A Land Twice Promised: An Israeli Woman's Quest for Peace

By: Noa Baum

Narrated by: Noa Baum

Length: 12 hrs and 28 mins

Publisher's Summary

Israeli storyteller Noa Baum grew up in Jerusalem in the shadow of the ancestral traumas of the holocaust and ongoing wars. Stories of the past and fear of annihilation in the wars of the ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s shaped her perceptions and identity. In America, she met a Palestinian woman who had grown up under Israeli occupation, and as they shared memories of war years in Jerusalem, an unlikely friendship blossomed.

A Land Twice Promised delves into the heart of one of the world’s most enduring and complex conflicts. Baum’s deeply personal memoir recounts her journey from girlhood in post­-Holocaust Israel to her adult encounter with “the other”. With honesty, compassion, and humor, she captures the drama of a nation at war and her discovery of humanity in the enemy.  

Winner of the 2017 Anne Izard Storytellers' Choice Award, among others, this compelling memoir demonstrates the transformative power of art and challenges each listener to take the first step toward peace.

©2016 Noa Baum (P)2020 Noa Baum

Extraordinary!

This book is rich and complex, yet so easy and entertaining to listen to and follow. Noa Baum is an award-winning storyteller, and all of her skills come to play in the many layers of her narrative. This book is so much more than a memoir, though it is also that. It tells the story of modern Israel, and Palestine, as seen by women on both sides. It evokes empathy for everyone in this heart breaking “situation”. Further, this book also tells the story of crafting a story, a piece of performance art, and is a masterclass in how to do that. Ms. Baum’s performance skills bring multiple characters to life.

I recommend this book to anyone with an interest in memoirs, even if you have little interest or knowledge of the Mideast. But I doubly recommend it if you are interested in the region, no matter your pre-existing assumptions.

Voices to echo in your head

Noa has a true gift for storytelling and her narration brings her words, her experiences to life. The way she brings each character’s voice to life in narration, creates an image in mind’s eye. As she states - each person listening to her story will find meaning that resonates for them. So true!! Although Noa’s story is in the past and about people connecting in Israel and the US, it has parallels to the tumult and division in US today. The story is about a quest for compassion, understanding and empathy for someone and a culture previously not fully known. A must read and there is not a better time to reach out to others to learn of their experiences and views to work towards mutual understanding, compassion, empathy and ultimately peace. Seek out storytellers in your life whether they be a local senior or a professional storyteller trying to earn a living. Live performances are the best. Noa’s reading of her personal story brings it to life!

Grab it and listen!

Noa Baum knows how to tell a story. And when you listen to her, it is even more impressive than reading her book. Well, she is a professional storyteller and ex-actor, so when she lovingly mimics her mother or her grandmother I just laugh out loud. Yet, a minute later I almost cry, because Noa's life story is far from being just funny: it is a story of growing up in Israel and moving to the US, of tragedies, politics, enmities and friendships – first in Israel, then in her present life here.
As an avid listener to audio books and plays (mainly from the UK) I can testify: Noa Baum is one of the best narrators I have heard, and her talent is all present here: in the fascinating book she wrote and in the way she brings it to life in the audio edition. Just grab it and listen!

Insightful, moving and powerful stories

This is a wonderful book which gives insights as to how an ongoing and painful conflict that affects ordinary people who long for peace, on both sides.
Noa's narration of her own very personal story brings the characters the to life and you feel and you wish you were there at that dining table with her Palestinian friend as they gain understanding of each other and their experiences.
The power of story telling to change the narrative from "them and us" towards understanding comes through so clearly. It is no glib statement to say that if many people would share similar journey of understanding as the author and many characters is this book did, that it would be a significant step towards building peace. Regardless of your political views towards this subject before you start reading this book, you cannot fail to be impacted by these stories -
this will be a mind-shift for some and a heart-shift for everyone.