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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

A Wrinkle in Time (of the Cold War)

Leslie
Monday, 03 March 2014
Highlighted Books
There is a lot to like about Elliott Holt’s novel, You are One of Them. I was hooked by the title – a play on the Russian term “svoi chelovek” one of us, which had been so important to Vera and me. In the Cold War atmosphere, we Americans and Russians did not see our commonality, but our differences. It was “us versus them.”  Had the title not captured me, the first sentence would have, “The first defector was my sister.” Unlike our book, this is a novel and reminiscent of my favorite young adult books. Sarah has her own angst within her family and feels like an outcast until she meets Jenny, the best friend that she idealizes. Like Alla and Vera, the friendship of these two girls is also rocky and a bit competitive. Terrified of nuclear war and convinced of her own superpower of persuasion, ten-year-old, Sarah convinces...
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Cold War fiction Novel of USSR Cold War USSR
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Leslie

Leslie's Reflection on the Book Launch: Perfection and Death

Leslie
Monday, 24 February 2014
Jewish Luck Blog
Following the peak experience of our book launch last Sunday,  I said to my son with a mother’s convoluted logic, “Thank you for flying in for this.  If you hadn’t, I would have been thinking If only Isaac were here, it would be perfect; and, now, it is perfect.”  Perfect. What do I do with perfect?  I’m not used to it.  I look around the room to smile at my daughter, husband, and son. My sister shares every moment with me. I see the faces of old friends, new friends, consultees, book group members, Meryll’s minions, and the wonderful people whom neither of us recognize all alight with interest. Importantly, Bonnie is there as well. Bonnie is a physician, who has accomplished the miracle of cloning herself.  Wherever I need Bonnie, she appears.  Even when I haven’t realized yet I would need Bonnie, she is present.  It might be to check on...
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self-publishing co-writing book launch
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Leslie

Rockin’ Aunt Leah

Leslie
Wednesday, 29 January 2014
Jewish Luck Blog
I had a fortunate upbringing, but I was not bathed in compliments.  So when recently, my Mom observed that I resembled my great Aunt Leah of blessed memory, I took that with a grain of salt and a couple glasses of wine. Aunt Leah’s reputation was of a kind woman, a loving woman, but, dare I say- homely. I remember what a loving marriage she had and how I barely ever saw the two apart.  I remember how happy she was to see me and how she always offered me food – the perfect aunt! My uncles also adored her.  So, of course, with the power of motherly suggestion, nowadays when I look into the mirror I see the reflection of my childless Aunt Leah. How long are we remembered for?  Two generations, three?  If we are lucky enough to have great-grandchildren and to tell them about our grandparents, that would...
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Women and ancestors Family Resemblance epigenetics
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Leslie

Why Everyone Hates Putin (Except Putin and Colbert)

Leslie
Saturday, 04 January 2014
Jewish Luck Blog
With the advent of the Winter Olympics in Sochi, you may be wondering what's so bad about Vladimir Putin?  After all, this compassionate leader just released Khodorkovsky early after 10 years in prison.  This oil tycoon's crime was that he was not only richer and smarter than Putin, but he had backed a rival political party.  Putin also graciously pardoned those two women from the punk rock group Pussy Riot sentenced for "hooliganism."  But don't ask Putin about gay rights because that would be an abomination.   Didn't the always photogenic Putin just discover ancient Greek vessels in the shallow water of the Black Sea when scuba-diving?  And the ecologically- minded Putin also donned a mechanized hangglider to point the way for a flock of endangered cranes who apparently didn't know where to migrate on their own.  Looking closely at his photos, you may have noticed that he is actually growing...
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Putin Winter Olympics Colbert Pussy Riot
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Leslie

The Other Friends

Leslie
Saturday, 04 January 2014
Jewish Luck Blog
blogotherfriendsdance  You had to be in Russia in the '70s to believe it, and if you were there, this happened to you too - forming deeper friendships in less time than you would have ever believed possible.  In Jewish Luck, I alluded to "the other friends," the group that Vera deemed unsavory.  Here is the story, the prequel to meeting Vera. On my second day in Leningrad, I dragged my friend, Robyn off to the "Museum of Atheism and Religion", housed in the beautiful semicircular Kazanski' Sobor, an Orthodox church in a previous life.  Behind us stood two Scandinavian-looking men - one had twinkling blue eyes, long blond hair and a bushy blond beard.  Except for his blue jean jacket and the warmth of his smile, he could have stepped out of the pages of a Tolstoy novel.  The other appeared more ragged and seemed more likely to have stepped out of an...
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friendship Russia Russia 1970s
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Recent Blogs

Meryll
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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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Invite Us To Speak

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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

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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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