For the past five years, since joining Friday Fictioneers, I’ve written or posted a flash fiction at least once a week. My favorite genre is historical fiction, but that hasn’t stopped me from writing humorous anecdotes, realistic fiction or just plain nonsense. But any and all who know me very well will tell you that Jewish themes are my favorites. Nu? Why shouldn’t they be? I am after all, a Jew. All four of my grandparents came from Eastern Europe to escape the pogroms in the Pale of Settlement or the Russian draft.
Last month I met Eve Brackenbury, a gifted poet who co-owns Inklings’ Books & Coffee Shoppe in Blue Springs, Missouri, on Facebook. Social Media is my friend.
Not only did I make a new friend that day, I also made a valuable connection on many fronts. Our first conversation dealt with the challenges of marketing. As we chatted in an IM she said, “You write Jewish Historical Fiction. Are you Jewish?” Is the Pope Catholic?
Eve told me about the CloudBursT Jewish Poetry event and gave me Martha Gershun’s email address. Although I don’t write what I would call poetry, I thought perhaps Martha might be able to point me in the right direction as far as reaching a Jewish audience. I inserted one of my Jewish themed flash fictions in my email to her and, not five minutes later, the return email came with, “That’s really powerful. Would you like to come and read?”
I must’ve changed my mind twelve times as to which stories I would read. Finally, the day came, Sunday, May 21, and I’d narrowed it down to four of my favorites. The lobby of Congregation Beth Torah teemed with poets and their guests. We were warmly welcomed with food, wine and friendly conversation.
So much Yiddishkeit. I felt like I’d come home. I particularly enjoyed Ellen Portnoy’s piece “The Nuances of Nu.”
Out of 19 who read, I was third to the last, just before Eve. The ones I read are as follows:
THE ELEVENTH COMMANDMENT
In preparation for his bar mitzvah, twelve-year-old Harvey Weinstein opened the book to his parashah. His stomach rumbled. “I’m hungry.”
“Sh’mot beginning with Chapter 16,” said Rabbi Shmuel. “First in English, then Hebrew.”
Harvey fumed. “I’m tired of Torah. I’d rather play Xbox.”
“This is the perfect reading for you.” The rabbi winked and pointed to the page. “The children of Israel kvetched day and night in the wilderness. ‘Oy, Moses, we’re wet. We’re cold. We’re starving to death.’ Nu? Is there something we can learn from them?”
“Yeah.” Folding his arms across his chest, Harvey smirked. “Jews don’t camp.”
***
FAMILY TREE
“‘And they lived happily ever after.’” Leah shut the storybook.
Shifra’s raisin-brown eyes, round as bottle caps, sparkled. “Bubbie? Did you love Grandpa at first sight?”
“He was only eight when we met. Mama took him in…hid him from the khappers, bad men who snatched little Jewish boys from their homes and made them serve twenty-five years in the Czar’s army.”
“Did she hide him in the closet?”
“No she was smart, my Mama.”
“He was like your brother, right?”
Leah pointed to a tintype on the table of two little bonneted girls and grinned. “More like my sister.”
***
THE HEAVIEST WHEEL ROLLS ACROSS OUR FOREHEADS
When I was a little girl in the 1950’s, Mom used to take me to visit my aunt in St. Louis. I so looked forward to those train rides. Sunlight dazzled through the trees as they whizzed by and the rhythm of the wheels along the track soothed me.
Dad, on the other hand, hated trains, but would never tell me why. Only once did he accompany us.
As we left Union Station, tears trickled from the corners of his faraway eyes.
“Daddy, what’s wrong?”
“The stench was unbearable. Fifty of us crammed into a cattle car. I alone escaped.”
***
HATH NOT A JEW EYES?
Do you know the word “Jew” is a common insult among Norwegian teens? Should this bother me? After all, I am a Norwegian Jew.
“If you prick us, do we not bleed?”
Reptilian? I’ve been called this. Do people seriously believe this mishegoss—that Jews are lizard creatures from another planet?
“If you tickle us, do we not laugh?”
I will never forget holding my father’s hand as we strolled along a mountain path. Two youths shoved him and shouted, “Child murderer!”
The memory of warm spittle dripping down my face sickens me still.
“If you wrong us, do we not revenge?”
Not in Norway. Instead, we hide in plain sight.
Last summer a group of Hasidim invited us to a Jewish gathering in Oslo. We cranked up the music and danced in front of Parliament.
I’ve heard that work makes us free, but we’re not falling for that again.
and you are rocking Purple too!
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Always, Clare. 😀 Thank you for stopping by.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
Brilliant! Your voice is so very clear in your readings (wink, wink) and I am so glad I have discovered one of your short stories I had not yet read! Now I know which Yiddish terms I was mispronouncing… 😉
Thanks for sharing this. I loved it…
Dale
xo
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Dear Dale,
Glad I could help with your Yiddish pronunciations. Glad the readings are clear. Headphones are great for that. 😉 Thanks for coming by, sticking it out, and leaving a comment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Always.
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What a delight to share your work this way! Happy for you. 🙂
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It was great fun, Christine. Thank you. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Soooo wonderful Rochelle!! Looks like you had a great time. Did anyone come up to you later? Whst was the feedback? Terrific pieces to read 😍
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Dear Laurie,
I had a great time. The audience responded as I’d hoped. There was good feedback later and a couple of, hopefully, important connections.
Thank you for taking the time to read and comment. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Good choices, and your pose at the lectern shouts of confidence!
I wonder which of mine would stand up to being read aloud – so many of them were from the Friday Fictioneers’ photo prompt.
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Dear Liz,
Thank you for taking the time to stop by and comment. I’ve no doubt that many of yours would stand up to being read aloud.
I did have a wonderful time at this particular reading. Since no one videoed the event I figured mp3’s were the next best thing. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Loved your “reading” choices – those were great stories and very touching.
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Dear Tena,
I’m glad you enjoyed my reading. This is my first experience with uploading mp3’s. In any event…particularly this one…I had a great time. 😀 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
PS Thank you for the tweets.
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Hi,Rochelle,I was on here reading military posts,I got interested on your awesome blogs posts,I really want to get connected to you to learn more,( THE ELEVENTH COMMANDMENT) This my email:Terry444u@gmail.com
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Dear Rochelle,
What a great opportunity to share your work! Excellent choice of stories.
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Dear Magarisa,
It was more fun than I can say and might even lead to some other opportunities. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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That’s wonderful. 😊
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I wish we had something like this in our community. Wonderful opportunity to be heard, Rochelle. literally and figuratively.
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Dear Dawn,
Meeting Eve has proven to be providential for me on several levels. This particular event is annual but I’m hoping more opportunities might crop up in the not too distant future. At any rate it was a wonderful opportunity. The glow remains a week later. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Such a variety of stories, Rochelle. I loved the one about Jews not camping. I don’t enjoy camping either. Good writing and reading as usual. 🙂 — Suzanne
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I enjoyed these s much. Wry, sharp, funny, poignant. Great stuff.
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Thank you, Sarah! Glad you enjoyed. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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