Secondhand Jew

In this heartfelt memoir, Ta'om shares his experiences growing up in a military family while navigating the complexities of undiagnosed autism. By the age of twelve, he had already lived in six different states and West Germany, grappling with the challenges posed by a father deployed twice in Vietnam and the repercussions of divorce. After high school, his choice to enlist in the Navy opens doors to a journey across the Pacific and Indian Oceans, where he encounters diverse cultures alongside the harsh reality of antisemitism.At the end of his military service, the G.I. Bill paved the way for an educational adventure that spans three states and five different schools, ultimately allowing him to earn a degree and build a career as a graphic artist in Washington, DC. As a fourth-generation American Jew, Ta'om faces a struggle to connect with his heritage while also experiencing the ups and downs of love, marriage, and the delights of parenting. However, he finds himself dealing with significant challenges, including his wife's descent into mental illness and alcoholism, which led him to embrace single parenthood.Later in life, he confronts retirement and battles cancer-multiple myeloma, undergoing chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant. Today, Ta'om is recognized as an Atomic Veteran, with the memories of his plutonium exposure at Enewetak now distant. Throughout these trials and tribulations, Ta'om embarks on a quest for meaning, ultimately rediscovering his past, faith and finding comfort in G-d.