“Listen carefully, son— the instant you feel the touch of honey on your lips, ask yourself: of what, of whom, am I a slave?”

Nachman Rabinovitch foresaw the calamity that would befall the Jewish people in Europe and advised all his children to leave Russia. He and his wife left for Palestine, most of their children settled in Europe, against his warning and wishes. This, ultimately, would result in most of the family being killed.

Nachman’s view on the position of Jewish people in Europe came from Judaism itself, and from Passover specifically. The holiday reminds Jewish people that they are never secure in their freedom. The matzo, unleavened bread, is a symbol of their hasty departure from Egypt. Shank bones symbolizes sacrifice while bitter herbs remind them of slavery. The egg represents spring while applesauce represents mortar used in Egypt. For Nachman, the sweetness of honey and fruit represents the most important aspect, which is a sense of false security. It is this element that Nachman tells his children about at Passover in Russia.

“Language is a maze, and the mind can get lost in it.”

Many years after the war, Lélia and her daughter Anne attempt to understand the Alzheimer’s disease-ridden notes Myriam left behind after her death. Later, Myriam will lose her ability to speak French and will only recall Russian—which she spoke only in her youth. Importantly, the novel is centered around inherited legacy, trauma, and pain.