Karen Levine

2 months ago | jewishbookcouncil.org | Karen Levine

By – April 28, 2025 This story is set in a shtetl in Europe, but its themes — bravery, overcoming fears, family responsibility, and the importance of community — are universal. Ten-year-old Shmuel wants to help his family, who are poor and depend on one another to pitch in order to make ends meet. However, he is only an inexperienced boy and no one is willing to hire him for any kind of work.

Jul 23, 2024 | israelnationalnews.com | Elie Wiesel |Karen Levine

There’s a teenager, about 14- or 15-years-old, who lives in my serene suburban neighborhood with his family. His mother, a nurse, is a kind woman who always has a smile on her face. She waves to my kids when they’re riding their bikes, and we stop and chat once in a while if we’re both outside at the same time. We've been friendly neighbors for the past three years, if not particularly close. About three months ago though, things took a turn.