Dorothea Shefer-Vanson is a freelance journalist based in Mevasseret Zion, Israel.
Her published works, available on Amazon, include:
By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — Since the reviews of the above film were positive on the whole, we decided to make a supreme effort to see it, squeezing it in between two evenings of other cultural activities. The subject was particularly interesting for me because it was set in London during the Second […]
Film Review: Their Finest Hour Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, InternationalOn Writing by Stephen King; Scribner, Simon and Schuster, 2000 By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — Not being a fan of the horror/fantasy genre of novels, I must confess at the outset that I have not read any of Stephen King’s other books. I do know, however, that he is a very successful and prolific author in
Stephen King more profound as author than coach Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Dorothea Shefer-VansonBy Dorothea Shefer-Vanson JERUSALEM — A recital devoted to three of Schubert’s last sonatas (D 845, 850 and 890) was too good to miss, so we cancelled our subscription tickets to the symphonic concert that happened to fall on the same date and bought tickets for that evening instead. Sometimes life or fate or the
Pianist Wosner brings Schubert sonatas to life Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual ArtsBy Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — I was in the ninth month of my first pregnancy when the Six Day War broke out, fifty years ago. I have written in some detail about this point in my life in my first novel, The Balancing Game, so if you have read it I apologize for
Pregnant and sheltered during the Six Day War Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Jewish History, Middle EastBy Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — Last week I was invited to hear a talk by Sharon Bashevkin Perry, who has been involved for many years in early childhood education in a variety of positions in Israel, the US and Africa. The talk was entitled ‘From Israel to Ghana – Building Bridges and Friendships Through Early Childhood Education. In 1958 Golda Meir, then Israel’s
Israeli teaches teachers in Ghana Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, International, Middle EastSic Transit Gloria Mundi By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — What exactly lies behind the closing of Israel’s Broadcasting Authority after its seven decades of serving the public is a subject for speculation. Politics, finances and greed are part of the picture for sure, although other reasons have been posited. The radio, followed by
Israel public radio and TV helped olim adjust Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Middle East, Theatre, Film & BroadcastBy Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — The sight of officials of United Airlines dragging a helpless passenger down the aisle of an airplane as other passengers scream in shock and protest is not one that I will easily forget. Physical violence of any kind is shocking, and any time the TV news shows a violent
Reflecting on the violence around us Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, International, Jewish History, Middle EastBy Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — Vive la France! I spend part of my summers in France, I have relatives and friends who live in France and I am a great admirer of France and (almost) all things French. So it was with considerable interest and not a little trepidation that I followed the course
A British ex-pat pulls for Macron in French election Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, InternationalMusicophilia, Tales of Music and the Brain, by Oliver Sacks, Published by Picador, 2008 By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — The author, who has written several books about various aspects of psychology, among them The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat, and Awakenings, has extensive experience of working with individuals who have
Music therapy for those with brain disorders Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Music, Dance, and Visual ArtsBy Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — No matter how hard I try, and believe me, I have and do try, passing over Passover is very hard to do if you live in Israel. The countdown to the festival begins for some people one month beforehand, namely, as soon as the previous festival is over
Hard in Israel to pass over Passover Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Jewish Religion, Middle EastBy Dorothea Shefer-Vanson JERUSALEM — Over the years I have attended many performances of Handel’s Messiah, but no matter where it was performed (England, America, France, Israel) it was always sung in English. George Frederick Handel wrote the oratorio using the text devised by Charles Jennens, based on the King James Bible and the Book of Common Prayer.
Handel’s ‘Messiah’ in Hebrew Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual ArtsBy Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — Tucked away in a quiet Jerusalem side-street is the Leo Baeck Institute, where activities associated with the man himself and various aspects of his heritage are held, its official purpose being ‘the study of German and Central European Jewry.’ Sister institutes are to be found in cities elsewhere
Leo Baeck and Jewish liberalism Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Jewish History, Jewish ReligionBy Dorothea Shefer-Vanson ABU GHOSH, Israel — On a sunny Saturday morning, Israel’s official day of rest (the country has not yet officially adopted the two-day weekend) I got into my car and drove to the nearby Arab village of Abu Ghosh. For the village, which is situated some fifteen kilometers outside Jerusalem, well within
Abu Ghosh Lebanese restaurant satisfies customers Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Middle EastMoab is my Washpot by Stephen Fry; Hutchinson, 1997. By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — I have mixed feelings about the author whose avowed brilliance is tempered by strange behavior, apparently due to his being subject to bi-polar disorder, as well as his aversion to Israel and Zionism. His half-Jewish background may partly account for the latter,
Fry saga leaves reviewer with mixed feelings Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Dorothea Shefer-Vanson