Davi Sayed Kashua’s d Complaint against Ha d ar Freie Universität, Berlin Philip Roth: Authorial Networking between East and Manhattan’s Upper West Side

Abstract This paper highlights what seems to the author an insufficiently examined way of relating one writer to another: a writer’s decision to textually align him- or herself with another author. Intertextuality is usually not thought of as connecting two people or two authors, but rather two texts. This paper does the former by looking at how Sayed Kashua, an Israeli Arab author and journalist, uses the image of Philip Roth in his newspaper columns. First, tate University, University Park, PA tate University, S Kashua establishes Roth’s status as an author who was maligned by his com- munity and presented an inspiration for Kashua, who has himself been ac- he Pennsylvania

T cused of self-hatred. Second, Kashua presents Roth as a merciless satirist, especially of Jewish life, and thus presents himself as a much milder, forgiv- ing writer. Third, Kashua stresses that Roth is Jewish but not Israeli, while Kashua is Israeli but not Jewish. Roth’s position is only partially familiar and related to the Jewish Israeli public. Kashua stresses this position to foreground o. 1, 2017. Copyright © 2017 N the way he too, as an Israeli Arab, is only half-familiar to this same audience. ol. 36, V

Keywords: Sayed Kashua, Philip Roth, literary networks, authorial self-presentation, Palestinian

In a newspaper column entitled “A New Translation of Philip Roth Made My Life

Studies in American Jewish Literature , a Living Hell,” Sayed Kashua, an Israeli Arab author and journalist, gripes in his

05_Hadar.indd 84 17/02/17 5:19 PM

This content downloaded from 128.146.23.222 on Mon, 11 Mar 2019 19:16:36 UTC All use subject to https://about.jstor.org/terms 85 Hadar Sayed Kashua’s Complaint against Philip Roth 17/02/17 5:19 PM claim- 4 That people have That people have 1 or, simply suggesting suggesting simply or, 5 2 I will not deal with how one author influ- I will not deal with how In the newspaper column cited above, he the newspaper cited above, column In 3 Critics connect one author to another by showing showing connect one author to another by Critics This content downloaded from g n All use subject to https://about.jstor.org/terms 128.146.23.222 on Mon, 11 Mar 2019 19:16:36 UTC l Networki a Kashua is anything but remiss in acknowledging the Jewish American author the Jewish in acknowledging remiss Kashua is anything but There are three main ways in which Kashua uses Roth’s figure. The first, figure. main ways in which Kashua uses Roth’s three are There Kashua (b. 1975) is one of the best-known writers in today, thanks to today, Israel writers in the best-known 1975) is one of Kashua (b. Authori otherwise—oftenand Readers—academic terms in texts their and authors discuss of affiliation with other writers. Malamud); Bernard of friend a was (Roth associations biographical their Philip Roth (b. 1933) as an influence. 1933) as an (b. Roth Philip - constipa chronic father’s about Portnoy’s reading about how tone ironic usual the same gastric affliction. from him to suffer tion has caused willingly admits that he wants to be more like Roth. In an earlier piece, he describes In like Roth. willingly admits that he wants to be more my subject here But York. in New his giddiness at meeting the American author publicly decision to I will examine Kashua’s will not be a claim of influence. Rather, . connect himself with the older novelist one author uses another to affect readers. but rather with how ences another, status as an author who was ma- Roth’s invokes which I will discuss rather briefly, as an inspiration for Kashua, is presented As such, Roth his community. ligned by is related The second application of self-hatred. has been accused who, like Roth, life, satirist, especially of Jewish as a merciless Roth to the first—Kashua presents func- The third writer. forgiving more milder, much a as himself positioning thus is Jewish context. Kashua points out that Roth specific to the Israeli tion is more position is only par- Roth’s but not Jewish. while Kashua is Israeli but not Israeli, this position public; Kashua stresses Israeli to the Jewish tially familiar and related is only half-familiar to this Arab, the way he too, as an Israeli so as to foreground issues can be placed under another agenda: proving These three same audience. is a literarythat Kashua, like Roth, author. ing influence (Franz Kafka, among others, in Roth’s case); Roth’s in others, among Kafka, influence (Franz ing physical reactions to literature is well known; but this complaint is altogether, if is altogether, complaint but this known; well is literature to reactions physical an extent with align himself to such Why does Kashua too visceral. I might say, work? Roth’s , two partially televi- autobiographical prime-time column in Ha’aretz a weekly due to is surely of his prominence books of fiction. Some and three sion shows, language of the Jewish the writing in Hebrew, his position as a Palestinian-Israeli of the acutely aware in , his mother tongue. Kashua is population, and not and Again too. are, his readers this status and makes sure of drawbacks and perks Jewish within a an Arab man living and working as his role again, he highlights and not language, audience in their native writing to a Jewish national society, light. people in a positive always depicting his 05_Hadar.indd 85 17/02/17 5:19 PM - how These invocations, 6 In this authors are akin, one may say, akin, one may say, this authors are In 7 This content downloaded from Literature, like society and as part of society, is also a mu- like society and as part of society, Literature, 8 All use subject to https://about.jstor.org/terms 128.146.23.222 on Mon, 11 Mar 2019 19:16:36 UTC That these networks are not an incidental part not an incidental of the literary are That these networks system, but It is crucial to understand that much of what we as readers know about a about a know is crucial as readers understand that much of what we to It to users of online social networks (Facebook, Twitter, etc.), where one’s list of list of one’s etc.), where Twitter, (Facebook, to users of online social networks and is part of the networker’s interested affiliations is easily accessible to anyone self-presentation. Latour and his rather crucial Bruno for its existence, can be highlighted through his the Social, in Reassembling as introduced Actor-Network-Theory, collaborators’ his book, Latour convincingly argues that society is not In critique of sociology. need constant reestablishment a sui generis or self-supporting Societies structure. to exist; what needs explaining is not actors in order various by and reconnection of permanence The sense they maintain stability. why societies change, but how but also textual—actors that are is due to the nonhuman—material, may have we a part of the network. - At that Margaret found sometimes one, have (I, for comparison an illuminating critical These their many differences). despite light on Roth’s, shed works wood’s retailers as Internet practices such commercial in conjunction with procedures, bought, those one has already to like according books that one might suggesting not merely literature alike conceive readers that general and specialist make clear of interconnected as a network writers, but or separate individual as lists of books authors and texts. to tied he or she is how and other authors with aligns she or he way writer is the and supported the author prompted by are connections critics’ them. Sometimes Thus, writer in his works. to another reference a direct him- or herself through a story-essay dedicated an obituary wrote Roth Kafka, and to Malamud, about story. in The a James has a character read Writer Ghost ever, are far more than merely permission to compare. Rather, authors make these authors make these Rather, to compare. permission than merely far more are ever, their personae. authors as rhetorical devices that shape connections to other active making explicit and by how, first steps in showing is to take the aim here My authors in fiction and nonfiction alike, writers take to other implicit references - aspect of literarynetwork-like this and interpreta reception partial over control other ways in which alignments need to be disentangled from active tion. Such at manipulating their work linked to other writers. Authors passively authors are with image consists of relationships public image; because much of this public - means of pro may be a highly effective these networks other authors, rearranging point is not that literary men and women network persona. My ducing a desired they that be—but must study a such though everydaytheir in lives—fascinating for public consumption. exhibit networks table assemblage in need of preservation by different actors such as authors, read- different table assemblage in need of preservation by The categories ers, critics, texts, physical books, publishing houses, and libraries. likewise changeable are (e.g., canons and genres), for organizing literature have we designs, of authors, texts, character types, cover assemblages made up of networks

86 Studies in American Jewish Literature 05_Hadar.indd 86 87 Hadar Sayed Kashua’s Complaint against Philip Roth 17/02/17 5:19 PM equal The col- 12 However, even even However, 9 Approximately 1 million of the State of Israel’s 6 of Israel’s 1 million of the State Approximately This content downloaded from 10 All use subject to https://about.jstor.org/terms 11 128.146.23.222 on Mon, 11 Mar 2019 19:16:36 UTC ebrew One reason to pay special attention to Kashua when studying authorial image to pay special attention to Kashua when studying authorial image reason One For the sake of this discussion of image manipulation, I will only survey the sake of this discussion of image manipulation, I will two For H

million citizens are part of the Arabic-speaking minority. Most are descendants are Most part minority. of the Arabic-speaking are million citizens of War after the of Israel became the State in what who remained of these men and Strip, Gaza and the Bank West in the Palestinians 1948. Unlike while in theory they are Yet citizens. the full rights of Israeli women have citizens, in reality they suffer from discrimination and inequality. Their everyday and inequality. discrimination they suffer from in reality citizens, living in those of Palestinians from different identities, and histories are lives, this shows, Grumberg As Karen the occupied territories or in Arab countries. - nor in Pal fully in Israel Palestinians—neither of the Israeli spatial in-betweenness vital for Kashua’s overlap—is in reality estine, imagined geographical entities that self-perception. management is that his persona manipulation archive is large and diverse. Like is large and diverse. archive manipulation his persona is that management his public image in his fiction, interviews,other writers, he can manipulate and also produces other novelists, Kashua, unlike most other public appearances. But nearly always au- not opinion pieces, but These shortessays are column. a weekly political implications. have tobiographical sketches, though they often Kashua’s background needs some explaining for readers unfamiliar with Israeli unfamiliar with Israeli some explaining for readers needs background Kashua’s contested; is term Palestinian—the Israeli an or Arab, Israeli an is Kashua society. Arab. Israeli Kashua prefers In clichés, and many other nonhuman elements. The full understanding of literature of literature full understanding The elements. other nonhuman and many clichés, been and its potential has this essay, the scope of beyond is far as actor-network to certain and elaborated suggested Rita Felski. by extent already without further the importance elaboration, in the establishing connections of the network’s Presenting of the literarymaintenance be clear. already world should perceived. they are crucialmakeup is how to control writers who want for umns are dramatized and perhaps fictionalized to some extent, but their subject and perhaps fictionalized dramatized umns are de- writer, and often the theme is Kashua as a famous professional is their author, random encounters with people who scribing meet-the-author engagements and tens of in image projection a critic interested columns give him. Such recognize Kashua fashions for exploring how advantageous short, often dense, texts that are his persona. and refashions biography and persona will not be out a description of Kashua’s columns. Still, much but of Israel, area Triangle the in city a Tira, in born was Kashua place. of and at the school near Jerusalem boarding of his education took place at a Jewish as worked He sociology. and philosophy in majored he where University, Hebrew Bank. West on the a journalist, among other things, reporting 05_Hadar.indd 87 17/02/17 5:19 PM is After only which also 15 16 , I must admit, Arabs Dancing

14 Kashua’s move to the , States, to the United move Kashua’s 13 is a novel of marital jealousy and ethnic is a novel profile. oth. . . R This content downloaded from All use subject to https://about.jstor.org/terms ubert, Joyce, ubert, 17 a , Fl 128.146.23.222 on Mon, 11 Mar 2019 19:16:36 UTC s and an international audience through translations of his columns and translations of through audience and an international te , is a much more complex fiction about an Israeli Arab Israeli an fiction about complex more much is a , Morning Be It Let a - neigh in a Palestinian a house rented a time he at date from I look The pieces , is a fictionalized autobiography that includes autobiography , is a fictionalized Arabs Dancing first novel, His Kashua’s tone, especially in his columns and television show, is comic and and television show, tone, especially in his columns Kashua’s journalist returning to his hometown after years living in a Jewish city. living in a Jewish after years to his hometown journalist returning worth reading more as a social document than as a work of literary document than as a work as a social second more art.worth His reading novel, Socr City and York Kashua describes his first stay in New and I,” Roth “Mister In closes with a nervously writer at an Upper expected meeting with the prominent want?’. . . do you what asks, “‘So, café. After some pleasantries Roth Side West New Yorker Yorker a New including some press, borhood in East Jerusalem. Kashua left Israel in 2014 and now lives in . in Illinois. lives in 2014 and now left Israel Kashua East Jerusalem. borhood in column in his weekly of the readers to is well-known this information of Much Ha’aretz a few weeks there, the town is put under siege without explanation and all com- is put under siege without explanation the town a few there, weeks must fend for The citizens outside world comes to a stop. munication with the narrator contemplate his Israeli This disaster scenario makes Kashua’s themselves. most ubiquitous what is one of Kashua’s examining under strain Arab identity, one another toward behave community The way members of Kashua’s concerns. though with some is satirized, citizenship without Israeli Palestinians and toward , Singular Person fiction, Second of work most recent His sympathy. which took place after I had written most of this paper, lends some additional lends some paper, written most of this place after I had which took author. with an American identification about Kashua’s argument to my relevance and his mixed studies, his own prison, stint in an Israeli to his father’s references as an Arab in Israel. place emotions about his passing, by and large a more realistic and emotionally subtle affair. I will address I will address and emotionally subtle affair. realistic and large a more passing, by it in the final section of the paper. people in general, and himself in particular. Palestinians, Jews, satirizes He ironic. to bur- often at stake, he is just as likely Though political and ethnic issues are celebrity in a small country as a minor lesque family dynamics or his role as he is without saying that the almost goes It Arabs. treat to aim his darts at the way Jews from change as their preoccupations quality and insight of these columns as well They novels. better than, Kashua’s as good, or even but the best are to week, week characteriza- various and events, parallel literaryuse often irony, like techniques Kashua argues, literarythe As point. a make to methods tion Herzig Hanna critic his to bring but uses “tricks” himself using his authority directly, shows rarely messages home. Exposure, title Exposure, under the English appeared

88 Studies in American Jewish Literature 05_Hadar.indd 88 89 Hadar Sayed Kashua’s Complaint against Philip Roth 17/02/17 5:19 PM

18 20 when several when several 19 22 Gil Hochberg also gives an account of Kashua’s an account of Kashua’s also gives Hochberg Gil 21 This content downloaded from All use subject to https://about.jstor.org/terms 128.146.23.222 on Mon, 11 Mar 2019 19:16:36 UTC By invoking Roth’s trials with the Jewish community, he suggests that hearing community, the Jewish trials with Roth’s invoking By We never receive Roth’s answer. In fact we can’t be sure Kashua ever asked Kashua ever be sure can’t fact we In answer. Roth’s receive never We What do I really want? I know perfectly well what I want. I want to know what perfectly I want to know what I want. well I know want? What do I really the people face attacks from do you of the people, how it is like to be the enemy Jewry’s felt when all American he ask him how to wanted . . . I to. belong you does he feel about it today. did he do, how what leaders attacked his works, the publication of the after career to the periods in Roth’s Kashua is referring reception, showing how Palestinian Israelis critiquing Kashua’s television show see television show critiquing Kashua’s Israelis Palestinian how showing reception, to speak in audience to whom Kashua chooses Jewish to an Israeli it as “cater[ing] uncritically adopting their racist perspective.” familiar terms by Roth should help him cope with the problems he has with his own ethnic group. ethnic group. he has with his own should help him cope with the problems Roth artthe in pupil contempt.public handling of Roth’s as himself offers Kashua Here Kashua points out that they occupy similar positions experienced Roth. is a less He part of the same tradition of artists their society, and are and thinkers scorned by Flaubert, and Gustave Joyce anda tradition that includes James goes at least as these questions at all because the column ends with Kashua’s realization that what that realization ends with Kashua’s these questions at all because the column misprision notwith- This . was asking him was what he wanted for breakfast Roth and many would who know, is clear to readers message here standing, Kashua’s and interviews,because he has discussed it in his columns that he has attracted com- Israeli the Palestinian members of self-hate from and of betrayal accusations - thus: “Al first novel of Kashua’s Kayyal describes the reviews Mahmoud munity. and critical of its derogatory view severely of Arab society, most all of them were view in the eyes of the Arab stereotypic its contribution to the perpetuation of a that ‘Kashua jeers emphasizes Ghanayim Hamza Muhammad society. of Jewish cultural hero,’ tragically schizophrenic ‘a he is, therefore, at us Arabs, in Hebrew’; in com- spiritual examination of himself and of the ‘other’ who engages in ‘a terms, which completely distort the fragrance of the Arab in this, pletely Israeli his first literary production.’” and I didn’t know where to start. What do I want? Get him to sign the books, get books, get to sign the him Get do I want? What to start. where know didn’t and I , about Shylock about Operation about Zuckerman, me about Portnoy, him to tell Bellow.” got started, he like with Saul what it was Theater, tell me how Sabbath’s or about another author, the novels, of asking him about the idea Discarding as much about thus revealing about, cares what he really the readers Kashua tells about Roth: himself as Complaint , Portnoy’s Columbus and the novel stories of Goodbye, Jews, some of them very prominent rabbis and scholars, accused Roth’s writing writing some of them very rabbis and scholars, accused Roth’s prominent Jews, attacks are These flames. supplying fuel to anti-Semitic and self-hatred of Jewish been depicted and have of Roth profiles almost always mentioned in journalistic . in The writing, most prominently Writer Ghost in Roth’s and parodied 05_Hadar.indd 89 17/02/17 5:19 PM 23 This content downloaded from All use subject to https://about.jstor.org/terms oth R

as d 128.146.23.222 on Mon, 11 Mar 2019 19:16:36 UTC Ba

as There is quite a lot going on in this portion of the first paragraph. KashuaThere for not being able to be as satirical as Roth he brings here The main reason his far exceeds school, his mastery boarding of Hebrew in a Jewish Educated ex- his existence and daily of written Arabic (fusha). Furthermore, knowledge a fact that always been in Hebrew, have periences, as his writings make clear, I wish I could write like Roth-Portnoy writes about his family specifically and specifically family his about writes Roth-Portnoy like write could I wish I I want to write not that I want to write about the Jews, in general. It’s the Jews and to write about them like that in the enemy’s hard, about Arabs, but it’s such hate-filled to produce only dare impossible. I will that’s language, well, consciousness of a common des- descriptions that go hand in hand with the his mother tongue English, wrote tiny when I learn to write in Arabic. Roth wrote the book. He he depicts in and the language of the American Jews others. about them for them, not about them for suggesting that though he should like Roth, writes that he wishes he could be more as the American author. he is not as extreme on the same scale as Roth, be measured nationalor ethnic the and life family depict he and Roth ways the Kashua compares though But was. Roth as mean-spirited as not is he that out turns It community. that he the reader remind is quick to Kashua their artrespects, is similar in some that he needs it is not about Jews an ethnic background: do not share and Roth least not yet. will certainly not write like Roth—at to write, but about Arabs. He Since Hebrew. language,” the “enemy’s is this: he will not write against Arabs in was formal education and most of Kashua’s literary Arabic is difficult to master, of—he is stuck. aware already are many of his readers background in Hebrew—a use of Hebrew: on the issue of Kashua’s is worth quoting here Hochberg Not the piece Life a Living Hell,” My Made Roth of Philip Translation New “A In Roth. and himself between differences the on focuses Kashua began, I which with image. After Roth’s utilizes way that Kashua related, yet a new, The piece presents experience, he stresses his reading constipation caused by complaining about the fact, deal. In a great Roth that he actually admires , but would be would be , but The in invokes Roth lineage as Socrates—a far back Writer Ghost thus presents Kashua that novel. had not read if they even to many readers known literary the by luminaryhis struggles light, a light bestowed in a heroic Roth. com- most the all probability is in similarity kind of some that stresses Alignment of authorial networking. mon function

90 Studies in American Jewish Literature 05_Hadar.indd 90 91 Hadar Sayed Kashua’s Complaint against Philip Roth 17/02/17 5:19 PM 25 - Zucker when Nathan This content downloaded from 24 All use subject to https://about.jstor.org/terms 128.146.23.222 on Mon, 11 Mar 2019 19:16:36 UTC Kashua wants to show that he is not as provocative and provoking as Roth was Roth as and provoking that he is not as provocative Kashua wants to show While this term is used to ironize his critics, it is also expedient in making his critics, it While this term is used to ironize actual position in the United Kashua is somewhat Roth’s disingenuous about The term "enemy’s language" is ironic because it is, despite the conflict, also also conflict, the despite it is, because ironic is language" "enemy’s term The and authors is. . . strange and incomprehensible, Arab writing by Hebrew of the rich Arabic cultural, literarysuch an act is a denial and linguistic heri- such Moreover, component of the national identity. tage, which is an essential and aggression, and treachery of Israeli in the face acts constitute sycophancy language. the Hebrew view and marginality of useless, in of the weakness are makes his writing in Hebrew a natural, if not necessary, choice. . . . Writing Writing . . . choice. necessary, if not a natural, in Hebrew his writing makes a movement his narrators simply for Kashua and represents never in Hebrew into the cul- assimilation and towards identity”) self (or “true the away from of the colonizer. ture man’s father worries that, if published, the story father worries that, if published, the writer has produced that the young man’s some of the worst stereotypes money will corroborate based on a family feud over Kashua story. his son not to publish the and implores about Jews, have non-Jews but cited above, and I,” Roth of these issues when writing “Mr. awareness showed rather than the similarities. the differences in the later piece he stresses Complaint is written as if it was a tran- Portnoy’s he has been reading. in the novel tells He to his psychotherapist. long monologue scription of Alexander Portnoy’s onanistic and family and his own of the Jewish of the dysfunctions and absurdities or amatory directness the late 1960s an almost unheard-of exploits in what was in but unlike the novel, Kashua is glad to tell the world that he appreciates vulgarity. that know to readers his wants He way. the all going not back, holding is he Roth, of a traitor. more revealing, hateful, more he could be more he could be meaner, difficult to digest my writing might be; and see how look at Portnoy, is saying: He signalingis He am. I timid how realize and Roth of heard have you things of think that he is not as bad as they make him out to be, and to his Arab-speaking readers is much about his that there readers mostly Jewish at the same time he tells other, his columns and novels. access to despite reading world they do not have his position more vivid when contrasting himself with Roth, who is presumably who is presumably vivid when contrasting himself with Roth, his position more language of his community. writing in the unproblematic is the language of Though English of his career. especially in the early years States, gentiles, some of whom are it is also the language of American most American Jews, in The dramatizes issue Roth anti-Semitic—an Writer Ghost Kashua’s. It is meant to be taken as an echo of his Palestinian critics who might as an echo of his Palestinian is meant to be taken It Kashua’s. to Kayyal, at least According or suspect him simply for this choice. wish to ignore find that some Arab intellectuals 05_Hadar.indd 91 17/02/17 5:19 PM This content downloaded from All use subject to https://about.jstor.org/terms 128.146.23.222 on Mon, 11 Mar 2019 19:16:36 UTC egibility L l a A case in point can be found in the second section of the piece, in which he piece, in of the second section in the can be found in point A case might bewith—and be compared can parents his with conversation Kashua’s rti a The image Kashua projects through Roth, the satirist holding back, is compli- is back, holding satirist the Roth, through projects Kashua image The he saying that he has much more By presentation. its own by cated and undercut despicable his ethnic or national and mock, he is suggesting how could criticize on This is especially striking as Kashua has been quite rough might be. group first so in his fiction. His more people in his newspaper and even work his own in the home and at school. for instance, depicts violence against children novel, P describes a phone conversation with his parents. His mother warns him abouthim warns mother His parents. his with conversation phone a describes going on the him that they are and informs Islam) by (prohibited drinking alcohol of the commu- a lifelong member father was Kashua’s to Mecca. , a pilgrimage Hajj flabbergasted, Kashua an atheist, but though presumably nist party therefore and gentle fun only makes He or inconsistency. his father for hypocrisy does not berate Playmobil and her hope that healing power in holy water’s belief of his mother’s “R” Us. Toys of branches than in Israeli in Mecca will be less expensive toys Portnoy Alex between match) yelling a rather (or conversation after—a modeled calendar, one of the holiest days in the Jewish Hashana, is Rosh It and his father. come to synagogue with him or at least Alex to asks young and the elder Portnoy for the high holiday. appropriate clothes to something more his street change from these holidays mean anythingact like not going to stating that “I’m refuses, Alex was and never and there as God, is no such thing There . . when they don’t!. sends the entire This argument (61). a lie” sorry but in my vocabulary that’s I’m divulges that his mother was in the hospital at When Portnoy family into tears. mean-spirited to deny his more it seems even surgery, from the time, recovering a “little prick” may suggest that Alex was While an older Portnoy requests. father’s organized for disdain his this occasion, on his father to unkind so being for (64) the diatribe against by This is obvious age of thirty. the has not passed by Judaism fat, pompous, impa- is “a tells his psychologist, who, as Portnoy Warshaw Rabbi you (73). I will save complex” superiority tient fraud, with absolutely grotesque it Portnoy, Though these statements may be ascribed to a young the worst of it. he decided to them. As for Roth, at thirtyseems that even to repeat he is happy Kashua’s draw. they may and accept the censure in a published work include them magnanimous more seems even Hajj extemporized his parents’ tolerance toward - its repre and religion organized viciousness toward when situated against Roths to highlight the differences in order Connecting to an author mainly sentatives. underlining than complex somewhatperhaps rhetoric, common another is more the similarities.

92 Studies in American Jewish Literature 05_Hadar.indd 92 93 Hadar Sayed Kashua’s Complaint against Philip Roth 17/02/17 5:19 PM Thus, Adia Mendelson-Maoz Mendelson-Maoz Adia Thus, 27 Clearly part of Kashua’s project is to is project part Clearly of Kashua’s 28 This content downloaded from The idea that Kashua’s columns are depictions of reality of reality depictions are columns that Kashua’s The idea All use subject to https://about.jstor.org/terms 26 128.146.23.222 on Mon, 11 Mar 2019 19:16:36 UTC A Jewish Israeli reader might be satisfied that even if he does not hear every that even might be satisfied - reader Israeli A Jewish Kashua will not let the reader stay satisfied thinking that he or she knows stay satisfied thinking that he or she knows Kashua will not let the reader and not fabrications is fostered by their appearance in the newspaper, which gen- the newspaper, their appearance in by is fostered and not fabrications by might seem that true than fiction. It rather reportage its readers erally promises to the he is leaving it up vicious things to write, more are that there simply stating revealing simply than dangerous more move this Is worst. the imagine to reader showing Roth: will lead to the next way Kashua deploys This question everything? audience. Israeli partiallyboth of them as only legible to the Jewish there that life and knows what is going on in Kashua’s a lot about thing, he knows to guess is possible that it imagine even or she might He to tell. more might be the many by This potential is registered if he dared. report what Kashua would or explain happy to interpret who are critics, myself not excluded, Israeli Jewish especially is It readers. international and Israeli Jewish other to writing Kashua’s Kashua so, interpret in doing who, while not wrong critics noticeable with those Herzig, Hanna writer. as a Jewish figuratively, tradition or, as writing in a Jewish himself as Kashua presents how for an online magazine, shows writing in Hebrew - of the “dias Thus he is reminiscent passive.” cowardly, pretty anti-hero, a “comic for which society,” gentile with to deal how quite know not “does who Jew” pora society. Israeli Allen, Jewish Woody points out while invoking Kashua is, as Herzig society; this from estranged not totally is Kashua underlines, also as Herzig But it, again veryhe always finds himself integrating into much like the widespread is a recurring “Jewishness” Kashua’s fact, In Jew. of the American representations works. his with engagement academic in theme make himself seem familiar to his audience, often through using a Jewish cultural using a Jewish often through make himself seem familiar to his audience, in those terms; however, can be read Roth the alignment with Indeed, vocabulary. needs some refinement. that this framework I believe he let them think that they can fully un- life, nor will what is going on in Kashua’s constipation, Kashua in pain from back to the column, still derstand him. Going inevitably speaks He of Jerusalem. appears in a panel discussion on the future This in- East Jerusalemites. Palestinian about the clogged sewage by system faced significance for has a special (and humorous) but it problem, deed may be a real moved deeply a over, is panel the After complaint. gastric his of because Kashua talk made me ashamed middle-aged woman comes up to him and says: “Your The butt of the joke . . so, so sincere.” pain was simply. . . your to be an Israeli. The woman sees the pain, which is indeed sincere, audience. Israeli is Kashua’s Looking back to such scenes makes one wonder how terrible the things he does the things terrible how one wonder makes such scenes back to Looking may be. not talk about and Liat Steir-Livny, focusing on his fiction and script writing, have found that writing, have focusing on his fiction and script and Liat Steir-Livny, Jewish with correspond that qualities with his protagonists endows often Kashua - makes the case that Kashua integrates Jewish Shimony while Batya stereotypes, identity. Israeli ness into his Palestinian 05_Hadar.indd 93 17/02/17 5:19 PM Despite Despite 29 The Human Stain Stain Human The To the best of my the best of my To 30 There are no other novels no other novels are There

is more about sexual about more Complaint is Portnoy’s this point is hinted at by invoking invoking by at hinted is point this This content downloaded from Roth’s novel about Colman Silk, an African American pass- American African an Silk, Colman about novel Roth’s All use subject to https://about.jstor.org/terms 128.146.23.222 on Mon, 11 Mar 2019 19:16:36 UTC (1984, English 1988), for instance, is a story (1984, English Arab Confessions of a Good (2010, English 2012), English (2010, The piece that began with Kashua reading Roth ends with an example of ends with an example Roth reading that began with Kashua The piece also appears between and Roth Kashua The same chasm that exists between Racial or ethnic passing occurs in Israel. One example of passing has reached of passing has reached example One Racial or ethnic passing occurs in Israel. visceral in fact, but she mistakes its origin and therefore its significance. Instead of Instead significance. its therefore and its origin but she mistakes in fact, visceral nothing or little to physical pain and has pain, it is personal national Palestinian being an Israeli. do with her a crucial was piece of information case where Kashua, a misreading an Israeli to Israelis is partially readable Roth The way auditors. the Israeli hidden from is important half visible to the same public. Just in seeing why Kashua is only life: Israeli from distance Roth’s foregrounds Kashua described, I scene the before pain was unbearable, I cursed Roth The in my eyes. on stage with tears “I went in Why should I suffer ]. [em-ema shel Portnoy mama and his father and Portnoy’s the sixties?” man from because of some perverted21st century Jewish Jerusalem (The column, Almost half a centuryPortnoy. and an ocean separate Kashua and with and Kashua of Roth Amos Biderman, an illustration by includes incidentally, suffering should unjust that their is therefore images.) It a toilet separating their the same. Kashua is fixated not really their complaints are and indeed be shared, novel; of that minor aspect is a what on or maybe calling Portnoy, suggests by dissatisfaction and impotence (what Kashua battle The scenes depicting the father’s perverted)Roth, than about constipation. center of the not the obvious may be memorable, but they are with his bowels in Israel visits Portnoy that mention not does he that insignificant it is Nor novel. the final section of that novel. they only share but not American Jews, Jews readers. and most of his Israeli Roth - Sin Person Yahid/Second Sheni Guf Kashua’s In cultural background. part of Roth’s gular its occurrence, the phenomena of Palestinians passing as Jews did not register in in did not register passing as Jews the phenomena of Palestinians its occurrence, . Person fiction, as far as I could ascertain, until Second tradition, or the Palestinian of ethnic passing about Arabs in either the Hebrew Yoram identities: and mixed about ambivalent novels several are though there Kaniuk’s father. mother and a Palestinian about a man with a Jewish (2000, Hebrew 2000), Hebrew (2000, finds himself novel, of Kashua’s one of the two protagonists Amir, ing as a Jew. Silk. Roth’s like just Jewish, as suicide—passing Jewish of a identity the assuming some do. I believe novel, think of Roth’s would readers Though not all of Kashua’s had Kashour Saber conviction. rape a to led it when years recent in headlines the Dudu. named Jew Israeli an as himself presenting after woman Jewish a with sex deception” by “rape a to agreed but rape, forceful for prosecuted first was He said that in decision to accept this plea have of the court’s plea bargain. Critics the rape laws. justifying racism and subverting so doing the courts are

94 Studies in American Jewish Literature 05_Hadar.indd 94 95 Hadar Sayed Kashua’s Complaint against Philip Roth 17/02/17 5:19 PM - many educated Israe is the case with This 31 This content downloaded from All use subject to https://about.jstor.org/terms 32 128.146.23.222 on Mon, 11 Mar 2019 19:16:36 UTC is the only American novel about racial passing that that passing about racial novel American only is the Stain Human The There is an additional aspect of Roth’s identity that Kashua does not identity that Kashua additional aspect of Roth’s is an There empha- only not partialof position This presence—is absent illegibility—of lis. Kashua is probably not thinking or expecting anyone else to think of other else to think of other or expecting anyone not thinking is probably lis. Kashua of an The Autobiography Johnson’s Weldon James of passing, say novels American Roth’s who knows a reader . However, Passing Larsen’s or Nella Man Ex-Colored adaptation— if not especially successful screen available its widely even novel—or They would note that novel. Kashua’s when reading Stain The Human may recall their experiences, even subject matter was quite distant from ’s Stain The Human - is describing. Racial and ethnic rela Kashua lives the Palestinian alien than more worlds apart those in from just as complex, are though arguably tions in Israel, States. the United share. Roth is a Jew; Kashua is not. This gap also exists between Kashua and also exists between This gap not. Kashua is is a Jew; Roth share. in live not relevant—most are The other distancing factors many of his readers. distant also are readers time, Kashua’s the same At twenty-first-century Israel. citizens, Israeli in mind are Kashua and the public he seems to have Roth. from and readers authors that American and assumptions lacking certainknowledge in not wholly American Jew—is Roth—an calling attention to how By share. that he too is not Kashua stresses Jews, sync with their understanding as Israeli understand easily might They Arab. Israeli an as readers his legible to absolutely but they run into difficulties when tryingKashua as an Israeli, to understand the same time that Kashua makes efforts At to make himself him as a Palestinian. using their language, familiar cultural stereotypes by readers to his Jewish available and aligning himself with Jewish show), and Steir-Livny (as Mendelson-Maoz them that they can at a distance, showing authors, he is also keeping the readers jump to conclusions They should not and meanings. his motives easily misread about what he does not tell them. of Kashua as a literary perception The reader’s for cultural-political reasons. sized and understand- with reading Difficulties such presentation. by author is enforced text seems absolutely legible, it is easy for the a If literariness. a work’s ing mark utilitarian object; the newspapercolumns of it as a merely audience to conceive of a The difficulty entertainment.as fiction and Kashua’s like reports seem would language or worldviewwill often signal that it has artistic or philosophical text’s but it is no longer seen as literary, illegible, though, a text is absolutely If value. at all. A balanced, partialas gibberish, not worth legibility is maintained reading literary most by texts but also of their personae. Kashua writers, not only of their that his writings among other things, to show uses his ethnic-national difference, Kashua takes one step in a playing with identification and identity, By literary. are and thus, one figure, himself as a half-decipherable of marking long term project knowledge, knowledge, has been translated into Hebrew. Kashua writes that, while fluent in English, he he fluent in English, writes that, while Kashua into Hebrew. has been translated English. from translations only reads 05_Hadar.indd 95 17/02/17 5:19 PM - Connotations: and . His His . Answer Partial sraeli Jew, and thus a sraeli Jew, to a to The Writer Ghost American Imago Imago American This content downloaded from All use subject to https://about.jstor.org/terms (Evanston, IL: Northwestern University University Northwestern IL: (Evanston, Sebald G. W. and Roth, Philip ee, is a Minerva postdoctoral fellow at the John F. Kennedy Institute for Institute Kennedy F. at the John postdoctoral fellow is a Minerva 128.146.23.222 on Mon, 11 Mar 2019 19:16:36 UTC ar d Coetz

ernard Avishai, an American-Israeli political scientist and commentator, takes, at takes, scientist and commentator, political an American-Israeli Avishai, ernard ee, for example, Evelyn Avery, “Roth on Malamud: From From Malamud: on “Roth Avery, Evelyn example, for ee, of J. Kafka and the Fiction Franz Sons: Three L. Medin, ee, for example, Daniel Work Their Colleagues and and His Writer A Talk: in Shop of Malamud,” ee “Pictures ayed Kashua, “A New Translation of Philip Roth Made My Life a Living Hell,” Life a Living Hell,” My Made Roth of Philip Translation New Kashua, “A ayed Ha M. S to Admire You Wanted 2001), 120–31); and “‘I Always Mifflin, (Boston: Houghton member of Kashua’s target audience but not his ethnic group or nationality. Perhaps Perhaps or nationality. target audience but not his ethnic group member of Kashua’s de- the same sociology at studied both we be mentioned: also should similarities our Additionally, times. different at though Jerusalem, University, partmentHebrew the at published. pieces were Kashua’s , the newspaper where I occasionally write for Ha’aretz a Hebrew “I once gave work: Kashua to Roth’s for introducing least partial, credit and journalist friend, the novelist to an Arab-Israeli Stain translation of The Human Complaint had had a up all night to finish it. Portnoy’s stayed . . . He Kashua. Sayed Pro Avishai, Complaint: Bernard is a book about Portnoy’s The context similar effect.” S S 2010). Press, B S (Hebrew). 2010, http://www.haaretz.co.il/misc/1.1194968 27, , March Ha’aretz position as an I This is as good a place as any to point out my Haven, (New of Happiness Pursuit Doomed and Our Complaint” miscuous: “Portnoy’s 2012), 153. Press, University Yale CT: 1 (2008): 87–94. 4, no. Studies Roth Philip Post-Mortem,” d

1. 5. 3. 2. 4. 6. - Net titled Authorial on a book working is currently . He Debate of Critical A Journal . Literature American Jewish and around in working An earlier version of this paper was delivered at the “Jewish-American Literature Goes Goes Literature at the “Jewish-American of this paper was delivered An earlier version 3–6, January Boston, Language Association Convention, at the Modern panel Global” Evron, Nir Roth, Lawrence to thank like would I Jaffe-Foger. Miriam by organized 2013, the and group, reading Literature" Hebrew in “Critic of the members the Stavsky, Jonathan at SAJL for their part in shaping this paper. readers Notes Davi deservingthe literary with that goes along reading the attentive he seeks. authority shapes his is one of the ways Kashua with Roth misaligning himself Aligning and his position vis- same time as he adjusts at the author, Israeli as a central role own literary his location in the playing with milieus. By and Palestinian à-vis Israeli signifi- cultural-political his concerning perceptions the shapes Kashua network, of his work. the value cance and North American Studies, Freie Universität Berlin. He received his PhD from the from his PhD received He Berlin. Universität Freie American Studies, North at editor junior a is He 2015. in Jerusalem University, Hebrew academic work appeared or is forthcomingis or in appeared work academic

96 Studies in American Jewish Literature 05_Hadar.indd 96 97 Hadar Sayed Kashua’s Complaint against Philip Roth 17/02/17 5:19 PM 31, Jewry Contemporary as giving “comic (but probably not much not (but probably “comic as giving (London: J. Cape, 1969), Hebrew Hebrew 1969), Cape, J. (London: Complaint Portnoy’s This content downloaded from All use subject to https://about.jstor.org/terms 128.146.23.222 on Mon, 11 Mar 2019 19:16:36 UTC 42, no. 4 (2011): 573–91; Rita 4 (2011): 573–91; Rita History 42, no. Literary New elski, “Context Stinks!” Second Opinion (2011), Opinion Second Anti-Hero,” Kashua as a Jewish “Sayed anna Herzig, The Ghost Writer Lee describes The ermione Writer Ghost , September , September The Yorker New Quits,” Calls It Palestinian Favorite “Israel’s uth Margalit, (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1959), Hebrew transla - 1959), Hebrew Mifflin, Columbus (Boston: Houghton Goodbye, hilip Roth, 130, no. 3 (2015): 737–42. PMLA 130, no. elski, “Latour and Literary Studies,” air Adiel already gave some scholarly attention to Kashua’s columns, using them to some scholarly attention to Kashua’s gave already air Adiel - Supple Weekend 1, 2008, sec. February Ha’aretz, and I,” Roth Kashua, “Mister ayed , trans. by Miriam Shlesinger (New York: Grove, 2004). Grove, York: (New Shlesinger Miriam by trans. , Arabs Kashua, Dancing ayed Cat, Black York: (New Shlesinger , trans. Miriam Morning Be Kashua, Let It ayed York: (New Ginsburg Mitch by Translated . Singular Person Kashua, Second ayed - In the Social: An Reassembling no group,” work, “No ee especially the subchapter: of and the Prospect Arab: Kashua an Israeli to Be or Not Be “To Hochberg, ee Gil (Syracuse, Literature and Ideology Place Grumberg, Hebrew ee Karen in Contemporary ome critics have already used network concepts to describe real world connections to describe real concepts used network already have ome critics (London: Roth in Philip of those angryexaggerated) versions letters of the sixties,” H ment, 6 (Hebrew). All translations are mine, unless indicated otherwise. However, otherwise.indicated unless mine, are translations All However, (Hebrew). 6 ment, edition, http://www English ’s in Ha’aretz available columns are some of Kashua’s , Life an Israeli-Palestinian Dispatches from Kashua, Native: and Sayed ..com/ 2016). Grove, York: (New trans. Ralph Mandel P 2010; and 1970 published tions Original edition 2002. Original edition 2004. 2006). Original S edition 2010. 2012). Original Grove, H http://2nd-ops.com/2ndop/?p=6596 (Hebrew). S translations published 1970, 2010. R 7, 2015, http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2015/09/07/an-exile-in-the-corn-belt. S S (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005), 34–37. 2005), Press, University Oxford (Oxford: to Actor-Network-Theory troduction 1 (2010), 78. 62, no. Literature Comparative Speech-Acts,” Minority S 2011), 123–57. Press, University Syracuse NY: Y the that he sees as missing from illustrate and examine critical and political possibilities as Reflected of Linguistic Attitudes and Politics “Poetics Adiel, Yair See linguistics. Israeli 34 (2009): 11–41 (Hebrew). Theory and Criticism Kashua,” Sayed in Columns by S Rita F ­F S that are not necessarily exhibited by writers. Richard Jean So and Hoyt Long have have Long Hoyt and So Jean Richard writers. by exhibited necessarily not are that literary of literary analysis how used network systems to show periodicals and authors author Hebrew the social network constructed, presents while Charles Kadushin are and So Jean his letters. Richard analyzing through created Chaim Brenner Yoseph Boundary40.2 2 Modernism,” of and the Sociology Analysis Long, “Network Hoyt Jews,” and Networks “Social Kadushin, Charles 147–82; (2013): and Others Vintage (London: Myself in Reading at Kafka,” Looking or, Fasting’; My and Straus Farrar, York: (New The Roth, Philip 281–302. Books, 2007), Writer Ghost published 1981. translation 1979). Hebrew Giroux, S as a tool specifically chapter on networks Roth’s also Laurence 1 (2011): 55–73. See no. Contemporary to Handbook Routledge The “Networks,” cultures. Jewish the study of for 2014). Routledge, York: (New Roth and Laurence Valman , ed. Nadia Cultures Jewish

8. 7. 9. 11. 15. 13. 12. 18. 14. 19. 17. 16. 10. 20. 05_Hadar.indd 97 17/02/17 5:19 PM http://www ovember 18, 2010. 18, ovember ­N , ed. Asher Zelig Milbauer Milbauer Zelig , ed. Asher Roth Philip Reading This content downloaded from elevant even if Kashua did not mean to insert it. However, there there if Kashua did not mean to insert even However, it. elevant All use subject to https://about.jstor.org/terms ahmoud. “‘Arabs Dancing in a New Light of Arabesques’: Minor Hebrew Hebrew Minor Light of Arabesques’: in a New Dancing ahmoud. “‘Arabs A New Translation of Philip Roth Made My Life a Living Hell.” Life a Living My Made Roth of Philip Translation A New The Israeli Democracy Democracy The Israeli Kashour Case,” the Saber On Deception: “Rape by ox, 128.146.23.222 on Mon, 11 Mar 2019 19:16:36 UTC 1 (2008): 47. 1 (2008): 36.

ahmoud Kayyal, “‘Arabs Dancing in a New Light of Arabesques’: Minor Hebrew Hebrew Minor of Arabesques’: Light a New in Dancing Kayyal, “‘Arabs ahmoud , November 18, , November Haaretz.co.il Books in English.” “Why to Read anna Herzig, I Refuse ochberg, “To Be or Not to Be an Israeli Arab,” 84. Arab,” an Israeli to Be or Not Be ochberg, “To il Hochberg, “To Be or Not to Be an Israeli Arab: Sayed Kashua and the Prospect of Prospect the and Kashua Sayed Arab: Israeli an Be to Not or Be “To Hochberg, il dia Mendelson-Maoz, and Liat Steir-Livny. “The Jewish Works of Sayed Kashua of Sayed Works “The Jewish and Liat Steir-Livny. dia Mendelson-Maoz, ee Hochberg, “To Be or Not to Be an Israeli Arab,” 71–73, for a brief history of this Arab,” an Israeli to Be or Not Be “To ee Hochberg, , Ha’aretz English,” in Books Read to Refuse I Why t needs to be acknowledged that this view suggests that satire is factual exposé and exposé is factual this viewthat satire that suggests to be acknowledged t needs , December 20, 2010, http://www.idi.org.il/ (Hebrew). 20, 2010, http://www.idi.org.il/ , December Institute S writing. motif in Palestinian “ 11, Literatures Eastern Middle of Critics,” the Eyes in Authors of Palestinian Works no. A - Shi 1 (2011): 107–29. Batya 26, no. Review Studies Israel or Subordinate?” Subversive Kashua, ” The Case of Sayed Words: in Hebrew Identity Israeli-Arab “Shaping mony, 1 (2013): 146–69. 18, no. Studies Israel Amir F 62, no. 1 (2010): 82. 62, no. Literature Comparative Speech-Acts,” Minority I Kashua plays with this rather, This is not what I maintain; construction. not a writer’s point. to make his own view in order H (Hebrew). 2010, http://www.haaretz.co.il/misc/1.1230814 11, Literatures Eastern Middle of Critics,” in the Eyes Authors of Palestinian Works no. H Kashua, “ G Kayyal, M M Methuen, 1982), 33; and Hana Wirth-Nesher dubs it “a sophisticated and richly and richly sophisticated it “a dubs Wirth-Nesher and Hana 1982), 33; Methuen, in the Place Roth’s to Prague: Newark “From critics.” to Roth’s response structured American-Jewish Literary Tradition,” academic The best 26. 1988), Press, Martin’s St. York: (New Watson G. Donald and found of handling it can be and his ways against Roth backlash Jewish account of the a journal- 1996). For Press, (Albany: SUNY Jews and the Roth Philip in Alan Cooper’s Writer A Unbound: Roth Pierpont’s see Claudia Roth account, comprehensive istic yet of the “Defenders 2013), chap. and Giroux, Straus Farrar, York: Books (New and His Faith.” The association is r reason that give the novels number of other parallels (large and small) between a are on Second when working Stain to assume that Kashua was thinking of The Human or college campuses as a examples should suffice: both use university Three . Person the feature both and importantan as husband jealous a character, have both setting, use of handwriting experts. .haaretz.co.il/misc/1.1230814. [Hebrew] .haaretz.co.il/misc/1.1230814.

31. 21. 25. 23. 32. 28. 22. 30. 24. 29. 27. 26.

98 Studies in American Jewish Literature 05_Hadar.indd 98