Voices, Aug. 2008

Several months ago, Naava Katz reviewed the Hebrew version of 2020. She found it both exciting and inspirational. The English version is all that and more.

2020 Vision is the third book by journalist-turned-author Roy S. Neuberger. His first book, From Central Park to Sinai was his heartfelt autobiography, detailing Roy's spiritual journey from inner-tormented assimilated Jew to fulfilled man of Torah. If you haven't read Central Park, you should. Neuberger is a great writer, who knows how to keep his readers' attention, and who speaks directly to them. You can hear his voice and intonation on every page. His second book, Worldstorm, scrutinizes current events from a Torah perspective. It brings good sense to our perplexing times. And now with 2020 Vision, Neuberger tackles fiction writing with autobiographical flashbacks sprinkled throughout.

As its title indicates, the book begins in the year 2020. It's five years after a Global Alliance has brought peace to the world, five years since Islamic terrorists abandoned Jihad and embraced a utopian attitude…or so the world thinks. All countries have lain down their weapons in favor of the struggle for a pure environment and a paradisal life.

But as America celebrates its 244^th birthday on the July 4, 2020, suddenly the planet goes white with global nuclear explosions and electromagnetic detonations that have destroyed all communication, electricity and the world as we know it.

Faced with sudden chaos – mass looting, armed gangs, aimlessly wandering families, fear and frenzy – once-contented Long Island grandparents Yisroel and Leah Neuberger immediately formulate a plan of survival. Although it seems like Mission Impossible, they focus on two goals – to locate their children in New Jersey and then somehow travel with them to Israel to be reunited with the rest of their family.

"Against the backdrop of a crumbling civilization", Yisroel and Leah are suddenly transformed into larger-than-life heroes whose clear vision, faith and personal strength guide a patchwork group on a trek to deliverance.

As soon as they become aware that the entire world has been hit by a cataclysmic terror attack, they act. Yisroel takes their bicycles out of the basement, crams knapsacks with food, clothing, maps and religious necessities and they set off for New Jersey, turning their backs on the life they once knew.

Along the way, they narrowly escape danger at every turn – crashing planes, shadowy figures, wild dogs, cities in flames, devastated bridges, poison gas, blood-thirsty bands, gun-toting farmers, Arab terrorists, neo-Nazis and more. I stayed up super-late every night reading 2020, because I had to make sure Yisroel and Leah passed the next hurdle of their trip. I was hooked, and I couldn't abandon them on their Exodus to freedom.

Miracle upon miracle, they find their children and grandchildren, who are part of a large group of yeshiva families who are headed north. Together they sleep by day and walk by night along America's highways to escape the madness that has spread over the planet. While other families are headed west or south away from the cosmopolitan areas, Yisroel says, "We are Children of Israel. For us, the direction has always been east…"

And that is one of the strongest messages of this book. With clear 2020 vision, as they journey, Yisroel explains to newfound friends that even with the troubles it has known, Israel "was in the end the safest place…'The eyes of …G-d are always upon [the land of Israel] from the beginning of the year to year's end.' (Deuteronomy 11:12)"

Israel is the goal and the return to the path of Torah, the rebuilding of the Temple and the welcoming of Meshiach are the aspirations of our eternal nation.

Everyone realizes that life will never be the same. Superficiality and materialism are meaningless. The ultimate truth has kicked in. "How often did someone say, 'I couldn't survive without…a cell phone…air conditioning…pistachio ice cream [Ed. note: he should have written 'maple walnut']…cable TV…high speed internet.' Now, survival meant food and water." Yisroel continues, "We've all been raised to believe that material success was the entire point of life. The Torah lifestyle was totally foreign to us. Now, however, it looks as if the entire cultural and social structure we thought was reality has collapsed forever, and there is no place to go but back to G-d."

Religious, not-yet-religious and righteous gentile travel together, contributing to each other's survival. And that's how it will have to be in real life too, if we are ever to reach the Final Redemption.

There's drama and sadness along the way. There are dangers and traumas until the book's climax. My pillow was drenched in tears as the group faces their final hardship.

The tension of 2020 is broken along the way with Yisroel's real-life memories of the past, bits of trivia and scenes from his imagination. And when he gets a little long-winded, his wife Leah is there to remind him to get back on track.

2020 Vision expresses our fears of the mega-Arab terror attack, but it also strengthens us in the knowledge that Hashem runs the world, and with faith, determination and unity, we will survive.

An added note: 2020 Vision will appeal to everyone, but I recommend that all women urge their husbands to read this book. In addition to all else, it is a lesson in being a dedicated and loving husband. The respect and adoration Yisroel Neuberger shows for his wife Leah is beautiful and moving. All husbands could learn from his example.

2020 Vision is available at Steinmatsky's and all major bookstores. It can also be purchased on line at feldheim.com and amazon.com .

Previous Page