Known Suffering

Known Suffering is the first work of literary fiction that tells a Jewish-American backstory to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Set far away from the fighting, the novel explores the emotional depths of a personal struggle involving love, loss, and contrition.

Set in Southern California in 2010, Sam-mid-thirties, introverted, well-meaning, a bit quirky-finds love in artist and free spirit Del Rojas. Swept into a world of brunches, hikes, and gallery openings that typify gay Los Angeles, Sam and Del enjoy days of easy rapport and nights of passion. It's a romance that could give way to a lifetime of togetherness. At least, that's what Sam hopes.

Sam is happier than he's been in a while. Not even his inconsolable friend Simon can bring him down. But then comes a flare-up of violence in the Middle East. Sam turns inward, meditating on a deeply felt moral dilemma.

Del, a lapsed Catholic, cannot fathom Sam's seemingly unwavering support for Israel. Sam, scared to admit his doubts, pushes back. What had been a mutual respect for their differences turns into an escalating battle over progressive bona fides.

As the issue of Israel looms, Sam experiences a vision he doesn't understand. Meanwhile, an unfolding personal tragedy in his life comes to the fore-a secret he has kept hidden. Sam wrestles with upholding lifelong principles, maintaining his faith, and preserving his new newfound love.

Even before the events of October 7^th brought war to Israel and Gaza, a generation of American Jews struggled to maintain unconditional support for Zionism given their unease with certain illiberal state policies. Many aspects of the conflict go tacitly undebated within the Jewish-American community, leaving few outlets for open dialogue and unguarded emotion.

For some, it's a matter of defending a religious homeland and fighting antisemitism or Jew hatred. For others, it's about a desire for peace or even justice. The protagonist Sam's complex personal struggles-with God and the notion of human fallibility, serve as metaphor for a contemporary political issue that seems very much out of control.

Known Suffering explores hard truths in a memoir form. Woven together in flashbacks, the book carefully addresses the idea of separation, the importance of place, and the sometime need for boldness.