Shalom, Prayer for the Road

Summary

Shalom is a young man from a nice, middle-class Tel Aviv family. His parents are keen for him go to university, but all of that doesn’t really factor in with his plans. Shalom drives a rickety, old estate car; he has two women in his life, keeping his companionship and romantic needs met; and spends his time on the road, soul-searching. He chances upon a group of artists and intellectuals (including Amos Keenan and Uri Avnery) who have been arguing about Israel’s socio-political future, discussing war and peace; settlements and land; the rich and the poor, and so on. The only thing everyone seems to be in agreement on is that the future is looking bleak. Shalom then decides to immigrate and head to the US – a decision that takes him nowhere, fast.