“The Netanyahus,” is a fictionalized version of a real-life visit to an American campus by the father of former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The subtitle: “An account of a minor and ultimately even negligible episode in the history of a very famous family” is a succinct but entirely inadequate description. The book is also about being part of the Jewish diaspora in America in the 50s and being Jewish anywhere throughout history. It’s also about Israel. The book is so readable primarily because it is written as a comedy. The subjects are serious but there are many laughs along the way.
The narrator is Dr. Ruben Blum, the only Jewish professor, or Jewish employee for that matter, at Corbin College in upstate (mid-state?) New York. He is a tax historian. He is summoned by the dean, Dr. Morse, and asked/told that he will be hosting a candidate from Israel, Benzion Netanyahu when he comes for a campus visit. Blum’s expertise is in another area, he’s being recruited because he is the only Jewish faculty member.
Blum ruminates about how he ended up in this small town. His wife misses New York City, his daughter wants a nose job, his in-laws, from wealthier Jewish families look down on the college, the house, the town. Blum has rejected the teachings of his childhood which emphasized the history of Jewish suffering and loss. He believes in the American idea of progress, and seeks to assimilate himself in local society. Of course the local society pushes back. His boss asks him to play Santa at the faculty Christmas party because “it’ll free up the people who actually celebrate the holiday to enjoy themselves.” The local country club repeatedly loses the Blum family’s application for membership.
In contrast, Netanyahu Sr. is a Zionist, so enthusiastic that his peers in Israel have written him off as a fanatic. He, like Blum’s childhood rabbis, views Jewish history as an eternal struggle against oppression. He equates the Spanish Inquisition with Nazi Germany, different regimes, same result. He wants the Corbin job, but he doesn’t want to be there.
Netanyahu sees the Blums as weak and spineless. He scoffs at their attempt to be typical Americans, the house, the television, the symbols of success in the 50s. The Rubens see the Netanyahus as rude and pushy, their children are rowdy and destructive, they take rather than ask and criticize at will. It all culminates in a silly Three Stooges kind of farce.
The writing is stylish and witty. But the book isn’t just funny, it is also a reminder that all of these issues are still with us: politically and socially. Assimilation doesn’t work. Those who want to assimilate can’t do enough to assimilate, and those demanding assimilation don’t really want them to succeed. Wash. Rinse. Repeat.