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Avraham Azrieli

Goodreads Author

Born

Israel

Website

http://www.azrielibooks.com

Genre

Mystery & Thrillers, Historical Fiction, Fiction

Influences

Ken Follett, James A. Mitchener, Philip Roth, Colleen McCullough, Herm ...more

Member Since

November 2012

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Avraham Azrieli’s new novel, Deborah Calling, was published by HarperCollins on July 25. 2017. It is the sequel to Deborah Rising, continuing the story of the first woman to lead a nation in history. A graduate of Columbia Law School in New York City, Azrieli tried many complex court cases before publishing his first novel, The Masada Complex (a political thriller) in 2010. A full-time author since then, his other books include the Israeli spy novels The Jerusalem Inception and The Jerusalem Assassin, as well as Christmas for Joshua (a family drama dealing with interfaith conflicts), The Mormon Candidate (a political thriller), Thump (a courtroom drama featuring sexual harassment and racism) and The Bootstrap Ultimatum (a mystery involving Avraham Azrieli’s new novel, Deborah Calling, was published by HarperCollins on July 25. 2017. It is the sequel to Deborah Rising, continuing the story of the first woman to lead a nation in history. A graduate of Columbia Law School in New York City, Azrieli tried many complex court cases before publishing his first novel, The Masada Complex (a political thriller) in 2010. A full-time author since then, his other books include the Israeli spy novels The Jerusalem Inception and The Jerusalem Assassin, as well as Christmas for Joshua (a family drama dealing with interfaith conflicts), The Mormon Candidate (a political thriller), Thump (a courtroom drama featuring sexual harassment and racism) and The Bootstrap Ultimatum (a mystery involving the commercialization of Memorial Day). He also authored Your Lawyer on a Short Leash (a guide to dealing with lawyers) and One Step Ahead – A Mother of Seven Escaping Hitler’s Claws (a WWII biography, which inspired the musical By Wheel and by Wing). Azrieli grew up in Israel, where he received extensive Talmudic education, served as an intelligence officer and, after attending law school, clerked for the Israeli Supreme Court in Jerusalem. Residing primarily in the United States since 1990, he currently lives near Washington DC with his wife and children. Like Ben Teller, the protagonist in The Mormon Candidate, Azrieli often rides his motorcycle in the mountainous forests of western Maryland. To learn more, visit www.AzrieliBooks.com
Avraham Azrieli's Books:
The Jerusalem Inception - "Boldly realistic plotlines and genuine, well-developed characters. Highly recommended!" Yahoo News/Politics. "Protagonist Jerusalem Gerster is the quintessential recruit." NY Daily News.
The Jerusalem Assassin - "Action-packed escapade ... memorable cast of characters ... pages turn as fast as the plot twists and locales shift, taking the reader from Paris to Zurich to Amsterdam to Tel Aviv." Jewish News.
The Masada Complex - "Brims with gritty authenticity ... a genuine treat!" David Liss, author of Conspiracy of Paper, winner of Edgar. "Riveting portrayal of global intrigue!" Stella Pope Duarte, author of If I Die in Juaréz, winner of the 2009 American Book Award.
The Bootstrap Ultimatum - "The real magic here is Azrieli's incredible ability to create well-developed characters as well as his skill in knowing how to draw in his readers." Examiner. “Fast-paced action thriller ... but also full of heart. Sure to keep readers on the edge of their seats." Hollywood Book Reviews. "Riveting. It doesn't get any better than this, folks!!" Sun Francisco Book Review.
The Mormon Candidate - "Plotted like a cinematic thriller, Azrieli has come up with a very powerful novel. At work here is his extraordinary magic in making his readers as eager as his protagonist in uncovering the truth and thus effectively creating pervasive fear and suspense. Sure to keep you up late against your better judgment. Don't say I didn't warn you." Norm Goldman, Examiner.
Thump - "A light-hearted romp through sexual proclivities ... the characters are lovable ... the irreverence is delightful. Thought-provoking. Interesting. Unconventional. Recommended!" U.S. Review of Books.
Christmas for Joshua - "In its own gentle way, the book is as much a page-turner as Azrieli's thrillers - pulling the reader into complex personal and familial conflicts." The Jewish Journal. ...more

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Hi. I am a lover of all of your novels. I recommended Christmas for Joshua for my "Jewish" book club. Our meeting is on Tuesday and I cannot find any specific questions to help with our discussion. I was hoping you could direct me? Thanks so much. Susan Shapiro

Avraham Azrieli Hi Susan,
Thanks for reaching out. I'm delighted you enjoy my books and am happy to provide a list of discussion points. Here it is below. Best regards…moreHi Susan,
Thanks for reaching out. I'm delighted you enjoy my books and am happy to provide a list of discussion points. Here it is below. Best regards, Avi.
www.AzrieliBooks.com

Christmas for Joshua – A Novel by Avraham Azrieli - Discussion Points for Book Clubs:

1. Has the experience of reading Christmas for Joshua been memorable and engaging? What were the emotions it raised (amusement, sadness, upset, confusion, anger)? How did it leave you feeling? Who would you recommend it to?

2. What did you feel about the leading and secondary characters—their personality, motives, strengths and weaknesses?
a. While Rusty was understandably devastated by what happened at his daughter’s wedding, what do you think of his actions later—in New York and in Arizona? Was he motivated by pain, regret, or revenge? Was he trying to reconnect with his past, or achieve a new type of ‘fairness’ in his family and community life?
b. What about Rebecca’s feelings and actions? Is she a good wife? Is she another victim in this situation? Does she really understand the depth of Rusty’s crisis? Can she understand it, considering how different her background is?
c. Debra is young, in love, and newly married. However, her father is facing a traumatic emotional crisis. How do you feel about her behavior along the story? How do you feel about the way Rusty and Rebecca treat Debra—are they too accommodating, or should they demand more of her?
d. Is Aaron Brutsky a good friend? A best friend? Or a fair-weather friend? How does he balance life, faith, and friendship?
c. What do you think of the two marriages at the center of Christmas for Joshua? Are the couples faithful emotionally and practically? Will either of these marriages last?

3. How did the main characters change along the story? How did the novel change your perspective about family, marriage, conversion, and faith?

4. Stepping back and looking at the story as a whole, was it a realistic crisis for an ‘interfaith marriage’ around Christmas? Is Christmas a source of joy, comfort, or conflict in your family life? Is Christmas a Christian/religious holiday, or a cultural/social holiday? Do you have to believe that Jesus Christ was God’s son and the Messiah in order to celebrate Christmas? Were you familiar with the fact that most popular Christmas songs were written by Jews? Does it mean anything?

5. What do you feel about the rabbi, the synagogue, and the congregation? Is the rabbi a victim, as well? Is embracing converts into the bosom of a Jewish congregation risky? Is the congregation responsible for Rusty’s pain, or has a duty to ease it by sharing in his celebration of Christmas? Who ‘owns’ a synagogue—the rabbi, the congregation, or the board—and who has the last word in a conflict?

6. What part of Christmas for Joshua strikes you as the most meaningful, or memorable? What part is the funniest? Makes you cry? Or fling the book across the room? What’s the most ‘discussion worth’ here?

7. If you could ask author Avraham Azrieli the author a question, what would you ask? Have you read his other books? How do they compare to Christmas for Joshua?

8. Has Christmas for Joshua changed you? Has it left you with new perspective on Christmas, interfaith marriage, or religion in general? Has it caused you to think of visiting Arizona? Or of celebrating Christmas (in or out of a synagogue)? Has any of Rusty’s modified Christmas songs stuck in your mind?
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Avraham Azrieli’s books

Average rating: 4.12 · 3,370 ratings · 701 reviews · 16 distinct works • Similar authors

	One Step Ahead - A Mother of Seven Escaping Hitler's Claws: A True History - Jewish Women, Family Survival, Resistance and Defiance against the Nazi War Machine in World War II 4.21 avg rating — 967 ratings — published 2004 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Jerusalem Inception 4.18 avg rating — 570 ratings — published 2011 — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Jerusalem Assassin 4.21 avg rating — 515 ratings — published 2011 — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Masada Complex 3.82 avg rating — 395 ratings — published 2010 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Mormon Candidate 3.98 avg rating — 285 ratings — published 2012 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Christmas for Joshua 4.16 avg rating — 263 ratings — published 2011 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Deborah Rising: A Novel Inspired by the Bible 4.02 avg rating — 176 ratings — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Deborah Calling 4.41 avg rating — 56 ratings — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Thump 4.17 avg rating — 53 ratings — published 2014 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Bootstrap Ultimatum 3.47 avg rating — 49 ratings — published 2014 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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The Supreme Court Clears the Water of Hawaiian Shi(r)ts

The State of Hawaii brings to mind images of stunning natural beauty, pristine beaches, and its eponymous colorful shirts. Yesterday’s Supreme Court decision, however, addressed an odorous Hawaiian reality: the multi-million-gallon daily discharge of chemically treated sewage sludge into ground water and the Pacific Ocean.The question presented by County of Maui, Hawaii v. Hawaii Wildlife Fund, et Read more of this blog post »

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Avraham Azrieli wrote a new blog post Arctic Blast to Thermal Whiplash �� February 6, 2019 Hi Everyone,When we lived in Arizona, experiencing weather change required driving up to the beautiful White Mountains, but here in Maryland, the four Read more of this blog post »
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Quotes by Avraham Azrieli

“It is interesting to note that on June 19, 1967, the Israeli government passed a resolution offering a return of the captured territories to the Arabs in exchange for peace. The response came three months later, when the Khartoum Arab Summit issued its famous three No’s: “No peace, no recognition, and no negotiation with Israel.” The closure of that small window of opportunity seems tragic in retrospect. My”
― Avraham Azrieli, The Jerusalem Inception

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“Would Abraham’s son recognize the car as the one that had delivered”
― Avraham Azrieli, The Jerusalem Inception

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“When you pursue your True Calling, God provides the shortcuts.”
― Avraham Azrieli, Deborah Calling

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