A Hole in the Heart of the World

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Spanning nearly a century, from the years preceding the Holocaust to the present day, Jonathan Kaufman narrates the stories of five families, exploring the complex cultural and religious landscape of Eastern Europe. The narrative unfolds in Berlin, where a prominent Jewish family clings to Communist ideals post-Cold War. A West German cantor and concentration camp survivor crosses the Berlin Wall to serve the Jewish community in East Berlin. In Hungary, a rabbi becomes a dissident when Communist leaders dismiss him, yet he continues teaching Hebrew in his living room, fighting to preserve Jewish life. Meanwhile, young citizens in Prague, Warsaw, and Budapest rediscover their heritage, finding renewed faith and pride despite the scars of war and oppression. A Polish Catholic woman silently witnesses the suffering of her Jewish neighbors during World War II and later uncovers a truth that challenges her understanding of her own past. From the old to the young, and the disenchanted to the enthusiastic, each character ultimately arrives at a place of cultural and religious renewal. This work offers a luminous portrait of the enduring, albeit transformed, Jewish life that remains a vital part of the European community.