Rabbi David Kahn has lived a forty-year lie: he is not, nor has he ever been, Jewish. When at his funeral, the rabbi s grifter brother reveals the ...
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reviews
Aug 02, 2010
BAYA
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At the funeral for Rabbi David Kahn, a terrible secret comes out: he was not actually Jewish, but rather a Gentile grifter, who infiltrated the Jewish community as part of a con until he fell in love and decided to devote himself to the Jewish faith. This revelation impacts both the community in the synagogue who begin to question their former Rabbi's intentions and leadership (and by extension those of his son Avi who hopes to take over as Rabbi), and Kahn's wife and children who all feel both
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Jun 29, 2009
Heather
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Now here’s a tale that couldn’t possibly get further away from classic themes. The Big Kahn is the story of a family that wakes up one morning and discovers that the man of the house, the Rabbi David Kahn, was not only lacking in any formal rabbinical training, but he wasn’t even Jewish. Too bad for the family that the outing happens publicly at Rabbi Kahn’s hesped, or funeral. The scandal causes Kahn’s son, also a rabbi, to lose his job; Kahn’s wife is tormented by two-faced housewives; Eli, th
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Dec 14, 2009
Raina
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The scene is a funeral. A beloved Rabbi has died. To Rabbi Kahn’s family and friends’ shock, however, a long-lost brother interrupts the service with a disturbing declaration. Rabbi Kahn was not Jewish, this man claims, he was a con artist claiming to be a Jew when he fell in love and decided to transform his scheme into a lifelong commitment. This news wreaks havoc for Rabbi Kahn’s family. His son is no longer trusted to take over the Shul. His wife begins to drink. His whole family is f
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Jul 30, 2011
The book has a lot that people could love -- an intriguing set up, great characters, thought-provoking themes. But it just ends. It is almost like reading the first half of a story, where everything is set up and you can't put the book down. But there is no ending that wraps up these threads. The story just stops. What happens to Rachel and Eli? What does Avi say to the rabbi? Is Lea genuine? Bueller? Bueller?
Dec 13, 2009
Lee
rated it: 
This is a graphic novel. The story is fascinating but I did not think the drawings were great. Unlike, Persepolis in which the pictures enriched the text tremendously, I just did not feel that these did. I wanted more development of the story and had quite a few questions about the characters so I was left feeling dissatisfied, which is why I gave 3 stars.
May 13, 2011
Martin
rated it:
Interesting graphic novel. No super heroes or magic realism, just a drama set in a New York City vicinity Jewish community. Art is a bit inconsistent which leads to potential confusion about some of the characters.
Jul 02, 2010
Lobstergirl
rated it: 
The premise was interesting - at a rabbi's funeral, his family finds out he wasn't actually Jewish, but a con man living a lie for 40 years - but the story wasn't developed very well.
Apr 05, 2010
Aneesa
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This would have made a good short story, but as a full-length book it wasn't enough.
Jun 01, 2011
Thomas
rated it:
An American manga with an interesting plot about Jewishness and its relevance today... Too bad its ending is not as conclusive as one could expect (i.e., it could have had a better ending).
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