17 May 2024

Published May 15, 2024 by rochellewisoff

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PHOTO PROMPT © Dale Rogerson

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Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 100

VOCATION OF LOVE

Mama’s words echoed in Sister Benedicta’s memory. “Edith, how can your turn your back on your people this way? To be baptized is an outrage! You are a Jew.”

“Our Lord Jesus himself was a Jew.” Edith had calmly replied. “I am still a Jew.

The Nazis agreed and forced her to pin a yellow star to her habit.

It boggled her mind that anyone could be so cruel.

The gas chambers of Auschwitz loomed before her. Her sister Rosa wept at her side.

Putting an arm around her shoulder, Sister Benedicta whispered, “Come, we are going for our people.”

To know more about Edith Stein CLICK HERE.

19 January 2024

Published January 17, 2024 by rochellewisoff

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Yet another heroic pair of sisters. 😀

Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 100

NUMBER 3 TATARSKA STREET

Eight-year-old Helena clung to her seventeen-year-old sister’s hand. “Fusia,” she whispered, “what if they…?”

“Hush!” Stefania squeezed Helena’s hand. “It will be all right. The Blessed Holy Mother has told me so.”

Helena bit her lip. Having heard a noise from the attic, the Gestapo climbed the ladder to where thirteen Jews hid. It had been Helena’s job to carry off their excrement and bring them food and water. Would they all be put to death?

Moments later, the officer descended the ladder, shaking his head. “It was only a rat.” He glared at the girls and muttered. “Filthy Poles.”

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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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15 December 2023

Published December 13, 2023 by rochellewisoff

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PHOTO PROMPT © Susan Rouchard

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Sandra Crook@ 😀 She ‘s the one who shows us how it’s done and was a Friday Fictioneer before I joined.

Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 100

DON’T LET THE LIGHT GO OUT

Mom stuck a candle in each of the nine holes she’d made in a potato. “We’re ready to kindle the lights.”

Ranit rolled her eyes. “Why can’t we get a pretty hanukkiah like Tali’s family?”

At the stove, Savtah stirred potato soup. “Even in the camp, Hanukkah came. We girls stole a potato and some machine oil. From threads in our sheets, we made the wick. We lit it where the guards wouldn’t see and for a while, we were happy.”

Swallowing her tears, Ranit lit the candles and whispered, “Isn’t it the most beautiful hanukkiah in the whole world?”

28 April 2023

Published April 26, 2023 by rochellewisoff

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PHOTO PROMPT © Brenda Cox

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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.

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28 January 2023

Published January 25, 2023 by rochellewisoff

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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.

30 December 2022

Published December 28, 2022 by rochellewisoff

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PHOTO PROMPT © Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

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This year has zipped by and now we are ready to take the final Friday Fictioneers challenge…of the year. 😉 To find my story I did a Google search of famous people born on the first of January. This is where it led me.

Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 100

TRUE CHARITY

In our home in Jerusalem, we celebrated holidays according to the lunar calendar. Rosh HaShana, which fell in autumn, was the beginning of our new year. However, my grandfather raised a glass of champagne every January 1^st.

“To Chiune Sugihara, a true hero.”

“What did he do, Saba?” I asked.

“What did he do? Funny you should ask.” Saba’s eyes misted. “Mr. Sugihara was the Japanese consul in Lithuania. He issued visas to some 6000 Jews. Thanks to him we escaped the Nazis.”

“Why do always you toast him on January 1^st?”

“To wish him a happy birthday, of course.”

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Mr. Sugihara received the award for Righteous of the Nations in 1985, a year before he passed away.

Should you have 11 minutes to spare CLICK to watch a worthwhile video about this man. You won’t regret it.

11 November 2022

Published November 9, 2022 by rochellewisoff

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As we open this Wednesday, November 9, it is 86 year to the day since the violent Kristallnacht. This week I honor the often forgotten victims of the Holocaust.

Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 100

AMIDST THE SHADOWS

My parents met in a displaced persons camp after the liberation. Each of them had lost both a spouse and a daughter. Finding solace in each other’s arms, I think they married more for convenience than love.

Born in 1949, they named me Sarah-Elisheva after their slain children.

One morning when I was ten, I made breakfast.

“What’s wrong with you?” Dad grimaced. “My Elisheva never burned the toast.”

“I’m not Elisheva. I’m not Sarah! I’m me!”

He flew into a rage and slapped me. Mom screamed.

Obscured by my sisters’ memories, Auschwitz will forever be tattooed into my soul.

9 September 2022

Published September 7, 2022 by rochellewisoff

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Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 100

1938

“Is this how you remember it, Mom?” asked Ruth.

Naomi hadn’t seen the scenic deutsche Stadt in fifty years. The synagogue had been replaced by a church. Although some shops still existed, her childhood home did not.

She swallowed. “I was ten. Momma gave me a sack of her homemade macaroons for the long journey. She told me, ‘You’ll be safe with Aunt Gertie and Uncle Norman in New York.’

“Poppa crushed me in his strong arms. ‘Momma and I will come for you soon. You’ll see.’

“From the ship I watched them grow smaller and smaller.

“They never came.”

1 July 2022

Published June 29, 2022 by rochellewisoff

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