It Comes from The Heart (not the brain)

Knowledge Can Be Dangerous!

My father, Imanuel Marx, meant well. He was a mathematics professor at Purdue University and we lived near its campus in West Lafayette, Indiana. In his “world” intellect and book learning was All Important. Feelings were never discussed. This didn’t help my emotional maturation!

My world changed significantly with his death Friday, November 13th, 1964 — when I was 13 years old — of stomach cancer.

The Barnes and Noble store in El Cerrito, California’s lease expires at the end of 2024. All books are 25% off list — due to the store’s impending closure.

I discovered the sale a few weeks ago. Normally, I shop at two historic local stores: Marcus Books (Black/liberation) and Moe’s — a huge, great store.

I initiated a conversation with a man wearing a Kippah (Yarmulke). I mentioned that he might like James McBride’s The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store”. The man reacted negatively to my “Defend Palestine” t-shirt. He stated that I was supporting the killing of worldwide Jews.

I waited in line to purchase my single book, while his wife, daughter, and he purchased roughly 20–25 books. I noted that McBride’s book was B & N’s “book of the year” (see my review:

https://www.georgemarx.org/2023/09/the-heaven-earth-grocery-store.html )

His wife then spoke up, informing me/us that the book gave a distorted view of some Jewish (cultural) life.