Today Pegman travels to America’s smallest state, Rhode Island. As always, feel free to stroll around until you feel inspired to write up to 150 words. When you’re finished, post a link to your story on the InLinkz page to share with the other contributors. Remember that reading and commenting on the other stories is a big part of the fun!
Thanks to Josh and Karen for hosting the challenge.
Click the frog to join the fun.
With all the beautiful pictures of Providence on the Google maps menu, my research road took me about 39 miles south of Providence to Newport.
Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 150
AUGUST 18, 1790
Twelve-year-old Jacob squirmed on the wooden seat between Papa and Grandpapa Aaron. The warm August breeze through the synagogue’s open windows made him sleepy. “Why must we be here today? It’s not Shabbat.”
His grandfather patted his knee. “I came to this country when I was your age, you know.”
“Yes, Grandpapa.” Jacob rolled his eyes. How many times had he heard how his grandfather came to the colony of Newport, Rhode Island to escape oppression in Brazil? “I know.”
“What you don’t know,” Grandfather pointed to a tall man sitting in the seat of honor, “is today is the day you’ll remember for the rest of your life.”
Twenty years later, Jacob held his son on his lap. “I will never forget the day President Washington spoke at Jeshuat Israel and said these words, ‘The government of the United States gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution, no assistance.’”
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Nu? How could I resist the first synagogue in America. Established in 1763? (Guess you could call that providence. 😉 )
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields-Addicted to Purple 
Dear Rochelle,
How could you not? And why would you not? You always bring such a lovely human element to your historical stories. I love them.
Shalom and lotsa love.
Dale
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Dear Dale,
Wow! You’re fast! I hadn’t even finished linking. 😉 Thank you for your encouraging words. 😀
Shalom and lotsa historical hugs,
Rochelle
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He he he! What can I say? I opened my computer and poof! there was your email!
😉
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Love this story. What a gem of history you’ve uncovered! Have you ever considered putting these Pegman stories into a collection? I love how you’re able to connect historical events to Judaism all over the world. It would make a great book. Seriously!
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Dear Karen,
I’m not sure how many Jewish historical flash fictions I’ve written at this point. Between Pegman and Friday Fictioneers, I actually have thought of putting them in a book. I do love it when a story finds me.
Thank you for such an encouraging comment. It’s good to know I’m not becoming tedious.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Never!
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Love, this Rochelle. I have never been to Providence, so now I have another reason. I love that you stick to your roots. I wish the US would follow suit. Maybe this is our chance.
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Dear Josh,
After learning this history, I’d really like to make a trip to Rhode Island, too. Glad you enjoyed my story. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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love this story. I certainly didn’t know about the Synagogue. You always educate us.
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Dear Jan,
I love to learn and pass it on. 😀 Thanks, m’luv.
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I love how you bring such a personal, family element to this historical event. How lucky for Jacob that he has his grandfather to tell him stories of their personal history, and to recognize at the time –and be there– for events of larger history. Something to pass down to his own children and grandchildren in turn.
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Dear Joy,
Surely there were families who handed this story down from generation to generation. Thank you for a lovely comment/compliment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Great little story! I learn something new every time I read one of your heart warming stories. I do agree with other comments here that you should somehow bind them into a book.
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מיכל יקרה
I’m thinking that a book of these stories would have to be self-published. It might be something to look into. Interestingly, I read some of these flashes at a local Jewish poetry reading here in Kansas City where they were accepted as poetry.They were very well received. 😀 Something to consider. Thank you for your affirming comments.
שלום
רחל
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about poetry- I’m on the email list of Poetry.org and I receive a new poem every day into my mailbox. The art of poetry has changed a lot over the last hundred years. I usually know right from the first line when a poet was written in the early 1900’s. The modern poets are sometimes arranged as little stories- as prose- not as poems/songs at all.
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I’ve noticed that poetry has gone through many changes. I have a friend who never refers to my flashes as prose, always poetry. At one point in my life, the darkest, I wrote a lot of poetry…free verse…as my emotional journal. I have a box of over 300 of them. I don’t know if they’re any good or not. I stored them all on floppy disks which will give you an idea of how long ago I wrote them. 😉
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A nice story about a significant moment in history. I like your use of the technique of ‘story within a story’
I think the idea of a self-published collection of flash fiction is a good one. I’ve been working on mine for the last month or so.
You have a natural theme for yours. Go for it!
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