14 August 2026

Published August 12, 2026 by rochellewisoff

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PHOTO PROMPT © Lisa Fox

This week’s photo is of ten nesting cups with images of Russian buildings engraved on them. They go from large and detailed to teeny tiny. They looking to set in order on a wooden table.

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Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 100

POETIC INJUSTICE

“I adored the stage,” said Bubbe Gittel of her time in the Moscow State Jewish Theater. “I had a crush on the director, Shlomo Mikhoels. A gifted poet.”

I switched off the TV. My grandmother’s stories beat summer reruns.

“During the war Mr. Stalin kept us safe from Hitler and made Shlomo the head of the Jewish Anti-Fascist Committee.”

Bubbe’s smile faded. “The war ended and with it, Stalin’s favor.”

“They called it an accident, but I saw it with my own eyes. A KGB monster shoved Shlomo in the path of a speeding truck.”

“Why, Bubbe?”

“Need you ask?”

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Shlomo or Solomon Mikhoels

13 February 2026

Published February 11, 2026 by rochellewisoff

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PHOTO PROMPT © David Stewart

This week’s photo is of a long sidewalk. One woman is walking along it. There’s a wall to right with a wrought iron fence and greenery peaking through. To the other side of the sidewalk is a row of trees and a street beside it.

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Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 100

DIGNITY OVER FEAR

“What if someone had found out?” Sarah held her daughter tightly in her arms. “What were you thinking?”

Rabbi Aharon Neuwirth scowled. “Obviously our child wasn’t thinking at all.”

As she pulled away, Yocheved’s blue eyes spilled over. She smiled and pushed back a lock of blonde hair. “I wanted to see the opening ceremony. All those athletes from all over the world. Besides, they thought I was just another Arian girl. But…”

“But what?” asked the rabbi.

“They gave me flowers to present to—him. I-I couldn’t. Oh, Mama. Papa. I’ve looked into the eyes of der Teufel himself.”

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16 January 2026

Published January 14, 2026 by rochellewisoff

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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.

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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.”

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19 December 2025

Published December 17, 2025 by rochellewisoff

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PHOTO PROMPT © Peter Abbey

This week’s photo is of silouhetted figures on the beach and in the water. The sun is reflecting off the water. There are whispy clouds overhead.

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Genre: Fiction with a lot of Fact
Word Count: 100

The first day of Hanukkah began with shots and wailing heard around the world.

LIGHT ONE CANDLE

“Hurry up, Milka!” said Eli. “We’re going miss the candle lighting on the beach. And it’s our first holiday in Australia.”

Ten-year-old Milka moaned, “I don’t feel so great.”

Noticing her daughter’s flushed cheeks, Naomi felt her forehead. “You’re burning up. No party for us.”

Reciting a prayer for the sick, Eli and Naomi tucked Milka into bed. Naomi’s cell phone rang.

“Hag Samayakh, Mom. How are things in New York?”

Mom’s voice was tinged with panic. “Please, tell me you’re safe!”

“Milka’s sick, but other than that…”

“You’re home, then?”

“Yes. Why?”

“HaShem be praised. Turn on the news.”

18 July 2025

Published July 16, 2025 by rochellewisoff

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PHOTO PROMPT © Sandra Crook

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Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 100

Another WWI hero denied his due in his own time.

WHAT DID YOU DO IN THE WAR, DADDY?

Twelve-year-old Elsie listened with rapt attention to Uncle Jim, Daddy’s army buddy from the war.

“There I was, bleeding in that French field, waiting to meet my maker. Then here comes your daddy, larger than life, slings me across his shoulders and runs back to the bunker under enemy fire.”

“Daddy never told me.”

“He’s too modest. It angers me that he never got the Congressional Medal of Honor he so deserved—because he was a Jew.”

War’s not about medals.” William Shemin shrugged. “I love my country.”

Elsie ground her teeth. “Daddy, someday I’m going to right this wrong.”

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12 January 2024

Published January 10, 2024 by rochellewisoff

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PHOTO PROMPT © Susan Rouchard

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So far this month, I shine my spotlight on influential sisters.

Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 100

IN PLAIN SIGHT

Ida’s heart thumped like a runaway racehorse as the Austrian inspector interrogated Louise.

“Why so much jewelry for such a brief visit to the opera?”

Louise batted her eyelashes. “Why not? If we leave it at home, our family in London will rob us blind.”

Ida twittered and giggled. “It’s a good job we have it all with us, isn’t it sister dear?”

“You may go, Frauleins.” Shaking his head, the inspector returned Ida’s passport. “Verrükte schwestern.”

As they boarded the ocean liner, Louise whispered, “These diamonds and pearls should help finance our dear Jewish friends escape this Nazi madness.”

*verrükte schwestern – crazy sisters

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28 January 2023

Published January 25, 2023 by rochellewisoff

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PHOTO PROMPT © J Hardy Carroll

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As my life has taken some spins and dives of late, my muse didn’t seem to want to come up with anything new. This week, January 27, 2023, marks the 78th anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz. I feel it’s more important than ever to post a reminder with antisemitism and racist hatred on the rise. How can intelligent people become animals and beasts? The following is a snippet of an interview I had the honor of doing with survivor Sonia Warshawski, fondly known as “Big Sonia” seven years ago.

Genre: Interview
Word Count:100

THE INTERVIEW

“For I’m gon’ tell you,” says Sonia, a colorful and imposing presence at 4 feet 8 inches tall. “It happened so slowly. Not all at once.

“The soldiers line up rabbis in the street and made us watch them rip out their beards by the roots. Then they shot them.

“I’ll never forget. In front of me they slaughter babies. I’ll never forgive.

“Silence kills.” Her intense brown eyes dig trenches in my heart. “I tell you what is not in history books. As long as God gives me power, I will speak for them.”

This interviewer will never forget.

29 April 2022

Published April 27, 2022 by rochellewisoff

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Genre: Historical Fiction/Excerpt from Work in Progress
Word Count: 100 of 16,500

CHILDHOOD LOST

Schoolboys cavorted along the cobblestone street, shoving and teasing each other after a day of boring lessons. Peter missed being one of them.

Papa approached with determined strides, head held high, and a scowl on his black-bearded face. Like the Red Sea’s parting, the children made a path for him.

Peter turned from the window and hunched over his book.

Taking rolls from the oven, Mama clutched her rounded belly. “Son, come help me.”

He rose and took the pan from her, breathing in the yeasty aroma.

Papa burst through the door. “Peter! Lazy oaf. Get back to your lessons.”

25 February 2022

Published February 23, 2022 by rochellewisoff

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Genre: Historical Fiction (Based on a true story)
Word Count: 100

VIGILANCE

“What do you plan to do about Reverend Ahlwardt, sir?”

“What can I do? It’s America.” Theodore Roosevelt gazed at people on the crowded sidewalk below. “As police commissioner I’m dutybound to protect this German hatemongering windbag’s freedom of speech.”

“The whole Lower East Side is likely to protest.”

Imagining the violence the so-called minister’s antisemitic lecture could cause in his city, Theodore grimaced. “Yes, it’s liable to get ugly. Sergeant Levine. I’m trusting you to put your best men on security detail. Might I suggest Officers Cohen, Weinberg, Kaminsky, Horowitz, and Levy?”

With a grin, Sergeant Levine saluted. “Yessir!”

There’s a reason I wrote him into my novels. 😉

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11 February 2021

Published February 9, 2022 by rochellewisoff

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A little preface for my story this week. I am an American and proud to be one. However, our history isn’t always pretty and erasing it won’t change it. It only makes it easier to repeat it. Nuff said. I give you:

Genre: Historical Fact
Word Count: 100

AMERICAN ICON

My father dubbed my VW Beetle the Nazi-mobile. How could I, a Jew, drive a German car? But, what about the automobile named for its inventor—fine, upstanding American Henry Ford?

From 1918 to 1926, in his newspaper the Dearborn Independent he blamed the Jews for the ills of the world. His prolific comments, targeting Jews and “inferior” blacks earned him the honor of being mentioned in Mein Kampf.

“You can tell Herr Ford that I am a great admirer of his,” said Hitler. “I shall do my best to put his theories into practice in Germany.”

God bless America.