The Jewish Holidays: A Journey of Exile and Redemption

The Jewish holiday cycle deeply explores the experiences of exile and freedom. Fall festival Sukkot recalls Israelites’ desert wandering in booths. Purim commemorates the precariousness of minority life in ancient Persia. Passover marks the Exodus from Egypt, the first step towards redemption and freedom. Literary works like Shulamit Hareven’s “The Miracle Hater” and Orly Castel-Bloom’s “An Egyptian Novel” depict the complexities of exile and its aftermath. Novelist André Aciman’s memoir “Out of Egypt” poignantly captures the personal nature of exile and the irony of Passover preparations amid forced departure. Journalist Tim Judah’s visit to Iraq highlights the remnants of a once-thriving Jewish community and the profound impact of uprooting.

Hakan Sukur: From Football Legend to Uber Driver and Exile

Once revered as Turkey’s answer to Gary Lineker, Hakan Sukur now lives in exile in California, working as an Uber driver and football coach. Despite being a national hero for his goalscoring exploits, Sukur faced charges of being a member of an armed terrorist group and was forced to flee the country after a failed coup attempt. He now hopes for a return to his homeland, but his name remains sullied in Turkey.

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