Israeli Author Amos Oz at 92ndY Talks: His New Novel "JUDAS"

Amos Oz (b Jerusalem 1939) is regarded as Israel's most famous author ("My Michael" & "Where the Jackals Howl") has received numerous literary awards and the Legion of Honor (1997.)  He's also been called a traitor.  Mr Oz was at the 92ndY to promote his new book "Judas" a story which resonated  for him personally & profoundly.  The word Judas, Oz explains equates as traitor.  He was consumed with the story of Judas as a young man working on a Kibbutz.  He spent countless hours reading the new testament to learn the story of Jesus & Judas.  Oz said "the story of Judas is the most terrible story - responsible for more blood shed.  It is the Chernobyl of anti-semitism leading to the Holocaust."  Oz vehemently argued several flaws in this "ugly" story that are nonsensical for blaming Judas for Jesus' crucifixion.  Oz said as a young man he was asked by a nun if he was Jewish.  When he answered yes, she asked "why would you kill Jesus, he was such a nice young man."  Oz joked that he told her he was at the dentist that day.  Oz was an interesting & entertaining speaker.  He maintained that prevailing anti-semitism stems from a perpetuated myth from past centuries.  He read in Hebrew a small section of his novel "Judas" which was re-read in English.  Oz explained the structure of his new book. The novel is an ongoing dialogue between the 3 eccentric co-habitants who form a miraculous familial bond.  Oz referred to his notes.  He outlined the story so clearly I understood its dynamics.  Most thought provoking were Oz's comments about what it means to be a traitor.  He enumerated historic traitors including Churchill, Ben Gurion, Sadat & Arafat.  "Being called a traitor can be a badge of honor."  Oz told us that from all his reading of scriptures & the new testament the most important thing was the teaching of the moral obligation of being kind.  "People can change.  I've seen people change.  People do change and they can surprise themselves."