In this fictional story, Rube Goldberg is a 6th grader, living in modern times, and he is obsessed with building novel machines. You might think of the story as a guess about what the real Rube Goldberg might have been like if he were a kid today. [Donald H. Harrison]
With Heirs’ Permission, Rube Goldberg Reimagined as a Modern 6th Grader Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Fiction
These are not the kind of stories that you would read to your little children, although you might be tempted by the time they are tweens to retell these stories around a nighttime campfire while using a flashlight to illuminate your face from the chin up. [Donald H. Harrison]
San Diegan Elizabeth Schwartz Retells 3 Yiddish Horror Stories Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Fiction, San Diego County
This year, 2023, was declared in Lodz, Poland, to be the year of Chava Rosenfarb, one of its most famous Yiddish writers. In Lethbridge, Canada, meanwhile Goldie Morgentaler, daughter and translator of Rosenfarb from Yiddish to English, completed for publication 10 of her late mother’s stories. [Donald H. Harrison]
Rosenfarb’s Short Stories Depict the Inner Worlds of Holocaust Survivors Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Holocaust, International, Jewish Fiction, Lifestyles
When the actors were backstage, they were enmeshed in a real-life love triangle featuring the competition of Edmund (Ferdia Walsh-Peelo) and Patryk (Mark Ryder) for the affection of Stefcia (Clara Rugaard). Patryk’s on-stage wife Ada (Valentina Belle) was left out of the backstage action. [Donald H. Harrison]
A High-Stakes Love Triangle in the Warsaw Ghetto Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Holocaust, Jewish Fiction, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
Produced and directed by Becky Cherlin Baird, the musical is still in its developmental stage: scenes are being rewritten, songs are being tested, audience reaction is being gauged. You might say that as a full-fledged stage production, Hereville is not thereville yet. [Donald H. Harrison]
‘Hereville’ a New Jewish Musical, Well on Track Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Fiction, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
My grandfather Yaakov, my mother’s father, had seven brothers and one sister. At that time Jews in Russia gave birth to many children, because it was God’s will. Then God was forbidden in the Soviet Union, and there were fewer and fewer children. In our family there was less obedience to God’s commandments and fewer children were born. My grandmother Rosa gave birth to only two daughters, the eldest Leah and the youngest Dora, my mother. As in other Jewish families, the mother’s role grew as the number of children decreased. [Alex Gordon, Ph.D]
Jewish Fiction: The Yiddishe Mama Complex Read More »
Alex Gordon, Jewish Fiction
You keep saying that you are my owner.
And I’m here to bring you joy.
You’re mistaken who’s in charge here
And don’t realize my wagging’s just a ploy. {Elona Baron as translated by Laurie Baron]
These Paws Are Made for Walking Read More »
Jewish Fiction, Lawrence Baron, Lifestyles, Trivia, Humor & Satire
Jennifer Wolf Kam wrote and Sally Walker illustrated Until the Blueberries Grow about a young boy named Ben who successfully delays his grandfather for a year from selling his home and moving to a retirement community (hopefully like our Seacrest Village in Encinitas). During the year of delay, Ben and his zayde have many adventures such as picking and eating blueberries together; eating jelly sandwiches in the sukkah; drinking hot chocolate by the light of the chanukiah; and secreting and finding afikomen outside in the lilac bushes. But after the year delay, zayde tells Ben he just doesn’t want to keep climbing the stairs to his second-floor bedroom. So, he moves to a retirement community, and when Ben visits him there, he brings a gift. Blueberries! [Donald H. Harrison]
Three Stories for Young Children from PJ Library Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Fiction
I was sitting at a table in a small unprepossessing Italian restaurant in the Sheepshead Bay area of Brooklyn. Being an insecure type, I sat with my back to the wall, as usual, when three nattily dressed gentlemen of Italian appearance entered and approached me. “This table is our table. . .” the nattiest of them said to me softly and not impolitely. Maybe because of the gangster movies I had seen, I considered it best not to dispute the fact. If I were younger, I would have yielded with a humorous face-saving remark, such as “I thought tables were fungible.” If I were much younger, maybe even argued a bit, and perhaps I would have remained much younger for eternity. But fortunately I was not so young and life had taught me a certain prudence. “No problem,” I said. “I’ll sit somewhere else.” I reached a hand toward a plate of spaghetti and meatballs that had arrived immediately before the three gentlemen – to take it to a table less in demand. [Larry Lefkowitz]
Short Story: A Memorable Spaghetti Dinner Read More »
Jewish FictionEveryone in our family called the tuner of my daughter’s piano, “the piano tuner,” though his name was Fishbein. He was a brusque man, even for a fellow Viennese, stooped, often wore a checkered jacket which contrasted ridiculously with his formal striped pants, as if he had been a jazz saxophonist at one stage of his life and a concert pianist in another; his polka dotted, cabaret comedian’s tie completed the total mismatch. He arrived, tuned the piano, refused tea and cake (not very Viennese), pleaded that he was late for another piano, grabbed his tuning case and hurried away. Always the same ritual. His statement about being late for another piano caused us to chuckle (after he left) because he spoke of the piano that awaited him like it was a person. [Larry Lefkowitz]
Short Story: Fishbein, the Piano Tuner Read More »
International, Jewish Fiction, Middle EastGershon is sitting on the bus with two baskets brim full of purchases from the open- air market at his feet, one basket crowding his legs, the other half in the aisle, a traditional arrangement on Jerusalem’s buses as they aren’t designed for ample purchases. Jerusalemites like to purchase in bulk. They have large families. Besides, at any time someone or many someones may “drop in.” Gershon’s wife, Rachelah, who was not blessed with children, likes people to drop in. She is fond of quoting Gershon who quotes from the Mishna: ‘Let your house be open wide.’ [Larry Lefkowitz]
Short Story: Gershon’s Bus Ride Read More »
Jewish Fiction, Middle East
Watkins Glen by Eleanor Lerman; Mayapple Press 2021; ISBN 9781952-781018; 213 pages. By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – The Finger Lakes region of upstate New York is known for Watkins Glen International, a race car venue that permits ordinary citizens to take three laps around the track in their personal cars for a fee.
More Than a Raceway: Novel Presents a Jewish Side of Watkins Glen Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Fiction, USA
I am always surprised and rather dismayed whenever I hear my fellows disparage the vocal production of our avian cousins. Do you not know, I want to say, that many birds – from the nightingale to the song sparrow – are consummate musicians? The Lyrebird, that clears a patch of forest floor, prepares his stage on which to sing and dance. Is this not an artist, in the most complete sense? Birdsong is indeed music, a spontaneous expression of how a particular bird experiences and feels the world. So much so that some birds have been known to sing with such intensity and passion that their little hearts have burst in the very e ecstasy of the transport – as if their poor frames could not contain the overwhelming spiritual force of the music. [Sam Ben-Meir]
Short Story: ‘The Conductor’ Read More »
Jewish Fiction, Music and Visual Arts, Sam Ben-Meir
Once upon a time there was a fly – by all outward appearances an ordinary and inconspicuous housefly. But this fly was quite unlike its fellows, unlike any fly that has ever been or is ever likely to be again. For this fly was in love, and not with another fly let me hasten to add. This fly was in love – in love, I say – with a man. [Sam Ben-Meir, Ph.D]
Short Story: The Fly Read More »
Jewish Fiction, Sam Ben-Meir