Chapter One
NATALYA, MOLDAVIA, THE PALE OF SETTLEMENT, EASTERN EUROPE, NOVEMBER 1899
Gunshots and screaming woke sixteen-year-old Havah Cohen from a sound and dreamless sleep. She ran to her window and saw flames shooting through the roof of the synagogue. Dense clouds of black smoke poured through the windows as men with shovels and rocks smashed the stained glass. By moonlight she could see her older brother lying beside the road in a bloodstained night shirt. Her other brother, a few feet away, lay face down.
“Papa!” She screamed when she saw him run from the inferno clutching the sacred scrolls.
~~From PLEASE SAY KADDISH FOR ME by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields
Published by Argus Publishing
Represented by Loiacono Literary Agency
***
Above is the opening paragraph to my first novel PLEASE SAY KADDISH FOR ME. To my knowledge, a shetl called Natalya, Moldavia never existed. On the other hand, the 1930 census lists my grandfather Sam Weiner’s birthplace as Rosinia, Poland which doesn’t seem to have existed either. I’ve searched the internet for every imaginable spelling. Then last year a Holocaust survivor from Poland confirmed what I’ve suspected for some time. Rosinia was probably one of those villages destroyed by pogromists.
I’ve often wondered how close to Havah’s story Grandpa’s came. All I know of his background came from my mother and a cousin. According to Mom, he came over from a part of the country that went from being part of Poland to being part of Russia. It was part of the Pale of Settlement in any case, the Jewish ghetto of Eastern Europe. Grandpa came to America at the age of 19 “with nothing but the shirt on his back.” He didn’t know his own birthday because those records that were kept in the synagogue had been destroyed. He taught himself to be a tailor.
History tells many stories of rabbis who sacrificed their lives to save the Torah scrolls. Havah’s father, Rabbi Shimon Cohen does just that as PLEASE SAY KADDISH FOR ME opens.
At that moment Havah’s idyllic childhood ends and her journey begins. PLEASE SAY KADDISH FOR ME, FROM SILT AND ASHES and recently released, AS ONE MUST, ONE CAN follow Havah, her friends and family from that night in 1899 to 1908.
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Before the completion of AS ONE MUST, ONE CAN, my publisher asked if I would be interested in compiling a coffee table companion book that would include the character studies I’ve posted. It took a split second to answer that one! Presently I’m hard at work on this book which is due out this spring to be entitled:
A coffee table book too? You’re such a gifted person, Rochelle! And what a horrific, dramatic opening to Havah’s story. A true turning point in her young life. Thank you for sharing your discovery about your grandfather’s villlage – horrific to imagine destruction enough to wipe a village from history.
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Dear Lynn,
Thank you for such a generous compliment. Now that I’m finished (I think) with the character portraits it’s time to face the challenge of illustrating scenes from the books. Faces are much easier for me than scenery.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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That’s quite a challenge and I can see why the landscapes would be so tough – the human face speaks to us where perhaps scenery doesn’t. Your artwork is so integral to your books, I can see why the publisher asked you to create the book. A huge feather in your cap, I’d say. And always a pleasure, Rochelle .
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Dearest Rochelle,
As you know, I am currently reading “As One Must, One Can” and am totally back in Havah’s world after a long (in my humble opinion) wait! 😉
I cannot wait for the companion coffee table book to complete my series!
Lotsa love,
Dale
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Dear Dale,
Havah says welcome back. Perhaps you’d care for some tzimmes with raisins of coffee laced with hot chocolate. 😉 I’ll be looking forward to your impressions of AOMOC.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Mmmm… Yes, please!
You will get them, no fear!
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I have been anticipating the coffee table book since the idea came up. Can’t wait to have it in my growing collection of your works.
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Dear Man I am Married to,
It will be a nice conversation piece. 😉 Thanks, m’love.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Ab Fab!
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Aw thanks, Ted. Glad you stopped by.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Yeah great, now I have to buy another book… and a damn coffee table.
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He he. No apologies. I’ll be looking forward to those reviews. 😉
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I remember reading this and being reminded of a ‘church burning’ that happened down the street from us in the mid 70’s. The church was an African American church, and the perps were dressed in the white robes of the KKK. I remember it so vividly. I remember seeing them tie up a black man and beating him beyond recognition. The black man, a decorated Vietnam Vet, was forever scarred. He lost an eye and most of his face from burns that night. It still turns my stomach, brings tears to my eyes…and leaves me with a scream in my soul at man’s cruelty.
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Dear Jelli,
May our souls never stop screaming. Thank you for reading and commenting, my sister writer/artist.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Querida Rochelle,
AND … the talent continues to unwind. MAGNiFICENT NEWS that you’re doing a coffee table book. MUY BUENO !!!!
Just reading that small excerpt has me waiting with baited breath for the whole story once I get my book. I’m sure I’ll be teary-eyed as I read. Looking forward … 😊
Just thought I’d mention that there’s a Holocaust Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida
https://www.flholocaustmuseum.org/begin-here/
Perhaps, you can visit their web-site and see if there’s anything helpful.
Now, get to that coffee book work.
Abrazos y carino,
Isadora 😎
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Querida Isadora,
According to the post office, that book should be finding its way back to my mailbox soon. I’m keeping a lookout.
The holocaust museum info could be useful. If they have a book store it might be an avenue.
Gracias para tu amistad y abrazos y palábras simpaticos.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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YAY …. I shall photograph myself with my huge smile next to the book. 😄
I’m happy the museum info could be helpful. 👌
Have a Great Weekend …
Adios hasta la proxima 😍
Isadora 😎
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Dear Rochelle,
I am very touched and impressed. I “qvell” for what you are doing, recollecting oral (as well as seeking definitive corroboration of) Jewish history, while relating it via your personal vision/version of your own family past. How wonderful. Mazel tov. My love…. May you keep going and growing (no short jokes herein intended).
Randy
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Dear Randy,
Your words above all mean more than I can say. There isn’t enough of this history told. I only wish I’d asked my grandfather questions. The truth is, he scared me. Short jokes don’t bother me. 😉 But I knew what you meant. Todah rabbah, chaver.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Randy, would you mind if I used your comments for promotion purposes? You’ve so eloquently verbalized the reasons I write what I write.
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It would be my pleasure and honor.
Not meaning to be short-sighted (oops, I did it again), I would suggest that you might want to edit out the short statement in my short statement, no? 😉
Randy
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Todah rabbah, Randy. I suppose I could edit out the short part of your statement. Anyone meeting me for the first time will figure out that short part. 😉 5ft nothing and no prospects of growing any taller.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I wish I would have your talent for just one day. I am very happy we met.
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Dear Bridget,
It’s not something I take for granted I’m grateful for the talent..I hope that doesn’t sound arrogant. It’s not meant to be. My ability was my comfort and vindication in junior high school when art class came right after gym. Guess who was always last picked on the teams and couldn’t get off the knot for rope climbing. 😉
I’m also happy we met. Perhaps one day we’ll make that a face to face.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Congratulations! You are building an impressive body of work Rochelle.
The mystery of disappearing Rosinia is tragic but also fascinating. Non-fiction book, pilgrimage and documentary tie-ins next? This is a piece of history that has been too long neglected.
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Dear Miranda,
I wonder how many Rosinias there have been? I would dearly love to do a pilgrimage to those places I’ve only written about and seen on the internet.
Thank you for your kind words.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Congratulations on the companion book of sketches, Rochelle. Your sketches are lovely and I wish you all good fortune with the book. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Dear Suzanne,
Ever since I can remember I’ve wanted to be a professional artist. At some point, I think I was 9 or 10 my dad made an off the wall comment that I might not be good enough when I grew up. I had a full-blown tantrum.
I’m not sure how this book will be formatted nor how it will play out but I’ll keep painting and putting one foot in front of the other
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Loved this background information to a story that I found very moving.
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Dear Hilary,
I can’t thank you enough for your support and encouragement.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Great post
Amazing
Visit mine
http://shivashishspeaks.wordpress.com/
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Thank you, Shiva.:D
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