Like us on Facebook
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
TO BOLDLY GO
“Shma Yisra’el, Adonai Eloheynu, Adonai echad.” Standing beside his father in the synagogue, Billy sang the familiar words from the Torah “Hear oh Israel, Adonai is our God, Adonai is One.”
He rubbed his throbbing cheek. In Europe, the war against Nazi Germany raged. Reports of the death camps gave him nightmares. His grandparents had come to Montreal to escape such things. Why did the other kids pick fights with him just for being Jewish?
Papa leaned over and whispered, “Does the other boy have a black eye like yours?”
Billy Shatner grinned. “They don’t call me Toughie for nothing.”
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields-Addicted to Purple 
To boldly go …..
LikeLike
🖖🏻😎
LikeLike
I knew Leonard Nimoy was Jewish, but didn’t know Will Shatner was. We tend to not realize the torment the Jews of the world felt as their brothers and sisters were being slaughtered in Europe. A good reminder that what happens to one, happens to us ALL! Shalom, Bear
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Bear,
I found out about William Shatner a while back. Interestingly his family name is Shatner. His grandfather changed the spelling from Schattner. (Unlike Eugene Orowiits aka Michale Landon or Bernie Schwartz aka Tony Curtis 😉 )
It’s hard to imagine Captain Kirk experiencing antisemitism, isn’t it? Thank you for your intuitive comments.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
I don’t see him tolerating it, for sure. It’s interesting how an why names are changed. Having changed my own, I do understand some reasons. I love hearing my name now… it no longer strikes fear or pain. And, I finally have my Daddy’s name, something I wanted all my life. :).
LikeLiked by 1 person
A tough guy for sure. Lovely story Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much, Sadje.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re most welcome
LikeLike
Looks like “Toughie” made out well despite some antisemitic jerks. Very interesting actor – nobody else could have been Kirk!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Trent,
There have been other Kirks but they’re pale imitations at best IMHO. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
Agreed. I hated the reboot a decade or so back…
LikeLike
We recently watched one of the reboots that sort of mimicked The Wrath of Kahn. It it Kirk dies instead of Spock. Although he’s resurrected at the end. Ugh. They were 2 dimensional caricatures of the original. I’d rather binge the reruns thankyouverymuch. 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Rochelle,
I didn’t know that William Shatner was Jewish. Thanks for sharing this snippet of his life. I have been watching old shows with him before his days as Captain James T. Kirk.
I can’t imagine how painful it must have been for his family and him and the other Jews who were aware of the horrors that their fellow Jews were going through at the hands of evil men.
Shalom,
Adele
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Adele,
I have known for a while that Shatner’s Jewish although I remember when I firts found out I was surprised. There was never any doubt about Leonard Nimoy. 😉 I remember my mom talking about living here during the war with the awareness of what was happeniing to family members overseas.
Thank you for the read and the comment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Rochelle,
This is called the Plateau Mont-Royal region and was home to many Jews, Leonard Cohen, included. My father as well… which explains his being a Goy mit a Yiddeshe kopf! 😉
A wonderful take on the prompt!
Shalom and lotsa Goy-Jew love 😉
Dale
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Dale,
I love it! Of course I loved Leonard Cohen. Ah, Jewish geography. 😀 Thank you for extra info. Yes, it does explain your dad’s (and your) Yiddishe kopf.
Shalom and lotsa Jew-Goy hugs,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
Of course you do. How can you not? 😉 And you are most welcome for the geography lesson!
😘
LikeLike
The human embodiment of iconic.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Indeed, Iain. 😀 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
I didn’t know he was Jewish, and a very funny Jew at that! Nice to see his more serious side. Mazel Tov, Pligrims, indeed!
And it looks as if your muse woke up. So did mine. I threatened to fire her if she didn’t come through today!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Linda,
My muse did wake for at least one week. Not so for the upcoming. Viva reruns. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love it! I knew William Shatner was Jewish but I did’t know about his family history. Great story Rochelle! ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Kimber,
I knew he was from Canada and that he was Jewish. It’s always fun to dig a little deeper. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for teaching me something new, Rochelle. I did not know William Shatner was Jewish. A blogmate (at https://powerpop.blog/star-trek-episodes/ ) is currently covering each episode of The Original Series (3 seasons) of Star Trek and I’m watching and following along with them. I knew that Leonard Nimoy was Jewish. I have to say that I’m totally enthralled with the three leads (wondering now whether DeForest Kelley was also?)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Lisa,
I love the original Star Trek…come to think of it. I pretty much love the whole franchise. 😉 DeForest Kelley was the son of a Baptist minister. Definitely not Jewish. Thank you for reading and commenting. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
Rochelle, glad you are a fan of the franchise and mystery solved on Bones 🙂
You’re welcome.
Shalom,
Lisa
LikeLike
It’s amazing that this drek is still going on today and only getting worse! I can’t imagine the fear and longing people who have been able to escape such hatred and violence feel when thinking of relatives and friends who have been left behind.
LikeLike
P.S. The little snippet of conversation at the end of your story made me laugh.
LikeLike
Dear Lish,
It is sad and frightening that it seems there’s a cross-section of the population that has learned nothing from history. Glad you enjoyed my story. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLike
Nicely done Rochelle! I love it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Carol Anne. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLike
In all fairness, kids will pick on anyone. Never understood it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Tannille,
To some degree I agree. However antisemitism, like racism, is something else. Children hear it from the adults in their lives.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
It had never occurred to me that he was Jewish. He sure is a toughie!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Keith,
Now you know. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLike
Have you considered giving talks on the huge number of Jews who have lived unrecognised in American society?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Liz,
Now that you mention it, might not be a bad thing to do. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLike
best way to handle bullies is to give them a taste of their own medicine. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Plaridel,
Right you are. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
I really enjoyed the earlier Star Trek series.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Me, too, James.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLike
Thanks for the info Rochelle, I have always thought he doesn’t take himself too seriously he definitely has funny bones – I loved him as Captain Kirk – the first and the best 🙌
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Angela,
The first is definitely the best. All others are mere imitations. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
Another perfect little snippet of history – brief but deep. Thank you, Rochelle! Yes, to the many untold stories of the disenfranchised, the newly arrived, the ‘other’ in someone’s view, and the multitudes of often daily miseries these ‘others’ suffer, for no fault but others’ ignorance and cultured hate. Here’s to rising above. Here’s to finding a way. Here’s to speaking truth. About the past. That for too many is still today.
Na’ama
LikeLiked by 1 person
Na’ama Y’karah,
Thank you for understanding my story on every level. Warms my heart.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
XOXO back! May the 4th be with you! 😉
LikeLike
Another Star Trek connection, and you serenaded us. He’s still going strong at 90+. I’d say Toughie is apt. How many people go to space in their 90s? I love Star Trek and William Shatner.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Nobbin,
I’m glad you saw it as a serenade. 😉 I am and forever will be a Star Trek fan. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
I had no idea of his history, and I’d never thought before about how Jewish kids in America must have felt hearing the news from Europe in the 1930s and 40s. I suppose it’s hard from me to think of him as anything other than the dashing Captain of the Enterprise!
LikeLike
William Shatner… Jewish? That I didn’t know. Love the story. Good insight.
LikeLike
Oh I love this! And I had no idea. I love your hints into the lives of people we think we know.
LikeLike