Ellis Shuman's Blog, page 5

The Story of Bulgarian Jewry I Was Compelled to Tell

March 1943. Bulgarian authorities prepare to deport 20,000Jews from Bulgaria, expelling thousands from their homes in Sofia and sendingthem to the countryside. Held in detention camps, they fear they will meet thesame fate as the 11,343 Jews from the Bulgarian-occupied territories of Thraceand Macedonia who were sent to their deaths in the Nazi concentration camps.

And yet, despite Bulgaria's being aligned with the Nazis, despitethe yellow stars the Jews wore on their clothing and the loss of theirbusinesses and homes, and despite their men being sent to forced labor camps, theentire Bulgarian Jewish community survived the war. Who saved Bulgaria’s Jews?Did Tsar Boris III, who had originally approved the deportation orders, have alast-minute change of heart? Or can the rescue of Bulgarian Jewry be creditedto the brave politicians who confronted the antisemitic government, and alongwith renowned members of the clergy and ordinary citizens, called for theorders to be stopped?

This is a story that has fascinated me ever since I firstlearned of it while living in Sofia on a two-year relocation contract. My jobin an online marketing company was temporarily positioned in the Bulgariancapital, and my wife and I made the most of our Bulgarian adventure.

Bulgaria is a beautiful country

Bulgaria is blessed with thick green forests, toweringmountains, sandy and rocky seashores, and an abundance of fresh water.Bulgaria’s villages are picturesque, and the country’s culture and traditionsare on colorful display everywhere you go. Bulgaria is a secular country, butone with a high regard for its religious heritage. Monasteries gladly welcomepilgrims and visitors. Today, incidents of antisemitism are rare.

One of the first places we visited was Sofia’s stunningsynagogue, the third largest in Europe. Built to accommodate some 1,300worshippers, the building's main chandelier is the largest in the country. Weattended the synagogue’s 100th year anniversary celebrations, and I sat a fewrows behind Bulgaria’s president at the impressive ceremony held in the centralhall. We were guests at the community's Passover Seder, reading from a Haggadahthat was written in both Hebrew and Bulgarian.

Most of Bulgaria’s Jewish community made Aliyah shortlyafter Israel’s independence and today the country’s Jewish population numbersonly a few thousand, most of it assimilated. Bulgarian Jews in Israel look backfondly on their homeland, and I was blessed to having lived for a short time intheir country.

My heart was still in Bulgaria

Back home in Israel, I could not stop thinking of myexperiences. My heart was still in Bulgaria. I found I could return to thecountry every day in my writing. I began publishing travel reports, encouragingtourists to visit, and I turned to Bulgaria in my fiction as well, writing twosuspense novels set in the country.

But there was one story I was compelled to tell, and thatwas the story of Bulgarian Jewry during World War Two. I am not a writer ofhistorical fiction, yet I eagerly dived into my research. I interviewedjournalists and historians; I surveyed friends and acquaintances. I sat forhours in the library at Yad Vashem, and read the testimonies of Jews who hadlived in Bulgaria during those years. I wondered how could I accurately relate thehistorical incidents of this incredible story.

The result of my research is my short story, ‘Forgiveness’. Inthe story, an Israeli man is invited to a small village in the RhodopeMountains to meet an elderly man, a veteran of the Bulgarian army during thewar. The Israeli learns that his grandfather and this Bulgarian were once bestfriends. While the grandfather was sent to the Bulgarian labor camps with thethreat of deportation and death hanging over his family’s heads, the Bulgarianserved in the occupied territories, playing a role in the expulsion of Jewsfrom their homes and their transportation to the death camps.

Two sides to what happened, presented in fiction. Feedbackhas been positive, although there were those who pointed out inaccuracies in mywriting. A train leaving Macedonia could not possibly have made its way throughSofia. A fire in a detention camp could not have been ignited by partisans. Butmore importantly, I hadn’t emphasized the special relation Bulgaria had withits Jewish citizens.

There is something unique in Bulgaria, a country in whichJews have lived and felt welcome for centuries. I learned all this and more duringmy brief stay in Sofia. I hope I have done justice to Bulgaria for rescuing itsJews. And, that I have paid respect to the Jews of Thrace and Macedonia whodidn’t survive.

The story 'Forgiveness' is included in my new book, Rakiya– Stories of Bulgaria. The book's twelve short stories are told inthe voices of both native Bulgarians and foreigners, visiting Bulgaria for thefirst time. In the book I hope to share the country's history, culture,traditions and natural wonders, and of course, the remarkable story of howBulgarian Jewry survived the Holocaust. It’s a story that I needed to tell.

Originally posted on The Times of Israel.

"I was captivated and intrigued where the next story may take me"

"This is a razor sharp and powerful short story collecting. Weaving real historical events, with the author's adoration for the country, this is a wonderful collection and tribute to Bulgaria."

- Goodreads review

"To Venice" - short story

I meet her on the vaporetto.

“First time in Venice?” she asks.

“Yes. I’m scouting out locations for a new film,” I reply, but then immediately regret revealing too much information. I stand near the rail, glancing at the warehouses on the waterfront as our water bus speeds toward its docking at St. Mark’s Square. I turn back to her. “What about you?”

“I’ve been here several times before,” she says. “But I keep returning.”

“I detect a British accent.”

“London.” She covers her mouth and coughs, and then says, “Born and raised there. And you? American, no doubt.”

“New York. Born and raised there.”

This makes her laugh. For the first time, I take a good look at her. Fortyish, I assume, perhaps a few years younger than me. Tall, slim, with a very pleasant face and brownish hair held tight in a youthful ponytail. Casual slacks and blouse, slightly more elegant than my own blue jeans and T-shirt emblazoned with ‘Italy’ on a tricolor flag. No wedding ring noticeable, which makes me subconsciously cover mine. Then, realizing I’m staring, I turn away, glancing at the other passengers on the morning boat ride.

Read the rest of the story on Libre.

"Many of these stories are emotional and heartfelt"

"I had never heard of Rakiya before, but I became quicklyacquainted with the knowledge that it’s a type of alcohol, or fruit spirits.Rakiya is consistently present in this short story collection. It is either themain focus of the story, as in the story titled, Rakiya, or briefly mentionedas a modest character. This book contains an impressive 12 short stories.

"I am grateful for the opportunity to read and review Rakiya. Ellis Shuman is a talentedstoryteller who eloquently brought Bulgaria and its characters to life. Many ofthese stories are emotional and heartfelt. I appreciate learning about thisbeautiful country and its history. "

Read the full review on A Book and A Dog

"Enjoyed my introduction to Bulgaria and can highly recommend"

"I have never visited Bulgariaand I was intrigued when I read another review for this collection by thepromise of great characters, historical elements and wonderful writing.

"My expectations were met as I readthe stories covering not just the history and culture of Bulgaria and itscountrymen and women, but how strong and resilient they have had to be acrosstheir long and sometimes turbulent history."

Read the full review on Smorgasbord Book Reviews

"Place becomes almost like another character"

"Rakiya: Stories of Bulgaria give us a glimpse into the history, culture, politics, people, and traditions of Bulgaria with the most extraordinary characters and settings.

"Shuman vividly portrays Bulgaria in all its richness and beauty, the gorgeous baked goods and winning drinks whilst also showing its flaws and hardships.

"Wonderful stories."

Read the full review on Goodreads.

"I wish Ellis could continue his beautiful storytelling."

"I thoroughly enjoyed this book and was sad to see it end. I wish Ellis could continue his beautiful storytelling.

"They say books help you travel the world from the comforts of your home and with Rakiya: Stories of Bulgaria this saying is totally achievable.

"Each story was well-researched, and the characters were engaging. Choosing my favorites wasn’t possible, as each story was special in itself."

Read the full review on Chapter Chats With Caroline.

Interview with me - Lisa Haselton Book Reviews & Interviews

"I lived in Sofia, Bulgaria, for two years. In addition to exploring the country, I learned the story of how Bulgarian Jewry survived the Holocaust. I knew that when I began writing short stories set in Bulgaria, I wanted to include a story about this period in Bulgarian history. I am not a writer of historical fiction, so I approached this subject in a different way. The story is 'Forgiveness.'"

Read the full interview on Lisa Haselton Book Reviews & Interviews.

My books is being read in Nigeria!

Thanks to Obiahu Blessing Chidiebere for publishing a wonderful review on D'Lit Review!

https://dlitreview.com/rakiya-ellis-shuman-book-review/

Enjoyable and Interesting Collection

This collection of short stories about Bulgaria was very interesting, and I recommend reading the acknowledgements as it includes distinctions between historical facts and fiction.

A few of the tales showed the same characters crossing paths with each other, and it was neat to switch POVs and explore their lives in more detail in other stories. The tone of the stories varied, keeping me engaged to read more than one at a time.

“The Volcano” and “The Cave” were haunting tales, full of tension and eeriness, and the ending of “The Bear” was unexpected.

“Forgiveness” was a very emotional, complex, and tragic story about two childhood friends that ended up on opposite sides during WWII. It was thought-provoking and heartbreaking, and honored lives lost by sharing lesser-known history. After such a heavy piece, I was grateful to read the final tale, which was lighter and tied multiple characters together from previous stories, giving me a sense of resolution.

Overall, this was an enjoyable and interesting collection.

ARC provided by the author. Opinions are my own.
Originally posted on Goodreads.