A Delightful Compendium of Consolation - by Burton L Visotzky (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Karimah, a charming, headstrong Jewish teenager in 11th Century Egypt, follows her heart to live a life of adventure; as a brigand targeting desert caravans and as a pirate on the high seas. Rabbi Nissim, writing from North Africa, comforts Karimah's father with tales from classical rabbinic literature. The book is presented as a series of ?found? Cairo Genizah (old book depository) documents. Writing home to her brother, Karimah quotes not only from traditional Jewish texts, but also from the Arabian Nights. Although unpredictable, Karimah is nevertheless guided by her own steadfast ideas of honor and tradition. A DELIGHTFUL COMPENDIUM OF CONSOLATION is historically accurate. With this book, Rabbi Visotzky, professor of midrash, proves to be not only a master teacher, but a master storyteller, as well.

Review Quotes

?A ?delightful? historical novel, capturing the spirit of this dynamic period: a tale of merchants and scholars, of families, rabbis and students?real and imagined. A world in which Jews and Muslims, even Jews of different religious persuasions, lived together more harmoniously and with less conflict than they do in many parts of the world today.?