Fiction Archives | Hadassah Magazine

Fiction

‘The Choice: A Novel of Love, Faith, and the Talmud’

by Rahel Musleah

Through mini-Talmudic lessons on sex, mikveh and more, Anton exposes how the Torah has been interpreted unfavorably toward women.

Morals Matter in ‘The Thread Collectors’

by Elizabeth Edelglass

Richman and Edwards team up to tell a powerful story of two women—a Jewish abolitionist and a slave from New Orleans—whose lives are connected by the Civil War.

schmutz

Addicted to Forbidden ‘Shmutz’

by Jaime Herndon

Peppered with Yiddish, Felicia Berliner’s debut novel tells the story of Raizl, a Hasidic teenager with a porn addiction.

very cold people

Layers of Shame and Hot Rage In ‘Very Cold People’

by Robert Nagler Miller

Sarah Manguso's debut novel is a devastating coming-of-age tale set in a fictional Boston suburb.

The latecomer

Dysfunctional Family Secrets In ‘The Latecomer’

by Elizabeth Edelglass

Jean Hanff Korelitz’s latest novel examines what makes a family — genes, birth or cohabitation? Or is it love?

golden hotel

One ‘Last Summer’ in the Catskills?

by Sandee Brawarsky

Filled with family secrets and summer romance, Elyssa Friedland's latest novel is the perfect beach read.

human blues

‘Human Blues’ Tackles Infertility Through Dark Comedy

by Jaime Herndon

Elisa Albert's darkly funny novel is told over the course of nine menstrual cycles.

The Hidden Palace

by Robert Nagler Miller

Helene Wecker’s rich follow-up to her 2013 debut novel, The Golem and the Jinni.

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Dec 6

Dec 6, 1889: #onthisday in #jewesshistory, Celia Feinman Adler Forman, known known as the "First Lady of the Yiddish theater” was born in New York City. ⁠
⁠
Born as Tzirele Adler to British actress Dina Shtettin, who left her Orthodox family to join the theater world, and Jacob P. Adler, the Yiddish theater star who founded a theatrical dynasty. Among her half-siblings were noted actors Jay Adler, Luther Adler and Stella Adler. ⁠
⁠
In 1919, Adler, a Zionist, helped open the first Yiddish Art Theater and wrote the two-volume study, “The Yiddish Theater in America." When “the Dybbuk” came to the New York Yiddish Art Theater, Adler starred as Leah, the woman who is possessed by a dybbuk. ⁠
⁠
In 1937, Celia starred in the Yiddish film “Where Is My Child?” ("Vu iz mayn kind?”). She also gave one of the earliest theatrical portrayals of a Holocaust survivor in her half-brother Luther Adler’s 1946 Broadway production of “A Flag is Born.” ⁠
⁠
Three men were fortunate enough to wed the “dramatic soubrette”—so called by Carl Van Vechten. In 1915 Adler married actor Lazar Freed and later said “I do” to her manager, Jack Cone, in 1930. After her second husband’s death in 1959, she married New York businessman Nathan Forman. He died a week before Adler. ⁠
⁠
Her last film was “Naked City” (1948) and the actress’ last Broadway show was the 1961 drama “Women in Horseradish.” In the aftermath of World War II, Adler gave performances to American troops in English and Yiddish. �⁠
⁠
“Mrs. Forman was sustained by an enormous creative energy throughout her life and an unflagging devotion to Jewish drama, becoming its foremost female exponent,” Joan Cook wrote in a 1979 New York Times obituary. ⁠
⁠
Celia died on January 31, 1979 after suffering a heart attack. A week before she died at the Hebrew Home, Adler performed a one-act monologue and was already preparing for her next act. She is buried in the Yiddish Theater Section of Mount Hebron Cemetery in NYC.

Dec 6, 1889: #onthisday in #jewesshistory, Celia Feinman Adler Forman, known known as the "First Lady of the Yiddish theater” was born in New York City. ⁠
⁠
Born as Tzirele Adler to British actress Dina Shtettin, who left her Orthodox family to join the theater world, and Jacob P. Adler, the Yiddish theater star who founded a theatrical dynasty. Among her half-siblings were noted actors Jay Adler, Luther Adler and Stella Adler. ⁠
⁠
In 1919, Adler, a Zionist, helped open the first Yiddish Art Theater and wrote the two-volume study, “The Yiddish Theater in America." When “the Dybbuk” came to the New York Yiddish Art Theater, Adler starred as Leah, the woman who is possessed by a dybbuk. ⁠
⁠
In 1937, Celia starred in the Yiddish film “Where Is My Child?” ("Vu iz mayn kind?”). She also gave one of the earliest theatrical portrayals of a Holocaust survivor in her half-brother Luther Adler’s 1946 Broadway production of “A Flag is Born.” ⁠
⁠
Three men were fortunate enough to wed the “dramatic soubrette”—so called by Carl Van Vechten. In 1915 Adler married actor Lazar Freed and later said “I do” to her manager, Jack Cone, in 1930. After her second husband’s death in 1959, she married New York businessman Nathan Forman. He died a week before Adler. ⁠
⁠
Her last film was “Naked City” (1948) and the actress’ last Broadway show was the 1961 drama “Women in Horseradish.” In the aftermath of World War II, Adler gave performances to American troops in English and Yiddish. �⁠
⁠
“Mrs. Forman was sustained by an enormous creative energy throughout her life and an unflagging devotion to Jewish drama, becoming its foremost female exponent,” Joan Cook wrote in a 1979 New York Times obituary. ⁠
⁠
Celia died on January 31, 1979 after suffering a heart attack. A week before she died at the Hebrew Home, Adler performed a one-act monologue and was already preparing for her next act. She is buried in the Yiddish Theater Section of Mount Hebron Cemetery in NYC. ...

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