Dorothea Shefer-Vanson

Dorothea Shefer-Vanson

Dorothea Shefer-Vanson is a freelance journalist based in Mevasseret Zion, Israel.

Her published works, available on Amazon, include:

In praise of Mona Golabek, author and performer

By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — Several years ago I read The Pianist of Willesden Lane written by Mona Golabek about the experiences of her mother, Lisa Jura, first in Vienna and then in London. She had been sent there at the age of fourteen in the framework of the Kindertransport, the undertaking that […]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Jewish History, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts

At first German- speaking Jews fared better

I Only Wanted to Live; the Struggle of a Boy to Survive the Holocaust by Arie Tamir;  published by Arie Tamir, 2015; translated from the Hebrew by Batya Jerenberg By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — Some kind of morbid fascination, possibly even masochism, seems to impel me to download and read yet another Holocaust memoir,

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Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, International, Jewish History

Israel’s secular schools under religious pressure

By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — The headline in the paper one morning made me shudder. It reported that Israel’s Minister of Education, Naftali Bennet, had proclaimed that it was more important to focus on Jewish studies in schools than on math and science subjects. Admittedly, the party that Bennet represents, Jewish Home, stands for

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Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education

Did the Bard crib from another book on King Lear?

  1606, Shakespeare and the Year of Lear by James Shapiro published by Faber and Faber, 2015. By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — When I picked this book up at Luton airport, as I was about to board a plane, I thought I was going to read a historical novel. I couldn’t have been more

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Novel tells of British expats in rural France

Chasing Dreams and Flies: A Tragicomedy of Life in France by Dorothea Shefer-Vanson; © 2016, books on Kindle; 253 pages. By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – Dorothea Shefer-Vanson is an author and writer whose freelance stories are regularly published by San Diego Jewish World, among other publications.  Normally she and her husband Yigal reside in

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Dorothea Shefer-Vanson

Jewish historic connection to Jerusalem undeniable

By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — So now the Palestinians are saying that the concept of any historical connection between the Jews and Jerusalem, and the Temple Mount in particular, is pure myth, and they are trying to get UNESCO to adopt a resolution to that effect. I wonder what would happen if they

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Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Middle East

Bad behavior at a London concert

By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson LONDON, England –Proms? What Proms? Anyone looking for an uplifting musical experience should steer clear of the famous Prom concerts in London’s Albert Hall. The hall itself is enormous and impressive, seating several thousands at a time. In addition, especially cheap tickets are sold as standing room only in the center of the

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Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, International, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts