Ellis Shuman's Blog

In the Fall of 2022, my story "The Table at the Back of the Coffee Shop" was published by New Plains Review, a student-run literary journal at the University of Central Oklahoma. The journal was published as a paperback and is available for purchase at Amazon. Yesterday I received in the mail a contributor's copy of the journal.

No, the journal did not get lost in the mail - the postmark indicated it was mailed in August 2025.
It's always great to see one of my stories in print, even if it arrives three years after being published.
You can read the full story here: 
"The Table at the Back of the Coffee Shop" - short story

I spoke to the Qesher Book Club about my book Rakiya - Stories of Bulgaria. Qesher features books with Jewish themes, both fiction and history, so the first thing I said to my audience was "You’re probably wondering why a collection of short stories set in Bulgaria would be featured on the Qesher Book Club. I’m hoping that by the end of this evening, you will not only understand why, but you’ll also learn about the fascinating story of Bulgarian Jewry during the Holocaust."

In the talk I told about growing up in Sioux City, making Aliyah, founding Kibbutz Yahel, setting up a home on Moshav Neve Ilan, starting a career in marketing online poker, a job that took me to the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas, to Macau, and finally to a two-year relocation contract in Sofia.

I spoke about my books and short stories, and how my experiences on a kibbutz led to The Virtual Kibbutz and how our life in Bulgaria resulted in my writing Valley of Thracians, The Burgas Affair, and Rakiya - Stories of Bulgaria.

I gave details of my research into the subject of Bulgarian Jewry during World War, and how that fascinating period of history compelled me to write my short story "Forgiveness".

The online talk was attended by 89 people from all over - there was even someone joining in from Bulgaria. After my talk ended, there was time set for questions.

Surprisingly, many of the questions related to my growing up in Sioux City! How did my childhood there influence my writing? How did my parents end up living in Sioux City in the first place? Did I know that was where Dear Abby came from? (And Ann Landers).

I think everyone enjoyed themselves - I certainly did!

Maya Arad is a leading author of Israeli fiction, but shedoesn’t live in Israel. Arad, who grew up in Kibbutz Nahal Oz, has been living inCalifornia for the last twenty years. The Hebrew Teacher, her collectionof three novellas−the first of her books to be translated into English−won theNational Jewish Book Award for Hebrew Fiction in Translation in January 2025. Nowreaders have the opportunity to read one of her novels in English.

Happy New Years by Maya Arad, translated by Jessica Cohen (New VesselPress, August 5, 2025) is the story of Leah, as told in yearly Rosh Hashanaletters sent to her classmates from a teacher’s college in Israel. Instead ofjust bearing good wishes for the upcoming Jewish New Year, each letter tellsthe story of Leash’s life during the previous 12 months, in exhaustive detail.

The annual mail starts with a recap of the episodesmentioned in the letter dated the year before, to remind both recipients andthe novel’s readers of their importance in Leah’s life. An update on thesemilestones in Leah’s life follows, and then there is her news. Leah informs herfriends of developments in her love life, stories of her children growing up,and accounts of her career changes.

Her best friend, Mira, is the recipient of postscripts withfurther insights into Leah’s true feelings about where her life has taken her,complete with apologies and confessions. “To you I can write what is truly inmy heart, with no masks and guises,” Leah notes.

“I came to America on an educational mission, to teachJewish children who, one day, may themselves make Aliyah,” Leah writes in her1970 message. “I am living in the United States for now, and who knows what thefuture will bring?” Two years later, Leah mentions that she and her husband areconsidering Aliyah. “The circumstances are finally ripe for making asignificant change in our lives.” Yet her Aliyah plans fall through. “I’vebuilt a life for myself here that I’m unwilling and unable to walk away from,”she writes in 1986.

The yearly Rosh Hashana messages recount Leah’s ups anddowns, and one can see how she matures through the years. This epistolary novelsucceeds in telling her story, and readers are compelled to turn the pages tolearn whether she will find true love or successfully handle the challenges shefaces.

Still, there are parts of what Leah writes in the narrativethat will frustrate readers. Detailed reports of what it was like to fly in anairplane for the first time, an explanation of why Chicago is called ‘the WindyCity’, how daily life in America is easier because of dishwashers, and theadvantages of working with a computer–these elements show the passage of time butnot things anyone would naturally include in a Rosh Hashana letter.

Still, this is a minor observation as the overall format ofthe novel succeeds in telling a story of a woman’s life; her struggles, loves,and growth; the friendships she makes and the friendships she loses; and howone can still be an Israeli even while keeping a permanent residency overseas.

Leah ends each mail with a message marking her unwaveringoptimism about the Jewish New Year. “May it be a year full of dreams!” shewrites. “May it be a wonderful year, a magical year, a year of change andgrowth!” Readers will share Leah’s positive outlook on life with eageranticipation of her next Happy New Year letter.

 

Maya Arad is the author of twelve books of Hebrewfiction, as well as studies in literary criticism and linguistics. Born inIsrael in 1971, she received a PhD in linguistics from University CollegeLondon and for the past twenty years has lived in California where she iswriter in residence at Stanford University’s Taube Center for Jewish Studies.

On Tuesday, September 9, I will speak about Rakiya - Stories of Bulgaria on the Qesher Book Club. This is a free event, taking place on Zoom at USA 12:00 pm PT / 3:00 pm ET / UK 8:00 pm / France 9:00 pm / Israel 10:00 pm. The talk will last approximately 60 minutes and include a chance to ask questions.

 Read more and register here for free. 

Key to the defense was locating the tall, gaunt mansporting a maroon Basque-style beret who had allegedly been in the conveniencestore at the time of the robbery. That man was said to have witnessed the threeteenagers hassling the cashier just after ten pm, forcing him to hand over thefew bills in the register, threatening to return and cause havoc to the placeif he called the police, before escaping down the windswept street.

If the tall man could be located, he could identify theteenagers, who hadn’t bothered to wear masks or disguise themselves and shouldtherefore be easy to identify. The cashier couldn’t give the police any clues asto where they had come from, and where they were going, their pockets full ofhis evening’s hard-earned revenues.

But the man with the beret had seen everything. At least,according to Philip, who had been loitering outside when the teenagers robbedthe store.

Philip, who planned to purchase a pack of cigarettes, claimedthe man had been standing at the back when the teenagers rushed in. The mancame down the aisle but did nothing to stop the teenagers or protect thecashier, Philip said. The cashier had raised his hands in defense even beforethe youths announced their intention to rob the establishment. But, as Philiptried to explain, the tall man could certainly pick out the boys in a lineup.

That’s what Philip told the police officers who arrivedat the scene twenty minutes later, but they didn’t believe him.

Read the rest of the story on Written Tales Magazine.

If you are asking how we’re doing during this challengingtime, that’s the short answer.

Here’s the long answer.

We’re tired of being woken up by the blaring wail of sirensat midnight, or at three in the morning, or at both hours.

We’re tired of running to our reinforced saferooms and ourpublic shelters, sitting on the floor uncomfortably as we all stare at ourmobile phones for the latest information about where the missiles struck.

We’re tired of hearing the boom of ballistic missilesoverhead as they are blown up by our anti-ballistic rockets.

We’re tired of returning to our beds, unable to fall backasleep as we fearfully await the next missile attack.

We’re tired of turning on the television news to scenes ofthe night’s destructive toll – people injured and killed, buildings bombed,cars burnt, craters and piles of debris everywhere, homes lost, livesinterrupted.

We’re tired of being unable to go to work, unable to sendour children to school and to kindergarten, unable to go shopping even for themost essential things without worrying whether the next missile attack willcatch us somewhere where there is no nearby shelter.

We’re tired of seeing our airport closed and internationalairlines canceling all their flights to Israel.

We’re tired of canceling our weekend plans and our summervacations.

We’re tired of watching the bombing of Iran, even if itmeans we’re taking out their nuclear sites and military facilities, because weknow it will result in further missile strikes against us.

We’re tired of the world dismissing our need to confront anEvil that seeks to destroy us while it lies blatantly about enriching uraniumfor peaceful research.

We’re tired of hearing that America bombed Iran because thisis Israel’s war, when it is the war of the entire civilized world against thisEvil.

We’re tired of seeing Iranian citizens fleeing Tehran,unable to overturn their theocratic repressive regime.

We’re tired of all this, and more.

We’re tired that we still have 50 hostages held byterrorists in Gaza, and whose freedom is not a priority of our government.

We’re tired that our prime minister refuses to takeresponsibility for what happened on October 7, 2023, in the greatest tragedy tobefall the Jewish People since the Holocaust.

We’re tired that our soldiers are fighting every day inGaza, and we’re tired of seeing their young faces on the news, the latestcasualties of a seemingly endless war.

We’re tired of the entire world shouting cries of ‘genocide’as we do our best to avoid civilian casualties.

We’re tired of fighting terrorists who dig tunnels underhospitals, hide their weapons in schools, take cover behind civilians and stealthe aid provided by humanitarian organizations.

We’re tired of how Gazans are suffering.

We’re tired of our inability to throw out our corrupt,right-wing, extremist government.

We’re tired of the government giving limitless funding tothe ultra-Orthodox and letting their young men avoid compulsory army service.

We’re tired of our right-wing government moving endlessly tocurb media freedom and overturn our judicial system.

We’re tired of our government allowing the establishment ofmore and more settlements across the West Bank.

We’re tired of what we’re doing to the Palestinians.

We’re tired of regarding our Arab citizens as second-class.

We’re tired that the most corrupt prime minister we’ve everhad is about to get credit for finally confronting the Iranian nuclear threat.

We’re tired that the most corrupt prime minister we’ve everhad is allowing extremists to do anything they want, just so he can remain inpower.

We’re tired that the most corrupt prime minister we’ve everhad is prolonging the trial that is meant to hold him accountable for hiscorruption.

We’re tired of inflation, of the lack of affordable housing,of the traffic jams on the highways, and the crowded national parks.

We’re tired of all this, and more.

Yet, despite being tired, we love Israel. We love its religiousimportance, its amazing history, and its colorful traditions. We love its high-tech,its stunning nature, its beaches, and its nightlife. We love its youth and itshope and promise for the future.

We’re tired, but we will continue to fight for our countrybecause this is home.

Originally posted on The Times of Israel.

They gathered near the Knesset. High school girls in modest skirts,color-matched with running tights, yeshiva students sporting brand-name runningshoes. Soldiers in uniform and start-up employees before the start of theirworkday. Individuals, friends, youngsters, and athletic adults, the experiencedand those here for the first time, everyone wearing the same lime greendry-wear shirt. All waited for the announcement that would kick off the race.

The sky was blue and promising, the early morning air crisp andrefreshing. A perfect day for the Jerusalem Marathon. The main event, 42.2kilometers long, would take the runners through downtown Jerusalem and northall the way to Mt. Scopus. The race circuit snaked through the Old City’s JaffaGate and along the narrow alleyways of the Armenian Quarter. Out Zion Gate,around Mt. Zion, up a steep hill to the old train station, and through theGerman Colony. South to the Arnona neighborhood, back towards the city center,and down the home stretch to the finish line at Sacher Park.

Read the rest of the story on JUDITH MAGAZINE.

Israel lives in a hostile neighborhood and we do what we need to do to protect ourselves. I am not a supporter of our government, but let's put politics aside for the moment. Iran's nuclear program and its growing arsenal of ballistic missiles is an existential threat. It has lied to the world about uranium enrichment and whether it's conducting tests on nuclear weaponry. It has openly stated that it seeks Israel's destruction. Iran is the enemy not only of Israel, but of the United States as well.We are under attack. Drones with explosives are heading our way at this very moment, and we can expect missiles to follow. We could not let this situation continue. We will protect ourselves even if we are doing this on our own.Thank you to everyone who supports us in this mission - because you are supporting our very existence. We are strong, we will make it through this, but your continued support will help us through this difficult time.
Photo by Aaron Ovadia on Unsplash

We arewriting to you on behalf of our client, the Estate of Kevin Gladstone, whopassed away on March 2, 2023. Please accept our condolences during thisdifficult time.

 

A smile crossed Martin Gladstone’s face. The day hadcome. Kevin Gladstone, his uncle. The man was filthy rich. Or rather, hadbeen filthy rich. No condolences were necessary. For Martin, this mail wasthe bearer of excellent news.

 

A meetingwith a probate lawyer acting on behalf of the estate has been scheduled in ouroffices. Your presence is requested as you may be named as a beneficiary orhave a legitimate interest in the estate.

 

The estate. The family estate. Martin knew all aboutestates.

The letter was just a formality. He was familiar with itscontents, knew what it would say in advance. He had been waiting for thismoment. The Gladstone inheritance would soon be his.

Read the rest of the story at New English Review.

Wouldn’t it be nice if we could fix everything that goeswrong in our life? In the title story of ‘Autocorrect’, Etgar Keret’s newcollection, Yuvi wakes up on what he hopes will be an ‘extra special day’ - ifthe Chinese sign a deal with the company where he’s the CEO. His doorbell ringsand it’s his father, hoping to travel together to their office. Yuvi says,“I’ll see you there,” but his father never makes it to the office. He is killedin a horrific traffic accident.

Yuvi’s alarm goes off and he wakes to find his fatherstanding outside his door, offering to drive him to the office. In this GroundhogDay scenario, Yuvi has a chance to reverse the bad outcome of the previousday’s tragedy. But will his fortunes be better this time around?

‘Autocorrect’ is one of the 33 short, short stories in Autocorrectby Etgar Keret, translated by Jessica Cohen and SondraSilverston (Riverhead Books, May 27, 2025). Readers familiar withKeret will be entertained by more examples of his creative imagination, whilethose meeting him for the first time will encounter his original humorous insightsinto Israeli culture and modern life, with a touch of science fiction thrown infor good measure.

Time travel, aliens, and alternative realities all makeappearances in the stories, while others mirror our lives, showing imaginativereflections of Israel and Israelis. Each of the stories satisfies in its ownunique way.

I had previously read many of the book’s stories in theoriginal Hebrew, but translators Cohen and Silverston do an excellent job ofshowcasing Keret’s humor for English readers. No matter what the language, hisstories leave one eager to start the next one. Here are brief descriptions ofsome of my favorites.

‘A World without Selfie Sticks’ - a life-changing realityshow from another world.

'Point of No Return' - the thin line between real life andsimulated real life.

'Genesis, Chapter 0' - beyond pain, and boredom, and fear,everything becomes light.

‘For the Woman Who Has Everything’ - for the reader who hasread everything, something different.

The stories of Autocorrect are extremely short, butthey’ll leave you wanting more. We’re sure to meet the boundless creativity andhumor of Etgar Keret again very soon.

EtgarKeret was born in Tel Aviv in 1967. His books have beentranslated into 37 languages, and he has been published in the New York Times,the Guardian, the New Yorker, Le Monde and other periodicals. Keret has writtena number of screenplays; “Jellyfish”, his first film as director alongside hiswife Shira Geffen, won the Caméra d’Or prize for best first feature at Cannesin 2007. Keret has received the Chevalier Medallion of France's Ordre des Artset des Lettres (2010); the Charles Bronfman Prize (2016); and the SapirPrize for Literature (2018). His short story collection Fly Awaywon the 2019 National Jewish Book Award for Fiction.

Jessica Cohen is a British-Israeli-American literarytranslator who shared the 2017 International Booker Prize with author DavidGrossman for her translation of A Horse Walks into a Bar.

Sondra Silverston is a native New Yorker who haslived in Israel since 1970. She has trans­lat­ed works of Etgar Keret, AyeletGun­dar-Goshen, Zeruya Shalev, and Savy­on Liebrecht. Her trans­la­tion of AmosOz’s Between Friends won the 2013 Nation­al Jew­ish Book Awardfor fic­tion.

Originally posted on The Times of Israel.