On November 29, 1947, the UN voted to partition the British Mandate of Palestine into a Jewish state and an Arab state. In December, the Arabs of Aleppo committed a pogrom against their Jewish neighbors that signaled the decline of the Syrian Jewish community. Ten synagogues, five schools, the Jewish orphanage, and many homes and businesses were set ablaze. Around 75 Jews were killed, and hundreds were injured. Similar riots took place throughout the Arab world, prompting many Middle Eastern Jews to flee to Israel. Through the Flames of Aleppo dramatizes the harrowing events of the Aleppo pogrom through the eyes of a Jewish boy, Ezra. The book is written by A. Shalom, who consulted archives from the time and met with members of the community who lived through the riots in writing the novel. It also features charming illustrations by Tova Katz.
The novel begins just after the passing of UN Resolution 181, which called for partitioning the British Mandate of Palestine into Jewish and Arab states. While the Jews of Aleppo celebrate, their Muslim neighbors are furious. Ezra and his family observe the escalating rhetoric coming from the Muslim world with growing alarm. It all comes to a head when Muslim rioters attack the Aleppo Central Synagogue while Ezra is at his Bible class. Shalom describes the ensuing events of the riot in a way that is harrowing but not so much that younger readers are unable to stomach it. A particularly affecting bit is when Ezra comes across a group of Muslims looting a Jewish-owned clothing store. The owner tries in vain to prevent the looting before breaking down in tears.
With the riot raging around them, Ezra must venture out into the chaos to find a midwife for his pregnant mother. Shalom does a good job of presenting the fear that Ezra feels as his father and uncle tell him what they need him to do. On the way, he witnesses the home of his friend Jacob getting ransacked and razed by rioters. The descriptions of destruction are harrowing without being too graphic for a younger audience, and the suspense as Ezra seeks the midwife and then guides her back to his house is gripping. At the climax of the story, a mob surrounds and threatens to break into Ezra’s house as he and the midwife arrive. They are saved when their Muslim neighbor Ibrahim confronts the mob and chases them away.
As it is published by the Orthodox Jewish publisher, ArtScroll Mesorah, Through the Flames of Aleppo emphasizes faith throughout the book. As he heads into the city, Ezra’s father blesses him, and Ezra silently prays for G-d to protect him. When a Syrian policeman accosts Ezra and the midwife, the book says, “He suddenly understood what trusting in Hashem meant… People only learn to trust when all else fails.” The book also frequently uses Hebrew and Arabic jargon, but there is a helpful footnoted glossary for those who may not be familiar with some terms. However, some terms with which readers might be unfamiliar are not explained. For example, the characters use the term “Hashem” (lit. The name) to refer to G-d, but no explanation of this term is provided. One thing the book does well is to present its protagonists as three-dimensional. In a couple of places, they express prejudice towards Muslims, which is a believable aspect of being a minority facing a violent mob. Ezra is shown to be scared to undertake his mission at first and needs to be encouraged by his father.
The book does have some flaws. Little attention is paid to the subject of Israel beyond a reference to Ezra and his family celebrating the UN vote, with the story focused almost exclusively on the events in Aleppo. The riot is resolved a bit too easily to be entirely believable, but since this is a book intended for younger readers, this is understandable.
Through the Flames of Aleppo recounts an exciting adventure story that teaches young readers about courage and faith as well as the importance of family. Young readers will be entertained and educated about this important episode in Jewish history, while parents and teachers can use the book as a launching pad to discuss the founding of the State of Israel and its ramifications.