20 October 2023

Published October 18, 2023 by rochellewisoff

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 © Liz Young

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Genre: Realistic Fiction
Word Count: 100

HATIKVAH

Hoping for safety in the bomb shelter, Adeena closed her eyes and prayed while missiles exploded overhead.

Stories of butchery filled the airwaves. Whole families had been murdered in their homes.

Adeena’s thoughts turned to her Savta who had come to this land as a young woman after surviving Ravensbrück and Bergen Belson. She and Saba had risen above the horror and made a life for themselves and their children on a Kibbutz.

Murmuring the words of the Kaddish, Adeena’s heart ached for her grandmother, slaughtered only yesterday while cradling her newborn great-grandchild.

“Never again,” Adeena whispered, “is happening now.”

Hatikvah means “The Hope” and is the title of Israel’s national anthem.

HOUSE OF JACOB

Published March 2, 2020 by rochellewisoff

Today Pegman journeys to the port of Hadera, Israel. As always, walk around until you find something that inspires you to write up to 150 words, then share it with the other contributors. Remember that reading and commenting on the other stories is part of the fun.

Contributions have again been declining, so Pegman may go into retirement soon. I’d encourage you to show your support for this prompt. Thanks.

I’ve been a Pegman MIA for a while. Too many challenges lately, including the writing of a novel in progress. I understand that facilitating a blog challenge is can be daunting. Participation and reciprocation are the key to success. On that note, I apologize for not being more faithful. With the location being in Israel, how could I not show up?

Thank you for your diligence, Josh and Karen.

Genre: Historical Fiction for Women’s History Month 😉

Word Count: 150

HOUSE OF JACOB

Hannah gazed at the chubby infant in the crook of her arm. After hours of torturous labor, she was weary, yet too excited to sleep. She studied the baby’s perfectly formed hands and paper-thin fingernails. “I was so sure the Almighty would give me a son.”

The baby opened her eyes and formed an ‘o’ with her lips as if trying to answer.

“On this day in 1891, our Moshavah Hadera welcomes another soul. A new life in a new village.” Full cheeks glowing with perspiration and joy, the midwife lifted the newborn from Hannah’s arms. “What will you be when you grow up? A teacher, maybe? A doctor perhaps?” The child whimpered and sucked her fist. “For now, a hungry girl.”

Hannah held the child to her breast. “Do you regret not having your own children?”

“I’ve helped birth hundreds of children.” Olga Hankin laughed. “They’re all my own.”

*

Herzl Street

6 January 2017

Published January 4, 2017 by rochellewisoff

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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.

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Genre: I’ll take Historical Fiction for 100, Alex

WORDS OF LOVE

Hemda mourned when her sister succumbed to consumption, but how could she honor Devorah’s final wish to go to Jerusalem to marry her grieving widower, Eliezer the heretic?

“Israel,” he insisted, “must have one language.”

The rabbis seethed. “One uses the holy tongue for prayer—not idle chitchat.”

Nonetheless, Hemda dedicated herself to her husband as, side-by-side, they activated the wheels of change. Together they developed a modern Hebrew dictionary.

Her heart swelled when 30,000 attending his funeral proclaimed him a national hero.

British historian Cecil Roth later wrote: “Before Eliezer Ben-Yehuda Jews could speak Hebrew; after him they did.”

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