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Jewish Luck Blog

Leslie Levine Adler, PhD visited Russia in the summer of 1976 as part of her undergraduate Russian Studies program. She returned in 1977 to pursue her friendships from the previous summer. After teaching ESL at university, she became a psychologist.
Leslie

Leslie

  http://morejewishluck.com

Leslie Levine Adler, PhD visited Russia in the summer of 1976 as part of her undergraduate Russian Studies program. She returned in 1977 to pursue her friendships from the previous summer. After teaching ESL at university, she became a psychologist.

Leslie

Meryll is the Guest Blogger at Minnesota Humanities

Leslie
Friday, 07 August 2015
News & Events Jewish Luck Blog
​Read Meryll's "Saved By Humanities" blog post on the Minnesota Humanities Center website. Meryll is their guest blogger this week. 
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Leslie

Generational Dyslexia

Leslie
Friday, 31 July 2015
Jewish Luck Blog
visionquest This was an interesting day.  After getting lost (or being misplaced, as I like to put it) for 15 minutes because I confused the names of two restaurants, I lunched with my office partner of 20 years who had just retired.  We had a scintillating conversation about health issues and great books that we’ve read but whose titles we don't remember. I wrestled with commitment. but did sign a three year extension lease for my office. While reviewing the time period, my office mate wasn’t sure she could commit as she wanted to start a family.  I wasn’t sure I could commit because I was awaiting my first health crisis. Wow, we’re at opposite extremes of the work continuum. Generational dyslexia strikes again. Now, I realize that she is my son’s age.  The day wouldn’t have been complete without my husband and I choosing a funeral plot, the type of...
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Leslie

Somebody that I Used to Know

Leslie
Saturday, 25 July 2015
Jewish Luck Blog
Steves friendsIn writing Jewish Luck, my sister, Meryll and I mused endlessly about friendship.  We observed how Alisa had catapulted herself out of Vera’s universe and empathized with the emptiness both women felt until their reconciliation. During the writing process, Meryll was traveling as often as possible to be with her friend, Sandi, as she slowly slipped away Even on her worst days following radiation, Sandi could offer a loving critique in her inimitable fashion. In the past few years, I have been fortunate – and friendships have remained steady ---until recently.  Thanks to the magic of social media, I found myself verklempt and not in a good way, like SNL’s Linda Richman on Coffee Talk discussing Barbra Streisand. Verklempt in this case referred to feeling overwhelmed with sadness and disappointment.  What had happened?  I was disappointed by the snarky response from someone I believed to be a very good friend.  Then,...
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Leslie

Author of the Month: David Bezmozgis

Leslie
Tuesday, 30 June 2015
Highlighted Books
Author of the Month:  David Bezmozgis
Who are the betrayers?  That is the question I pose to you when you read the tight, compelling novel, The Betrayers by David Bezmozgis about a day or two in the life of Baruch Cotler.  What is masterful is how Bezmozgis inspires sympathy for each character, every one imperfect. But then name a character in Genesis who wasn’t imperfect.  This book gives credence to the idea that our heroes may be accidental and when they fall, we should not be surprised. The story takes place in Yalta, a Crimean resort city that arguably has more historic legitimacy to be occupied by Jews rather than Russians. Baruch Kotler, a famous Israeli politician, originally a Moscow refusenik (modeled after Sharansky), is escaping with his mistress to avoid being in Israel when Israeli settlements are to be dismantled. Kotler disagrees with this current policy of the prime minister and has stated his objections.  He...
Tags:
David Bezmozgis The Betrayers The Free World Its a crowded world
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Leslie

Post-Apocalypse Part II: Poland

Leslie
Friday, 12 June 2015
Jewish Luck Blog
I thought I would never go to Eastern Europe, but, by the end of this journey, I found unexpected resolution.   To my husband’s dismay, I referred to this “vacation” as the Concentration Trip Tour. Harry reminded me that we would be spending only two of our eighteen days visiting concentration camps.  To prepare, I immersed myself in Holocaust nonfiction and reached a moderate level of self-traumatization before setting foot on the plane.  At the last minute I reached in my jewelry box to find an amulet for this journey. Since my Magen David and mezuzah had been given to Vera long ago, I was left with a golden hamsa (the hand against the evil eye), a gift brought to me from Israel by my friend, Janet, who had already made the trip to Poland. Last week my blog was about Berlin.  Today, I write about Poland.  I thank Dana Yugend-Pepper and...
Tags:
Jewish Poland Visiting concentration camp March of the Living Travel to Poland Jewish travel
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Recent Blogs

Meryll
Meryll
09 April 2021
Jewish on the Down Low
I snapped up the invitation to speak at a zoom meeting for the Jewish Affinity Group from Columbus School for Girls. Self-quarantining for almost a year has made me hungry to talk about Jewish Luck. It's certainly clear from the news that Vera and Alla's perceptions about the "New" Russia are just as relevant now as they were when Vera first encountered Putin in Leningrad.More than the intellectua...
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Leslie
Leslie
07 February 2021
American Kompromat
What I learned from American Kompromat by Craig Unger (2021) Dutton: NYC has prompted me to write a blog. Trigger Warning: This book contains potentially distressing content that could trigger trauma that we have experienced regarding the previous US President. I whisper this mantra to myself: "We're safe now. He's gone. We're safe now." The purpose of this exercise is to reduce my blood pre...
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Leslie
Leslie
31 January 2021
Alexey Navalny: Intrepid SuperHero of Russia
"Faster than a speeding bullet." .Organized anti-government rallies in 109 cities across Russia from jail for January 23 and January 30, 2021. Watch each weekend. "More powerful than a locomotive."  Able to make a miraculous recovery from Novichok poisoning on Aug. 20, 2020 after remaining in a coma for nearly a month. His is the only known case of survival of that strain of Novichok. "...
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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
 

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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Highlighted Books

Meryll
Meryll
02 July 2017
July Book of the Month:  Bloodlines by Neville Frankel
July Book of the Month: Bloodlines by Neville Frankel
Leslie and I began writing Jewish Luck with an underlying question in our minds—what would life have...
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