This landmark anthology brings together some of the best stories written in the last thirty years by and about American Jews. Saul Bellow tells a brutal coming-of-age story set in Chicago; Mark Helprin recalls a stint in the Israeli army during the Six-Day War; Grace Paley explores the complex relationship between Jews and Blacks; Philip Roth muses on what life would have been like for Kafka if he had come to America, and maybe dated Roth's aunt. From I.B. Singer's unforgettable depiction of a widower in Miami Beach to Michael Chabon's California-style Jewish wedding and Allegra Goodman's satiric portrayal of a yuppie Orthodox family, a rare view--and one surprising in its diversity--emerges out of the contemporary experience in America.

Originally published: Writing our way home, 1992.

The eighth day /Max Apple -- Something to remember me by / Saul Bellow -- Deeds of love and rage / Marsha Lee Berkman -- Angel / Michael Chabon -- The writer in the family / E. L. Doctorow -- Variant text / Allegra Goodman -- North light: a recollection in the present tense / Mark Helprin -- Building block / Allen Hoffman -- Sickness / Johanna Kaplan -- April 19th, 1985 / Deirdre Levinson -- The silver crown / Bernard Malamud -- Enchantment / Daphne Merkin -- Murderers / Leonard Michaels -- Bloodshed / Cynthia Ozick -- Zagrowsky Tells / Grace Paley -- The woman who lost her names / Nessa Rapoport -- The pagan phallus / Robin Roger -- I always wanted you to admire my fasting or, Looking at Kafka / Philip Roth -- Where is it written? / Adam Schwartz -- The melting pot / Lynne Sharon Schwartz -- The reverse bug / Lore Segal -- A party in Miami Beach / Isaac Bashevis Singer -- Three thousand years of your history... take one year yourself / Joanna Spiro -- Orchards / Eppie Zore'a.