After one last draw on his pipe, Wolf emptied it into an ashtray on the end table. He leaned back on the sofa and stretched his lanky arms over his head and his long legs out in front of him.
“Public school is a wonderful thing,” he said. “The twins will learn to read and write like American children. There’s talk at the synagogue of starting a Talmud Torah class as well. It will be like heder in the old country, so Jeffrey will learn Hebrew, too.”
“What about me?” Evalyne sat up straight.
“Talmud Torah classes are for boys, sweetheart.”
“Auntie Havah reads the Torah in Hebrew, doesn’t she?” Evalyne stuck out her lower lip.
“Yes, I do. Is this not America? Why shouldn’t Evie know what her brother does?”
Havah rose and arched her back in an attempt to find some relief.
“Are you saying we should be without tradition like the gentiles?” asked Wolf with a growl in his voice as he stood.
“I’m saying, our traditions should include women and girls.”
“Then your tradition contradicts Talmud!”
“My papa used to say the Talmud is just a bunch of rabbinic opinions.”
“They’re damn good ones at that, and I’ll thank you to keep your ideas to yourself where my daughter’s concerned.”
~~Taken From From Silt and Ashes by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields
Published by Argus Publishing
Represented by Loiacono Literary Agency
Original Artwork © Rochelle Wisoff-Fields
Wolf Tulschinsky is a self-made man. He met and fell in love with Sarah Gitterman on the way to America. Together they’ve forged a good life for themselves and their twins, Jeffrey and Evalyne. He’s a good husband and a loving father. While Wolf prides himself on his trade as a tailor and a modern American, his ideas concerning Jewish tradition are very much old world. Although it’s clear in both Please Say Kaddish for Me and From Silt and Ashes he admires Havah’s courage and strength, he disagrees with her radical stance on women and education.
The Sequel to
Both Available at
ANGUS & ROBERTSON AMAZON B&N BAM BOOKWORLD FISHPOND SHELFARI BOOK DEPOSITORY WATERSTONES GOODREADS IDREAMBOOKS
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.
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields-Addicted to Purple 
Having now read both novels, I can’t wait to see what waits for all the rich characters in the next one. Once started, it is hard to put the book down to rest as the mind continues to digest what has and will happen next. Must reads for all.
LikeLike
Congratulations Rochelle and continued success with both these books and any more to come. You have a genuine talent and gift for story-telling 🙂
LikeLike
Thank you on all counts, MJ. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
I would guess that many of the people coming to the U.S. 100 years ago and before brought the old ways with them. It was up to the children of many of them, born and raised in the U.S., to accept new ways. Old ways die with the old generation. You always bring your characters alive, Rochelle. That’s a good trailer for the books, dramatic. 🙂 — Suzanne
LikeLike
Dear Suzanne,
Some of my information about the Talmud Torah classes in Kansas City came from a history book. Apparently some of the synagogues progressed over the next few years because I found a picture of my mother in a Hebrew class in an old Synagogue history book.
Thank you for being so faithful to comment on my character studies. Glad you liked the trailer. I’ll pass that along to Kent.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLike
Ah dammit! I knew there was a reason I didn’t want to read this yet!
Fair warning. All future character studies will be studiously avoided by moi until I’ve read the book. I shall return after… xoxo
LikeLike
Not to worry, Dale. This excerpt is from an early chapter in FSAA. But I’ll warn you of any spoilers.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fuggetaboutit! I’ll wait!
LikeLike