Triumph of faith

Neuberger insists that he can survive and thrive due to his adult embrace of Orthodox Judaism.

By MORTON I. TEICHER
2020 vision book 88 224 (photo credit: Courtesy)
2020 vision book 88 224
(photo credit: Courtesy)
2020 Vision By Roy S. Neuberger Feldheim 328 pages; $24.99 Fantasy fiction about the future includes George Orwell's 1984, published in 1949 as a criticism of totalitarianism. Somewhat closer to Roy S. Neuberger's book is Nevil Shute's On the Beach, in which nuclear war destroys the world. But neither of these two books quite captures the point of view promulgated by Neuberger. For that, one must turn to the "Left Behind" series by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins, inaugurated in 1995. Enjoying enormous popularity, these books deal with the "Rapture" at the end of days. Despite the widespread acclaim of the "Left Behind" books, a number of critics assert that their ideas are contrary to Christian theology. What Neuberger has in common with Orwell, Shute, LaHaye and Jenkins is that he too is writing about the future. In his case, it is 2020 when terrorists have supposedly unleashed tactical nuclear weapons, killing many people, causing tremendous destruction and crippling communication, transportation and defense systems. The attacks are attributed to Muslim zealots who are trying to take over the world. Writing in the first person, Neuberger describes how he and his wife, Leah, cope with these horrendous events. Mingling fact with fiction, Neuberger insists that he is armed with the capacity to survive and thrive as a consequence of his adult embrace of Orthodox Judaism, an experience he detailed in his 2000 autobiography, From Central Park to Sinai: How I Found My Jewish Soul. His diligent studies enable him to cite Jewish texts in this new book as he confronts one dangerous situation after another. Starting out from their Long Island home, Neuberger and Leah use bicycles to head for New Jersey where their children live. They cross Brooklyn, aiming for the Verrazano Bridge to Staten Island, but they find the bridge has been destroyed. A man with a boat gets them across the Narrows and refuses to take Leah's ring in payment as they had agreed. When they tell him that they are planning to reach the Holy Land, he and the Neubergers somewhat dubiously settle on meeting in Jerusalem some day. After further harrowing adventures, they incredibly hook up with their children who have left their home in an Orthodox Jewish community to seek refuge in the woods from marauding gangs. About 100 of their fellow residents join the Neubergers in a quixotic trek for the Holy Land by way of Portland, Maine, more than 300 miles away. Neuberger remembers that there is an ocean-going ferry there that travels between Portland and Halifax, Nova Scotia. He asserts that this ship will help take them to Israel. Many adversities and hazards block their way but despite these obstacles, the group actually reaches Portland and sets sail for France. The fulfillment of this miraculous journey strains credulity as it barely remains within the bounds of what might conceivably be possible. Finally, however, when the odds of moving any farther reach beyond the realm of reason, Neuberger totally abandons reality - introducing angels and huge birds that fly the group to the Holy Land. The messiah has come! Faith has triumphed! Neuberger has written a spiritual fantasy that may appeal to some Orthodox Jews who share his views. However, most readers will be troubled by the premise of this book, its total lack of subtlety and the zealousness of its heavy-handed author. The writer is the founding dean of the Wurzweiler School of Social Work, Yeshiva University, and dean emeritus of the School of Social Work, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.