"In March 2020, I jumped on one of the last flights from Chicago to Israel. A fraught journey bathed in isopropyl alcohol. The smell wafted through my pores as flight attendants took our temperatures and scribbled down quarantine information. I was sure my sweaty palms and forehead would jack up my temperature, but I passed and was allowed to land at Ben Gurion Airport..."
My story "The Coat" appears in the Turning Points anthology, a product of the Off Campus Writer's Workshop, one of Chicago's oldest and most venerable writers groups. The entire collection of 43 stories has been praised by such luminaries as best-selling authors Scott Turow and Jay Bonansinga, as well as esteemed creative writing educators Fred Shafer, Stuart Dybeck, and Patricia Ann McNair.
Bringing together two diverse communities and highlighting strong Israel-India relations, over 400 people gather in Chicago to simultaneously honor Diwali and Hanukkah
Yossi Chaikin’s tale of hard work, grit and determination took him from Kiryat Yam to the Juilliard School of Dance. Now, he’s made it to the big leagues.
After a murder at 2015’s Jerusalem Gay Pride parade, members of the gay community see increased acceptance even as some spiritual leaders double down on rejection.