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 © Jennifer Pendergast
The photo appears to be looking up at a cathedral ceiling with inset stained glass windows. Below the windows looks like a walkway with arched openings.
Genre: Sorta Fiction
Word Count: 100
BETH ISRAEL
Millie can never forget the ground rumbling or the sound of the shattering glass. She was only five the day someone bombed the temple. Two months later someone, who turned out to be the KKK, bombed Rabbi Nussbaum’s home.
“Why’d they do that? I don’t understand.”
“May you never understand, Millie-Nillie.” Daddy read from the book of Isaiah. “‘When you walk through the fire you will not burn.’”
Fifty-eight years later, Millie watches the horrifying newscast. Photos of scorched Torah scrolls appear on the screen. She murmurs in agreement with the temple president, “This won’t stop anything. We will rebuild.”
Click for some Beth Israel History
Copyright © Rochelle Wisoff-Fields
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields-Addicted to Purple 
I am beginning to reconcile myself to the fact that mankind is incapable of learning from their past mistakes. I realize how fatalistic that sounds- but anything less than incapable sounds like a lie.
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Dear Violet,
I completely understand. Thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Inspirational, Rochelle
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Thank you, Neil.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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When people claim that all other prejudices have been done away with, it will still be “acceptable” to hate Jews.
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Dear James,
What comes to mind here is a good old song from the 1960’s by Tom Lehrer. https://www.youtube.com/embed/aIlJ8ZCs4jY?list=RDaIlJ8ZCs4jY
BTW, who decided that white people are superior?
Thank you for stopping by.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Sometimes there’s simply nothing else to do but keep getting up and carrying on, despite everything. Yet the torch of anti-semitism seems to keep being passed from one generation to another, when you would think by now it would have been extinguished, dead and buried.
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Dear Sandra,
One would think we’d learn something from the Holocaust. Yet, despite the meticulous records of the Nazis, wealth of photos and firsthand accounts, there are Holocaust deniers. It’s disturbing to see the uptick of racism and antisemitism, isn’t it?
Thank you for taking the time to read and comment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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It’s such a shame that people feel like they have to destroy places of worship & historical places & artifacts. It takes away a little bit of humanity as well. A timely story M’Luv.
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Dear Jan,
We have learned nothing from history…at least many haven’t. May we all be like Millie and not be able to understand. Thanks, M’luv.
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Dear Rochelle,
I’m with Sandra. It is beyond me how this hatred keeps being shared from generation to generation. Well, not really. People are set in their ways and it takes a lot to break that chain…
All that to say that once again, you have given us an enjoyable read which also taught us another bit of history.
Shalom and lotsa love without prejudice,
Dale
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Dear Dale,
There’s nothing new under the sun, is there?
Tragically, two days after this arson another insane hater set fire to a synagogue in Germany. Makes my skin crawl.
Thank you for your kind and encouraging words.
Shalom and lotsa freely given hugs,
Rochelle
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Sadly…
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Delicately determined, m’lady.
Sadly, as noted above, this is a story for the ages.
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Dear C.E.
A story for the ages that only happened five days ago. 😦
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Imagine if we could all just get along? It saddens me that I don’t immediately recognise the references in your story (off to check out the link next), because such atrocities are so common.
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Dear Jen,
The news media here hasn’t exactly covered much of this story. At this point it was five days ago. Just two days later some Neo-Nazi whack job set fire to a synagogue in Germany. If only…
Shalom,
Rochelle
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As the song says –
I’d like to see the world for once
All standing hand in hand
And hear them echo through the hills
For peace through out the land.
Why is it not happening?
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Dear Keith,
If only…thank you for reading and commenting.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I can’t “like” this one. Crazy mofo!
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I understand, Lisa. And two days later another synagogue arson happened in Germany…of all places. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle, I sincerely hope that the sentences for those convicted for hate crimes are at least double, with no early releases. You are welcome.
Shalom,
Lisa
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It is tragic that this is ‘sorta fiction’. I’m not sure how people recover from seeing those texts being burned up.
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Dear Clare,
The only fiction about this story is Millie and her daddy. It’s my understanding that one of the scrolls was rescued from Nazi Germany. How do you replace that? Thank you for reading and commenting.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle, it is depressing to see history repeat itself with cycles of violence like this but it is encouraging to see how people in general, and the Jewish people in particular, are resilient in the face of hatred. May there come a time when we will have true peace.
have a good week,
David
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Dear David,
Sadly, we won’t see it in our lifetime. I don’t understand the baseless hatred of any group of people because of religion or skin color. Barring those who use radical religion as an excuse to murder and destroy. Thank you for your kind words and being a gentle, quirkly Friday Fictioneers voice.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Faith is stronger than ignorance.
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Dear Will,
We can only hope. Thanks for reading and commenting.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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other people’s hate and destruction takes away a piece of us all – thanks for sharing Rochelle ❤️
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Dear Angela,
If only people would realize that. Thank you for reading and commenting.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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🩷
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What a dreadful thing to happen, but at least no-one was there. Burning like that is bad, very bad. Still I really like your lovely painting, very nicely done Rochelle.
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Dear Chris,
Thank you for reading and commenting. And thank your re my painting.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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yes, rebuild!! – and had chills to see that so much was still standing in the new story.
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Dear Yvette,
Nothing more destructive than hate. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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i wonder why we can’t get along and respect beliefs other than one’s own. sad, i suppose that’s the world we have to live in.
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Dear Plaridel,
Very sad and true. Thank you for your kind words.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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The endless circle of hate; we just can’t seem to break it.
Shalom, dear Rochelle
🕊️
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Dear Nancy,
Little Wheel spin and spin, big wheel turn around and around…Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I sometimes wonder if humans are ever going to learn from past mistakes. I pray for the day when we can be united in respect and kindness. This was very powerful. The last two sentences of your story, “This won’t stop anything. We will rebuild,” are so inspiring. Speaking to resilience and hope. Thank you for sharing the Beth Israel History information. May you have a blessed day.
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Dear Kirsten,
Some will learn and some never will. Thank you for your kind words.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I don’t understand that hatred. But I don’t understand many things, especially what is happening in your country now. Moving story, I hope that temple president isn’t too optimistic.
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Dear Gabi,
I don’t get it either…any of it. Particularly what’s going on in this country. 😦 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I just suppose we will never stop hating each other. Maybe that is why God created heaven.
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Dear Dawn,
And we teach our children who to hate, don’t we? 😦 Thank you for reading and commenting.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I’m embarrassed to agree with you, but I suppose I must.
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The courage to rebuild is tireless and timeless. That is how human civilization has survived.
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Nicely written as always. There are evil people who cannot and will not better themselves
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