Read Meryll's "Saved By Humanities" blog post on the Minnesota Humanities Center website. Meryll is their guest blogger this week.
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.
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...
In 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,...
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...
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...
Recent Blogs
Meryll
09 April 2021
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...
Leslie
07 February 2021
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...
Leslie
31 January 2021
"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
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.
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
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.
Highlighted Books
Meryll
02 July 2017
Leslie and I began writing Jewish Luck with an underlying question in our minds—what would life have...
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