A Story by Yonathan Raz Portugali - A Short Story Project
The Story
In 1999, the narrator's father moved to a studio apartment in Bat Yam to focus on writing a novel about their family's history, only to abandon the project months later. During this period, the narrator recalls a conversation between their parents about their legacies, with the father dreaming of writing a great Israeli novel, and the mother believing her work in professional magazines would ensure her name lived on.
Years later, the narrator discovers a collection of documents in the Tel Aviv Municipal Archives, revealing a long-standing feud between his mother and the S. family, neighbors in Jaffa. The feud, which spanned decades, began over renovations in the narrator's childhood home and escalated after the mother secretly bought a room the S. family wanted for their daughter. This betrayal fueled tensions, leading to numerous complaints and legal battles, including disputes over an air conditioner and encroachment on shared spaces.
Despite the conflict, the relationship between the families was complex, with moments of kindness amidst the rivalry. However, when the next generation of the S. family took over, the feud turned more hostile, culminating in acts of harassment and property sabotage.
Reflecting on these events, the narrator realizes the impact of their unconventional childhood, including living with an elderly tenant in their home, on their ability to adapt to new situations and their eventual choice to become a reader, observing rather than participating in the conflicts around them.
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What makes this story worth reading, and how does it contribute to our understanding of contemporary Israel?
This story is worth reading as it offers a glimpse into life in Jaffa during the 1980s. It presents a diverse array of Israelis, including first and second-generation olims, as well as various profiles of right-wing activists associated with political parties like Machal and Kach. It also explores the spectrum of jobs people held at the time, from seamstresses to children’s clothing sellers.
Additionally, the narrative offers insight into the evolution of Jaffa's historic buildings from the early 20th century to the present day, showcasing the shifts in ownership and design over time. Each generation has left its mark on these structures, altering or updating them to reflect their period.
About the Short Story Project
The Short Story Project is a platform dedicated to promoting reading and literacy. We present curated short stories from around the world in both text and audio formats. Aligning with today’s instant culture and digitalization, the website engages young readers with short story literature and offers people a new encounter with reading. The collection spans classics to cutting-edge short literature; each story is presented in its original language and translated from 40 different languages into English.
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