22 September 2023

Published September 20, 2023 by rochellewisoff

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PHOTO PROMPT © Roger Bultot

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Once more my Google journey took to a story I didn’t expect. 😀 I started off with Jewish Austrian immigrant, Leo Hirschfeld the candy maker who named his invention after his daughter Clara “Tootsie” Hirschfeld. There were too many conflicting facts and not enough to write a satisfying story. Happily, the muse took me in a different direction.

Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 100

FROZEN CHOSIN

“Tell me the Tootsie Roll in Korea story,” I begged Grandpa as he tucked me in.

With a faraway look in his faded blue eyes, he grinned. “It was 1950. Us Marines was freezing our butts off and losing the battle. We radioed the Air Force for 60mm mortar ammo, codenamed ‘Tootsie Roll.’”

“They sent you real Tootsie Rolls, right, Grandpa?”

“Kept us from starving.” He unwrapped a Tootsie Roll and squished it between his fingers. ‘Warmed, “Tootsie Roll putty’ plugged the holes in our fuel lines long enough for a hundred-and-twenty-thousand of us to make it to safety. Oorah!”

*

15 September 2023

Published September 13, 2023 by rochellewisoff

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PHOTO PROMPT © Sandra Crook

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This weekend is Rosh HaShanah, the beginning of the Jewish New Year. So it seemed the time to remember.

Genre: Realistic Fiction
Word Count: 100

SURVIVAL

Risa kissed her slice of bread before slathering it with butter and taking a bite. She ate slowly, savoring every morsel.

Ten-year-old Aaron’s gaze held her, his brown eyes wide. “Bubbe, why do you kiss your bread like you would kiss a holy book if you had dropped it?”

“Bread is holy and precious. In the camp, a slice of bread could buy a bag of gold. A slice of bread stood between life and death.”

Aaron kissed his toast. “Blessed are You, Adonai our God Who brings forth bread from the earth and saved my dear grandma with it.”

*******

Remembering Food in the Concentration Camps: Interviews with Holocaust Survivors

4 August 2023

Published August 2, 2023 by rochellewisoff

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PHOTO PROMPT © Liz Young

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Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 100

THE WRIGHT WAY

“Do you really think you’re going to fly like a bird?” Fifteen-year-old Katharine giggled as she set steaming bowls of soup on the table.

“Someday you’ll eat those words, Kate,” said nineteen-year-old Orv.

The years zipped by. While her brothers never let go of their dream, Katharine kept their books and managed their bicycle shop. She became their staunchest supporter and spokesperson.

Katharine’s heart fluttered as the Wright brothers’ Model A Flyer left the ground. Who would have dreamt she would see France, let alone soar over it?

“Kate,” Wilbur squeezed her hand. “You are the wind beneath our wings.”

CLICK here to know more about this lesser known Wright sibling.

28 July 2023

Published July 26, 2023 by rochellewisoff

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PHOTO PROMPT © Jennifer Pendergast

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Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 100

A NICE JEWISH GIRL FROM BROOKLYN

“Daddy, listen my new song.” Four-year-old Carol’s blue eyes twinkled.

Firefighter, Sid Klein sank down beside her on the piano bench, weary from extinguishing one blaze after another.

He marveled. “I see Mommy’s making sure you practice your lessons.”

“Far from it.” His wife Genie shook her head. “Our baby girl has a rare gift.”

____________

Nearly seventy years and numerous compositions later, Sid Klein’s daughter, singer- songwriter Carole King thrilled as Aretha Franklin belted out “Natural Woman” at the Kennedy Center Honors.

“I’ve had a remarkable life,” Carole told an interviewer “I sum it all up in one word—gratitude.”

Inductee Carole King performs onstage during the 36th Annual Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on October 30, 2021 in Cleveland, Ohio.

1 July 2023

Published June 28, 2023 by rochellewisoff

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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.”

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2 June 2023

Published May 31, 2023 by rochellewisoff

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PHOTO PROMPT © Ted Strutz

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Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 100

RHINESTONE COWBOY

Nuta Kotlvarenko loved cowboy movies, particularly ones starring his hero Tom Mix.

One evening in 1913, Mama handed a passport to Nuta’s older brother Julius. “Ukraine is not safe for Jewish boys. We’re sending you to America where the streets are paved with gold.”

“I don’t want to go.” Nuta’s eyes stung.

***

Following years of odd jobs, Nuta, now Nudie Cohn, found his niche as the rodeo tailor. Stars from Roy Rogers to Elvis Presley paid thousands for rhinestone-studded Nudie suits.

“Nudie,” asked a fan. “Why don’t your boots ever match?”

“To remind me that golden streets have a price.”

CLICK for all things NUDIE

19 May 2023

Published May 17, 2023 by rochellewisoff

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PHOTO PROMPT © Liz Young

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As of this Wednesday morning I will only be back in the country a day or so. In anticipation of jet lag I’m sharing a snippet of my the last book of Havah’s trilogy. AS ONE MUST, ONE CAN. I’ve reworked it a bit to fit into the stand-alone (which I hope it does) 100 word format.

When I was writing this novel, set in Kansas City, Missouri in 1908, I was thrilled to find that this Chinese restaurant my family frequented during the 1950’s was in existence way back when. I thought Havah should enjoy it, too. 😉

A GOOD JEWISH MEAL

Havah marveled at the glossy woodwork that adorned the dining room of the King Joy Lo restaurant. She drank in unfamiliar aromas.

Picking up a pair of ivory sticks beside her plate, she studied the elegant calligraphy etched into them. “These are beautiful, but what are they for?”

“Chopsticks. For eating.” The waiter took them and lifted a piece of chicken between them. “Easy. Even babies in China use. Now you.”

Try as she might, they slipped between her fingers and fell amid the noodles on her plate.

“How on earth do they do it?”

“Like American babies. Very messy.”

CLICK to find out more about Havah’s Journey

Here are a few pictures of King Joy Lo through the years:

12 May 2023

Published May 10, 2023 by rochellewisoff

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Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 100

A COLORFUL HISTORY

Edwin brought eleven-year-old Mary and four-year-old Edwin Jr. the fruits of his labor. “Look what Papa has for you!”

Mary rolled a wax stick in her hand. “We already have crayons. The violet color is pretty, though.”

Edwin Jr. took one. “Yellow! It’s like sunshine.”

Their mother gave each of the children a coloring book. “Let’s see what they do on paper, shall we?” She smiled. “These crayons need a special name. Let’s see. Craie is French for chalk and ola is Latin for oily. What about Crayola?”

Edwin Binney kissed his wife Alice’s cheek. “My dear. You’re a genius.”

28 April 2023

Published April 26, 2023 by rochellewisoff

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Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count:100

LIKE A BAND-AID HELPS A CORPSE

The little wooden boat floated along the Galilee. JoAnna breathed in the fresh air.

Tears trickled down her cheek. She hugged her granddaughter, Rachel. “We’re the lucky ones. I took a boat ride on the St. Louis, from Germany with my family to seek freedom.”

“You found it in England and then here in Israel. Doesn’t that make you happy?”

“Cuba, America and Canada—all turned away—allowing only a handful of us refuge. The rest, including my parents, went back to face the Beast.”

“The US State Department offered an official apology.”

“After seventy-three years? Too little too late.”

Holocaust Remembrance Day was April 14 this year. But any time of year is a good time to remember.

To know more CLICK HERE

7 April 2023

Published April 5, 2023 by rochellewisoff

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To many this is Holy Week. Not only is the Christian celebration of the Resurrection coming up this Sunday, the Jewish observance of Passover begins Wednesday night at sundown. Here’s my own little glimpse into what one family scene might have been like.

Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 100

L’DOR V’DOR*

Before Yosi could open the door, his mother whisked him into her arms. “No, my son! The Angel of Death lurks out there!”

Dafna sat him on the floor beside the infant who slumbered in her basket. “Watch your sister while I prepare for our journey.”

“Where are we going? Why is this night so different?”

“So many questions, Yosi, my firstborn.” Oriel dripped lamb’s blood on the doorpost. “Someday you’ll understand and teach your own children.”

***

Forty years later, Yosi prepared the Passover in the Promised Land.

“Abba,” Yosi’s son asked, “Why is this night different from all others?”

*From Generation to Generation

Although not reflected in the following video, the questions mentioned are preceded by the youngest child at the seder asking, “Why is this night different from all other nights?” TRADITION!