Dorothea Shefer-Vanson is a freelance journalist based in Mevasseret Zion, Israel.
Her published works, available on Amazon, include:
[showhide type=”pressrelease” more_text=”Show More” less_text=”Show Less”]
* 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
[/showhide]
By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — Generous American donors have provided the money to build a museum honouring Shelby White and Leon Levy, to house in situ the huge mosaic dating from the Roman occupation of ancient Judaea. The town of Lod (Lydda) has been inhabited for millennia, and is mentioned in the Bible […]
The Roman Mosaic in Lod Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Israel, Jewish HistoryThis book, written by a well-known TV personality specializing in economic subjects, aims to present the issues and obstacles the average Israeli encounters in dealing with economic matters and bureaucracy, writing about complex subjects in a way that is accessible to all. [Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]
Readable Book Takes the ‘Dismal’ out of the ‘Dismal Science’ Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Science, Medicine, & Education
By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — Winter has been reluctant to arrive here in Israel, and as I write this in mid-December we can enjoy the balmy sunshine (and not having to heat our homes), though our fields and gardens yearn for rain. However, the silver lining to the lack of clouds is that
A Kind of Coexistence Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Israel, Lifestyles, Opinion
By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — Secular poetry written in a mixture of Latin, medieval German and French by groups of monks and scholars in the 13th century were set to music in the 20th century by the German composer, Carl Orff. The orchestration calls for an especially large orchestra (with extensive timpani and
A Musical Experience Like No Other in Jerusalem Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Israel, Music, Dance, and Visual ArtsBy Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — In 1945, when philosopher Karl Popper published “The Open Society and its Enemies,” his landmark critique of historicist philosophy, he probably did not suspect that only three years later a Jewish state would be established in a distant part of the Middle East. On the other hand,
Anarchists and Enemies of the Open Society Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Israel, OpinionBy Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — These days I feel like Alice in Anti-Wonderland, where what seemed impossible yesterday is now happening before my very eyes. I would say “Curiouser and Curiouser” if I could, but I feel more like saying “Awfuller and Awfuller.” Each candidate for a ministerial post in the government
Should Israelis Laugh or Cry? Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Israel, OpinionBy Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — When life seems bleak, music, literature, and art provide us with consolation. Thus, it came about that we were able to attend two musical events in one week. What a feast! And what a difference. The first was an intimate evening provided by our friends and neighbours
By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — Israel’s fifth general election in four years has just taken place, and the decision appears to be clear. Israel has moved to the right. The parties which espouse limiting the rule of law as delineated by the country’s founding fathers, as well as the practice of restricting fiscal
What Lies Ahead in Israel Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Israel, Middle East, OpinionBy Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — The concert season in Jerusalem resumed this past week, and it was like meeting old friends, In fact, we did actually meet old friends. The first concert of the season of the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra found us sitting in the packed Henry Crown auditorium of the Jerusalem Theatre.
The Sound of Music Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Music, Dance, and Visual ArtsBy Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — For a number of technical reasons we decided to hold our family celebration marking a milestone birthday in the neighbouring island of Cyprus. Family members came from various parts of Israel and the world, a hotel in the seaside resort of Ayia Napa was chosen and the dates
Our Friendly Neighbor Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Israel, Middle East, Travel and FoodBy Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — During the last few years, I have been spending part of the summer in France, supposedly to avoid the summer heat of Israel. That has come to be something of a joke, as the summers in France have been as hot as — or even hotter than —
By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — Attracted by the intriguing title, I read “The Revenge of the Elders of Zion” in its ebook version on my phone, and as I tend to read books on my phone only when I’m waiting to see the doctor or dentist, it took me rather a long time
The Intrigue of ‘The Revenge of the Elders of Zion’ Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Dorothea Shefer-VansonBy Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — I suppose the etymology of the two phrases (Holy Days and Holidays) is the same, but their significance in this day and age is very different. Holidays are a time for enjoying oneself, whether relaxing on a beach or trekking up a mountain, whichever suits your taste. Holy
Holy Days and Holidays Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, OpinionThe first thing that hits you as the plane starts the descent towards the airport in Israel is the difference in the colors on the ground. If you have just left one of the countries of Europe, as we did, there is a noticeable difference in the shades of green that you perceive. The brilliant emerald green of the fields of rural France (or Germany or England or wherever), even in the summer of 2022 when temperatures rose to unprecedented heights and there were restrictions on water usage, remained in one’s visual memory, only to be erased (or at least put in the shade) by the greys, browns and dusty dark greens of the Holy Land. And, of course, the ever-present white of the stone buildings. [Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]
Au Revoir to France, Shalom to Israel Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, International, Israel, Lifestyles, Travel and Food