The Last Jew

In "The Last Jew," Yoram Kaniuk intricately weaves the tumultuous history of the Jewish people through the life of Ebenezer Schneerson, a man who, after World War II, possesses an extraordinary memory yet no recall of his own past. As he astonishingly recites vast cultural knowledge, including Einstein's theories and Yiddish poetry, he becomes both a treasure and a spectacle for Samuel Lipker, an opportunistic survivor who profits from Ebenezer's talents. This novel, appearing in English for the first time, combines elements of tragedy and absurdity, offering a profound exploration of Jewish identity and its evolving forms over the past century.