“Kishinev?” His smile faded. “Then you are…Jewish?”
“What if I am? This is a free country.”
“It was a travesty—a dastardly travesty.” He shook his head.
His blue eyes, moist and caring behind his spectacles, put her (Havah) at ease. She showed him the scar on her hand. Trying to recount her history in her new language proved a challenge but he seemed to understand for his gaze never wavered except to wipe away a stray tear.
When she finished he pressed his handkerchief into her hand.
~~Taken from Please Say Kaddish for Me by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields
Published by Argus Publishing
Represented by Loiacono Literary Agency
Original Artwork – © Rochelle Wisoff-Fields
Although pogroms against the Jews in Eastern Europe’s Pale of Settlement were nothing new, the one that took place in Kishinev April 19-20, 1903 was the first to receive international recognition. President Theodore Roosevelt called it a “dreadful outrage upon the Jews.”
Jews in the United States put together a massive petition protesting the slaughter. Jewish leaders convinced the President to present it to Czar Nicholas II.
In an attempt to pressure the Czar for reform the petition was sent to the American chargé in St. Petersburg. He refused to accept.
In Please Say Kaddish for Me and From Silt and Ashes Havah will experience the President’s compassion firsthand.
Check out my author page on the Loiacono Website. For all of the character studies thus far, click on the link Rochelle Wisoff-Fields Art and Blogs or my website RochelleWordArt.
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Available Internationally on Kindle and in Print
If you’ve read and enjoyed, please leave a review on one of these sites. It helps sell books. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Nice!
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Thank you, Ghost!
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Very understated and touching scene! And even more powerful knowing that the “he” is none other than Theodore Roosevelt.
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Dear Joy,
It was one of my favorite scenes in the book to write.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Effective and emotionaly touching placement of a historical figure into the narrative, Rochelle. Well written as always. — Suzanne
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Dear Suzanne,
it was one of those “why not?” scenes and it worked on all cylinders. 😀 A little tweaking of history never hurts, right?
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I’m sending to my granddaughter who is obsessed with Teddy. And, I realized if have not bought this book yet. I enjoyed the last one so.
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I see this a family effort… you’ve got Jan pimping the book now. Hope retirement is going well and you haven’t had to ice any cakes lately. Just write!
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Retirement is keeping me quite busy. A few opportunities looming on the horizon. I don’t have any of my decorating equipment left so no cakes. I’m loving the writing. In fact the third novel is underway, and of course there’s always Friday Fictioneers. Right? Of course right!
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Dear Ted,
😯 you haven’t?!!!! I hope you’ll enjoy this one as much as you did my short stories. 😉 The sequel, From Silt and Ashes will be out in December.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Beautiful work, Rochelle!
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Thank you Eric. 😀
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I am still in shock that I forgot he was in the book. So in shock, as a matter of fact, I am going back to read that section of the book.
Beautiful artwork, as well, Rochelle!
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Dear Dale,
To be fair, T.R. had a cameo role, albeit an important one. 😉 Look for him again in From Silt and Ashes. Personally, I love that part of PSKFM and had a blast writing it.
Thank you re the artwork. Soon there may be a book of that, too.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Well…cameo or not, I am going back!
Cannot wait for FSaA!
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