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Jewish Luck Blog

Meryll Levine Page is a retired high school history teacher with a special interest in women’s history. She taught extensively about the Soviet Union and its break-up. Currently she co-facilitates the Minneapolis Jewish Artists’ Lab.
Meryll

Meryll

  http://morejewishluck.com
Meryll Levine Page is a retired high school history teacher with a special interest in women’s history. She taught extensively about the Soviet Union and its break-up. Currently she co-facilitates the Minneapolis Jewish Artists’ Lab.
Meryll

December 2013 Featured Book: What Happened to Anna K.

Meryll
Sunday, 01 December 2013
Highlighted Books
book-annakFEATURED BOOK FOR DECEMBER: In November we wrote about a nonfiction work that directed our feet in St. Petersburg. This month we’re highlighting a novel that treads on some of the same territory we reference in our book—the hunt for one’s place when displaced.  The setting is the US and not Europe or the Caribbean. What Happened to Anna K by Irina Reyn follows a young Russian woman in New York City whose life parallels another Anna K—Anna Karenina. I read this after Leslie and I completed our manuscript. I found that not only did the novel parallel Anna Karenina, but we wrote some passages about the lives of our Vera and Alisa that were remarkably similar to Reyn’s Anna.  Perhaps, to paraphrase Tolstoy, all Russian mafia are the same.  The author permits the reader both an insider and outsider view of a Soviet emigrant and captivates the imagination through Anna’s dreams. For more information about this...
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Meryll

The Remont (Renovation) of Friendship

Meryll
Tuesday, 19 November 2013
Jewish Luck Blog
Now that the book is published, we discovered it doesn’t fly off the internet. We have to market. As a confirmed introvert, marketing isn’t my chosen field for good reason. When I email people I feel like I’m bothering them.  I choked down my distaste and began the process of reaching out and back. Here is a report on three connections. They almost convince me marketing can be fun. My arch-rival from elementary through high school: I was always neck and neck competing in academics with one particular classmate. Since all my classmates can name her in a millisecond, I’m not sure why I’m uncomfortable naming her, but, for now, the rest of the world will have to guess. With a very small class, even rivals invited each other to their homes. The two of us did get together and listen to Beach Boy records and talk.  What struck me when...
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Meryll

How we selected our cover design

Meryll
Tuesday, 12 November 2013
Jewish Luck Blog
Jewish Luck Book Cover image  When we consulted with Scott Edelstein about the steps from written manuscript to published book, he patiently explained the complicated world of publishing and concluded with an introduction to the equally complex world of self-publishing.  Both Leslie and I remembered one particular nugget of advice—if you want to be in control, self-publishing is the route to go. That characterizes Leslie and me.  We love control! We wanted input into every phase of our book – particularly, the cover.  We batted around a lot of cover design ideas between us, usually incorporating a photo of Vera and Alisa.  Neither of us is a designer and, finally, we decided we needed professional intervention.  How do you find a good designer?  I thought it would be like finding a good hairdresser. You look at others’ haircuts and asked, “who did it?”  It’s not quite that simple because we also wanted a local designer....
Tags:
cover design Cathy Spengler self-publishing
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Meryll

November 2013 Featured Book: The Jews of St. Petersburg

Meryll
Friday, 01 November 2013
Highlighted Books
book-nov2013The Jews of St. Petersburg by Mikhail Beizer http://pluto.huji.ac.il/~beizer/" > FEATURED BOOK FOR NOVEMBER: Beizer, Mikhail. The Jews of St. Petersburg. Excursions through a Noble Past. Translated by Michael Sherbourne. Maps by Sir Martin Gilbert. Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society, 1989. Summary:  This book deserves its own story of origin.  It begins with Mikhail Beizer’s passionate compulsion to capture the history of Jewish St. Petersburg/Leningrad from 1880-1930. Under the Soviets, the history was hidden and Beizer uncovered people, documents, and buildings that all bear witness to the lively Jewish presence that existed in St. Petersburg/Leningrad.  He was, in turn, encouraged by one of my all-time favorite authors, Sir Martin Gilbert, who met him in Leningrad in 1983.  The book includes Sir Martin’s cartography and introduction. Why you might be interested:  If you are traveling to St. Petersburg, this book can serve as a travel guide unlike any other.  The six excursions through the...
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Meryll

Mandelbrot--the updated version

Meryll
Friday, 25 October 2013
Jewish Luck Blog
We imagined our grandma hovering lovingly above us as we worked.  We also imagined what would happen if our grandmother conversed with Vera and Alla's grandmothers. We knew that our grandma would prepare treats and tea no matter what the conversation. Below is an updated version of her mandelbrot.  See the deleted chapters for the imagined conversation that might accompany these treats.  I converted the recipe so that you would not lose a filling. Mandelbrot—Updated version: Chocolate Shot Biscotti 2 eggs1 cup canola oil1 cup sugar 2 cups all purpose flour1 teaspoon baking powder1/2 teaspoon salt 4 ounces chocolate shot (jimmies, sprinkles)6 ounces slivered almonds, chopped1 teaspoon vanilla cinnamon and sugar Beat eggs, oil, and sugar until well mixed. Add flour, baking powder and salt and continue to beat with mixer until dough is smooth. Add chocolate shot, almonds, and vanilla. Chill dough at least 8 hours. Form into rolls (like play-doh snakes) and place on...
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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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