This novel owes its existence to many books, teachers, and conversations. I discuss some of these influences in the “Books Within the Book” essay in the P.S.™ section, and offer particular gratitude to the late Alex Aronson, whose journery inspired Walter’s story.
Much appreciation to my insightful and intuitive editor, Jillian Verrillo, for her vision, generous work, and advocacy; to Terry Karten for inviting me on board; and to everyone at HarperCollins, especially Amy Baker, Dori Carlson, Cal Morgan, Kathryn Ratcliffe-Lee, Marry Sasso, Nikki Smith, and Sherry Wasserman; with thanks to Katherine Haigler for her astute copyediting. I am grateful to my dynamic agent, Rena Rossner of the Deborah Harris Agency, and offer special thanks to Ilana Kurshan and Deborah Harris for their comments and support.
Thank you to the scholars who answered my questions: Francis Nicosia (Berlin), Peter Schmitthenner and Stephen Legg (Bombay), and Rabbi Morton Leifman (who shared anecdotes about JTS in the 1940s). My gratitude to readers of early drafts: Richard Greenberg, Sarah Heller, and Lisa Feld, with special thanks to Leah Strigler for her historical lens and multiple readings. I am indebted to my longtime cherished reader, Laura Glen Louis, whose generous and sage advice saved this novel (and me) more than once.
I am grateful to my teachers: Reb Mimi Feigelson, who first introduced me to the teachings of the Ishbitzer Rebbe, and Rute Yair-Nussbaum, whose illuminations helped me understand how Hasidic ideas and literary fiction could share a common language. Thanks to cartoonist Jennifer Berman for permission to use the Velveteen Rabbi, and to Rachel Barenblat for giving the term new life.
Thank you to the Bronx Council on the Arts for generous financial support, to the Drisha Institute for Jewish Education for providing a gracious home for learning, and to my friends at the Rabbinical Assembly and JTS who invited me into their circle and gave me a front-row seat to their scholarship. I am grateful to my chavrusas Susan Kaplow and Jill Minkoff and to my Rosh Hodesh group for conversations about all things Jewish and feminist. And thanks always to Laura Paradise.
This novel owes a debt to the memory of my father, Eli, whose unfinished journey seeded a legacy. Much gratitude and love to my mother, Edie, for providing a house overflowing with stories; to my siblings, Jane and Michael; and to my extended tribe.
Finally, all my love and appreciation to my husband, Ralph—best reader and best friend—and to our sons, Eli and Ezra, for their many kindnesses.