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.
To follow Roni:
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