Last fall, I began a book about a Jewish woman from Bratislava. One scene involved Friday evening dinner. I stopped writing, and realized how unprepared I was to describe this. Of course, I turned to Google and bingo… Shabbat of a… Read More ›
The Middle East
Information on trips we have taken to the Middle East
Stories from Israel
I flew to Israel to have lunch with a man and his wife. Nathan Steiner grew up in Bratislava. I knew the family name from the Steiner bookstore which still operates in the center of the old town. Ever since… Read More ›
To Israel
We decided to go to Israel, and we went. In those intervening three weeks between decision and flight, friends and family warned us, be careful, do as you are told, don’t go where you shouldn’t. Pat read the NY Times… Read More ›
Imagine
When I was a child, my father asked me not to buy the song Imagine. He didn’t want to give money to something which, in his mind, promoted the abolition of religion. This seemed odd to me; my father was… Read More ›
Petra, Jordan: The Hike to the Monastery
We pass through the make shift ticket booth and enter a cluster of nondescript shops; vendors pushing their assortment of T-shirts, stuffed camels and sand art. Confused, we look about for a sign. Surely there must be a sign? A… Read More ›
The World In Between 