A House Divided

"Bernard Marin's eminently readable novella tells a very contemporary story. A story that matters. Set against the daily headlines and the social media tsunami which have engulfed our awareness of the Israel-Gaza war, we meet an Australian Jewish family we can recognise. In streets and suburbs, we know. And in language all too familiar. Where the generations clash, passionately and sometimes bitterly, about fundamental beliefs and values. But where they keep on talking, arguing, and confronting each other. Not just about Israel, Zionism, and the Palestinians, but about an inverted world. Marin's comprehensive research makes the case for Israel and the Jewish people speak for itself, just as his empathetic ear for dialogue brings us a new guide for perplexed families. It offers them help to navigate their way, old and young, from generation to generation, through the thickets of our anxious and dangerous times." (SAM LIPSKI, former Editor-in-Chief, Australian Jewish News)

"In A House Divided, Bernard Marin invites readers into the intimate yet deeply charged conversations of a close-knit Jewish family grappling with the complexities of Israel, identity, and political conscience. The novella captures the tensions that arise when generational experiences and external influences shape diverging perspectives on Israel's place in Jewish life. As the family navigates these difficult discussions, the son's insistence on attending pro-Palestinian rallies-rife with extreme rhetoric-reveals the ease with which political activism can drift into antisemitism. A House Divided explores the line between legitimate debate over Israel's policies and criticism distorted by ideological bias and antisemitic tropes. Through the lens of this family's discourse, the novella serves as both a mirror and a corrective-challenging the prejudice of the zeitgeist and encouraging a deeper engagement with historical and contemporary realities." (MARK LEIBLER, National Chairman of the Australia/Israel and Jewish Affairs Council and Governor of the Australia/Israel Chamber of Commerce)