“Words refused to come from Arel’s mouth. His feet felt like stones. Diverting his gaze to Gittel, his intended since he was thirteen, his mind swirled like leaves on the wind. Tall and slender, she had an innocent beauty that emanated from the depths of a tender soul. Her auburn hair made a silken cape around her slim shoulders. He had, heretofore, enjoyed the prospect of making her his wife.”
~~Taken from Please Say Kaddish for Me by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields
Represented by Loiacono Literary Agency
Original Artwork © Rochelle Wisoff-Fields
Gittel is Fruma Ya’el’s daughter with Cantor Levine. At first, grief-stricken and in severe physical pain, Havah, wants nothing to do with the talkative girl. Gittel, who tends to look for the good in people, accepts Havah’s insults with gentle compassion. It’s not long before Gittel wins her over.
The girls, who are both sixteen, become confidantes, friends and sisters. The only wedge between them is Arel.
Available through Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk or W&B Publishers
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields-Addicted to Purple 
I adored Gittel (and almost all the characters in this wonderful book that took me 2 days to read!) No matter how difficult the subject, I loved it and could not put it down. The mess in my house can attest to it! My boys are lucky I actually took the time to cook for them too!
Should you be interested, I added your book (but couldn’t add an image ~ grrr) to Good Reads (if you want to read my two cents’ worth: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25519434-please-say-kaddish-for-me )
My father being a “Goyim mit a Yiddishe Kopf” sure helped with the Yiddish! Though, thankfully, you gave definitions… (I know Goy is singular and Goyim is plural but he always used to say it that way so I’ve given myself the liberty.)
Now I’m off to reread the character studies of the others as, at the time, I hadn’t read it yet!
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Dear Dale,
With all of your comments on my other studies today, I managed to miss this one. Thank you for the comments on Goodreads and Amazon. Jan and I are both sporting silly grins.
After nearly ten years of being fully invested in “my” characters, it’s more than gratifying to know that others love them, too.
You’ve made my day.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Ha ha! I figured it got lost in the shuffle – not like you to not respond!
I’m happy to – when I like something, I can’t help but share!
And now I have to buy the sequel! You are NOT helping me in my mission of “no more new books”! 🙂
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Not to worry, Dale. It won’t be released until December 😉
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Beautiful excerpt!
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Dear OA,
Many thanks from one artist to another.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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You are most welcome! Shalom to you too 🙂
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I like the painting of the young girl. Well done Rochelle. 🙂
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Rochelle,
I just got the book for Kindle and I’m looking forward to reading it when I get the time. Still playing catch up from the trip, but I should be up to speed soon. It was great to see you on Saturday.
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Fair warning, David. You won’t be able to put it down!
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I’ll consider myself warned. I’ll approach with caution. 🙂
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Just give your family a heads up that you are not to be disturbed… 😉
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Between the piece from the book and your lovely sketch, Rochelle, you make the character truly come alive. All the characters have from what I’ve read. Great book. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Dear Suzanne,
When you say, “great book” I hope this means you’ve read it or will read it. 😉
I’m not sure what I’m going to do with the painting collection that’s growing, but my agent suggests making prints and selling them at book signings. She says the originals will be worth a mint “when the books take off.” Sounds good to me.
Than you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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What a brilliant idea! Your agent is a smart cookie, Rochelle! 😉
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Oh wonderful there is to be a sequel!!! I loved all the characters in this book…you allowed us to get closer to each character. I still see images flashing of the difficult parts…I cannot imagine how that must have been to write.
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Dear Oliana,
As much time as I spent writing, rewriting and editing, you’d think I’d be done with these characters. Not so. I can’t describe the feeling of holding the book in my hand and looking at the story as a reader.
Gittel was the first to literally rewrite herself. I can’t explain that process, but as a writer I’m sure you understand. My original thought on Gittel was that she would be a virago, a witch who knew Havah was in love with Arel and would rub her nose in it. From the first word Gittel uttered, I knew she was the opposite. That she was almost too good to be true.
Other characters who started out as minor side characters also wrote themselves into larger roles. Nikolai (who will probably be the next character study) started out as Ulrich’s ‘sidekick’ and became something else. There’s much more to him in the sequel. 😉
Thank you for the five stars on Goodreads. I hope you don’t mind that I took a screenshot of your lovely comments on your blog and sent them to my agent who posted them on her website. fht.hawaii.edu/en/gallery/cloudcams/index.php?opts=intermediate
Shalom,
Rochelle
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As you know I tried to make the book last by retreading passages , and that just got me closer to these characters. I actually miss them.
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