Here There Is No Why

Here There Is No Why

Did Chaim Lerner, acclaimed Israeli author and Holocaust survivor, kill himself in 1983, thirty-eight years after surviving Auschwitz? If so, was it traumatic memories finally catching up to him? Or despair over Holocaust denialism? Or ordinary, difficult health issues-an aching hip, a damaged knee? Or simply a deadly episode of depression? Or was it murder? In 2005, Judah Loeb, Lerner's former student and now a struggling American journalist and single father, travels to Jerusalem to investigate Lerner's death. He drags along his fifteen-year-old daughter, Hannah, and they team up with Charlie, Judah's former Hebrew University roommate, now a Jerusalem homicide detective. Their investigation takes them through the darker corners of the Israeli psyche, where they uncover secrets that threaten to destroy Lerner's reputation and alter Jewish history. While probing the mysteries of Israel's past, they encounter personal betrayal, heartbreak, and the fragile possibilities of forgiveness and redemption. "Author Rabbi Graubart provides us with an intellectual whodunnit. . . If you enjoy mysteries, especially those involving religiously knowledgeable Jewish principals, this one will engage you without let-up from beginning to end. Mazal tov to Rabbi Graubart for simultaneously teaching and entertaining readers."- Don Harrison, San Diego Jewish World "With a wealth of porcelain prose, Here There Is No Why is a twisting and captivating story that captures a rarefied world of faith, philosophy, and troubling human complexity with both heart and humility. This is not one to miss." - BookTrib "In this novel, Graubart, a rabbi, grapples with primal and provocative questions about suicide and trauma. . . . A gripping novel of revelations and redemption with a searching and sympathetic character at its core." -Kirkus Review What a story! "Here There is No Why" will be counted as one of my top five reads of 2024. If you didn't know better, as a reader, you would think this book is non-fiction! Completely relatable characters, family life, flaws, intrigue, mystery, questions of God, the Holocaust, and suicide. A well-rounded juggernaut of historical and contemporary issues. . . From the origin story behind the words "Here There is No Why" to how this phrase appears a handful of times throughout this book's pages, these words will stay with you and have you pondering life long after reading. Books that linger have the potential to change a reader's perspective, and books that teach are books with staying power that should be rewarded with no less than a full five-star review. Thank you, Phil Graubart, for the gift of your words. My hat's off to you!- Jennie Louwes, Reedsy Discovery "I rate the book five out of five stars for the way it tackles complex themes with grace and intelligence. The book is perfect for anyone who is open-minded to new ideas and other people's points of view and beliefs. I recommend the book to readers who enjoy mystery books." -Onlinebookclub "Come for the murder mystery. Stay for the blackmail, forgiveness, betrayal, love, and wise insight into some of life's deepest questions. Or come for all of that, and stay for the murder mystery! Either way, Philip Graubart has given us a compelling, entertaining, and uplifting novel that will leave you inspired. Don't miss it!"- Richard Agler, author of The Tragedy Test and A God That We Can Believe In "Here There Is No Why is a political, poetic, and unputdownable page-turner of a novel. Graubart's dialogue sparkles with wit, his compelling characters surprise with their complex arcs, and the story continuously keeps you on your toes. But Here There Is No Why stands out from other literary mysteries in that it not only takes you on a narrative journey but a spiritual one as well. Graubart asks complicated, provocative, and frighteningly urgent questions about God, war, and our own complicity. Here There Is No Why creates a searing portrait of a survivor, an artist, and a country on the brink of change."- Ali Viterbi, playwright, author of In Every Generation Philip Graubart is the author of the award-winning novels Planet of the Jews and Silwan, along with several other books. He's published essays, short stories, and op-eds in numerous publications, including Forward, Tikkun, Moment, The Jerusalem Post, Times of Israel, and The Jerusalem Report. He is a rabbi and writer living in San Diego. He's served pulpits in Massachusetts and California and also served in leadership positions at the Shalom Hartman Institute, the National Yiddish Book Center, and the San Diego Jewish Academy, where he now teaches. He's published eight books, including five novels.