Where the Lilacs Bloom Once Again: Friddie’s story by Roni Rosenthal

Friddie, 18, is an ordinary yet rebellious young Jewish woman, living in Bucharest in the 1930s. Born and raised in Romania’s capital, she dreams of living as a “free Romanian woman.”

After calling off her wedding to a young, parentally-approved accountant, she escapes to a city on the coast, where she meets a scientist-perfumer named Freddy. He is the true love she has been looking for—and a ticket to her dream.
Soon, though, that dream turns into a nightmare she never could have predicted.

Friddie’s story of incredible hardship is interwoven with the stories of her family. We follow her Aunt Rosa’s life as the glue of her household, even though she loses her husband in mysterious circumstances; her Uncle David, who dreams of becoming a schoolteacher and starting a family in Iași, and her cousins, who uproot their lives in Bucharest to start again in Israel.
In this tragic-heroic novel, the true stories, the victims, and the small moments of happiness are revealed in the Danube’s labor camps, under the fascist-dictatorial and communist rule that has been a part of Romania for so many years.
Based on the true experiences of a Jewish Romanian family, Where the Lilacs Bloom Once Againunearths stories that could so easily be lost to the passage of time. This family’s tale has emerged at a critical time, to show the need for compassion and kindness, even in the hardest moments.

About the author

Roni Rosenthal, PhD, is the Director of Judaic Studies and a Hebrew Literature Professor at the University of Maryland.

Born and raised in Israel, she is named after her grandfather Aharon, who passed away eight months before her birth.

Roni believes in communication and empowerment. She believes in giving a voice to those who were unfortunate.

She believes that stories carry greater messages for all of us. "We must give voice to and tell the stories of

those who have been silenced. We must tell, explore, and reveal the truth. No more hiding. No more living in fear.

Although “we are not required to complete the work,” we must take the first steps to start it."

Roni is a frequent speaker at workshops, universities, and schools.

Roni is also the innovator of the Brain-Empowered with Creativity model. She is known for challenging and motivating people in becoming creative thinkers. Her goal is to promote original thinking worldwide.

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