Review by Basya -- Keys to Tetouan by Mois Benarroch

[Basya]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Keys to Tetouan" by Mois Benarroch.]

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2 out of 4 stars

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Keys to Tetouan by Mois Benarroch is an unusual novel. It is a multigenerational story, following the Benzimra family from the Jews’ expulsion from Spain in 1492 to the present day. However, there are many novels spanning numerous generations out there; the theme is not what makes this tale so different.

Here is what makes this novel unique. During the quarter century that I worked as a librarian in a Jewish private school, I sought to include in the Judaic section books dealing with the history, experiences, beliefs, and traditions of the Jews. Time and again, searches—both online and print—mostly yielded titles devoted to European and American Jewish life and thought.

Sephardic Jews, by contrast, seem to receive less attention. The rich culture of Jews who hailed from Spain (the Hebrew word Sephardim refers to Spanish Jews) is not as familiar to many people as that of their European coreligionists. While Jewish precepts are the same whether one’s ancestral home is Poland or Iran, traditions vary widely.

This is what makes Benarroch’s novel unusual. The author describes a world vastly different from the more familiar cultures of European and American Jews.

Yet, the novel is unique in other aspects. The experiences of the extended members of the Benzimra family are not told in strict chronological order, nor are the characters introduced in a traditional manner.

After Spain expelled its Jews in 1492, the exiles sought a haven in any country that opened its doors. Southern Europe, northern Africa, the Middle East, and even Barbados became new havens for Sephardic Jews. The Benzimra family settled in Tetouan, Morocco. Whether dreaming of returning to Spain or settling in Israel, the Benzimras feel the pull of their adopted home. Tetouan is the thread tying the family together.

At the beginning of the story, the reader meets Fernando Benzimra. The distraught young man was unaware of his religious status as a Jew until he read a letter written by his late father. Wondering why this knowledge was kept from him, he turns to a distant relative in search of answers—which are not forthcoming.

As the novel progresses, we are introduced to a variety of members of the extended Benzimra clan, including:

• An elderly man is approaching his hundredth birthday in the year 1948. He has an urgent request: that his grandson write, for the benefit of future generations, the experiences of his youth in 1860s Tetouan.
• Mimon emigrated to Brazil in the late 18th century to find work. Since his wife refuses to leave Tetouan, the successful lumberjack sends her money and often returns home to visit his growing family.
• Jacob Benzimra moves to Israel in the 1950s. He gives in to pressure to change his name to Zemer. Jacob regrets this “mistake” soon after his marriage but cannot do anything about it.

As the story unfolds, readers gain insights into the lives, worldview, and beliefs of the extensive family. Rather than simply telling the story of the Benzimra clan, the narrative moves back and forth between the experiences of its members, past and present. Interspersed in these chapters is the account, told in dialogue form, of a family’s secret journey to Israel. They go with the belief that they will be able to live free of fear and finally be home.

Mois Benarroch’s novel is not an easy read. The author presumes a knowledge of not only Sephardic but Jewish thought and tradition. He uses terms with which many may not be familiar, like gematria (the practice of assigning numerical value to letters and finding insights into the sum total of certain words) and Massechet Shabbat (a volume of the Talmud).

Similarly, unless one is well versed in the Bible and Jewish teachings, he or she will not grasp the significance of numerous passages, like the comment concerning Moshe Benzimra’s ritual circumcision as an adult: “And it’s your privilege…just like Abraham’s, he has forefather’s privileges, you have been handed this great privilege…” (The forefather Abraham underwent circumcision at the age of 90 per the Almighty's command and went on to become the ancestor of the Jewish people.) A glossary of terms and concepts would have been useful; since this feature is lacking, I give the novel 2 out of 4 stars.

In addition, chapters devoted to certain characters contain extremely long sentences, broken up by commas. While they may represent the train of thought of these individuals, at times the narrative is difficult to follow.

Readers who follow the story of the Benzimras to its conclusion are rewarded with insights into the Sephardic mind and heart. At times depressing and at times uplifting, Keys to Tetouan paints a picture of a people who (whether or not individual members are religious) hold beliefs and traditions dear. At the heart of the tale is the city that gave birth to the clan. To paraphrase a saying: You can take a person out of Tetouan, but you cannot take Tetouan out of a person.

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Keys to Tetouan
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Like Basya's review? Post a comment saying so!

[Manang Muyang]

So you're a librarian! I recall Indy's tipsy lady-love (a librarian, of course) asking, "So what's a place like me doing in a girl like this?" Or are you too young to even know Indy?

But since you were a book-keeper, I assume you do know Indy, perhaps as well as you know the history of Sephardic Jews.

Benarroch is surely a challenge to read and comprehend, but we can learn a lot from him about loving our roots, in his case, Tetouan.

I enjoyed your review. You must be a very well-read person. I am eager to read and learn more from you, Basya!