Israel Book Shop presents Chapter 39 of a new online serial novel, Dance of the Puppet, by Esther Rapaport. Check back for a new chapter every week. Click here for previous chapters. 

Copyright © Israel Bookshop Publications. 

The Zol Lakol supermarket was advertising one of its big sale bashes. Yaffa didn’t know exactly how it happened, but somehow, Yael Braun managed to drag her there at the end of a long workday. Towers of cans and packages of pasta were a bit of a strange backdrop for a conversation between them, and Yaffa suspected that Yael’s goal was to speak to her informally, out of the confines of the school. The two of them walked around with a single cart, which Yael had succeeded in finagling at the entrance with difficulty, as dozens of customers vied for every available cart. So far, all it contained was a package of microwave French fries for Elchanan and two bottles of oil that Yael had taken.

“These prices are really good,” Yael remarked. Then, casually, she added, “You know that Malka spoke to me today?”

“Wow, how unusual.” Yaffa chuckled.

“Actually it is a bit unusual, because we haven’t been talking much lately.”

“Why?” Yaffa grew serious. “Is she upset at you? It’s one thing if she’s angry at me, but at you?”

“I don’t know if it’s anger or discomfort. It’s clear that she suspects that I had a part in the whole thing with Mimi, and even if the idea wasn’t mine, that I actively supported it.”

“That’s not true.”

“Try telling her that.” Yael sighed and rummaged around in a huge bin of plastic plates. Keep Reading…

Israel Book Shop presents Chapter 38 of a new online serial novel, Dance of the Puppet, by Esther Rapaport. Check back for a new chapter every week. Click here for previous chapters. 

Copyright © Israel Bookshop Publications. 

“I told you, Menashe,” Mati fumed, “I should have neutralized your son. Our Ehud smelled something, tucked his tail between his legs, and ran. Isn’t it a shame to lose such a good worker?”

“Others will come just like he came,” Menashe said coldly, clasping his hands together on the glass surface of the desk. “My Amnon didn’t do anything, as far as I’m concerned. He was here, heard details that interested him, and—well, and it’s not my business what he did with them. You and I have other things to deal with.”

“Yes, but the question is if Ehud won’t start sniffing around about our other enterprises.” Mati rubbed his hand on the desk. “Because if he does, then what will you say?”

“He won’t sniff around and won’t find anything, the fool.” Menashe laughed. “It will be fine, Mati. Let’s move on. We’ll find other sources.”

“Antiques?”

“Why not? I know the field, and Korman helps us with information.”

“Don’t you think we’ve been burned for good now?” Mati waved the thick receipt book in Menashe’s face.

“Not at all. We’ll change names and move on.” Keep Reading…

Israel Book Shop presents Chapter 37 of a new online serial novel, Dance of the Puppet, by Esther Rapaport. Check back for a new chapter every week. Click here for previous chapters. 

Copyright © Israel Bookshop Publications. 

“Listen, Mister,” Moishe Berman growled. “I have no time for jokes. Go find someone else to play a trick on.”

“It’s not a joke. I am Ehud, the agent for Moreshet, and I would like very much to know why you are accusing me of theft, and what other deception you were referring to in your letter.”

Moishe hesitated. “I’m talking about the theft of Mrs. Wolkovsky’s esrog box,” he said finally. “For years, no one knew that the family had this valuable artifact in its possession. You were invited to give an estimate on its worth—and right after that, it was stolen. Just then, your ads disappeared from the paper and your phone is permanently switched off. You’ll agree with me, Mr. Ehud, or whatever your name is, that it’s very suspicious.”

“Very suspicious.” At home, Elchanan rubbed his fingers on the pages of the newspaper. “And what’s the second incident?”

“You bought a letter worth nearly six thousand dollars for pennies from a guy named Weiner. He discovered the letter for sale for an even higher sum at an antiques dealer. So, while it’s true that in this case, you didn’t really break a law, this kind of behavior exposes you as a swindler who extorts valuable items from innocent people.”

“I hear.”

“Maybe we should hear a bit from you, now—what do you say?” Moishe made signs of doubt to Nosson, who was about to leave. He hadn’t ruled out the possibility that the caller was an imposter looking for a bit of fun. “Would you want to meet with us?” Keep Reading…

Israel Book Shop presents Chapter 36 of a new online serial novel, Dance of the Puppet, by Esther Rapaport. Check back for a new chapter every week. Click here for previous chapters. 

Copyright © Israel Bookshop Publications. 

Moishe Berman protested that, “It’s not necessary,” and that, “I didn’t do anything yet,” and although he was right, Nosson insisted on pressing a few bills into his hand, for his efforts.

“Because of you, we know that we did whatever we could at this point,” Nosson said. “We’ve had Brutney interrogated by the police, and now we see that our only option is to find Ehud. True, it’s more complicated than it seemed at first, but… By the way, do you believe them that it isn’t Brutney?”

“I think so. He was questioned by a top-notch interrogator, and the interrogator clearly specified in his report that the person is completely innocent. It’s not always the unsavory-looking characters who are the thieves, you know.”

“And it’s not clear that the nice-looking guy was the thief, but…”

“But there is a big chance that he is,” Moishe said. “And I haven’t yet given up on finding him, even if at Pelephone his number is registered under a name of someone who has never been born, and no one knows what we want.”

“And you spoke very strongly to them.”

“Very,” Moishe said dejectedly. “They really couldn’t help me. The number is listed under the name of someone Gideon Streicher from Eilat, who was born in 1962. The Interior Ministry has no records of such a person, or even someone with similar information. There is no such person and never was.” Keep Reading…

Israel Book Shop presents Chapter 35 of a new online serial novel, Dance of the Puppet, by Esther Rapaport. Check back for a new chapter every week. Click here for previous chapters. 

Copyright © Israel Bookshop Publications. 

Only at the last second did Malka grab the door and prevent it from slamming behind her. In the principal’s office, the vetting committee, which had gathered that morning to discuss the registration issues, remained silent.

At first, Malka hadn’t understood why they had done it in the school. Usually, one of the committee members offered his or her home, and the location of the meeting remained a guarded secret until it began, so that there would not be any outside disturbances. As it was, they were all working under a lot of constant pressure.

Now everything was clear to her. All of them were apparently aware that this would not be just another meeting, and none of them wanted his or her dining room to be the venue for the tense confrontation. Only she, naïve that she was, had come this morning with no prior knowledge, to hear some names that she perhaps was familiar with and maybe to offer some recommendations for Mimi’s friends.

She stalked into the main office, passing Chana, Faigy, and Sari without giving them a glance, and walked out into the yard. The fury and hurt roiled together in her stomach, forming a hard knot. Now she was standing outside here like a girl who’d gotten thrown out of class and had fled from the corridor so that the principal—or even worse, Mrs. Mann—wouldn’t discover her. Keep Reading…

Israel Book Shop presents Chapter 34 of a new online serial novel, Dance of the Puppet, by Esther Rapaport. Check back for a new chapter every week. Click here for previous chapters. 

Copyright © Israel Bookshop Publications. 

“Ehud?”

“Yes?”

“I thought about the esrog box you saw. Don’t buy it. The old lady is asking much more money than it’s worth.”

“Even though it’s almost two hundred years old?”

“Even so. It’s not worth the money.”

“Whatever you say,” Elchanan said, shifting uncomfortably in his seat. If he would have enough money, he would have gone to buy the esrog box from Mrs. Wolkovsky himself, and used it to form his own antiques collection. But he didn’t have enough money, surely not with the new car.

“Something else, Ehud.”

“Yes?” Elchanan asked. Menashe did not usually call before eleven in the morning, unless it was very urgent.

“We’re upgrading all our employees’ cell phones. I want you to come into the office today to get your new phone.”

Elchanan raised an eyebrow. “I have a trip to Tel Aviv scheduled for today.”

“Okay, so make a detour and come in anyway. Why shouldn’t you have the better model today already?” Keeep Reading…

Israel Book Shop presents Chapter 33 of a new online serial novel, Dance of the Puppet, by Esther Rapaport. Check back for a new chapter every week. Click here for previous chapters. 

Copyright © Israel Bookshop Publications. 

Elchanan stood behind the office door, patting his pocket. The thick envelope was there, of course. He wanted to see Menashe or Mati count the money and enter the figures into the computer. He had to find a way to see them do it, and then he would be able to see if their mistakes were part of their modus operandi.

If he wanted to go out on his own one day, he had to learn how to run a business. He didn’t think there was anything deceptive about recording higher prices than what they had actually received, because it just meant they were paying higher income tax. Was there another source of profit here that he didn’t know about? He was definitely curious, but at this point, he did not want to ask directly. First he would see what he could find out in a more roundabout fashion.

“It’s not like that, I’m telling you.”

“And I’m telling you it is, Bar-On.”

“Are you nuts? Here are your very nice receipts, clear and smooth. I’m printing them now. Read them and tell me if a single comma there is out of place.”

Elchanan’s hand froze midway to the knob. A heated exchange was taking place inside, and the voices were loud enough to be heard through the closed door. Was someone accusing Mati Bar-On of being dishonest? That someone also sounded familiar to him from somewhere, but it wasn’t Menashe. Keep Reading…

Israel Book Shop presents Chapter 32 of a new online serial novel, Dance of the Puppet, by Esther Rapaport. Check back for a new chapter every week. Click here for previous chapters. 

Copyright © Israel Bookshop Publications. 

“Sounds nice,” Yael said reservedly the next day, “but from a chinuch perspective, I’m not so sure about it. I mean, this group of girls really deserves a dressing down, and instead, you invite them over for an evening of fun?”

“It wasn’t all fun,” Yaffa noted. “There were awkward silences and some unpleasant moments.”

“I don’t know, but I’m not sure it was in place,” her deputy insisted. “Such a thing can really cause jealousy. What will you tell the other girls on Ruach and Afar? That because they didn’t kick up a fuss, they weren’t invited to you? They don’t deserve compensation?”

Yaffa mulled this over. “If so,” she said, “then ask about the other two teams; their chagigah was also ruined. Don’t they deserve compensation, too?”

“Yes, and so?”

“I guess you’re right,” Yaffa said wearily. “I didn’t think of it.”

But when, during the first recess of the day, the teachers of those classes—every single one of them—reported that the atmosphere had significantly improved, Yael didn’t say a word. She just wrinkled her nose quietly. The recess itself was also much quieter in the corridors, and it seemed as though peace had finally been restored to the school, after weeks of tension and fighting.

During the twelve o’clock break, two girls entered Yaffa’s office. She recognized them as two of the girls who’d been at her home the night before; one was the accordion player, and one was the girl who’d lugged down the huge garbage bag at the end of the evening.

“Mrs. Levinsky,” they said, smiling. “We’re from Team Ruach, and no one saw our performance. Can we perform it one day for the other teams? And then we’ll find out who the winner is.”

“I don’t think we’re going to do that,” Yaffa said, studying their faces. “After all, you don’t deserve a prize.” Keep Reading…

Israel Book Shop presents Chapter 31 of a new online serial novel, Dance of the Puppet, by Esther Rapaport. Check back for a new chapter every week. Click here for previous chapters. 

Copyright © Israel Bookshop Publications. 

She was resting much less here than in the hospital, but despite her lethargy, Adina Kotzker was satisfied. She was aware of her condition, and did not expect any major breakthroughs in just three days. Nevertheless, the feeling that she was working and progressing—even if progress meant just the slightest movement of two fingers—gave her a pleasant feeling.

But with all this, she was tired. “That’s it,” she told her husband, daughter, and son on Friday morning. “Now you’re all going home to Yerushalayim, and you’re not coming back here until Sunday. There are telephones, and you’ll be able to hear that I’m alive and well from home, too. Please don’t stay another minute.”

“Really, Ima,” Shaul protested. “You’re going to stay here alone?”

“At least let Abba stay,” Malka pleaded.

“And who will take care of him? Where will he sleep? Eat?”

“Miriam Korman lives right here in the area and has already told me that her home is open for whomever we need. She’d be very happy to host Abba.”

“Out of the question,” Adina said decisively. Her speech had improved over the past few days, even though the speech therapist had been there for only one session since Adina had arrived. “You know how hard it is for Abba to fall asleep in a strange house. He can hardly sleep in your houses.”

Shaul and Malka exchanged looks that bordered on insulted, but their mother didn’t notice. “Abba will come on Motza’ei Shabbos, and for the next week you two can come to visit whenever it’s convenient for you. You were wonderful these past three days, but now it’s time to get back to normal life, please.” Keep Reading…

Israel Book Shop presents Chapter 30 of a new online serial novel, Dance of the Puppet, by Esther Rapaport. Check back for a new chapter every week. Click here for previous chapters. 

Copyright © Israel Bookshop Publications. 

The phone rang in Rabbi Weinstock’s office.

“Rabbi Weinstock?”

“Oh, hello, Reb Aryeh,” Reb Yeshayahu said, recognizing the caller’s voice. “How are you?”

“Baruch Hashem, we’re thankful for every day. How are things at the yeshivah?”

“Baruch Hashem, the boys are learning very well. If you happen to be in the area, and you’d like to drop in to see the new air conditioners in the dining room, I would be very pleased.”

“Well, until then, I’ll suffice with regards from afar,” the philanthropist from Haifa said with a chuckle. “And I don’t have to mention the Yizkor board, right?”

“It’s already hanging up since the beginning of the Elul zman,” Reb Yeshayahu replied. “So, Reb Aryeh, how are you feeling? How’s the diabetes?”

“Up and down,” the caller replied. “Actually, I’m calling now about my sister’s granddaughter, from Yerushalayim. You have connections with Shaarei…um, Shaarei something High School—what’s the name again?”

“Shaarei Binah?”

“Yes, that’s it. How could I have forgotten it? You have connections there, right? Through the board or something?”

“Yes.”

“Good. So it’s like this. My sister’s granddaughter’s name is Tzipora Biderman, and she’s a good girl. She’s not so strong scholastically, but aside from that, she’s a top girl, yes?”

“I understand,” the rosh yeshivah of Shaarei Aharon said cautiously. Keep Reading…