Swimming to Jerusalem is the story of Bram Goodman; his family, friends, colleagues, and demons. Born in France, he spent his childhood in Israel and moved to the United States as a teenager. After his freshman college year he goes back to Israel and enlists in the army with his cousin Yoni. Their service is uneventful until they are sent to the Lebanon border in 1982 and witness the horrors of war. After his discharge, he finds himself in Paris — aimless and disillusioned —where he meets Liz, an American from Arizona, and follows her back to the States. Thirty years later, with a family and career, Bram uses his irreverent personality and sharp humor to mask the tragic events of his past. When Theo, his youngest child, seeks to learn about his heritage, Bram begins to confront the past that he has attempted to keep at bay. It is a journey that will take him back, both emotionally and physically, to a place he thought he could leave behind.
![](/themes/custom/jbc_theme/images/logo.png)
Fiction
Swimming to Jerusalem
- From the Publisher
September 1, 2023
Discussion Questions
![](/sites/default/files/images/book_covers_donate.png)
Jewish literature inspires, enriches, and educates the community.
Help support the Jewish Book Council.