Our family had ancestors who wrote in the 19th and 20th centuries. They can be found on Wikipedia under the Title above with pictures and books they wrote. It is fascinating to explore. Take a look.
When my sister, Shirley Sloan Fader went to Israel with her husband Seymour to live after the State of Israel was born, they met several Kimchis who were writers.
It is fascinating to trace the probability that writing genes have been passed from generation to generation in our family. Here goes:
Shirley and I were the daughters of Miriam Marcus Sloan. Her mother was Hannah KIMCHI Marcus. She had come to America with her father in about 1890 from Poland. He didn’t like it here and then went to Palestine. She said, “I like it here. I’m staying.” Lucky for all of us, she was very independent and beautiful. She was courted in the Lower East Side of New York by a German Jewish Doctor whose last name was Marcus.
They had three daughters, Deborah, Rose and Miriam. Deborah and Miriam were early scholars and loved to write. They both went to Hunter College , free in those days, and studied many languages: Latin, Greek, Old English, Hebrew of course, French, German . In later years, Miriam learned Braille to teach on a volunteer basis to classes for l7 years of her later life. She and her students sent books to The Library of Congress in Washington.
Deborah wrote “The Three Pillars”, the book given by The Theological Seminary to Jewish brides on their weddings for decades. The pillars were Thought. Worship. Practice. Deborah was also the Supervisor of Languages in Elizabeth , New Jersey where they lived. Once a year she gave a lecture in Latin. She married a Sephardic Rabbi, Raphael Melamed.
Miriam married Samuel Louis Sloan, a doctor who opened his practice in Paterson , New Jersey. My sister and I both loved to write. Shirley became what was known as a three name lady writer. Shirley Sloan Fader. Her books are in my library. She wrote articles and books for children and adults. “The Princess Who Grew Down” , “From Kitchen to Career” and “Jobmanship” under a man’s name S. R. Redford. ( The initials were for Shirley Ruth )
I started writing books after writing a weekly column for 15 years in Jewish Times, “ Dimensions” on Social and Political aspects of current life. My first book, “Courage in High Heels”, published in 2003 became my bestseller. My novels: “Flaw in The Tapestry” was followed by a sequel, “If Winter Comes”. “The Mermaids Singing” led to “The Critical Eye”, a collection of my articles on American life style and culture that have been published in newspapers and magazines over the years.
It appears that some of the original Kimchi genes from the European and Palestine Kimchi writers are appearing in my children and their children. How delightful to contemplate this genetic progression.
Steven and David write as an integral part of their professional positions. Steve is managing partner of the law firm he founded in New York City. Dave is a Senior Executive at the Washington Center in D.C. He was the editor of “‘Leverage” and contributes Op Ed columns to The Hill, Baltimore Sun and other major publications. Faith has used her writing skills to build a solid career in the corporate business world where reports, and analyses are required in many aspects of the positions she has held.
Next Generation: Steven & Lauren’s son Jason has a degree in English and has written a novel as well as several TV or Movie scripts. David and Adrienne’s daughter Eden is aimed at a career in Design where she will edit and create in writing and pictures. Faith’s daughter Jennifer matched writing skills to her art work in college years. She is currently preparing Power Point presentations for a New York Doctor who gives lectures around the world on complex medical subjects. Jen does the writing.
It seems to me the proud grandmother that all three of the next generation are displaying Kimchi genes to advantage. Fantastic!
………………………………………………………………………………………Joyce S. Anderson
