Each story in David Ehrlich’s short story collection Who Will Die Last: Stories of Life in Israel features characters that offer different perspectives on life in Israel as they explore such issues as truth, love, identity, loneliness, and sense of purpose.
One of the most powerful stories grapples with the universal response of soldiers who leave the military to enter the civilian world. “It’s that emptiness, when there are no exercises or maneuvers to prepare for, when no one needs you on the double, when you feel lower than low…”
Of the twenty-one short stories, one particular topic is explored more than others, the issue of being gay in Israel.
While reading these stories a range of emotions will be experienced from sadness to humor. The collection editor, Ken Frieden said it best in the preface, “[Israel] is an enigmatic country that is as magical as it is haunted by harsh realities,” which is reflected in these short stories.