Authors engage us with the spirit of their
characters and it is always a pleasure when we get to enjoy those characters in
the next novel. In the first novel, Next
Year in Jerusalem: Romance, Mystery and Spiritual Awakenings Holstein introduces
us to Maggie and Natalie as they embark on a vacation to Jerusalem. Holstein
continues the drama in Part 2 in this Trilogy of Romance Books as Natalie and
Maggie, best friends since college, find themselves steeped in the romance,
mysticism and mystery of Jerusalem.
The appearance of Jack, a diamond dealer and Natalie’s old boyfriend from college, creates incredible tension and arousal for Natalie. How can see keep her marriage intact? A new man mesmerizes Maggie also in her life: Raji from India.
The mystery woman, Chaya Sarah, continues to share profound spiritual wisdom. Teaching Natalie the concept of ‘soul mate’ helps Natalie revive her marriage, at least for a night.
However Chaya Sara’s secrecy about herself baffles them, and concern grows that Chaya Sarah may be involved in more than meets the eye.
Too soon they must leave Jerusalem. A last minute surprising upset centered around Chaya Sarah frightens them and they realize they may be dealing with intrigue and terrorism.
How will Natalie and Maggie handle the mystery and romance that floods both women as they attempt to get back to life in the United States? Can a return to Jerusalem be far behind in this trilogy of romantic fiction?
The appearance of Jack, a diamond dealer and Natalie’s old boyfriend from college, creates incredible tension and arousal for Natalie. How can see keep her marriage intact? A new man mesmerizes Maggie also in her life: Raji from India.
The mystery woman, Chaya Sarah, continues to share profound spiritual wisdom. Teaching Natalie the concept of ‘soul mate’ helps Natalie revive her marriage, at least for a night.
However Chaya Sara’s secrecy about herself baffles them, and concern grows that Chaya Sarah may be involved in more than meets the eye.
Too soon they must leave Jerusalem. A last minute surprising upset centered around Chaya Sarah frightens them and they realize they may be dealing with intrigue and terrorism.
How will Natalie and Maggie handle the mystery and romance that floods both women as they attempt to get back to life in the United States? Can a return to Jerusalem be far behind in this trilogy of romantic fiction?
Purchase Next Year in Jerusalem: Around
Every Corner, Mystery & Romance in the Holy Land: Part 2.
Book
Excerpt from Next Year in Jerusalem, Part 2, Around Every Corner, Mystery &
Romance in the Holy Land
Chapter
Six,
As the driver pulled away, Natalie realized how poorly lit
the street was. Now, well past dusk, the one street light way down the block
did nothing to brighten the end where she stood. The building itself had one
little light above the doorway. As she walked along the sidewalk to the front
door, she shivered suddenly and wondered why in the world she'd sent away her
protection?
She rang the bell. Immediately a sweet young woman, probably
no more than twenty-nine or thirty, head kerchief neatly in place, answered the
door. Natalie felt better. Now to introduce herself and get started. Her heart
pounded, but from excitement, not fear.
"Can I help you?"
"Chaya Sarah made an appointment for me to come here
tonight after sundown."
"Oh, sorry, phones no working," the girl said in
broken English. "No messages this week."
Natalie felt her heart begin to pound harder. Now she was
upset. Another mix-up, another confusion where she would never know if Chaya
Sarah had tried to call!
"Oh, well, I'm here to go into the mikvah.* I
understand I can go in as a bride, even though I've been married many years. It
is my first time. I was told a matron would show me what to do and give me a
prayer to say."
"First time? No problem. Come in. I will show you where
to go. Cost ninety shekels. Fill out form."
Natalie handed over the money, and signed the visitor sheet
(a blank piece of notepaper with the date at the top). She .was not at all sure
the young woman understood most of what she said. Only later did she wonder why
she so freely signed a blank piece of paper with her name and full home
address.
"Come this way." The young woman led Natalie past
a small waiting room with pleasant pink walls and a soft gray marble floor.
There were no pictures, no signs and no literature with the facility’s name.
The place was stark, but certainly clean and feminine in its color scheme. It
was eerily quiet. Natalie wished she had asked the taxi driver to wait.
The young woman spoke. "Please, you go here," she
said as she opened the door of a large, attractive bathroom with many mirrors.
"Robe in there,” she explained as she pointed to a small closet. “After
shower, go down hall to mikvah."
"Will you be coming in to help me? Natalie practically
begged. “Are there prayers to say?"
"See, mikvah down there. You open and go in. No one
bother you."
Obviously, they hadn't communicated clearly. "Any
prayers to say?" Natalie tried one more time.
The young woman looked perplexed. "Mrs. Levy not here,
I alone." It hadn’t seemed to work, and eventually Natalie realized
that not only was the woman's English poor, but apparently Mrs. Levy was the
wisdom keeper of everything, including the prayers. Finally, she surmised that
she’d have to make the most of her experience. So much for that; she’d just
have to carry on by herself. There was no going back now.
The woman walked back to the desk in the waiting room and
sat down. Apparently, it was all now in Natalie's hands.
She went into the bathroom and started to undress.
Determined to make the most of this situation, she let the environment begin to
take over. This was going to be fun. Yes, she would prepare for the mikvah as
if she was a Queen. Maybe she’d been the Queen of Sheba in another life? She
laughed to herself, and then the image of being a very special bride on her
wedding night came to her. It was a lovely image.
Somehow, the environment elicited from her vague yet
powerful feelings. She felt so female, part of a special group, a sisterhood of
women who had gone from babyhood to elder years ... one by one in an endless
chain of family life, belonging to the same tribe. She saw her body today,
naked in the mirrors, and once more felt moved to tears. She envisioned those
before her--her grandmothers and her mother, and
then saw her daughter after her, and imagined granddaughters in the future. She
felt their energy, their hopes, dreams and prayers along with hers in the
highly charged feminine bathroom.
She felt good although she was crying at the same time. The
golden chain of women in her mind's eye engaged in no gossip, put-downs,
criticisms or comparisons. It was as if each woman had been branded with a
primitive imprint that identified her as belonging to the same clan; no need
for words. Just timeless knowledge, maybe first known by Eve in the Garden of
Eden and passed down over hundreds of generations, a
knowledge of mannerisms and hopes and dreams that transcended time. Now, she
stood right here in the midst of it, finally able to enjoy the same rights as
other Jewish women throughout history.
Natalie showered again with a vengeance. She was determined
to be as clean as she could be for the purifying waters. With no one to guide
her, she washed her hair, took off her make-up, and trimmed her nails with the
small scissor that lay on the vanity. She looked at the three red strings on
her wrist. Should she leave them? It didn't seem right, since she knew she was
to be completely unadorned. Without another thought, she cut them off with the
scissor.
She was ready now. She took a fluffy robe from the closet,
and a pair of paper slippers, the kind they give you when you're in the
hospital. She also grabbed a towel from the closet shelf and proceeded down the
hall.
The building was totally silent. When she looked back she
didn't even see the young woman in the waiting room any more. She could see
from the small window in the hallway that it was pitch dark outside. The only
noise was that of a siren somewhere, and the sound of an occasional car passing
by.
She opened the door to the mikvah. The room was the size of
a small bedroom with white tile walls, and most
of it was taken up by what looked like a very small swimming pool. She’d feared
the water would be cold, but as she stepped down a small staircase into the
water, she was surprised as the pleasant warmth rushed up to her. At chest
level the water seemed so much smoother and silkier than regular water. She
sank down further, letting her hands float at her sides as the water welcomed
her. A profound feeling of safety and calmness enveloped her. Were there
guardian angels in here with her? It felt that way, but she wasn't scared. She
felt protected and loved and, in turn, felt her
heart opening up toward David.
Making her own prayer she said aloud softly, "Dear G-d,
may David and I be blessed with the harmony that comes from being soul mates.
And may I have the strength not to be influenced by other forces not in my best
interests."
That covered it. She wasn't going to credit Jack by even
saying his name aloud in these sacred waters.
She dunked herself in the waters three times, really fast.
She had promised herself, but that part was hard. She grasped her towel and
wiped her eyes and ears. She had almost drowned on Cape Cod once as a child,
but a big strong man had pulled her out. Since then, she could never stand to
go underwater. But this time it was worth it. This was for their marriage and
for herself.
She returned to her changing room
where she took another shower, this time a quick one, and got dressed. When she
went back to the waiting room no one was there. In fact the young woman never
reappeared even when Natalie called out....
*mikvah: A specified pure body of
water that is used for total immersion, often associated with bringing a
heightened level of sacredness to the marriage bed.
About Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein
Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein,
internationally known positive psychologist, inspires thousands with her
ENCHANTED SELF®. Around the world, people benefit from her techniques to
enhance well-being, and to live up to their potential. Known for her ability to
make complex psychological concepts easy to understand and to implement, she
has now turned her talents to novel writing.
"A great fiction read is a great escape, and yet, it is more! It is
the gateway to new ways of thinking and behaving."
Dr. Holstein received her Doctorate in Education from Boston University and her BA degree from Barnard College. Dr. Holstein has been a school psychologist and taught first and second grades. She is in private practice with her husband, Dr. Russell M. Holstein, in Long Branch, New Jersey. Find her at www.enchantedself.com
Dr. Holstein received her Doctorate in Education from Boston University and her BA degree from Barnard College. Dr. Holstein has been a school psychologist and taught first and second grades. She is in private practice with her husband, Dr. Russell M. Holstein, in Long Branch, New Jersey. Find her at www.enchantedself.com
Her previous books include:
·
THE ENCHANTED
SELF, A Positive Therapy
·
Recipes for
Enchantment, The Secret Ingredient is YOU!
·
The Truth (I'm
a girl, I'm smart and I know everything)
·
Seven Gateways
to Happiness: Freeing Your Enchanted Self.
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