In Not the Israel My Parents Promised Me, Pekar grapples with what it means to be a Jewish person in the modern world and attempts to make sense of a centuries old struggle between two cultures that shows little to no signs of reconciliation. Pekar combines his deep understanding of the issues with his characteristic straight-talk demeanor—an eminent critical voice that Lebien said was silenced much too soon. Waldman also points out that there was much more Pekar had to say, but is grateful for the opportunity to contribute to his legacy.