Reviewing: “Elisha Davidson and the Shamir,” by M. R. Attar. Menorah Books, an imprint of Koren Publishers Jerusalem, Ltd. Paperback, 193 pages, 2017. ISBN:
978-1-940516-72-1.
The third and final installment of the Elisha Davidson trilogy, written by M.R. Attar, features the continuing adventures of 11-year-old Elisha Davidson and his fantastical powers that take root in authentic Jewish history and Kabbalistic practices.
In “Elisha Davidson and the Shamir,” the young boy finds himself tasked with traveling back in time to the infamous destruction of the first and second Batei Mikdash, the Holy Temples, on the ninth of Av. He must retrieve the holy menorah in order to save it from the fiery destruction of the Temple with the help of his older friends Aaron Kohen and Professor Bezalel––who all possess supernatural abilities that help them maneuver their way through time and through the dangers of the Temple’s destruction. He learns of this mission from King Solomon, who also gives him sage advice throughout the novel.
Davidson is able to conduct this time travel because of his powerful Ispaklaria, a stone he uncovered in the walls of his home in Israel during renovations, a discovery that unfolds in the first book in the trilogy, “Elisha Davidson and the Letters of Fire.”
Attar’s omniscient presence invites readers into the minds of her diverse characters. Davidson’s earnest perspective is complemented by Kohen’s more neurotic and damaged personality––Kohen’s sons were killed years ago by suicide bombers on a bus in Israel, a tragedy that makes him especially protective of Davidson and the dangers his powers bring him.
Davidson is known by others as a Yessod, someone with the power to connect and communicate with outer reality. During his travels through time, he selflessly saves his family from danger and visits King Solomon, who reminds him, and readers as well, the real reason why the Temple was destroyed. The Romans and the Babylonians were not responsible for the Temple’s destruction, he reminds Davidson during his visit to his kingdom, it was the hateful acts and lack of unity amongst the Jewish people that led to its demise. This is a lesson Davidson must realize as the Yessod, someone responsible for connecting different aspects of the universe together while recognizing that everyone is composed of parts of a whole, that is the Creator Himself.
All of Attar’s characters grow throughout the novel. While Davidson learns more about unity and selflessness, Kohen comes to terms with his sons’ deaths, a rather heavy subplot for a young adult novel. Professor Bezalel, Davidson’s former teacher, overcomes his own emotional and physical weaknesses to help Davidson with his mission.
The most pleasantly surprising aspect of the novel is that, despite all of its far-out adventures, much of the plot and characters are derived from Jewish history and Kabbalah. The twisting of fact and fiction adds a new untold version of past events, and give the readers’ imaginations something different to chew on.
According to the novel, the Ispaklaria that Davidson uses to travel through time was a term used in the Talmud and has been described as a window hewn from translucent stone––or more figuratively, a window of prophecy. King Solomon and the destruction of the Temple are both characters and events in Jewish History long considered as fact. Some of Attar’s characters are also members of the 36 hidden righteous ones, or the Lamed Vav Tzadikim. According to Kabbalistic belief, they are the few truly selfless people who walk the world at any given time period and are the sole reason why the world does not self destruct. The Shamir also features in this novel; it is known as a mysterious and powerful creature or stone that was said to have disappeared after the first Temple was destroyed, according to Attar.
Attar weaves a tale of historical fiction, fantasy and adventure that is sure to engross young readers who have been either following the trilogy or just picking up the book for the first time. The moral lessons buried in the novel tie excellently with Davidson’s exciting journey and won’t be lost on any reader looking for a touching read.
By Elizabeth Zakaim
