Ellis Shuman's Blog, page 33
June 20, 2017
Interviewed by Bulgarians in Detroit
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Recently I was contacted by Daniela Natcheva, editor of the electronic newsletter, Bulgarians in Detroit. Daniela interviewed me about my book Valley of Thracians, my connection to Bulgaria, and the similarities (and differences) between Bulgaria and Israel. The interview appeared in the May 2017 edition of the newsletter. Included here is the interview.
Where do you live now? Have you visited Bulgaria again (after 2010)?
I was born in Sioux City, Iowa, and moved to Israel with my family when I was fifteen years old. I have worked in many different jobs and eventually ended up in online marketing. My position was relocated to Sofia for two years (2009-2010). Upon my return to Israel I found myself thinking constantly about Bulgaria. My experiences in Bulgaria gave me inspiration for my writing, and the novel Valley of Thracians was the result.
We returned to Bulgaria again in 2016 when The Burgas Affair was published in Bulgarian. The novel was presented in Sofia at a book signing.
Are you planning to write another book?
Valley of Thracians was self-published in 2013 and The Burgas Affair was published in Bulgarian in 2016. I have not yet found a publisher for The Burgas Affair in English, so I will probably self-publish it myself in the coming months.
I have also recently completed a third novel, again with a connection to both Bulgaria and Israel. I hope that will be published within the next year.
Why did you decide to write a novel (Valley of Thracians)? Your first book is short stories about Israel.
My first book of short stories explored my experiences working and living on a kibbutz in Israel. My wife and I were founding members of Kibbutz Yahel, in Israel's south. While we ended up leaving the kibbutz, we still have fond memories of living there and being young pioneers turning the desert green (something quite literal - as we worked in agriculture among other things).
After my years living in Bulgaria I had a desire to share those experiences. I came up with the idea of an American Peace Corps volunteer getting lost in the country and of efforts to find him, and that idea led to Valley of Thracians. I wanted to include aspects of Bulgaria's rich culture and history, without the novel being a historical novel. I hope readers will see it as an introduction to the country.
How different/similar is Bulgaria from Israel? Many Bulgarians live in Izrael. Do you have Bulgarian friends there?
Bulgaria and Israel are alike in many ways, such as our having lived under Ottoman rule for centuries and our brave efforts to achieve independence. We are both countries with very long histories, although our years living as parliamentary democracies are relatively short. Both countries have rich cultures and traditions. The Bulgarian horo dance is almost the exact same as the Israeli hora dance.
Even so, there are major differences as well. Bulgaria is blessed with beautiful nature, for example, and there is not enough rainfall in Israel. While Bulgaria does have some religious strife between Christians and Muslims, this is nothing compared to the strife in Israel. And, of course, Israel is surrounded by enemies, a fact that forces us to maintain a strong military and have compulsory military service.
While I have met members of the Bulgarian Jewish community in Israel, I don't really interact with them.
Did you present your book (Valley of Thracians) and where?
I tried, unsuccessfully, to find a literary agent and a publisher for Valley of Thracians, In the end, I self-published it in January 2013. I did have some success promoting the book, although not financial success, and this is something I did entirely on my own.
Somewhere I read that you did not like in Bulgaria “the heavy smoking and the poor infrastructure”. How these problems are solved in Israel?
In Israel, infrastructure is very well-developed and the health care is excellent. Part of the reason is foreign assistance, which helps pay for the Israeli military, and another reason is donations from abroad. Still, there is much to improve in Israel, including the education system.
When I first came to Israel, people smoked everywhere - on buses, in movie theaters. Luckily there has been a strong movement to ensure that all citizens can live in a smoke-free environment. In addition, while use of drugs is outlawed in Israel, Israel is on the forefront of medical cannabis research and use. Israel is also a world leader in high tech innovation and startups.
You said in the acknowledgements “Bulgaria is an amazing country”. Why? How can we make this known by other people?
I do believe Bulgaria is amazing - and certainly a very affordable destination for western tourists. I hope that through my writing more people will become aware of what Bulgaria has to offer and this will encourage them to visit the country.
Thank you again to Daniela Natcheva and Bulgarians in Detroit!
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Recently I was contacted by Daniela Natcheva, editor of the electronic newsletter, Bulgarians in Detroit. Daniela interviewed me about my book Valley of Thracians, my connection to Bulgaria, and the similarities (and differences) between Bulgaria and Israel. The interview appeared in the May 2017 edition of the newsletter. Included here is the interview.
Where do you live now? Have you visited Bulgaria again (after 2010)?
I was born in Sioux City, Iowa, and moved to Israel with my family when I was fifteen years old. I have worked in many different jobs and eventually ended up in online marketing. My position was relocated to Sofia for two years (2009-2010). Upon my return to Israel I found myself thinking constantly about Bulgaria. My experiences in Bulgaria gave me inspiration for my writing, and the novel Valley of Thracians was the result.
We returned to Bulgaria again in 2016 when The Burgas Affair was published in Bulgarian. The novel was presented in Sofia at a book signing.
Are you planning to write another book?
Valley of Thracians was self-published in 2013 and The Burgas Affair was published in Bulgarian in 2016. I have not yet found a publisher for The Burgas Affair in English, so I will probably self-publish it myself in the coming months.
I have also recently completed a third novel, again with a connection to both Bulgaria and Israel. I hope that will be published within the next year.
Why did you decide to write a novel (Valley of Thracians)? Your first book is short stories about Israel.
My first book of short stories explored my experiences working and living on a kibbutz in Israel. My wife and I were founding members of Kibbutz Yahel, in Israel's south. While we ended up leaving the kibbutz, we still have fond memories of living there and being young pioneers turning the desert green (something quite literal - as we worked in agriculture among other things).
After my years living in Bulgaria I had a desire to share those experiences. I came up with the idea of an American Peace Corps volunteer getting lost in the country and of efforts to find him, and that idea led to Valley of Thracians. I wanted to include aspects of Bulgaria's rich culture and history, without the novel being a historical novel. I hope readers will see it as an introduction to the country.
How different/similar is Bulgaria from Israel? Many Bulgarians live in Izrael. Do you have Bulgarian friends there?
Bulgaria and Israel are alike in many ways, such as our having lived under Ottoman rule for centuries and our brave efforts to achieve independence. We are both countries with very long histories, although our years living as parliamentary democracies are relatively short. Both countries have rich cultures and traditions. The Bulgarian horo dance is almost the exact same as the Israeli hora dance.
Even so, there are major differences as well. Bulgaria is blessed with beautiful nature, for example, and there is not enough rainfall in Israel. While Bulgaria does have some religious strife between Christians and Muslims, this is nothing compared to the strife in Israel. And, of course, Israel is surrounded by enemies, a fact that forces us to maintain a strong military and have compulsory military service.
While I have met members of the Bulgarian Jewish community in Israel, I don't really interact with them.
Did you present your book (Valley of Thracians) and where?
I tried, unsuccessfully, to find a literary agent and a publisher for Valley of Thracians, In the end, I self-published it in January 2013. I did have some success promoting the book, although not financial success, and this is something I did entirely on my own.
Somewhere I read that you did not like in Bulgaria “the heavy smoking and the poor infrastructure”. How these problems are solved in Israel?
In Israel, infrastructure is very well-developed and the health care is excellent. Part of the reason is foreign assistance, which helps pay for the Israeli military, and another reason is donations from abroad. Still, there is much to improve in Israel, including the education system.
When I first came to Israel, people smoked everywhere - on buses, in movie theaters. Luckily there has been a strong movement to ensure that all citizens can live in a smoke-free environment. In addition, while use of drugs is outlawed in Israel, Israel is on the forefront of medical cannabis research and use. Israel is also a world leader in high tech innovation and startups.
You said in the acknowledgements “Bulgaria is an amazing country”. Why? How can we make this known by other people?
I do believe Bulgaria is amazing - and certainly a very affordable destination for western tourists. I hope that through my writing more people will become aware of what Bulgaria has to offer and this will encourage them to visit the country.
Thank you again to Daniela Natcheva and Bulgarians in Detroit!
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June 9, 2017
The American-Born Israeli Who Writes About Bulgaria
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In July 2016, an interview with me appeared on the Foreigners and Friends website. The website was run by my friend Imanuel Marcus and has since merged with The Sofia Globe. The interview appeared shortly after my novel The Burgas Affair was published in Bulgaria (in Bulgarian).
Foreigners and Friends (FF): The fact that "A Burgas Affair" is set in Bulgaria is not a coincidence, right?
It’s not a coincidence at all. The terrorist bombing at Burgas Airport in July 2012 upset me greatly, not just because five Israelis and one Bulgarian were killed in the blast, but also because I never expected that such an attack could occur on Bulgarian soil. Having grown up in Israel I was quite familiar, unfortunately, with suicide bombings, explosions on buses and at marketplaces. In Israel, everyone is very security-conscious, but Bulgaria, I believed, was supposed to be safe territory. I felt this way because I lived in Sofia for two years and never was worried as a foreigner, an Israeli, or as a Jew. And also, I had been to Burgas Airport so I could clearly picture where the bombing took place.
How did you develop your fascination for Bulgaria, a tiny country in south-eastern Europe?
My job in online marketing was relocated to Sofia on a two-year contract in 2009, something that was totally unexpected. I had never previously visited Bulgaria and quite honestly, it was not on my bucket list of travel destinations. My wife and I moved to Sofia and began working in our new jobs, however we utilized our free time on the weekends to begin exploring the country. We became very fascinated with Bulgaria’s history and culture, and fell in love with its nature and picturesque villages. And we were pleasantly surprised by the warm hospitality of Bulgaria’s peoples and made many friends.
An American Israeli writing about Bulgaria. You don't see that kind of thing every day. What have the reactions been so far?
One of the first things I learned about the Bulgarian people is the pride they take in their country. Bulgaria may not be a rich country economically, but it is very rich in nature and the people express a true love for this. When a foreigner writes good things about Bulgaria, it comes to them as a surprise. There are not many foreigners who write about Bulgaria and there are very few authors who set their fiction in Bulgaria. When the Bulgarian media writes about me, they emphasize the fact that I am a foreigner who writes favorably about Bulgaria. I see myself, in a way, as an ambassador of Bulgaria and if my writing manages to introduce the country to people all over the world, I will have achieved my goal.
It gets even better: You have actually written another novel, which is set in Bulgaria: "Valley of Thracians". What is that one about?
During the two years we lived in Bulgaria, my wife and I visited many museums, archaeological sites, and ancient burial tombs. I began to learn about the Thracians, the warrior tribes that ruled the Balkans before the Romans came. I guess the entire time I was conducting research for my first book, although I didn’t want to write a historical novel.
In my mind I came up with an idea. What would happen if a foreigner, let’s say an American volunteering in the Peace Corps, went missing in Bulgaria? Who would go looking for him? And more importantly to me as an author, how could I connect this plot line with my desire to write about the Thracians?
The result was a mix of suspense with “travel fiction”, which introduced readers to Bulgaria, its ancient history and modern day culture.
Your second novel was published in Bulgarian, while the first one is available in English. Are there plans to add an English version to the second and a Bulgarian version to the first?
It came to me as quite a surprise that “A Burgas Affair” made its world premiere in Bulgarian, as I have yet to find a publisher to publish an English language edition. I wrote the book in English and its target audience is English language readers, yet the book is set in both Bulgaria and Israel, so no doubt readers in those countries will enjoy reading it. I think, as mentioned before, the whole premise of foreigners writing favorably about their country is something that fascinates Bulgarians.
Many Bulgarians read “Valley of Thracians” in English and enjoyed it, and some of them sent me corrections, saying that I had incorrectly described the process of making rakia, for example. I hope one day to see this novel translated into Bulgarian.
You have traveled Bulgaria extensively. Which part has fascinated you most?
It is quite likely that I have seen more of Bulgaria than most Bulgarians, but there are plenty of places I have yet to visit. Each time that my wife and I come back we try to go somewhere new. Last year we traveled to the Rhodopes for the first time and this summer we visited Ruse, although our visit coincided with one of the hottest weekends of the year.
A while back I made a list of my favorite 10 places in Bulgaria, but then I realized that limiting this list was quite impossible so I included 15 places, but even that was not enough. My favorite places include Belogradchik, Koprivshtitsa, Melnik, Nessebar, Plovdiv, Rila Monastery, Sozopol, Veliko Tarnavo, and of course Sofia. One of the best hikes I have ever taken in my life was to the Seven Lakes in the Rila Mountains.
Govorish-li bulgarski?
No, unfortunately not. While I did study Bulgarian during the two years I lived in the country, my work environment was English-speaking so I never really needed to know Bulgarian. On my visits to the country I do try to make use of my pidgin Bulgarian, and usually this is enough to get me where I want to go, and what I want to eat.
Originally published on The Sofia Globe.
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The American Israeli Who Writes About Bulgaria
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In July 2016, an interview with me appeared on the Foreigners and Friends website. The website was run by my friend Imanuel Marcus and has since merged with The Sofia Globe. The interview appeared shortly after my novel The Burgas Affair was published in Bulgaria (in Bulgarian).
Foreigners and Friends (FF): The fact that "A Burgas Affair" is set in Bulgaria is not a coincidence, right?
It’s not a coincidence at all. The terrorist bombing at Burgas Airport in July 2012 upset me greatly, not just because five Israelis and one Bulgarian were killed in the blast, but also because I never expected that such an attack could occur on Bulgarian soil. Having grown up in Israel I was quite familiar, unfortunately, with suicide bombings, explosions on buses and at marketplaces. In Israel, everyone is very security-conscious, but Bulgaria, I believed, was supposed to be safe territory. I felt this way because I lived in Sofia for two years and never was worried as a foreigner, an Israeli, or as a Jew. And also, I had been to Burgas Airport so I could clearly picture where the bombing took place.
How did you develop your fascination for Bulgaria, a tiny country in south-eastern Europe?
My job in online marketing was relocated to Sofia on a two-year contract in 2009, something that was totally unexpected. I had never previously visited Bulgaria and quite honestly, it was not on my bucket list of travel destinations. My wife and I moved to Sofia and began working in our new jobs, however we utilized our free time on the weekends to begin exploring the country. We became very fascinated with Bulgaria’s history and culture, and fell in love with its nature and picturesque villages. And we were pleasantly surprised by the warm hospitality of Bulgaria’s peoples and made many friends.
An American Israeli writing about Bulgaria. You don't see that kind of thing every day. What have the reactions been so far?
One of the first things I learned about the Bulgarian people is the pride they take in their country. Bulgaria may not be a rich country economically, but it is very rich in nature and the people express a true love for this. When a foreigner writes good things about Bulgaria, it comes to them as a surprise. There are not many foreigners who write about Bulgaria and there are very few authors who set their fiction in Bulgaria. When the Bulgarian media writes about me, they emphasize the fact that I am a foreigner who writes favorably about Bulgaria. I see myself, in a way, as an ambassador of Bulgaria and if my writing manages to introduce the country to people all over the world, I will have achieved my goal.
It gets even better: You have actually written another novel, which is set in Bulgaria: "Valley of Thracians". What is that one about?
During the two years we lived in Bulgaria, my wife and I visited many museums, archaeological sites, and ancient burial tombs. I began to learn about the Thracians, the warrior tribes that ruled the Balkans before the Romans came. I guess the entire time I was conducting research for my first book, although I didn’t want to write a historical novel.
In my mind I came up with an idea. What would happen if a foreigner, let’s say an American volunteering in the Peace Corps, went missing in Bulgaria? Who would go looking for him? And more importantly to me as an author, how could I connect this plot line with my desire to write about the Thracians?
The result was a mix of suspense with “travel fiction”, which introduced readers to Bulgaria, its ancient history and modern day culture.
Your second novel was published in Bulgarian, while the first one is available in English. Are there plans to add an English version to the second and a Bulgarian version to the first?
It came to me as quite a surprise that “A Burgas Affair” made its world premiere in Bulgarian, as I have yet to find a publisher to publish an English language edition. I wrote the book in English and its target audience is English language readers, yet the book is set in both Bulgaria and Israel, so no doubt readers in those countries will enjoy reading it. I think, as mentioned before, the whole premise of foreigners writing favorably about their country is something that fascinates Bulgarians.
Many Bulgarians read “Valley of Thracians” in English and enjoyed it, and some of them sent me corrections, saying that I had incorrectly described the process of making rakia, for example. I hope one day to see this novel translated into Bulgarian.
You have traveled Bulgaria extensively. Which part has fascinated you most?
It is quite likely that I have seen more of Bulgaria than most Bulgarians, but there are plenty of places I have yet to visit. Each time that my wife and I come back we try to go somewhere new. Last year we traveled to the Rhodopes for the first time and this summer we visited Ruse, although our visit coincided with one of the hottest weekends of the year.
A while back I made a list of my favorite 10 places in Bulgaria, but then I realized that limiting this list was quite impossible so I included 15 places, but even that was not enough. My favorite places include Belogradchik, Koprivshtitsa, Melnik, Nessebar, Plovdiv, Rila Monastery, Sozopol, Veliko Tarnavo, and of course Sofia. One of the best hikes I have ever taken in my life was to the Seven Lakes in the Rila Mountains.
Govorish-li bulgarski?
No, unfortunately not. While I did study Bulgarian during the two years I lived in the country, my work environment was English-speaking so I never really needed to know Bulgarian. On my visits to the country I do try to make use of my pidgin Bulgarian, and usually this is enough to get me where I want to go, and what I want to eat.
Originally published on The Sofia Globe.
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May 30, 2017
Why Israelis Think Gal Gadot Is Wonderful
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Diana, princess of the Amazons and trained to be an unconquerable warrior, leaves a sheltered island paradise to fight alongside man in a war to end all wars. Diana then discovers her full powers and her true destiny. She is Wonder Woman.
Released this week by Warner Bros. Pictures, the film "Wonder Woman" is directed by Patty Jenkins and is based on characters from DC Comics. The much-anticipated live action superhero film starring Gal Gadot is here at last!
Gal made her film debut in the “Fast & Furious” film franchise but it was her supporting role as Wonder Woman in the 2016 film “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” that put her on center stage. Many viewers said that Gal stole the screen whenever she appeared in that film and her success led to an expansion of the role into the “first live-action movie to feature the most famous and iconic female superhero of all-time.”
The film is already generating favorable reviews from critics and audiences all over the world and it is on a path to blockbuster success. It’s a huge improvement over the 1970s’ television series starring Lynda Carter.
I won’t be rushing to the theaters to see “Wonder Woman” anytime soon. Superhero movies just aren’t my thing. Still, like my fellow Israelis, I am extremely proud of Gal Gadot.
Gal, 32-years-old and a mother of two, is a household name in Israel. Unlike Bar Refaeli, another Israeli exported into the world of supermodels, Gal served for two years in the Israel Defense Forces. Her role in the "Fast and Furious" films was that of an ex-Mossad agent. In other words, she has done a lot, both onscreen and offscreen, on Israel's behalf.
During the 2014 conflict between Israel and Gaza, also known as Operation Protective Edge, Gal posted a photograph on her Facebook page showing herself praying with her daughter Alma.
“I am sending my love and prayers to my fellow Israeli citizens,” she wrote. “Especially to all the boys and girls who are risking their lives protecting my country against the horrific acts conducted by Hamas, who are hiding like cowards behind women and children...We shall overcome!!! Shabbat Shalom! #weareright #freegazafromhamas #stopterror #coexistance #loveidf”
Israelis are proud of Gal Gadot. We wish her all the best as she fights to save humanity in what could be the start of a new film franchise. Wonder Woman is wonderful!
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May 24, 2017
Review of A ‘Horse Walks into a Bar’ by David Grossman
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A man walks into a nightclub. The man has been invited to see the stand-up routine of a well-known, slightly past-his-prime comedian. Sitting down for the performance the man expects an evening of comedy, jokes, one-liners, humorous anecdotes about the comedian’s life. That is not what he gets.In A Horse Walks into a Bar by David Grossman (Jonathan Cape, November 2016), we meet Dovaleh Greenstein as he stands on stage to entertain a mixed audience typical for an Israeli nightclub – couples, soldiers, people out for an evening’s entertainment. At a table in the back is the story’s narrator, Avishai Lazar, a retired judge who knew Dovaleh as a boy. Avishai has since forgotten their childhood experiences and wonders why Dovaleh has invited him to the club.
Dovaleh’s monologue begins. He tells a few jokes but the audience’s response is mostly forced laughter. The jokes just aren’t funny and they’re mixed with personal stories which are hardly amusing. The comedian is far from being comedic. His tales become painful to hear. The audience gets restless; some people stand up to leave the club.
The performance – why won’t it end already? Luckily the novel is short. It reads like a poorly presented joke with a punchline that never comes. At times it seems as if the comedian on stage is daring for his audience to leave, for his readers to put down the book.
What keeps us glued to the page? Is it the reputation of a highly respected Israeli author, now on the shortlist for the Man Booker International Prize? Is it the excellent, flowing translation of Jessica Cohen? Is it the fact that the book is full of Israelisms, humor that only Israelis will fully appreciate? Perhaps we just feel sorry for Dovaleh and don’t want to leave him alone for a minute.
Is this book enjoyable? Not really. Is it worth reading? That will depend on you. Not every member in the audience stays to the end of the performance and many readers won’t reach the book’s conclusion. It is not exactly clear why the very talented Grossman was nominated for the Man Booker prize with this particular novel. The book has received glowing reviews from the critics but many readers will walk away disappointed. I, too, expected something more from this author.
David Grossman is an acclaimed Israeli author of fiction, nonfiction, and children's literature. His works have been translated into more than forty languages. He is the recipient of many prizes including Israel’s Sapir Prize, the French Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, the Buxtehuder Bulle in Germany, and Rome's Premio per la Pace e l'Azione Umanitaria.
Buy A Horse Walks into a Bar and read it now!
Originally posted on The Times of Israel.
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May 17, 2017
Ionia Martin Reviews 'Valley of Thracians'
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This review was posted on the Readful Things Blog in 2013. It was one of the very first reviews of the book!
When I first read the description for this book, I thought “Bulgaria?” That is certainly an unusual setting. It really is, and that, I believe is part of this book’s charm. I get tired of reading stories that are set in the same place over and over. I like it when the author not only uses a different setting than the norm, but also knows something about the setting they choose, and this author clearly does.
The descriptions are beautifully penned. You can see the colours before your eyes and feel the atmosphere as you read. There were actually a couple of passages in this book I went back and read again after finishing, simply because I enjoyed them so much.
This novel has a good flow and a lot of twists and unexpected turns. I liked the plot and was impressed by the way Ellis Shuman took his characters to the extremes of their abilities without losing realism. The adventuresome spirit in me was clapping for his genius. If you think you know what to expect from the beginning, I bet you will be wrong.
This author interweaves a fictional tale with the history and culture of his setting to create an intense, original story with a lot to offer the suspense lover.
There were a couple of places where I felt the author could have let the characters show more through action rather than displaying things through dialogue, but this did not in any way ruin the story for me.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes mystery, thrills and a book that takes you on a serious adventure.
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May 3, 2017
A Pilgrimage to Bulgaria’s Rila Monastery
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Nestled in mountain forests an hour and a half south of Sofia, the Rila Monastery is Bulgaria’s most popular tourist destination. It is the country's largest and most famous Eastern Orthodox monastery, attracting both the faithful and the curious. As a pilgrimage destination, it is known locally as the Jerusalem of Bulgaria.
Jodie and I visited the Rila Monastery on a number of occasions, driving down from Sofia with our visitors from overseas. The monastery made such an impression on me that I staged a pivotal scene from my novel there. Walk through the arched entrance and your eyes will open wide with amazement.
Atop the arches is a row of gargoyles, their details impossible to discern from a distance. A roof of gray interspersed with layers of red-and-white brick extends upward toward additional decorations. Rising above everything is the church’s main dome, one of five topping this unique building.
Beyond the tiled roofs, you can see thick greenery and in the distance, the rough upper peaks of the Rila range, white-peaked during most of the year. The word ‘harmony’ comes to mine. As well as ‘serenity’.
The church has a darkened interior, similar to that of many Eastern Orthodox sanctuaries, and houses many valuable icons. At the three altars and in the two side chapels the faithful light candles, intermingle with the black-robed, bearded priests.
The monastery is named after the hermit Ivan of Rila. Founded in the 10th century and located a short distance from the cave where he lived an ascetic life, the monastery has been destroyed and rebuilt repeatedly over the centuries. The monastery played a major role preserving the Bulgarian language and culture during the years of Ottoman rule. The present-day structure dates to the 1800s. During Bulgaria's fight for independence from the Turks in the 1870s, it served as a hideout for the country's heroic revolutionaries. Rila Monastery was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.
The Rila complex includes a museum housing the monastery’s most sacred treasure - Raphael's Cross. This finely carved wood crucifix with 36 miniature scenes from the Bible was created over the course of many years until completed in 1802 when Father Raphael, for whom it is named, lost his sight.
There are a number of ways to get to the Rila Monastery. The drive south from Sofia is on well-maintained highways and the turnoff to the village of Rila and the monastery beyond is clearly marked. Regular bus service from the capital is infrequent, though, but there are day tours, some of them a bit expensive. As the Rila Mountains are a popular hiking destination, the adventurous can combine a trek with a monastery visit.
It is possible to stay overnight at the monastery in austere, monastic rooms, but these are primarily geared to pilgrims wishing to spend more time at the site. Due to its proximity to Sofia, a day trip is certainly sufficient for a visit. If you’re on a short business trip, or a holiday in the Bulgarian capital, it’s worth making a pilgrimage to see the Rila Monastery.
Related article:
Scenes from Valley of Thracians: Rila
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April 27, 2017
Review of What to Do About the Solomons by Bethany Ball
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The first thing you’ll notice when opening the pages of
What to Do About the Solomons
by Bethany Ball (Atlantic Monthly Press, April 2017) is the Solomon family tree. You may end up referring to this tree frequently as one character after another is introduced. After all, this is a multi-generational family drama starring Yakov Solomon, his children and his grandchildren. It’s a bit confusing at first, until you get to know them all.Yakov – “a real sabra, born in Israel seventy-five years ago. He’d gone to school with Rabin, supped with Barak, was the guest of the kings of Jordan and Morocco” – is the founding member of a Jordan Valley kibbutz who has built a very successful construction company. Yakov is married to the “beautiful and worldly” Algerian-born Vivienne. Heartbroken when her non-Jewish boyfriend fails to follow her to Palestine, she brazenly states, “I will never love you, Yakov Solomon!”
Yet the couple raise five children and the novel follows this second generation and their offspring. There is Marc, the Israeli naval commando who moved to Los Angeles only to find his asset management firm accused of a vast money laundering scheme. Marc’s sister Shira is a self-absorbed movie actress whose career is more important than caring for Joseph, the 11-year-old son she leaves to fend for himself in Jerusalem while she travels with her actor friend Ayelet.
Vivienne says to her husband, “Yakov, you were the one who said, ‘Keep the seeds in your pocket and give it to the birds one by one.’” To which Yakov responds, “Keep the birds close so they don’t fly away.” Yakov doesn’t entirely feel affection for his offspring. “I’m done with Guy Gever and all the rest of them! I should have cut them off years ago... Offer them a finger and they want the whole hand!”
The children return home to see Yakov one last time and to claim their share of what he built. The kibbutz is the stage for their interaction; its founding is portrayed with rose-tinted nostalgia. “The kibbutzniks were the new Jews ... they belonged to no God, but only the collective and the land that was historically theirs.” For Yakov, “The kibbutz was a raw factory of human survival.”
What to do about these Solomons, who return to their roots even as they continue to grow apart? Leave it to the talented author to paint a picture rich in unique character descriptions and very observant of Israeli culture. We are drawn into the Solomons’ lives, into their loves and losses, into their ups and downs. For the Solomons it is “Yom asal, yom basal” - “One day honey, the next day onions.” For us as readers, the Solomons’ story is pure enjoyment.
Bethany Ball was born in Detroit and has lived in Santa Fe, New Jersey, Miami, and Israel. She now lives in New York with her family. What to Do About the Solomons is her debut novel.
Originally posted on The Times of Israel.
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April 17, 2017
The Magnificent Bahá'í Gardens of Akko, Israel
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On the slopes of Mt. Carmel, overlooking Haifa Bay, is a small, but very impressive golden dome. This is the Shrine of the Bab, a mausoleum that is the second holiest Bahá'í site. Looking down from the scenic viewpoint on Yafe Nof Street you see the eighteen monumental terraces, the domed shrine, the lower city, the port, and the Mediterranean coast all the way north to Rosh Hanikra.
Israel is known to be sacred to the three major monotheistic religions so it comes as a bit of a surprise to find it central to the Bahá'í faith as well. Who are the Bahá'í and what is their connection to Israel, and to the Haifa area in particular?
A visit to the Shrine of the Bab, or at least a walk on its winding pedestrian pathways, is a must on a stopover in Haifa. The shrine’s mausoleum houses the remains of the Bab, a Persian merchant believed to be an independent messenger of God. In 1844 he announced the imminent appearance of an even more important messenger – Bahá'u'lláh.
Both the Bab and Bahá'u'lláh, the founder of the Baha’i Faith, were persecuted in Persia for their religious teachings. The Bab was publicly martyred in 1850 while Bahá'u'lláh was exiled to Akko in 1868. He was imprisoned by the Ottomans and lived in an estate near the city.
The Shrine of Bahá'u'lláh is next to the building on the estate where he lived until his death in 1892. This small unpretentious structure is holier to the Bahá'í than Haifa’s prominent golden landmark. Outside the shrine are magnificent gardens set in a beautiful oasis of serenity. Visitors are encouraged to stroll through the gardens and marvel at the greenery. It is a perfect setting for quiet prayer and meditation.
With its roots in the Holy Land, the Baha’i live in mutual respect with the State of Israel. The religion does not recruit or accept Israelis and none of the nearly 700 volunteers who serve at the Baha’i World Centre are from Israel. The Baha’i Faith is considered one of the fastest growing religions in the world and its members fund the maintenance of the gardens on Mt. Carmel and in Akko.
The Shrine of Bahá'u'lláh gardens are located near Akko just off the main road north to Nahariya. The gardens are open to the public from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, Friday through Monday, while the shrine itself closes at noon on those days. There is no entry fee. Guests should dress modestly.
Originally posted on The Huffington Post.
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On the slopes of Mt. Carmel, overlooking Haifa Bay, is a small, but very impressive golden dome. This is the Shrine of the Bab, a mausoleum that is the second holiest Bahá'í site. Looking down from the scenic viewpoint on Yafe Nof Street you see the eighteen monumental terraces, the domed shrine, the lower city, the port, and the Mediterranean coast all the way north to Rosh Hanikra.
Israel is known to be sacred to the three major monotheistic religions so it comes as a bit of a surprise to find it central to the Bahá'í faith as well. Who are the Bahá'í and what is their connection to Israel, and to the Haifa area in particular?
A visit to the Shrine of the Bab, or at least a walk on its winding pedestrian pathways, is a must on a stopover in Haifa. The shrine’s mausoleum houses the remains of the Bab, a Persian merchant believed to be an independent messenger of God. In 1844 he announced the imminent appearance of an even more important messenger – Bahá'u'lláh.
Both the Bab and Bahá'u'lláh, the founder of the Baha’i Faith, were persecuted in Persia for their religious teachings. The Bab was publicly martyred in 1850 while Bahá'u'lláh was exiled to Akko in 1868. He was imprisoned by the Ottomans and lived in an estate near the city.
The Shrine of Bahá'u'lláh is next to the building on the estate where he lived until his death in 1892. This small unpretentious structure is holier to the Bahá'í than Haifa’s prominent golden landmark. Outside the shrine are magnificent gardens set in a beautiful oasis of serenity. Visitors are encouraged to stroll through the gardens and marvel at the greenery. It is a perfect setting for quiet prayer and meditation.
With its roots in the Holy Land, the Baha’i live in mutual respect with the State of Israel. The religion does not recruit or accept Israelis and none of the nearly 700 volunteers who serve at the Baha’i World Centre are from Israel. The Baha’i Faith is considered one of the fastest growing religions in the world and its members fund the maintenance of the gardens on Mt. Carmel and in Akko.
The Shrine of Bahá'u'lláh gardens are located near Akko just off the main road north to Nahariya. The gardens are open to the public from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, Friday through Monday, while the shrine itself closes at noon on those days. There is no entry fee. Guests should dress modestly.
Originally posted on The Huffington Post.
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