Three quick things this week:
- In a bout of insomnia, I started to think about a matchmaker’s photo postcard of my grandfather in front of his Newark grocery. The card is made out to “Miss Belous” in East Harlem, New York City. I am now sleuthing who was this “Miss Belous” and figure out the year of the card. His sister had married Ber Belous, so this might be a niece.
- I am officially a Ph.D. candidate in Holocaust & Genocide Studies at Gratz College. I became “ABD” (All But Dissertation) last week.
- I’m gearing up to work on revisions of my bio in verse and an academic book chapter this weekend. For the former, I’m gathering up my mentor texts like Eleanor by Gray Jacobik, White Blood: A Lyric of Virginia, by Kiki Petrosino, and Exuberance, by Dolores Hayden.
Be safe and take care.
The Whole Megillah 
Kudos on your doctoral program, Barbara!! My best, Sarah
Sarah Lamstein http://www.sarahlamstein.com
Thanks, Sarah! On to the dissertation!
Barbara, congrats on becoming an official PhD candidate at Gratz. I was just looking at their program last night. I think that Tziporah Weinberg from the Five Towns may be in the same program. She’s also a local rebbetzin like me.
As you may remember, I was in a Highlights Foundation Conference several years ago on Jewish books. You made some good suggestions for my middle grade work on escaping during the Hungarian Revolution. I am finally getting back to it and am developing my outline and incorporating a student protester. I know you have been actively involved in history of this period and will probably consult you later in the process. Can you recommend some mentor texts for now. (It will be historical fiction.
Thanks, Faigie. I remember you well!
I think Katherine Locke has a book about the Hungarian Revolution, This Rebel Heart, but it’s part fantasy. This has not been a popular topic in kids’ books. There is some adult historical fiction and memoir. Most memorable is James Michener’s Bridge at Andau.
Mazal Tov on the official PhD cadidacy! Best wishes, Arlene
Thanks so much, Arlene!
Hi Barb,
Is a matchmakers postcard, a photo given to prospective suitors? Quite a find!
I wrote a short story about my grandfather visiting my girlfriend’s mother one afternoon and breaking the news at the dinner table. My Mom was appalled, but Old World culture was different, was it not?
Much congrats on your completion of coursework towards your PHD. I’m sure you have been working on chapters of the dissertation for years.
Hi, Steve,
Yes, think of the Sylvia Miles character in the Crossing Delancey movie.
Thanks for your kind words about my PhD progress. Still a lot of work ahead of me!