Chaim Eliav

Chaim Eliav (1956 – 2020, born in Israel, lived in Jerusalem, the pen name of Rabbi Moshe Grylack, who was a prominent journalist – editor-in-chief of the popular Haredi weekly magazine, Mishpacha (“Family”) - and author. He is widely considered a pioneer of the Haredi (Ultra-Orthodox) thriller genre. He was a renowned author within the Orthodox Jewish community, particularly known for his fast-paced thriller and suspense novels. Eliav specialized in “kosher” thrillers that blended espionage, historical intrigue, and Jewish themes. Many of his works were published by ArtScroll/Shaar Press, becoming staples in Haredi and religious Zionist libraries. He is often credited with helping to pioneer the modern adventure-novel genre for religious readers, providing high-stakes plots that remained consistent with Orthodox values. His books are written in Hebrew and translated; the settings are international, including Israel, Brazil, Switzerland, Portugal, etc. [Google/AI]

See also the entry on Yair Weinstock in this Bibliography.

See Benjamin Weiner, “The Rise and Rise of Haredi Thrillers”, The Forward, May 13, 2009. Link: https://forward.com/culture/105932/the-rise-and-rise-of-haredi-thrillers/#:~:text=Though%20popular%20Haredi%20publishing%20originated,and%20a%20number%20of%20imitators.

Eliav, Chaim, (In the Spider’s Web: Decades After the War, a Jew Is Enmeshed in International Nazi Intrigue [trans. from the Hebrew by Miriam Zakon]) [hc, Mesorah Publications, 1996] 978-0899065755 [pb, Shaar Press, 1996] 978-0899065762

Eliav, Chaim, (The Persecution: Intrigue and Suspense and a City Entangled in Danger) [hc, Mesorah Publications, transl. by Libby Lazewnik, 1997] 978-0899066684 [pb, Mesorah Publications, 1997] 978-0899066691

Eliav, Chaim, (The Runaway: A Frightening Disappearance, a Cult, and a Desperate Search [hc, Mesorah, transl. by Libby Lazewnik, 1998]) 978-1578195237

Eliav, Chaim, (The Mission [hc, Mesorah, [transl. by Miriam Zakon, 2000]) 978-1578195237

Eliav, Chaim, (The Envelope [hc, Mesorah, transl. by Libby Lazewnik, 2002]) 978-1578197804

Eliav, Chaim, (The Four [hc, Mesorah, [transl. by Miriam Zakon, 2019]) 978-1422623770