Published: 2003, Toby Press

When war breaks out in 1973, childhood friends Haim and Dov are called up together to serve in their tank battalion, but in the chaos of battle the friends are separated. A month later, Haim returns alone, on his first leave home. As he struggles to come to terms with his experiences, weary and saddened but sustained by his religious faith, there is one question that remains uppermost in Haim's mind: What happened to Dov during those fateful days after the outbreak of war?

From the Library Journal review: Winner of Israel's Sapir Prize in 2000, this novel is based on Sabato's own experiences with war and loss. He lends his name to his protagonist, a young yeshiva (Jewish seminary) student in Israel who, along with friend Dov, is called up to serve as a gunner in the 1973 Yom Kippur War. Both have immigrated to Israel, Haim from Egypt and Dov from Romania, and though the army quickly takes them from their scholarly and religious world to the battlefield, with its attendant dead and wounded, they reconcile themselves with stolen moments of study and prayer. Eventually, however, their tanks are separated, and Haim loses sight of his friend; the title refers not only to the sights that a tank's gunner must adjust but also Haim's need to make internal adjustments and comprehend loss and tragedy. Other characters retell the battlefield story, adding dimension to this delicate, poignant story. The classical Hebrew is artfully translated.

About the Author

Haim Sabato descended from a long line of rabbis from Aleppo, Syria. His family lived in Egypt for two generations before moving to Israel when he was six. He served in the tank corps in the 1973 Yom Kippur war, and today is the head of a yeshiva near Jerusalem.

Online Resources

A review in Jewish Books .

A review in JBooks.com .

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