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More about the Dedication Page

Dedication—a little more about four people who live on in our hearts

We were not short of ideas for dedicating this book. We know how much we owe everyone in our extended family and all our friends.

This is a book about friendship, so we chose our dedication with an eye to our theme.

Dad ז"ל preached the message that we siblings would always be each other’s closest friends. Message received.

Beyond the verbal, we felt the strong bond between Dad and his brother, younger by eleven months. Even when they both suffered from Alzheimer’s, they didn’t forget each other. Dad would smile in the morning gazing in the mirror and thinking he saw his brother looking back at him. Before memory loss set in, almost all the stories our dad told included his younger brother. In most of the stories, his brother was the hero. In all stories they were the rascally duo who could get into creative trouble together. But, they never hesitated to argue with each other. Politically, they canceled each other out in every election after 1948. We had the model all our lives for a close sibling relationship with no holds barred.

Dad was partially deaf. So much was communicated through his gaze, his hugs, and holding our hands on walks.

george
Syd in his navy uniform and Dad in his army uniform home on leave with Baubie (left) and Grandma Rae (right). Norfolk, VA. 1943?

 

Leslie: 
RD introduced me to Natasha ז"ל knowing that we would adore each other. Natasha was a stunning woman who looked like Natalie Wood (also a Russian Jew) but had Grandma Rae's soul and toughness. My life was brighter for each moment we shared. Traveling with Natasha and seeing the world through her eyes was a gift. Natasha's melodic voice and charisma mesmerized my children. Life was a passion for her which burned out too quickly. I will treasure the nearly thirty years of friendship we had. Her proudest accomplishments were her sons, David and Boris Garbuz and they, along with her grandchildren Eva and Max, carry her light. She would be saying to me now, "but Les, you should have written a book about me." This will have to do.
natasha
Natasha

 

Meryll:
When I moved to the Twin Cities in 1971, I immediately became close friends with Lori Rosen ז"ל whom I knew from Camp Ramah days. (Lori was also Leslie’s camp counselor.) Lori and I struck up a friendship that evolved into long, weekly conversations about everything. We sat next to each other in synagogue and for a few years we were next door neighbors. Each Saturday afternoon we went for a walk and extended conversation. Her acerbic humor and sharp intelligence and utter loyalty made her a stalwart friend. Sadly, she became ill too young in her life. She died before this book was conceived, but she would have been a superb critical reader. I am glad her aunt Leslie Rubin was our copy editor.
lori
Lori Rosen holds Meryll's youngest,
August 1980

 

Meryll:
My oldest friend whom I also met at Camp Ramah was Sandi Rosenberg Soffer ז"ל. Brash, creative, and hilarious (and also the same size), she was a friend from eighth grade until her untimely death in 2012. Sandi lived only an hour away from me in Dayton, Ohio so once we had our drivers’ licenses, there was no limit on how often we could get together. As members of Leaders Training Fellowship and United Synagogue Youth, we could count on at least one conclave per month where we could socialize, i.e. gossip. When Sandi became ill with a brain tumor, I was able to fly to New Jersey to see her every two months. She was privy to the beginnings of Jewish Luck and was not shy about expressing her opinions. Her matrushka collection arrayed in her guest bedroom inspired me each time I visited. I admit to shedding a lot of tears as I wrote about friendship in Sandi’s computer room while she slept in her bedroom across the hall. My closest friend was slipping away from me as I sat at her keyboard writing about Vera and Alisa’s friendship.

sandi
Sandi Rosenberg Soffer, 2010

************************************************************************

ז"ל—what is it? After someone has died and his or her name is mentioned, the Hebrew abbreviation, z”l, follow the person’s name. The letters stand for the Hebrew phrase zikhrona (f) or zikhrono (m) l’vrakha. English translation—may her or his memory be for a blessing. Our friends blessed us in so many ways. Honoring their memory is our only way to thank them now.

Recent Blogs

Leslie
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Wearily, I don my mask, my gloves for the weekly drive from my Minneapolis home to my suburban office to collect my mail. My footsteps echo in the empty hall. The calendar is still turned to March 2020 which means I have spent less than three months in this space that does not yet feel like my own. The March calendar photo of Little Paradise, New Zealand reminds me of my visit to an exquisite plac...
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The date- April 15, 2018.The place- Minneapolis. The weather-15 inches of snow due to fall by the end of this day. The dilemma—Do I move the gilded mirror measuring 39" by 54" and weighing over 40 pounds from my sister's house to ours?I had delayed responding to the question—do I want this family heirloom—for a year and now Meryll was moving the next day.This forty pound heirloom seemed so much we...
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When my mother was 8 years old, she had a "grandmother" for just over a year, the only grandmother she remembers.How did this happen? Grandfather Emil, a widower, lived with her family until 1937 when he was introduced to a "nice widow." Thirteen months after his wedding, Emil died at the age of 59.Cause of death? "Overfeeding by Regina," my mother said.Mom was sure that Regina was a " black ...
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Invite Us To Speak

invite

We were featured speakers at Hadassah Brandeis Institute and Levy Summer Series. Our speaking engagements include JCCs, synagogues, libraries, book groups, retirement communities, schools, and organizations (e.g. ORT, Hadassah, and Women's League). References are available. 

Invite Us To Speak
 

Upcoming Events

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Talk Review

"I was very fortunate to be able to hear Meryll and Leslie speak at a Hadassah event in Israel. Each of the ~50 participants really enjoyed the event because Meryll and Leslie were so engaging. While they had a natural rapport with the audience, you could also tell they had prepared well so they could connect with our particular group's interests. I learned a lot from listening to them, and I found their sisterly interaction unique and fun. If you want an enlightening and uplifting experience, attend one of their book talks."
Lisa Shimoni, Modiin Israel

Book Review

"Truly, you have written a story that makes accessible the reality of existence in Russia, through the eyes of individuals who lived through the various regimes and dictates.  It is fascinating and very well told.  As I read Vera and Alla's story, I learned more Russian history than I had known from a textbook.  That's a big deal, women!  You tell the tale with vivid detail and hook us on the two women and their stories, then weave in the history to illuminate their journeys. It is such a necessary book.  I am thrilled that the two of you collaborated, as I can see the uniqueness of your personalities come through in the stories, and that, too, makes the book a gem."
Margaret Leibfried, Danielson Group consultant

Buy the Book

Online:

Click here to order your copy of Jewish Luck: A True Story of Friendship, Deception, and Risky Business on Amazon.com.

The Kindle version is available here

In Stores:
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Make a donation to Sholom Home and enjoy Jewish Luck at the same time. Jewish Luck is now available at the Sholom Home West gift store. Meryll and Leslie will donate 50% of the proceeds back to Sholom Home. Enjoy!

Tasting Torah

Nourish mind, body, and soul with Meryll's Tasting Torah, which will bring oneg (joy) and limmud (learning) to your Shabbat, broaden your culinary horizons, and draw your Shabbat guests closer together.

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Leslie and I began writing Jewish Luck with an underlying question in our minds—what would life have...
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