There is no need for me to review Russian Tattoo because everyone else has. Just check Elena Gorokhova’s author page www.elenagorokhova.com Even legendary actors Alan Alda and F. Murray Abraham marched on her behalf.
I have my own passionate response to Russian Tattoo -- a potential blog title: “What color is my envy?” You see, envy can be white or black in Russian. So definitely “white” envy, the good kind. However, I covet her publicity, her publishing house and her fame. She also has a nice cover designer but so did we. Envy aside, our book was meant to inform and help our readers feel what it was like to grow up Jewish in the last half of the twentieth century in the USSR, and to follow the unusual choices of two very gutsy heroines – Vera and Alla. So Alan and F. Murray and all you Russo/bibliophiles, get your... 
Recently, at an Orange County, California book group, our host, Anna, suggested that we publish our own family tree alongside those of Vera and Alla. It was a timely topic since my husband has been compulsively researching our family trees over these last two months. I knew a lot more about Vera and Alla’s family histories than my own. I admit I was a skeptic about genealogy since it seemed pointless to know a name, place, date of birth and death without understanding the story of the person.
My husband, Harry, has attended his share of talks on our book, Jewish Luck. He resonated with one of our many themes, the centrality of the immigrant, the one who chose to leave his or her home country. Trained as a systems analyst, he likes a project. When he was asked to become part of a new Jewish Genealogical Society in Minneapolis/St. Paul,... 
“A ménage a trois of Georgian, Russian and Californian Cuisine.”
Next time you are in San Diego craving Russian or Georgian food, try Kafe Sobaka, Restoran Pomegranate. Now why would the husband and wife owners, Marco and Gwynne, choose the name Sobaka which means dog? The answer: Jewish Georgian, Marco,was obsessed with the dog that was launched into outer space on Sputnik. He identifies himself as “an old wandering dog.” You can ask Marco about that yourself.
Unlike many of the Russian restaurants that seem snobbish and overpriced, this one has a quirky humor that satirizes Soviet culture. The food, however, is serious and very reasonable! With such authentic food and portions fit for an entire communal apartment, I was afraid a babushka would fly out of the kitchen and yell at me because I couldn’t empty my plate.
Our family should be in the business of reviewing restaurants since... 
Today I witnessed an amazing event – true solidarity in a real Republic. The Unity Rally in Paris was a demonstration in response to the shootings at the magazine, Charlie Hebdo, the shooting of the policewoman and the shootings in the kosher grocery store. The visual of 3.7 million citizens marching across France, 1 million in Paris, silently behind 44 international leaders spoke volumes. The signs and interviews with people trying to explain themselves – how they feel a sense of pain that their dearest values – liberty, equality and fraternity - have been challenged. It was not a rally in support of Jews per se but in support of free speech and upholding the values France holds dear.
It was also remarkable that the last time the streets had been so populated was following the liberation from the Nazis in 1944. What followed were decades of pain for this... 
