Reviewed by R.M. Kiel

I remember Tel Aviv Short Stories. I remember the wonderful ESRA vision program about the book launch. And the readings at Beit Ariela in June 2009, celebrating Tel Aviv’s 100^th birthday (ESRA Magazine 151, Sept-Nov 2009).

Now we have Israel Short Stories. Bigger and better, the new book was officially launched on March 25.

 Aggie van der Laan, coordinator for ESRA's cultural events in Tel Aviv, has again arranged readings by some of the writers of this new book scheduled for October 9, 2011.

A good percentage of the stories are by men, ensuring that Israel Short Stories has wide appeal. Some of the writers also appeared in Tel Aviv Short Stories, but the new book has many first-time appearances, including well-known names. Greer Fay Cashman writes the weekly Grapevine column in The Jerusalem Post, while Hannah Brown is the Post’s movie critic. A number of writers have won short story prizes; some are novelists, many write poetry.

Read about surrogate motherhood, an Israeli mobster, new immigrants, learning German, memories of 1948, riding the bus on Fridays, a kibbutz love affair, hiking in the desert, the Yom Kippur call-up, a bus bombing.  Cities, rural areas, kibbutzim and moshavim serve as settings for the stories.

Shelley Goldman, editor of Israel Short Stories, worked on the book from the USA, conquering the difficulties of long-distance communication. The book is dedicated to her lovely young granddaughter who was at the book launch.

Congratulations to Shelley for her amazing determination to get the book out on time in the face of many unexpected difficulties. She was determined to provide a platform for the so-called Anglo writers in Israel. In her foreword, Shelley writes: “…the stories provide a kaleidoscope of Israeli society, not the whole story but the English-speakers' narrative in this dynamic, multi-cultural state…”

The Tel Aviv readings will give ESRA members and friends an opportunity to hear brief extracts from some of the stories, read by the writers who welcome questions. The book will be on sale at a discounted price.

If you’re in or near Tel Aviv – or even further afield – mark the date of the readings and be at Beit Ariela on Sunday, October 9 at 10 am for an instructive, enjoyable and friendly morning.