Hanna Perlstein MarcusAuthor, Daughter
Latest Blog Articles
My Fascination With Book Signings
I recently bought a new special pen, one with a thick rubberized grip to help me steady my hand during recent book signings for Sidonia’s Thread. When I wrote my story, like many authors, I wasn’t sure what kind of reception it would garner. It was written as an homage to my strong, clever, talented, independent mother [...]
Sidonia’s Thread Book Launch
Sidonia’s Thread Book Launch, a set on Flickr. Photos from Sidonia’s Thread Book Launch held January 15th, 2012 at Beth Sholom B’nai Israel in Manchester, CT. Hanna Marcus was on hand to sign copies of the book and discuss the story.
Why I Decided to Write My Story
Now that my memoir, Sidonia’s Thread, is published, I think it is a good time to recall the blog post that originally initiated this website, “Why I Decided to Write My Story.” With the book’s publication, I can finally reveal the secrets that I have held inside my whole life. We all have them, yet [...]
Springfield’s Council of Jewish Women Scholarship Brunch
I was honored to be the guest speaker on Friday, September 23, 2011 at the Council of Jewish Women’s Scholarship Brunch in Springfield, Massachusetts. It was a whirlwind of a morning with great food, welcoming guests, friends, and loved ones. Special thanks to Ann Cowen and Nedra Mirkin, Scholarship Committee Co-Chairs, and the Scholarship Brunch [...]
I Could Have Danced All Night
I recently attended an enchanting matinee performance of “My Fair Lady” at the Harriet S. Jorgensen Theatre at the University of Connecticut. “My Fair Lady” — has there ever been a better musical production created in America? My excitement and anticipation before the performance somehow surprised me, though. Yes, it’s a great show with the [...]
Springfield’s Sudden Twist of Fate
The Springfield Massachusetts newspaper described the tornado that hit the city on June 1 as a “Sudden, Violent Twist of Weather.” Growing up in that city, situated in the western portion of the state about one hundred miles west of Boston, I always thought tornados were destined for cities in the southern or western United [...]
Sidonia’s Captivating Visa Photo
This photograph, taken of my mother in May, 1949, will be part of the exhibit to be dedicated on May 31, 2011 at the Springfield, Massachusetts Jewish Community Center. The large wall memorial features photos of lost family members and Holocaust survivors who settled in Western Massachusetts after World War II. My mother, Sidonia, posed [...]
Holocaust Remembrance and Mother’s Day—Why they remind me of the same things
Of all days to pass away, my mother chose Mother’s Day! Actually, I know she really didn’t choose it at all. As a matter of fact, she resisted it with all her ninety-three year-old strength. But her will and determination were overcome by old age and dementia. She used that same will and determination to [...]
A Matzo Ball Soup Legacy
I’ve seen a lot of matzo balls during my life. Growing up in New England in a community of Jewish immigrants, I’ve seen them all—the dark tan ones, the light almond-hued ones, some that are chewy and dense, and some that are light and fluffy. I’ve seen those that resemble a real golf ball, some [...]
My Mother, the frugal entrepreneur
As an immigrant and single parent, how did my mother have the uncanny ability to spend very little, buy nothing on credit, lend funds to those in need, and yet always save money on a tight budget? Here are some of my observations of her monetary policies: Starting with her first paycheck as a sewing [...]
