Dorothea Shefer-Vanson is a freelance journalist based in Mevasseret Zion, Israel.
Her published works, available on Amazon, include:
* All Quiet on the Midwestern Plains: A Tale of Deception, Betrayal, and Vindication
* The Balancing Game: A Child Between Two Worlds, A Society Approaching War
* Chasing Dreams and Flies: A Tragicomedy of Life in France
* The Diary of Anne Frank (Cliff Notes)
* Levi Koenig: A Contemporary King Lear
* Time out of Joint: The Fate of a Family
Shefer-Vanson also is a Hebrew to English translator, with those works on Amazon including:
* The Rainy Day Man by Amnon Jackont
And so we try to stay optimistic and carry on as before as much as possible, but with the constant nagging awareness that the situation is probably going to go from bad to worse before there can be any improvement. [Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]
Israelis’ Sense of Confidence, Optimism Go Up, Down as Peace Hopes Vanish Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Israel, Lifestyles, Middle East, Staff and Bylined ContributorsIn recent years Dr. Ron Regev, the head of the Academy’s piano department, has taken over at the head of the concerts, injecting his own personal touch of brilliance to the program. Apart from being a virtuoso pianist, Professor Regev is also an engaging and inspiring speaker, and to hear him talk about the music he and his colleagues are about to play is always enjoyable and uplifting. [Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]
Stories about the Music Enhance Music Academy Concerts Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Israel, Music and Visual Arts, Staff and Bylined ContributorsEven as we remain shaken by the events of a few months ago we try to continue to keep hope in our hearts, to stay positive, permit ourselves to take pleasure in the good things of life. [Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]
OpEd: Trying to Stay Positive in the Aftermath of the Oct. 7 Massacre Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Israel, Middle East, Staff and Bylined Contributors
Benjamin, however, was critical of such commercial photographic studios, noting with derision their paraphernalia and ‘props’ intended to enhance the impact of the image or portrait. In the exhibition an enlarged photo of young Franz Kafka illustrates this concept, with the serious young boy holding a stick and a large black hat, surrounded by heavy, dark furniture emphasizing the gravity of the situation. [Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]
Walter Benjamin’s ‘Little History of Photography’ Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Israel, Music and Visual Arts, Staff and Bylined Contributors
Errata; an Examined Life: A Life in Ideas by George Steiner; Yale University Press, 1998 By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — The name of this author arouses reverence in the minds of anyone conscious of the role played by language in the world of culture, literature and ideas. Steiner’s seminal books, After Babel and
26-Year-Old Biography of George Steiner Worth Reading Again Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, International, Jewish History, Staff and Bylined Contributors
Several art works adorn the library’s walls and spaces, both inside and outside the building, serving to underline the Jewish people’s connections with the Bible and other writings, as well as echoing aspects of the Land of Israel. The library also contains collections of books, manuscripts and other documents bequeathed or donated by Jewish and Israeli intellectuals, as well as unique collections such as Albert Einstein’s letters, Isaac Newton’s contemplation of the Bible, and the unique Gershom Shocken Collecetion of Kabbalah and Hasidism. [Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]
A Visit to Israel’s New National Library Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Israel, Jewish History, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and FoodAt the performance in Tel Aviv last week the audience sat in rapt silence as the orchestra played and the choir and soloists sang, bringing the majesty and drama of Verdi’s music to life. In Israel of today, with war being waged in the Gaza Strip and skirmishes raging in the north of the country, the performance of the Requiem has special significance. In the plaza of the nearby Tel Aviv Museum families of the hostages held in Gaza were demonstrating in order to convince the government to do more to get them released. [Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]
Verdi’s ‘Requiem’ Revisited in Tel Aviv Performance Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Holocaust, Israel, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Middle East, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & BroadcastWhen I need to collect my prescription medicines for the local medical clinic I am almost invariably attended to by one of the Arab pharmacists, both male and female, who work there. The same applies to many of the nurses and even some of the doctors who provide my various medical needs in this and other clinics. Not to mention the many physicians and surgeons in our hospitals. [Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]
Our Arab Neighbors Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Israel, Staff and Bylined ContributorsTogether with Peter Kien, who wrote the libretto, Ullmann composed the music for an opera entitled ‘The Emperor of Atlantis,’ an allegory of the Nazi regime, in which Death goes on strike in protest at the widespread killing of human beings by a power-mad ruler. [Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]
Theresienstadt Opera Remembered in ‘Death Strikes: The Emperor of Atlantis’ Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Holocaust, International, Jewish History, Music and Visual Arts, Staff and Bylined ContributorsOf course, we all know that not all Arabs, certainly not all Moslems, are dedicated to the destruction of Israel and Jews. Signed agreements with several Arab countries contradict this. The major entity behind all the current antagonism is Iran, which encourages, finances and fosters hatred of Israel wherever it can. [Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]
Israel at War: History Repeating Itself Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Israel, Middle East, Opinion
This is the incredible story of a young Jewish woman who managed to survive as a ‘U-boat’ or submarine, i.e., someone ‘hidden in full view,’ during the Holocaust. [Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]
25-Year-Old Holocaust Memoir Still Fresh Today Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Holocaust, International, Jewish History, Staff and Bylined Contributors
A plaque embedded into the entrance wall of the building states in Hebrew, Arabic and English: “Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design, Jerusalem; Based on principles of human dignity, equality, pluralism and freedom of thought, speech and creative expression.” One can only hope that the students, who come from all segments of Israeli society, will benefit from this noble aspiration. [Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]
A New Home for the Bezalel Academy Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Israel, Music and Visual Arts, Staff and Bylined ContributorsBy Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — It is hard to write about what’s happening in Israel at the moment. First of all, we keep being told that the IDF is advancing and succeeding in wiping out the Hamas organization whose terrorists invaded Israel a few weeks ago, wreaking havoc in an orgy of bestiality,
By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — A basic aspect of life in Israel is the requirement that every adult, whether male or female, must serve in the IDF for a few years upon reaching the age of 18. While serving in the military, soldiers are trained in one of the many areas in which
Family in Reserves Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Israel, Opinion