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[Book Review] The Hidden Saint by Mark Levenson
Posted on March 16, 2022 1 Comment
By Mark Levenson Based on Jewish folklore, The Hidden Saint, follows Rabbi Adam. When his family is nearly wiped out Rabbi Adam sets off on a quest to destroy a supernatural force and recover his youngest son, who has been abducted. The story centers around 18th century Eastern Europe and interweaves fantasy, magic, and mysticism. […]
[Book Review] The Mandarin Seed by Olga Swan
Posted on March 9, 2022 Leave a Comment
By Olga Swan Set in 1930s Vienna, no one wants to believe the horrors of war will cross the Austrian boarder. But with the terrors of the Nazis increasing, Eva and Michael, along with showgirl, Marta, needing to find a way out. As the situation continues to grow increasingly desperate, planning their escape becomes increasingly […]
[Book Review] The Promise of the Pelican by Roy Hoffman
Posted on March 9, 2022 Leave a Comment
By Roy Hoffman Hank Weinberg, an octogenarian and survivor of the Shoah, is adjusting to new roles in life, after retiring from his law practice. That of widower and ‘Gradee’, grandfather. He suddenly finds himself in the role of primary caretaker to his grandson, with the help of his Honduran babysitter, Lupita, when his daughter […]
[Book Review] Masada: Thou Shalt Not Kill by Shimon Avish
Posted on March 2, 2022 Leave a Comment
By Shimon Avish Set against the backdrop of the tumultuous second Temple period, we meet Daniel. At the age of 18, Daniel is abducted by Sicarii assassins. Determined to survive, Daniel finds himself forced to abandon Jewish law and to follow the ways of his captors. Daniel finds himself encountering choice after choice, shaping him […]
[Book Review] Night of Beginnings: A Passover Haggadah by Marcia Falk
Posted on March 2, 2022 Leave a Comment
By Marcia Falk In time for Pesach 5782 comes a new Haggadah by Marcia Falk. This new text provides the full narrative from the Exodus and provides a feminist perspective on the familiar story from the perspectives of Miriam; Shifrah and Pu’ah, the Hebrew midwives responsible for saving the lives of Hebrew babies; as well […]
February Update from Author Heidi Slowinski
Posted on February 28, 2022 Leave a Comment
This month, I’ve continued my goal to incorporate more stories and articles. My short story feature this month, entitled “Closing Time”, features a female bartender locking up for the night when something unexpected occurs. Or does it? Also, in celebration of Black History Month, I compiled a list of books by Black Jewish authors. Links […]
[Book Review] The Prophetess by Evonne Marzouk
Posted on February 23, 2022 Leave a Comment
By Evonne Marzouk When Rachel loses her grandfather, a survivor of the Shoah, during her senior year of high school, she finds herself seeking answers to questions with no one to answer them. The rest of her nuclear family is not observant of their Orthodox faith. Rachel finds herself with a large number of questions […]
[Book Review] The Foundation of Judaism by Akiva Aaronson
Posted on February 16, 2022 Leave a Comment
By Akiva Aaronson Let’s start with the back cover description of this book: “The fundamentals of Judaism in one book! The Foundation of Judaism deals with the basics of Judaism ― Jewish thought, Jewish history, Jewish year and more, in one succinct yet comprehensive book. Written in a clear and readable style, with a wealth […]
[Book Review] Shmuel’s Bridge: Following the Tracks to Auschwitz with My Survivor Father by Jason Sommer
Posted on February 16, 2022 Leave a Comment
By Jason Sommer Seven decades after arriving in New York from war-torn Europe, Jay Sommer is losing his memory, erasing stories of his family, his escape from a labor camp, the important memories of his past. This has his son, Jason Sommer, reflecting on the trip he took with his father in 2001 to retrace […]
[Book Review] Wolf Catcher by Anne Montgomery
Posted on February 9, 2022 Leave a Comment
By Anne Montgomery Kate Butler maintains her investigative journalism career by freelancing. Her latest project, focused on the discovery of a tomb in the Arizona desert, is near Flagstaff. Artifacts found at the site indicate the individual buried was a magician. When inconsistencies in the magician’s appearance raise questions about his origins, Butler is carried […]
Heidi Slowinski 