Chapter 1

<a data-internal-link data-link-type="Character" href="https://www.supersummary.com/the-netanyahus/major-character-analysis/#365413">Ruben Blum</a> (aka Ruvn ben Alter) is a retired professor of American history at Corbin University in Corbindale, New York. He begins relating aspects of his past, especially his time as a professor. He is an accomplished academic, specializing in American tax history. As an historian, he reflects back on how he grew up with antisemitism, the “uselessness” (15) of Jewish history and compares that to the “culture of grievance” (19) of contemporary students. He then goes on to consider more of his Jewishness and then relates a relevant story. It is 1959. The head of the History Department, Dr. Morse, calls Ruben into his office. After some light banter, Dr. Morse informs Ruben that the department will need to hire a new professor to keep their budget. He asks Ruben to escort a possible new-hire around. The man is a Medievalist specializing in 15th century Iberian history. His name is <a data-internal-link data-link-type="Character" href="https://www.supersummary.com/the-netanyahus/major-character-analysis/#365414">Ben-Zion Netanyahu</a>. Dr. Morse asks Ruben for help because Ruben is also a Jewish person.

Chapter 1 Summary

Chapter 2

Ruben recalls aspects of his childhood. The old synagogue of his youth, called Young Israel, became The Church of Assumption. He always recalls the <a data-internal-link data-link-type="Literary Device" href="https://www.

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Chapters 1-2

Chapters 1-2 Analysis

Literary Area of Study

American Literature

Emotions & Behavior

Guilt

Race & Ethnicity

Jewish American Literature

Awards

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Society

Nation & Nationalism

Government & Business

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Genres

Satire

The Best of "Best Book" Lists

Life & Time

The Past

Joshua Cohen

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Novel

Fiction

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The Netanyahus: An Account of a Minor and Ultimately Even Negligible Episode in the History of a Very Famous Family

Chapters 1-2Chapter Summaries & Analyses

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