Israel Book Shop presents Chapter 2 of a new online serial novel, Nine A.M., by Esther Rapaport. Check back for a new chapter every week.  Click here for previous chapters.

Copyright © Israel Bookshop Publications. 

In a harsh and bitter world,

In a dreadful world,

I found for myself a citadel;

I found a place.

(Translated from Hungarian)

Everyone was familiar with Leo Sherer’s poignant song, even if it didn’t appear in any one of the monthly journals that he published. It was likely that the Samson Lager directors had also heard about it somehow, and they chose to ignore it. Leo was an asset for them, and while officially they didn’t allow the words “dreadful world” to be used under any circumstances, this song was complimentary for them.

There was good reason to compliment, to be sure. Babbe Sara Liba spoke often about the past, which included dreadful brutality, fear and death, and forced labor for eighteen hours a day. Here, all work ended by eight in the evening, and by nine o’clock, everyone was obligated to be in their homes. Woe to anyone who was found outside.

Israel Book Shop presents Chapter 1 of a new online serial novel, Nine A.M., by Esther Rapaport. Check back for a new chapter every week.  Click here for previous chapters.

Copyright © Israel Bookshop Publications. 

A sign hung on the bulletin board at the entrance to the store:

At the conclusion of the period of mourning for the Cosmos-Fuhrer, all the residents of the camp will gather in his memory on Tuesday, the 4^th of May, at seven in the evening. As per the request of Rabbiner Schwartzbrod, two separate gatherings will be held, one in the sewing room for the women and one in the factory hall for the men.

Work will stop at 6:30 p.m. on this day. Vouchers for sugar and white flour will be given to those who deliver appropriate speeches.

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“It’s a good thing they don’t expect me to sit shivah for him!” Only Naomi’s lips moved as she uttered the words, while staring at the retreating back of Hauptmann (Captain) Katarina, who had hung up the sign.

“Shhh….” Elky replied as she scrubbed the counter. A bell rang, and the two girls picked up speed. In five minutes, their daily work hours at the store would come to an end.

“Just don’t tell my grandmother a word about the vouchers for sugar and flour.” Naomi bent over the narrow fridge and arranged the milk bottles. “It will take her back in time, to those dark days in Poland fifty years ago—you know, when the authorities promised a kilogram of sugar or flour as a prize for helping them out….” She fell silent.

Israel Book Shop presents Chapter 86 of a new online serial novel, Outside the Bubble, by Esther Rapaport. Check back for a new chapter every week.  Click here for previous chapters.

Copyright © Israel Bookshop Publications. 

“And they’ve been at Shimon Weisskopf’s in Boro Park for a week already, recovering.” Hinda concluded the story as she conducted a little tour of the small apartment in Bnei Brak.

“That’s amazing…a real suspense story! Does your uncle feel better now?”

“Yes. And he’s had tests done at a hospital in New York to make sure there’s no neurological damage. He apparently did sustain a real blow to the head, and then, for a long time, they stuffed him with substances that dulled his senses and disoriented him… But he was released after three days in the hospital, and while he’ll need some follow-up, he’s definitely stable.”

“How long is he staying in America?”

Israel Book Shop presents Chapter 85 of a new online serial novel, Outside the Bubble, by Esther Rapaport. Check back for a new chapter every week.  Click here for previous chapters.

Copyright © Israel Bookshop Publications. 

When Shimon Weisskopf arrived on the scene, things progressed much more smoothly than expected. He walked into the emergency room building with a tall, broad fellow, whose confident stride elicited respect, despite the fact that at his side was a little girl, with her hand tucked into his.

The six-year-old girl skipped ahead and tried to pull the man—who seemed to be her father—forward at her pace. “Where is he?” she called as she looked in every direction. “Where is Mike?”

Michoel Perl gave Shimon a warm slap on the back. “Ah, you’re here!” he said, and looked behind him at the hospital room. “It took you quite a long time, huh? We made up to meet half a year ago or so!”

“Not exactly,” Shimon corrected him. “You said then that you’ll consider whether or not to keep me employed.”

“Oh, that’s right. So, I decided that I want to keep employing you!”

Israel Book Shop presents Chapter 84 of a new online serial novel, Outside the Bubble, by Esther Rapaport. Check back for a new chapter every week.  Click here for previous chapters.

Copyright © Israel Bookshop Publications. 

“What did he tell you?”

“Nothing special,” Mike repeated for the fourth time. “He wanted to hear what had happened to his uncle, that’s all.”

“And where does he have a phone from?” Rob looked at the phone in his hand. The last call had ended the minute he’d tried to find out who was on the other end, and all his efforts to call the person back had been futile.

“I don’t know. I guess someone gave it to him.”

“There are only four calls here, and they are all to the same number. Who was he speaking to?”

“I don’t know,” Mike insisted.

“It’s a shame you’re not telling me everything, Mike. Dr. Jerry won’t be very pleased about this.”

Israel Book Shop presents Chapter 83 of a new online serial novel, Outside the Bubble, by Esther Rapaport. Check back for a new chapter every week.  Click here for previous chapters.

Copyright © Israel Bookshop Publications. 

Martin left the emergency room building. He wouldn’t be foolish enough to head for the hospital entrance; it would be too easy for them to locate him, if that was what they would try to do. Instead, he ran on the sidewalk and turned into the next building in the row, a six-story building with a huge sign informing that it was the Pediatric Department. He confidently pushed open the door, colored in varying hues of pink and green, and walked inside.

He had to make contact with Weisskopf, to warn him. There was no way to know what they were doing now with his phone, and if Shimon had figured out what had happened, or if he was pouring too much information into Rob’s ears at this very minute, which could be dangerous.

Israel Book Shop presents Chapter 82 of a new online serial novel, Outside the Bubble, by Esther Rapaport. Check back for a new chapter every week.  Click here for previous chapters.

Copyright © Israel Bookshop Publications. 

“Move to Bnei Brak? It’s actually a nice idea,” Yosef said to his mother and Dov. “We’ll be able to visit each other. Hey, can I offer you a drink?”

“Thank you, I’d appreciate that,” Dov replied as he looked around the room. “You know, the ward here is very nice.”

“It is,” Yosef agreed. “I was thinking that it’s better for you that I’m not around all the time.”

“It’s nice when you’re home.”

“And it’s nice when I’m not,” Yosef said with a chuckle. “I have brains, you know.”

“Your mother never said otherwise.”

Israel Book Shop presents Chapter 81 of a new online serial novel, Outside the Bubble, by Esther Rapaport. Check back for a new chapter every week.  Click here for previous chapters.

Copyright © Israel Bookshop Publications. 

“Mike.” Dr. Skulholt addressed the young man, his tone strident. “Come outside with me now. I want to speak to you.”

Mike dutifully followed him out of the room. The psychiatrist chose one of the red chairs opposite the door and pointed to the seat beside him.

“Pray with your uncle in the meantime,” Rob instructed Martin, who had remained in the room. He glanced nervously toward the corridor. “Wait a minute, you aren’t putting on your boxes? Why did you bring them?”

“To pray together with my uncle, obviously,” Martin said hastily, and opened his tefillin bag. Something in the psychiatrist’s expression was making him nervous. Had Shimon Weisskopf managed to get here already? Had he tried to interfere in the healing center’s affairs in a way that had aroused the man’s suspicions? He hoped not. Shimon had seemed like the cautious and measured type.

Israel Book Shop presents Chapter 80 of a new online serial novel, Outside the Bubble, by Esther Rapaport. Check back for a new chapter every week.  Click here for previous chapters.

Copyright © Israel Bookshop Publications. 

“The house is so empty…” Dov said late one evening, as they sat in the living room, where the large window faced the sea. Hinda raised her eyes from the plans she was working on.

“Mmm?” she said. Dov was the busy type. He was constantly going, coming, speaking; just five minutes ago, he had finished a conference call with three of his daughters.

Hinda hadn’t listened to the conversation—she couldn’t do more than one thing at a time—but she was able to hear some of the exchanges, and Dov had been laughing, sounding full of life and interest. At the end of the conversation, they’d seemed to be discussing a very interesting shidduch that Yael was working on between her sister-in-law and Chevy’s brother-in-law, though he hadn’t told her—Hinda—about it at all.

She was fine with that. He didn’t have to tell her everything that went on between him and his daughters. And often, he did tell her interesting details from their conversations. Maybe it wasn’t good that she worked during the evening hours, when he was home.

Israel Book Shop presents Chapter 79 of a new online serial novel, Outside the Bubble, by Esther Rapaport. Check back for a new chapter every week.  Click here for previous chapters.

Copyright © Israel Bookshop Publications. 

“My uncle’s been injured? I don’t understand.”

“No, he hasn’t been injured, Josef—I told you, he just collapsed in the street,” Rob said. He hadn’t noticed the small cell phone that made its way into “Josef’s” pocket a second before Rob had opened the door. Not a safe place at all, but that’s what Martin could do for now.

“How do people just collapse in the street?”

“Maybe he didn’t feel well or something,” Rob suggested. “Or his brain injury suddenly returned.”

Martin rubbed his cheek with his palm. “And he’s in the hospital now?”

“Yes.”

“Why didn’t they bring him here? This is also a hospital of sorts.”

“Yes, but not for physical injuries of that type, especially when the people who were there already called an ambulance…it’s a little complicated to explain. Later on, when he is discharged, he will be able to come back here for continuing treatment until he is completely healthy.”