The Return

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Summary: The Return By Sonia Levitin, MSJA, August 31, 2002
Review: The Return by Sonia Levitin was an ok book. I did enjoy reading it though. The book was about a young Jewish girl named Desta. She lives with her aunt, uncle, her brother Joas, and her sister Almaz in Ethiopia. Since Desta was Jewish, the other Ethiopians called her and the people of her community "falashas" (which means strangers.)
One day her brother Joas came up with an idea to travel to Israel, the "promised land." Desta's Aunt and Uncle did not think it was a good idea. They thought that Desta and her brother should wait. After thinking for a while, Desta decided to go. Many weeks past and some strange people came into the Village. Desta, Almaz, Joas, and Dan, Desta's future husband decided to make the journey now.
One night, while they ere traveling, they spotted a fire and they thought it was they people that they were supposed to leave with. It was actually shifta, a group of robbers. Joas ran over to them and they shot him and he died. Desta buried her brother.
They soon got to a market to buy food. While there, they met up with the people that they were supposed to leave with.
After walking for a long time, they finally reached the border. They could not be seen. For if they were caught they would have been shot and killed. As soon as they were about to run, a guard came out. To distract the guard, Dan ran in front of him. Dan was captured. Desta and all the others made it to the other side.
They secretly got onto a plane that would take them to Sudan. There they were greeted with food and clothes. Dan shows up in the room. That made Desta very happy. They all went to Jerusalem and from there they were safe. This book has a lot of meaning. So much went on that if I were to write it all, I would have to rewrite the whole book. If you have not yet read The Return yet, I strongly insist on reading it. Desta is a strong girl who overcomes many obstacles.

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Summary: MSJA Summer reading review
Review: The Return by Sonia Levitin, is a story of a Jewish girl who lives in Ethiopia who is living with her Aunt Kibret, Uncle Tekle, younger sister Almaz, and her older brother Joas. Desta's mother died giving birth to her younger sister, and her father died of poisons or evil spells.
In Ethiopia the Jews were discriminated against. The Jewish schools were closed and boarded up. They were often beaten up if they tried to attend Catholic schools. One day when Desta did go to school with her friend Gennet and Gennet's little brother Mare, A group of Catholic boys beat up Mare while they were walking home. Gennet was forced to turn Catholic and a cross was tattooed on her forehead. The government locked up their Synagogues and their schools and took away the keys.
Desta was betrothed to the Kesses' son Dan. The Kess is the priest. Desta was not pleased with these arrangements, because Desta did not want to marry Dan or anyone at this time.
This book is written in first person as Desta tells the story of prejudice and cruelty and her flee to Isreal.
Her journey starts because Joas will be forced to join the army. Joas wanted to take Desta and Almaz on the flee to Isreal, so they could be free. Joas arranged it that Kess, Dan, Weirzero Channa, and Melake would join them on their jouney to Isreal.The Kesshad arranged that a guide would bring them all to the boarder. By the time Desta, Almaz and Joas had reached the Kesses' village the Kess had already left with everyone. Without even stopping for food, they had to be back on the road to try to catch up with the Kess. They walked for several days and nights, but were not able to catch up with them. One day, Joas saw smoke and went ahead to see if it was the Kess and to bring a mule back for Desta and Almaz to ride. While Joas was gone, Catholic hunters killed him. Desta and Almaz saw this happened and waited overnight to make sure the hunters did not come back. They burried Joas and went on with their journey.
One day, Desta and Almaz saw Melake on the way to the market. Melake brought them to meet Dan and Weirzero Channa. Desta told Melake how Joas was killed, and Melake told Desta that the Kess was captured by the police.
When they finally reached the boarder, their guide left them but told them how to get across the field without being caught by the police. Melake carried Weirzero across the field. Then the police saw them. Dan told Desta to hurry and take Almaz across the field, while Dan made it so the police could see him, allowing Desta to run and get away.
Desta, Almaz, Melake, and Weirzero reached a camp with thousands of people living there. They stayed at this camp for quite a while and prayed with a group of Jewish people on the Sabbath. One of the men from the group told Desta of a bus that comes in the night and brings the people to Israel. Desta did not know that the man who told her about the bus was the one who decided who was allowed on the bus, until he told her that she could board the bus.
Desta, Almaz, Melake, and Weirzero all got on the bus. The bus ride was very crowded and long. When everyone got off, they were boarded on an airplane. On the plane, they were informed that they were being brought to Israel by a plan called Operation Moses, this was set up to bring Jews out of Ethiopia, and it was a secret operation.
Several months later the school Rabbi told everyone that Operation Moses has been stopped. The Ethiopian government found out about it. Hearing this news everyone went to the Synagogue to pray, and fast.
There is more to this story about these brave people living their new life in Israel and their return to their homeland
If you enjoy reading about strong, courageous people who are desperately longing to return to their Jewish roots, I feel you will find The Return a good choice.

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Summary: The Return
Review: The Return by:Sonia Levitin was pretty interesting but as you fist started reading it you probably wouldn't get that impresion. This noval is ablut a young girl named Desta that lives with her aunt,auncle,brother,ans sister. Her brother's name is Joas and hes the oldesrt out of them three. Her sister's name is Almaz and shes the youngest out of them three. Desta's aunt and auncle raised all three of them because their parents had died when they were very young.

They lived in Ethiopia a small village in Africa and are black Jews. There journey began when Desta finds out that the government is taking the black male Jews and making them figth in the war and then they would probably miss treat the black female Jews

So they decided to leave their village and start a journey toward Israel the Holy Land before it was to late. They leaft with a group from another village. Melake,Weizero Channa,and Dan were some people from the other village. Dan is suppose to marry Desta, Melake is Dan's cousin and Weizero Channa is their grandmother. They all start this very dangerous jouney but not everyone makes it only a few of them do.

I would recomment this book to people of lots of faith. Also for people that would like to and be interested in reading and learning about another religion. This book is a good book and if you would like to readi about a group of black Jews that get treated badly make their way to a better land and place were everyone get treated the same then you should read this book.