67 ratings | 0 reviews | avg rating:5.00

Avraham Azrieli’s Followers (34)

Avraham’s Bookshelves

read (67)
currently-reading (0)
to-read (0)

Avraham’s Friends (10)

Sara Estrada

43,156 books | 1,559 friends

Michele

29,705 books | 5,135 friends

Awesome Indies Book Awards

564 books | 220 friends

AJourneyWithoutMap

2,178 books | 1,614 friends

Rachel Neumann

357 books | 158 friends

Peter

782 books | 254 friends

Mirande Valbrune

39 books | 51 friends

Beppe DM

12,345 books | 3,991 friends

More friends…

Avraham Azrieli

Goodreads Author

Born

Israel

Website

http://www.azrielibooks.com

Genre

Mystery & Thrillers, Historical Fiction, Fiction

Influences

Ken Follett, James A. Mitchener, Philip Roth, Colleen McCullough, Herm ...more

Member Since

November 2012

edit data

Avraham Azrieli writes books and screenplays. His first novel was The Masada Complex (a political thriller), followed by the Israeli spy novels The Jerusalem Inception and The Jerusalem Assassin, as well as Christmas for Joshua (an interfaith family drama), The Mormon Candidate (a political thriller), Thump (a courtroom drama featuring sexual harassment and racism), and The Bootstrap Ultimatum (a mystery involving the commercialization of Memorial Day). More recently, he has written a series of novels inspired by the true story of the first woman to lead a nation in human history, starting with Deborah Rising (HarperCollins 2016), which won the 2017 Illumination Book Award for fiction, Deborah Calling (HarperCollins 2017), and continuing wi Avraham Azrieli writes books and screenplays. His first novel was The Masada Complex (a political thriller), followed by the Israeli spy novels The Jerusalem Inception and The Jerusalem Assassin, as well as Christmas for Joshua (an interfaith family drama), The Mormon Candidate (a political thriller), Thump (a courtroom drama featuring sexual harassment and racism), and The Bootstrap Ultimatum (a mystery involving the commercialization of Memorial Day). More recently, he has written a series of novels inspired by the true story of the first woman to lead a nation in human history, starting with Deborah Rising (HarperCollins 2016), which won the 2017 Illumination Book Award for fiction, Deborah Calling (HarperCollins 2017), and continuing with Deborah Slaying and Deborah Striking. A prequel to the Deborah series, The Elixirist, was published in 2020. The Plot to Save America, a mystery set in an authoritarian America, came out in 2022.
Besides fiction, he has also authored Your Lawyer on a Short Leash - A Guide to Dealing with Lawyers and One Step Ahead – A Mother of Seven Escaping Hitler’s Claws, an acclaimed WWII true story, which inspired the musical By Wheel and by Wing.
While growing up in Israel, Avraham received an extensive Talmudic education and performed his mandatory military service in the IDF. After attending law school, he served as a law clerk at the Israeli Supreme Court in Jerusalem. He later earned an advanced law degree from Columbia University in New York City, served as a law clerk at the Federal District Court, and started his legal career with Davis Polk & Wardwell. He has advocated for clients before trial and appellate courts, including the United States Supreme Court. He currently lives near Washington DC. Like Ben Teller, the protagonist in The Mormon Candidate and The Bootstrap Ultimatum, Avraham often rides his motorcycle in the mountainous forests of western Maryland.
To learn more, visit www.AzrieliBooks.com
Avraham Azrieli's Books:
The Jerusalem Inception - "Boldly realistic plotlines and genuine, well-developed characters. Highly recommended!" Yahoo News/Politics. "Protagonist Jerusalem Gerster is the quintessential recruit." NY Daily News.
The Jerusalem Assassin - "Action-packed escapade ... memorable cast of characters ... pages turn as fast as the plot twists and locales shift, taking the reader from Paris to Zurich to Amsterdam to Tel Aviv." Jewish News.
The Masada Complex - "Brims with gritty authenticity ... a genuine treat!" David Liss, author of Conspiracy of Paper, winner of Edgar. "Riveting portrayal of global intrigue!" Stella Pope Duarte, author of If I Die in Juaréz, winner of the 2009 American Book Award.
The Bootstrap Ultimatum - "The real magic here is Azrieli's incredible ability to create well-developed characters as well as his skill in knowing how to draw in his readers." Examiner. “Fast-paced action thriller ... but also full of heart. Sure to keep readers on the edge of their seats." Hollywood Book Reviews. "Riveting. It doesn't get any better than this, folks!!" Sun Francisco Book Review.
The Mormon Candidate - "Plotted like a cinematic thriller, Azrieli has come up with a very powerful novel. At work here is his extraordinary magic in making his readers as eager as his protagonist in uncovering the truth and thus effectively creating pervasive fear and suspense. Sure to keep you up late against your better judgment. Don't say I didn't warn you." Norm Goldman, Examiner.
Thump - "A light-hearted romp through sexual proclivities ... the characters are lovable ... the irreverence is delightful. Thought-provoking. Interesting. Unconventional. Recommended!" U.S. Review of Books.
Christmas for Joshua - "In its own gentle way, the book is as much a page-turner as Azrieli's thrillers - pulling the reader into complex personal and familial conflicts." The Jewish Journal. ...more

Learn more
Ask the Author

To ask Avraham Azrieli questions, please sign up.

Popular Answered Questions

Hi. I am a lover of all of your novels. I recommended Christmas for Joshua for my "Jewish" book club. Our meeting is on Tuesday and I cannot find any specific questions to help with our discussion. I was hoping you could direct me? Thanks so much. Susan Shapiro

Avraham Azrieli Hi Susan,
Thanks for reaching out. I'm delighted you enjoy my books and am happy to provide a list of discussion points. Here it is below. Best regards…moreHi Susan,
Thanks for reaching out. I'm delighted you enjoy my books and am happy to provide a list of discussion points. Here it is below. Best regards, Avi.
www.AzrieliBooks.com

Christmas for Joshua – A Novel by Avraham Azrieli - Discussion Points for Book Clubs:

1. Has the experience of reading Christmas for Joshua been memorable and engaging? What were the emotions it raised (amusement, sadness, upset, confusion, anger)? How did it leave you feeling? Who would you recommend it to?

2. What did you feel about the leading and secondary characters—their personality, motives, strengths and weaknesses?
a. While Rusty was understandably devastated by what happened at his daughter’s wedding, what do you think of his actions later—in New York and in Arizona? Was he motivated by pain, regret, or revenge? Was he trying to reconnect with his past, or achieve a new type of ‘fairness’ in his family and community life?
b. What about Rebecca’s feelings and actions? Is she a good wife? Is she another victim in this situation? Does she really understand the depth of Rusty’s crisis? Can she understand it, considering how different her background is?
c. Debra is young, in love, and newly married. However, her father is facing a traumatic emotional crisis. How do you feel about her behavior along the story? How do you feel about the way Rusty and Rebecca treat Debra—are they too accommodating, or should they demand more of her?
d. Is Aaron Brutsky a good friend? A best friend? Or a fair-weather friend? How does he balance life, faith, and friendship?
c. What do you think of the two marriages at the center of Christmas for Joshua? Are the couples faithful emotionally and practically? Will either of these marriages last?

3. How did the main characters change along the story? How did the novel change your perspective about family, marriage, conversion, and faith?

4. Stepping back and looking at the story as a whole, was it a realistic crisis for an ‘interfaith marriage’ around Christmas? Is Christmas a source of joy, comfort, or conflict in your family life? Is Christmas a Christian/religious holiday, or a cultural/social holiday? Do you have to believe that Jesus Christ was God’s son and the Messiah in order to celebrate Christmas? Were you familiar with the fact that most popular Christmas songs were written by Jews? Does it mean anything?

5. What do you feel about the rabbi, the synagogue, and the congregation? Is the rabbi a victim, as well? Is embracing converts into the bosom of a Jewish congregation risky? Is the congregation responsible for Rusty’s pain, or has a duty to ease it by sharing in his celebration of Christmas? Who ‘owns’ a synagogue—the rabbi, the congregation, or the board—and who has the last word in a conflict?

6. What part of Christmas for Joshua strikes you as the most meaningful, or memorable? What part is the funniest? Makes you cry? Or fling the book across the room? What’s the most ‘discussion worth’ here?

7. If you could ask author Avraham Azrieli the author a question, what would you ask? Have you read his other books? How do they compare to Christmas for Joshua?

8. Has Christmas for Joshua changed you? Has it left you with new perspective on Christmas, interfaith marriage, or religion in general? Has it caused you to think of visiting Arizona? Or of celebrating Christmas (in or out of a synagogue)? Has any of Rusty’s modified Christmas songs stuck in your mind?
(less)

flag

like
Comment

See 1 answer from Avraham Azrieli…

Combine Editions
Avraham Azrieli’s books

Average rating: 4.14 · 3,679 ratings · 689 reviews · 22 distinct works • Similar authors

	One Step Ahead - A Mother of Seven Escaping Hitler's Claws: Based on a True Story 4.22 avg rating — 1,109 ratings — published 2004 — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Jerusalem Inception: A young talmudic Scholar, a beautiful Israeli spy, and the 1967 War (Jerusalem Spy Series Book 1) 4.19 avg rating — 619 ratings — published 2011 — 6 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Jerusalem Assassin: Israeli spies, Arab terrorists, and the 1995 Rabin Assassination (Jerusalem Spy Series Book 2) 4.19 avg rating — 564 ratings — published 2011 — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Masada Complex 3.84 avg rating — 421 ratings — published 2010 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Mormon Candidate 3.99 avg rating — 295 ratings — published 2012 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Christmas for Joshua 4.19 avg rating — 280 ratings — published 2011 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Deborah Rising (Book of Deborah #1) 4.02 avg rating — 176 ratings — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Deborah Calling (Book of Deborah #2) 4.36 avg rating — 69 ratings — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Thump 4.16 avg rating — 55 ratings — published 2014 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Bootstrap Ultimatum (Ben Teller Thriller Series Book 2) 3.51 avg rating — 53 ratings — published 2014 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

More books by Avraham Azrieli…

31 posts
Avraham Azrieli's Blog

The Supreme Court Clears the Water of Hawaiian Shi(r)ts

The State of Hawaii brings to mind images of stunning natural beauty, pristine beaches, and its eponymous colorful shirts. Yesterday’s Supreme Court decision, however, addressed an odorous Hawaiian reality: the multi-million-gallon daily discharge of chemically treated sewage sludge into ground water and the Pacific Ocean.The question presented by County of Maui, Hawaii v. Hawaii Wildlife Fund, et Read more of this blog post »

View more on Avraham Azrieli's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on April 24, 2020 10:14

View all 31 posts »

Series by Avraham Azrieli

Book of Deborah (4 books)
by

Avraham Azrieli (Goodreads Author)

4.19 avg rating — 287 ratings

Quotes by Avraham Azrieli (?)

“When you pursue your True Calling, God provides the shortcuts.”
― Avraham Azrieli, Deborah Calling

0 likes

“Would Abraham’s son recognize the car as the one that had delivered”
― Avraham Azrieli, The Jerusalem Inception: A young talmudic Scholar, a beautiful Israeli spy, and the 1967 War

0 likes

“It is interesting to note that on June 19, 1967, the Israeli government passed a resolution offering a return of the captured territories to the Arabs in exchange for peace. The response came three months later, when the Khartoum Arab Summit issued its famous three No’s: “No peace, no recognition, and no negotiation with Israel.” The closure of that small window of opportunity seems tragic in retrospect. My”
― Avraham Azrieli, The Jerusalem Inception: A young talmudic Scholar, a beautiful Israeli spy, and the 1967 War

0 likes

See all Avraham Azrieli's quotes »