing the horrors that individuals had to endure, those who survived and those who did not. This is not the first work of Susan Shalev’s to deal with the Holocaust. The first was a fictionalized version of the experiences of her mother-in-law. “I hope that my stories create characters who are easier to relate to or empathize with, and perhaps discourage Jew hatred. Unfortunately, I fear that we are past the point of no return as far as ingrained antisemitism is concerned. I also think that these bigots are not my readership. But I pray for better times.”
A great book club choice!!
A favorite genre of Susan (and me!) is historical fiction. The era of the Inquisition and the Holocaust are linked in multiple ways. Susan links the two locations from the earlier timeline. The Netherlands was the only European country that allowed freedom of worship for Jews and Christians who diverged from the state religion. Both often escaped to this haven, where they often encountered each other. The Pilgrims stayed in the Netherlands until arrangement could be finalized to travel on the Mayflower. Many have said that the American baked beans evolved from the slow cooked Sabbath dish, called hamim or cholent. “The connection between those escaping the Inquisition and Amsterdam is well-known, so it was a no-brainer to connect the two,” Susan shared.
The two female protagonists, Amelia in the 17th century and Miryam in the 20th, fight the establishments’ repression, in small and large ways. Their identities also link, but no giving the story away here! Well known heroes are rightfully celebrated. The smaller acts of resistance were also crucial. “However, the contribution of the ‘quieter’ characters in the background should not be underestimated. In Amsterdam, for example, those who sheltered onderduiken (hidden Jews) or stood up to the mistreatment of their neighbors. In Portugal, the adherence to their religion by crypto-Jews masquerading as conversos insured the continuation of tradition under the most appalling circumstances.”
Susan has her characters travel to Belmont. This remote, small Portuguese village has a tremendous significance in Jewish history. For hundreds of years, many Crypto Jews, those who secretly practiced their religion, lived in this village, creating a Jewish community that survived over the centuries and still exists today. In 1297, the first Belmonte synagogue was built. In 1910, a foundation stone from the synagogue was found during the demolition of São Francisco’s Church.
The arts is included in both timelines. Amelia is an excellent artist, drawing sketches of what she sees and feels. Mirjam is a professional pianist, performing and teaching, even playing jazz in front of Nazis enjoying a Dutch café. Susan shared, “It seems to me that the arts cross boundaries, can bridge differences, can speak a language common to all, regardless of political and religious beliefs.”
The echoes of the past are understood by the characters as well as the novel’s readers. In 1940 Amsterdam, Miryam’s father notes, “Terrible history repeating itself. The seventeenth-century pogrom in Lisbon, time-warped to twentieth-century Amsterdam. Just as Hannah [Miryam’s student] said to me at Purim, each generation of Jews has its own evil Haman.”
As we read in this post Oct. 7 world, one can see the shadow of another unwritten timeline, of Hamas and other Iranian sponsored terrorists’ attempted genocide of Israel and the Jewish people. The rising hatred of Jews and Christians across much of the world, including in our own country, recalls too accurately the Jew hatred depicted in the two timelines in Across a Starlit Sky.
The novel ends with a traditional Jewish prayer of thanksgiving, for having lived and endured to the present time. “There definitely is a thread of destiny or fate here, of something universal pulling the strings….”
Eggplant was a favorite Jewish addition to recipes in Spain and Portugal. When Jews were expelled, they brought eggplant recipes with them to their next home, including location where eggplant dishes are a great favorite today—North Africa, Turkey and the Middle East. In fact, the vegetable began to be associated with Jews so much that the Jews and Christians were arrested by the Inquisition simply for making eggplant recipes. Today, these eggplant dishes have become tapas or mezzes in Spain and Portugal and around the world.
This eggplant relish is popular today as an appetizer or side dish, served room temperature or cold with pita, crusty bread or crackers.
