“In the End of Days, after the Children of Israel have returned to their land, the children of Ishmael and the children of Esau will unite to attack Jerusalem. They will form a world coalition against the tiny nation of Israel. But something will go wrong with their plan. The religious beliefs of the children of Ishmael and the children of Esau will clash, and the two nations will collide and destroy each other. That is what is referred to as the War of Gog and Magog. Following this cataclysmic conflict, the Final Redemption of the Jewish people will occur with the coming of Messiah, the son of King David” (Malbim [Rabbi Meir Leib ben Yechiel Michel, 1808-1879] on Yechezkel, 32:17).
With this prescient insight, author Roy (Yisroel) S. Neuberger begins weaving a tale predicated on the hallmarks of Jewish tradition: faith and trust in Hashem and the yearning for the Final Redemption. In an apocalyptic tale of faith and redemption, Neuberger’s recently released novel, 2020 Vision (Feldheim, 328 pages), represents an authentic testament to the strength and resolve of the human spirit in the face of horrific adversities and tribulations. Yet, the resounding theme of faith and trust in Hashem and adherence to tenets of Torah against all odds have been hallmarks of Mr. Neuberger’s previous writings, From Central Park to Sinai: How I Found My Jewish Soul (2000), his personal memoirs and recollections of his journey to Orthodox Judaism, and Worldstorm: Finding Meaning and Direction Amidst Today’s World Crisis (2003), a history book that applies Torah reasoning to our current global situation.
While 2020 Vision is a novel and thus a departure from his non-fiction books, this action-packed tale retains a keen eye on the very real and often grim geopolitical realities of our times. There is no question that this book can be termed a hybrid of sorts, combining compelling fiction with true-to-life biographical flashbacks that provide the reader with an intimate look into the psyche of the protagonist. While enjoying this fast-paced page turner, readers should be cautioned to fasten their proverbial seatbelts, because it’s going to be a bumpy ride.
This apocalyptic sojourn begins on Sunday, July 5, 2020. It is a leisurely summer day and Yisroel and his wife Leah are enjoying the simple pleasures of life at their Long Island home. But this was to be the last day on this earth that the Neubergers—or anyone else—would experience a semblance of normalcy. Quite suddenly the world is caught in the deadly grip of a global nuclear attack, planned and coordinated by terrorist sleeper cells. The world outside their window “turned white” and their “house shook violently” while the sounds of booms punctuated the air. As the author ruefully observes, “The events of July 5, 2020 made 9/11 look like child’s play.”
After listening to a report on an emergency radio indicating that an electromagnetic bomb detonated high above the earth’s surface has destroyed telecommunications for thousands of miles, the Neubergers decide to head off to New Jersey to locate their children and search for an escape route to Eretz Yisrael, where they could be reunited with their other children and bask in the safety of the place on this earth where the Shechinah (G-d’s presence) dwells. With the roads immersed in gridlock and supplies of gas scarce, the Neubergers employ some ingenuity and utilize their only viable means of transportation, their trusty bicycles, to get them where they need to be.
Turning to each other for comfort and solace during this arduous, if not impossible, trek, Yisroel queries his wife. “Leah, how will we survive?” Leah’s rejoinder is clear. “We will survive, G-d will save us. You will see.” This unshakable faith and trust in Hashem serves as the catalyst and driving force for their journey through the dense darkness to the light at the end of the tunnel. On their road to reunification with their children and then on to safety, the Neubergers confront a seemingly endless litany of harrowing and life-threatening scenarios, amongst them being almost crushed to death by commercial airliners, an attack by a band of hooligans, and an encounter with an unscrupulous miscreant who is the only person that can transport them by boat from Brooklyn to Staten Island.
Throughout it all, Yisroel and Leah never entertain the notion of relinquishing their faith and determination to survive. Having packed his tallis, tefillin, siddur, and Chumash, Yisroel prays three times a day, beseeching Hashem for mercy while he and Leah offer succor to each other with timely divrei Torah. What follows is nothing short of miraculous. Feeling the Hand of Hashem every step of the way, Yisroel and Leah meet up with their children from Lakeville (Lakewood to us laymen) along with a formidable chevrah of frum Jews. Together they negotiate a strategic plan for survival.
Beset by a multitude of serious dangers, challenges, and difficulties, they meet extraordinary people, sent by Hashem to assist them on the path to redemption. Uncle Phil and Aunt Bessie play a critical role in the story, while other characters, including righteous gentiles, also offer guidance and assistance in this heart-stopping drama.
The reader cannot help but marvel at the sheer eloquence and graphic depiction of the events leading up to the coming of Mashiach. This chilling account of the dawn of the Messianic era is not for the faint-hearted or those who suffer from ideological myopia. Many of us have pondered what events would look like when Mashiach comes, yet Mr. Neuberger takes this to a whole new level. He offers us a unique perspective on our daily relationship with Hashem and gives new definition to our collective role in our final destiny.
A must-read! Five stars!
