Ben's Way Out

At age 34, Ben Stein is graduating…again. Twelve years at the University of Manitoba and four degrees later Ben knows he has to move on. His last degree, the only one that could lead to a real job, is a law degree which he just completed when the book opens. But Ben has little interest in law and even less interest in lawyers. Necessity left him little room for choice and he was compelled to pursue a career in a law firm.

Ben’s ambivalence is not limited to work. His parents are post war immigrants and although they are well regarded their business and social circles have never extended beyond their cultural community. Ben wants more. He wants a global experience not constrained by his upbringing. But no matter how hard he tries to break away, his efforts usually result in disappointment or failure. Until one day he meets Julia, a stunning Anglo Saxon beauty. Ben soon after takes a job in a national establishment law firm. He enters a world that he never knew existed and embraces the lifestyle. Yet, he can’t bring himself to let go of his family and friends. He tries to stay connected in both worlds while at the same time break out of his family’s mold.

Just as Ben becomes accustomed to his new relationship and surroundings he learns that Julia has been unfaithful and the senior partners of his firm have attempted to steal his one client, a friend of his father, and blame Ben for their own failures. These experiences not only push him back into the safety of his cultural cocoon but to its epicenter. He meets and becomes engaged to the daughter of the most prominent industrialist within his cultural community and soon discovers that this family is as alien to his upbringing and as untrustworthy as the Anglo Saxon world. He is left in a state of confusion.

Over the three year period of the novel, 1984-1987, Ben Stein attempts to reconcile all these disparate experiences and people in his life. Ben’s world is populated by bizarre characters and a family secret that changes, not only his view of his family, but his place in it. His inept social skills and the humour with which he views and describes the events of his life and the world form the backdrop of his journey. It is a story about making choices while being all things to all people for fear of leaving something behind. Ultimately, Ben must face reality, define himself and deal with the consequences. This is the story of Ben’s Way Out.

	ISRAEL CHAFETZ is a partner in the law firm of Taylor Jordan Chafetz Barristers and Solicitors in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, he earned his Bachelor of Commerce (Honors) degree from the University of Manitoba, his Master of Science degree in labor relations from the University of British Columbia, and his law degree from Queen’s University. Mr. Chafetz has published short stories, articles, comments, and professional papers for academic and legal journals. In 2006, the author received a Queen’s Counsel appointment. He also gives lectures on the law and does substantial community service for both cultural and philanthropic organizations. Married with a daughter, the author enjoys golf, owning racehorses, and auctions. He lives in Vancouver, British Columbia.
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