Our Mantra
The next photo is the PROMPT. Remember, all photos are property of the photographer, donated for use in Friday Fictioneers only. They shouldn’t be used for any other purpose without express permission. It is proper etiquette to give the contributor credit.

PHOTO PROMPT © Dale Rogerson
Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 100
I’ve gone ‘there’ again. When the muse leads, I follow. But as EagleEye so aptly coined last week, “It’s a time too horrible to remember, too vile to forget.”
THE SONG’S STILL HEARD IN SELVINO
“It’s almost sundown,” said “Uncle” Moshe Ze’iri.
Clenching his fists, David followed the others to the huge Sciesopoli dining room. The familiar aroma of chicken soup filled his nostrils. It stirred memories of home and his parents, slaughtered before his eyes. After three years of lice and torture, why should he trust this smiling stranger or the Italians who had allied themselves with the monster?
“Shalom aleynu,” sang Uncle Moshe, his face aglow in the Sabbath candles, his voice tender and melodious. “Peace upon us…”
In that sweet moment the stone in David’s chest softened and beat once more.
.
.
.
Humans by their actions created such sadness for themselves.
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Dear Tamal,
Well said. Thank you for reading and commenting.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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You’re so brave to be writing and sharing these stories with the world! That last line about the stone softening is magic.
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Dear Jessie,
I only hope I’m not becoming tedious posting two of them back to back. Your comments make me feel better about it. Thank you. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Engaging, education, emotional and moving but never, never tedious.
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Dear Louise,
I think I needed reassurance this morning. Thank you for being there to send it across the sea.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Lovely story, Rochelle. What a wonderful change for the children and way to introduce the Jewish faith to them once more. Great writing as always. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Dear Suzanne,
For these children, clean sheets, hot food and showers were wonderful, too. So many of them had lost faith in everyone and everything. The sad thing for me is that I could find next to nothing on the man who called himself Uncle Moshe. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Beautifully done as always, Rochelle.
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Dear Sandra,
As long as you don’t tell me it’s tedious. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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People survive, because they have to. Being able to love again, that takes more. Well-written as always, Rochelle
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Dear Neil,
It’s amazing to me that people did survive and thrive after the fact. Thank you for your generous comment
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I like the image of a softening stone. It’s still a stone, but there’s progress. Nicely told. Really love this choice of image, too.
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Dear J Hardy,
I think it might’ve taken David a little while to warm up and for that stone in his chest to become flesh. Thank you for such an insightful comment I love it when a reader reads what I’ve written between the lines.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Wow I really love this Rochelle… the slow (re)building of trust. The scents and the candle-lights works so well…
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Dear Björn,
I recently saw an interview with someone at Yad V’Shem who said that was one of the tough things after the Holocaust…regaining the trust of the children. Their faith in adults had been badly shaken. Thank you for your sweet comments.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A nice touch of hope for the future at the end. Keep on going ‘there’ Rochelle.
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Dear Iain,
Thank you for your encouraging words. It means a lot
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Yeah, that’s a good one. The title’s good, too. You’re doing pretty well with those, huh? 😉 I’m going to have to watch the rest of the videos. I started, then you called me and I never got back to it! Hahaha!
Break out the vino!
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Dear Cuzzin Notnek,
As a friend told me once, a good title adds 100 words to a story. I’m still foraging for a title for my next novel.
Raising my glass of Sauvignon Blanc…L’chaim!
Cuzzin Shelley
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“Up the rebels.”
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Here’s looking up your old address.
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Aaaaaa-by—-SSINIA!
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You two are hilarious!!
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Thank you, Lisa. My cousin and I are the comedy team of She is, He’s Not. 😉 Sort of like Stiller and Meara, only different. 😉
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It is hard to understand the terror of what happened or how someone can rebuild their life. You showed a real gift in illustrating David’s story, I am so glad that you told David’s story.
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Dear Michael,
How anyone could make children suffer is beyond me. Thank you for your kind words of encouragement.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Beautifully written, as always. And no. Never tedious! You keep introducing us to one and another unsung hero! How could that ever be tedious? Love that my photo took you “there”…
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Dear Dale,
As you know, I didn’t start “there.” My muse just led the way and I followed like an obedient little author. 😉 Perhaps I should give her a Jewish name, like Esther Writovitch.
It’s true, though. There are so many unsung heroes whose stories haven’t been told. Up until recently I knew nothing about this kibbutz in Italy or the man who dedicated himself to 800 refugee children. The frustration I had was in finding much about him.
There I go, running off at the keyboard. I’ll stop and say thank you for your encouraging words.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Esther Writovitch,
Please don’t stop singing unsung heros’ praises. We’re ever better for it! Plus, you do it so well…
Lotsa love,
Dale (just couldn’t come up with a cool name…)
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I believe my muse has been named. Long live Esther. 😉 For such a time as this.
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Excellent!
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We have to be faithful to the gift and the revelation that the Lord has so graciously granted us. If you didn’t write about these subjects often, you would betray His trust in you to make sure the truth is continually set before the world. It’s similar to what He told me when He called me to write a novel about a city besieged by witchcraft — and to start planning its sequel. He convinced me that there are thousands of people out there who will never make the effort (or even sit still long enough) to hear the truth about witchcraft and how real and how deadly it is. But a majority of those thousands will pick up a piece of fiction and devour it — and unconsciously pick up the truth about the subject before they realize what’s happening. In a world where so many people want to forget what really happened during Hitler’s reign — and where a whole generation’s growing up with absolutely no clue about what actually happened — your kind of writing is one of the few beacons that will be able to shine a light into their darkness.
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Dear Sandra,
Thank you for those magnificent words and the reminder. it’s a calling. I can’t help wonder how close we are to another Hitler…and I’m not speaking politics. I’m speaking world condition in general.
Shalom u’vracha (peace and blessings)
Rochelle
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I understand what you mean. But I do know one thing for sure (which I’m sure you know as well) – whatever/whoever comes against Israel is going to be blown away. I don’t think the world has even a clue how dangerous it is to stand against Israel or attack her right now. God is NOT going to stand still for any length of time if she gets hit much harder. That’s one reason I’m so glad we’re seeing a change in administration right now. And I’m not really talking politics either. I’m talking about having leaders with enough sanity to understand that holding hands with Israel and supporting her is a major lifeline for us.
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Dear Sandra,
I couldn’t agree with you more. “I will bless those who bless you. I will curse those who curse you.” Thank you, my friend.
Ahm Yisrael Khai. (the people of Israel live)
Shalom,
Rochelle
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As your story relates, hate can be horrible, yet sometimes melted in an instance through love and faith. Well done, as usual. The video links are interesting and informative.
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Dear Jan,
Thank you for always taking the time to read, listen and support.
Love,
Rochelle
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Hard to see how he could get past that distrust and hatred. Unimaginable, when you’ve seen your family perish, having to get past that and forgive. It must be impossibly hard, but good for the one who forgives most of all.
Heartbreaking and honest as always, Rochelle
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Dear Lynn,
Those children had a lot to forgive. Unimaginable. Thank you for such an affirming comment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Always a pleasure to read your writing Rochelle
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I have nothing but admiration for anybody who had to live through the horror of the Holocaust. great story here, left me with a lump in my throat.
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Dear Ted,
Mission accomplished. These stories make me weep thank you for your affirming comment/compliment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Loved this. Loved the video. I heard a Holocaust survivor a few years ago. His name was Severin Fayerman. You can probably google him. Fascinating story.
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Dear Linda,
I will indeed look up Severin Fayerman. So many stories that the general populace doesn’t know. Where there’s one story, there are millions. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Hi Rochelle, sounds like you have a lot of histories to draw from. 🙂
I’ll have to get you to post the link to my contribution again. Thanks.
https://wordpress.com/post/christinegoodnough.com/3573
I found out I can get the “frog” and the others’ links on my cell phone, but when I tried to post my own, it wanted an image before it would accept my link. I tried to upload my owl icon, but I don’t know how to do that. Sigh.
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Dear Christine,
Lots of research, not to mention friends and family histories don’t hurt. 😉 Thank you.
You are #31.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Peace after years of torture. How were they able to find it? How were they able to overcome. I asked myself this so many times. Humans can’t live with hate in their heart, that’s why they find peace.
Great post -as always.
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Dear Bridget,
The strength of the human spirit never ceases to amaze me. I honestly don’t know how they did it. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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At last, David and many others finally found a place where their hearts can beat again. Lovely story, Rochelle! I liked the link to wiki. That was new and interesting info for me. You educate me once again. Glad you found a use for that quote. I’m blushing. 🙂
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Dear Eric,
No need to blush. It’s a brilliant statement and it might just show up in other places. Thank you for that. And thank you for your affirming comments re my story. It’s a special moment for me when a reader tells me he’s learned something.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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We must always remember the past as if it were still happening so that we don’t repeat our mistakes.
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Dear James,
Without the past, I’ve read, we have no future. Thank you for reading and commenting.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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It would indeed be difficult to ever trust again after living through such a time… we should all be grateful for the small things we take for granted every day. There is always someone somewhere who is worse off than I…
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Dear Courtney,
In the song Big Yellow Taxi, Joni Mitchell aptly wrote, “Don’t it always seem to go that you don’t know what you’ve got til it’s gone?”
Thank you for reading and commenting
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Well, you cheated a bit this week, didn’t you, m’lady?
Maybe I am the only reader who had to Google Sciesopoli, but wow, what an impact!
Magnificent.
As I have said before, you translate monstrous acts into human feelings.
And human acts into tears.
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Dear CE,
Cheated? C’est moi? Just made the reader dig a little deeper. 😉
Thank you for such a magnificent comment. ❤ 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Beautiful, as always. Never feel bad about reminding and educating at the same time.
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Dear Lish,
Thank for your encouraging comment. With all of this positive feedback I shall continue on and write when the muse directs.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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After such horror, one man steps up to bring back faith. Lovely story.
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Thank you, Ali 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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The smell of chicken soup can bring both horror and comfort, I imagine. Yes, you went “there” again, but you do it so well each week. Shalom!
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Dear Dawn,
So far I’ve been overwhelmed by the encouraging feedback. I was a little singed when someone I respected as a writer suggested that I wrote a lot on the same theme and should try different things. He suggested that I might be boring my readers. I guess I took that to heart. I’ll now stick his comments in the ‘disregard’ pile and write what my heart tells me. Thank you for your kind words. (What else brings healing like good chicken soup?)
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I think each of us has to write what inspires us. If others don’t like it, they can choose not to read. That said, I try to look at feedback and see where it comes from. If someone is saying it from a caring place, I try to see how it fits for me… in the end, it circles back to writing what inspires us. You do right a lot about the Holocaust, but that is your passion and it’s an important history in your life. I agree, listen to your heart… and those who appreciate it, will continue to do so. Those who don’t, can respectfully not read. xox
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Dear Dawn,
I might have to print this part of your comment off and frame it. Thank you for those words of affirmation that constitute a verbal hug.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rochelle
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Beautiful Rochelle. I felt the love of the uncle.
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Thank you, Colline. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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We can never forget, nor should we. Such stories are so important to share. Thanks Rochelle
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Dear Laurie,
Such overwhelming support I’ve received this week. 😀 Thank you for yours and your comment. As one fellow writer recently said, comments are manna to a writer.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A softening stone, that is the sequel. Your characterizations are never tedious and the subject should never fade from history.
Tracey
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Dear Tracey,
Your words are a healing balm. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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It would be a tragic loss if you stopped writing the stories of the hero’s, and heroines that suffered so much. To say I enjoyed your story would trivialize it. I felt your story and the suffering of your characters. Well done.
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Dear Cindy,
No worries. I won’t stop writing these stories anytime soon 😉 Thank you for your affirming comments.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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What a beautiful story. Thank you for sharing it. The ending closes it really well. Sorry for my long absence! Life has gotten crazy, but I always think of you and this community of writers as the end of the week rolls around, even if I know I won’t have the opportunity to read and write for it!
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Dear Emily,
I have noticed your absence. I understand how crazy life can be. Thank you for your generous comments.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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beautiful story as usual. it reminds me of the quote that while forgiveness can’t change the past, it can change the future.
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Well said, Plaridel. Thank you
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I was not raised a religious person….however, whenever my parents did bring me to church, I always experienced such a profound sense of peace.
Thank you for ‘reminding’ me.
– Lisa
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Dear Lisa,
I don’t think I’d call it religion as much as spirituality. Thank you for your lovely comment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Such a difference a shared ritual can make.
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Thank you, Alice .
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strongly written, at least he could find peace for a moment
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Dear Samantha,
I sure at that point, David had a journey ahead. But this was the beginning of healing for him. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Shirley Dimples,
I’ll try to leave a comment without “running off at the keyboard” (I love that visual). First of all, let me say how much I enjoyed that cute little photo on the InLinkz author’s page. Secondly, I agree with Sandra Connor on several points, especially being called to write what we write. I didn’t choose humor, it chose me. Evidently, God thinks there are a few people out there who need to chuckle once in a while and He chose me to be the vehicle to deliver those smiles. It’s not always easy, but I take my calling seriously–and it has it’s rewards.
Now, back to your story. When I read the last sentence, I felt the stone in my chest warm a few degrees. Good stuff.
Hang in there, Sunshine.
Michael
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Dear Michael,
I understand that humor is serious business. How much humor is born out of pain and suffering. (Of course I think of Jewish humor…ie Hogan’s Heroes is a prime example IMHO) As the Good Book says “Laughter does good, like a medicine.” I appreciate the elixir you bring to the table every week.
All of these comments encourage me to forge ahead and when the muse strikes I shall continue to write these stories. I do believe it’s a calling.
Thank you for your affirming words,my friend.
Shalom,
Dimples.
PS Glad you liked my photo. 😉
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I will never be able to understand how humans can be so cruel. Trust, once shattered, is never easy to restore. I love the softening of the stone.
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Dear Clare,
Thank you for your affirming comments. How indeed? May you never be able to understand.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Beautifully written as always, Rochelle. I love the last line about the softening of the soul. I think, sometimes, that time and a “stepping back” helps in that softening. Never forgotten, but survivable the memories of such horror.
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Thank you for such lovely words, Jelli. Never forgotten, but forgiving and moving on.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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An uplifting story this time, Rochelle, and the short video was very moving.
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Thank you, Liz. I love the video and have watched it several times. My story is actually inspired by it.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle
People need reminding and people too young to remember, need telling. And you have the gift of weaving together words in a deeply personal way that gets right into the hearts of your readers. That’s amazing what the Italians did for those children. I hope that the Turks can help heal the hearts of all those Syrian orphans they’ve taken into their country in the same way.
I was only hearing on the news this morning, fears that there’s a huge shift to the right in the West, similar to that in the 1930s. God help us all D:
Thank you for yet another deeply moving story.
All best wishes
Sarah x
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Dear Sarah,
I harbor a few fears of my own as I see antisemitism on the horizon. Often I see it these days, not so much in what is said, but what is omitted from what’s being said.
Thank you or your encouraging and affirming comments.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
Heaven help us. I think a lot of it is to do with envy. Jewish people are so often talented and successful, and there’s such a sense of family and history that binds them together. Many people out there don’t have the support of an extended family, or a sense of racial identity, and they’ve no idea how to begin finding it, so they’re angry at those who have these things. It makes them feel excluded.
That’s what I think it is, anyway. I attended a technical college years ago, where I met different people from all around the world, representatives of numerous religious and cultural backgrounds. It was an eye-opener. I kept taking my new friends home and my mother said I was turning our house into the United Nations!
I’m fascinated that you married a gentile and am dying to ask you more about this…
All best wishes,
Sarah
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Dear Sarah,
I love it…a United Nations. Beautiful. We should all be that way. As Havah thinks of it in As One Must, One Can, her rainbow. One of my earlier jobs was in a Chinese restaurant. We had a little melting pot there. People fascinate me. As for my marriage…a story for another time, or perhaps an email. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Sorry, your words struck a chord within my soul. I see the same, and fear the same. I am in deep deep water prayers that I am wrong. Praying deeply for my nation, my people. ~Jelli
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Dear Jelli, I’m praying deeply for the whole world, that humanity’s spiritual development will catch up with its technological progress, or I fear we’re doomed as a species. People are not listening to each other anymore — just shouting rhetoric with their fingers in their ears.
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Dearest,
Power to you. Power to us all. Heart felt and as real as it gets, your writing fuels the fire in every reader and writer who draws breath.
My Best Now & Always,
Stephanie a.k.a. HonieBriggs
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My dear friend,
Your words help spur me on to write more of the same when the muse strikes. Thank you for them.
Shalom and hugs,
Rochelle
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Commented firts in the wrong place… here we go again:
Please never stop writing these stories. People who find them repetitive need not read. I think you’re way past the ‘experimenting’ phase where you need to find out what and how to write. This story is uplifting in its sadness. It makes me smile and cry at the same time. Especially today.
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First… aaahrgh.
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Dear Gabi
The number of encouraging comments and affirmations has convinced me. Thank you for such a generous comment/compliment. Rest assured that whenever the muse leads me that direction, there I shall follow.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Hola Rochelle,
A tad late – Saturday noon – but Latinos are known for their tardiness.
I add a bit of humor to lighten my heart. Your story pulls at the strings of the heart. The sad circumstances these children find themselves due to the atrocities of war. You’ve told it in a way that showcases David’s fears and apprehension. He weary body eventually folding under the tone of kindness. Brilliant, mi amiga.
Gracias por ser la servidora de todos en estos cuentos ….
Con carino
Isadora 😎
p.s. thank you for adding the link. It was most informative. : )
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Querida, Isadora,
I’ve been overwhelmed by the feedback to my preface to my story. I shall not question the muse again. 😉
Tengo muchos amigos Latinos. Siempre tarde. Gracias para tus palabras alentadoras (?)
Shalom y abrazos,
Rochelle
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Never question the muse on any artisitc endeavors … Oz has spoken. : )
LOL – siempre tardes … es que nos vemeos mas si llegamos tarde. 😁
Alentadores es correcto pero usted se lo merece.
Gracias y abrazos,
Isadora 😎
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Beautifully revealed the aftermath.
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Thank you, Dahlia.
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I studied European early 20th century history repeatedly at school and found it grotesquely fascinating. But through writing like yours, I realise how little I know, beyond the chilling headlines. In my learning, it was easy to lump together and generalise, “the cruel Nazis”, “the brave resistance”, “the millions of Jews”, etc. Your writing, more than anything I have ever read or seen about the topic, does an amazing job of pulling out individual stories, of giving those millions of people names, and characters. You take the terrible, but incomprehensible “6 million Jews” and turn them into people we can’t help but comprehend. You take a number that is shocking, but also too large to imagine, and make it hurt, as it should. The fact that these stories are true makes it even more remarkable, but even if they are specifically fictional, they are genuine in the emotions. That’s why I want to read your novels too.
Just reading this week; I feel it’s my debt to the Fictioneers from all the times I just write.
Jen
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Dear Jen,
Needless to say, your comment is overwhelmingly affirming. I shall never again question my calling.
Recently a friend of mine lost his beloved in a shooting. She and her friends and family were in their apartment when three men broke in and opened fire. We hear stories like this on the news all too often. Never has it hit me like this did because of my friend’s grief.
It’s so easy to gaff off the most heinous acts like the Holocaust until it’s up close and personal. At any rate, you’ve put a voice to my motive and I thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I love your stuff, Rochelle. I’ve always struggled to understand how these people coped, their feelings and fears. I’ve always had an admiration for them because I just can’t imagine myself coping with the horror. You have a great talent and understanding for capturing the emotions and delivering a better measure of understanding to us all.
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Dear Michael,
Although I wasn’t fishing, I’ve been greatly encouraged by everyone’s comments. I’ll never again question the muse when a photo prompts one of these types of stories. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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What a great gift that man gave to the boy – in reaching out unconditionally, he helped the child to find the love and beauty in himself.
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Dear Slobhán,
Apparently this man gave this gift to 800 children and more. I wish I could find more about him, but I’m sure he has a star-studded crown in heaven. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Beautiful…as always.
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Thank you, Dawn. 😀
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A beautiful remembrance and testimony to hope and mercy. I read this last week but didn’t get a chance to comment, and it is as beautiful as I remembered then. Keep following your muse Rochelle.
Shalom,
Anne
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Dear Anne,
Some weeks are like that. At any rate, thank you for taking the time to comment. I’ve been greatly encouraged. Thank you for adding your voice. I’ll never question my muse again. Promise.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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