Ben G Frank

Travel doesn't have to forgo religion.More than six decades after World War II, an abundance of Jewish institutions and cultural activities endures within a world that dates back over two thousand years―Jewish Europe. This newly updated handbook guides first-time and well-seasoned travelers to Jewish customs, local neighborhoods, and historical sites in Europe. From kosher dining in France to memorials in Scandinavia, this book combines practical information, intriguing stories, and an enlightening investigation into the many Jewish contributions to European history. It is a perfect companion for those seeking their roots in Europe or for those searching for places where relatives and friends once lived.

A Tumultuous Love Story of Endurance and Separation What started out as an infatuation between teenagers who met during the savage Russian Civil War becomes a tumultuous love story. From the moment Soviet Commissar Mischa Rasputnis embraces Basya Abramskaya, a Soviet spy, the couple's fate is pitted against the Kremlin's secret police who warn the couple never to communicate with each other again. Wrenched from the arms of his loved one, Mischa often dreams he sees Basya in the sunflower fields of Ukraine, on the battlefields of the Spanish Civil War, along the beaches of Tel Aviv, and in the teeming alleyways of Shanghai. Will their love endure years of separation and deception to evade the long reach of the Soviet spies he turned on. This suspenseful tale, "Klara's Brother & The Woman He Loved," Volume III of The Klara Trilogy, ends the saga of the Klara Rasputnis clan's battle for survival. An historical novel in one of the bloodiest and most irrational periods in the 20th century. -"With acute attention to historical details, Ben Frank pulls us into the lives of two lovers caught at the intersection of national loyalty and personal desire. It is a sizzling, affecting romance set in the grip of the Russian war. Tensions rise in the quest for survival. Loss is at stake. And we are left at the edge of this gripping narrative as we watch and root for the protagonists to overcome their hurdles and find their way back to each other."- Tochi Eze, Teaching Assistant, The Writing Program, Florida Atlantic University. "In Mischa, Ben Frank has created one of the unforgettable characters in contemporary fiction."- Lewis Burke Frumkes, Author, Radio Show Host. Ben G. Frank is the author of Klara's Journey, Klara's War, The Scattered Tribe, A Travel Guide to Jewish Europe (4 editions); A Travel Guide to Jewish Russia and Ukraine, A Travel Guide to the Jewish Caribbean and South America. He has published articles in Hadassah Magazine, Jerusalem Post, The Forward, Moment Magazine, JTA, and the New Haven Register.He is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, B.A., cum laude; and Columbia University, M.A. A native of Pittsburgh, PA, he lived for many years in the New York area, with his late wife, Riva. He now resides in Palm Beach County, FL.

An Electrifying, Historical Novel Across Continents. In 1941, the Nazis' brutal attack on Russia causes the flight of young Klara Grossman, who then meets and marries Warsaw-born Volya Warschawski. The young couple, alone and terrified, go on a perilous journey through the exotic Asian lands Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan. That is, until an unexpected and shocking separation causes their lives to unravel into a desperate fight for survival. As Klara travels back through war-torn Europe with her infant child to search for her husband, she is haunted by the question of whether her biological mother is still alive, and the circumstances of her birth. Joining Klara and Volya in this interlocking story of desire, passion and memory is Henryk Szysmo, a young Red Army soldier who for the first time, violates his instinctive behavior of not getting involved in anything, even love. Readers of Klara's War will witness how the inner war of these unforgettable characters reaches a thrilling climax during the turbulent, post-war era of Israel's War of Independence in May, 1948. Testimonials: "In Klara's War, Ben Frank continues the saga of unforgettable characters. Two decades later, a new, younger, courageous and intrepid Klara appears on the scene. Her relentless search for her family after the tragedy and disruptions of the holocaust offers a resounding tribute to the human spirit and the bedrock pull of peoplehood and family. This is a story for the ages." -- Warren Adler, author of The War of the Roses and The Serpents Bite. "A consummate teller of tales, Ben Frank outdoes himself in Klara's War, an epic novel of war, survival and the redemptive power of love. In this sequel to Klara's Journey, the reader is taken on a dizzying voyage of lands and emotions. An experienced travel writer, Frank's imagery is vivid and his historical reach expansive." -- Alida Brill, author of Dancing at the River's Edge and Dear Princess Grace, Dear Betty. "If Alan Furst specialized in Russia and the Crimea, and was in love with Klara, he would write like Ben Frank."-- Lewis Burke Frumkes, author, radio show host. BEN G. FRANK is the author of Klara's Journey, The Scattered Tribe, A Travel Guide to Jewish Europe, A Travel Guide to JewishRussia and Ukraine, and A Travel Guide to the Jewish Caribbean and South America. He has published articles in Hadassah Magazine, Jerusalem Post, Reform Judaism, The Forward, The New Haven Register, The Arkansas Gazette, Inside Chappaqua Magazine. He is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, B.A. cum laude, and Columbia University, M.A. A native of Pittsburgh, PA, he lived for many years in the New York area with his late wife, Riva. He now resides, in Palm Beach County, FL.