After Havdalah, a Sense of Exile
As a child, Simon Feuerman listened to his mother talk to her parents on the phone — somber conversations that still fill him with sadness. Years later, he learned the story behind this ritual of separation.
Caught Between the Yeshiva and the Deep Blue Sea
When he was growing up, Simon Yisrael Feuerman found himself yearning for a world outside the yeshiva. That world was personified by one particular girl in his neighborhood. Today he recalls the dilemma of being torn between two worlds.
Remembering Thomas Toivi Blatt, Survivor of Sobibor
Thomas “Toivi” Blatt, one of the last survivors of the Sobibor uprising has died at the age of 88. Simon Feuerman recalls the effect Blatt’s story had on him when he was growing up.
A Plea for Remembrance — and for Forgetting
This time of year, Simon Yisrael Feuerman visits his grandparents at the cemetery. In so doing, he tries to honor the lost civilization they represent while remaining firmly planted in the new world.
The Shallowness of Men Who Won't Sit by Women
Ultra-Orthodox men who refuse to sit next to women on planes think they are displaying their piety. Simon Yisrael Feuerman says they are really signaling their spiritual emptiness.
