Author Archives: dianabletter

About dianabletter

Diana Bletter is the author of several books, including The Invisible Thread: A Portrait of Jewish American Women (with photographs by Lori Grinker), shortlisted for a National Jewish Book Award. Her novel, A Remarkable Kindness, (HarperCollins) was published in 2015. She is the First Prize Winner of Moment Magazine's 2019 Fiction Contest. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Commentary, tabletmag, Glamour, The Forward, The North American Review, Times of Israel, and is a reporter for Israel21C, and many other publications. She is author of Big Up Yourself: It's About Time You Like Being You and The Mom Who Took off On Her Motorcycle, a memoir of her 10,000-mile motorcycle trip to Alaska and back to New York. She lives in a small beach village in Western Galilee, Israel, with her husband and family. She is a member of the local hevra kadisha, the burial circle, and a Muslim-Jewish-Christian-Druze women's group in the nearby town of Akko. And, she likes snowboarding and climbing trees.

Down Syndrome Awareness Day

“Goodness is contagious.” That’s what Adi Sagi, a foster parent of two daughters with Down Syndrome told me. I interviewed him before Down Syndrome Awareness Day which was March 21. For the past 15 years, Sagi and his wife, Sharon, … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Greek Orthodox Priest in Akko, Israel

Here’s my article in Israel21C. A story of inspiration, spiritual, faith and hope. He calls himself Father Philotheos, meaning “a friend of God” in Greek. As the priest of the Greek Orthodox St. George Church in the Old City of Acre (Akko) … Continue reading

Posted in change, hope | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

An Unexpected Bakery in the Galilee

This unusual couple makes unusual baked goods. Here’s my story from Israel21C. Vered Baer and Morad Bishara in front of the bakery in Tarshiha, Galilee, Israel Vered Baer started experimenting with gluten-free cooking and baking when her younger sister was … Continue reading

Posted in hope | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Camping Under the Stars in the Galilee

Camping in Israel reminds me why I want to schlep everything to sleep under the moon and stars. Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Leah Scheier, Author of the First Modern Orthodox Jewish YA Novel, The Last Words We Said

I had the opportunity to talk to Leah Scheier, a novelist AND pediatrician AND mother of five children. Her fourth young-adult novel, The Last Words We Said, was published recently by Simon & Schuster. It’s a moving story about love and … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized, Writers, Writing | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Catholic Israeli Walied Khoury, one of the last blacksmiths in Israel, on his ancient tools and techniques

In Europe, blacksmiths pass their craft from father to son, according to Walied Khoury, a blacksmith in the village of Fassuta in the Western Galilee. But there are only about eight blacksmiths in all of Israel. Khoury is one of … Continue reading

Posted in being a hero in your own life, change, Israel | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Producer Dafna Prenner on Creativity, The Beauty Queen of Jerusalem, and the First Lady of Israeli Television, Who Happened to be Her Mom

I didn’t know this fact. You probably didn’t, either. Israel sells more scripted TV shows than any other country in the world except for the United Kingdom. I learned that when I visited Dafna Prenner. On her office wall at Artza … Continue reading

Posted in inspiration | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Passing Down the Ancient Craft of Organ Building In Western Galilee, Israel

Gideon Shamir entrusts apprentice Uri Shani with his workshop, where metal and wooden organ pipes soar upwards like mountain peaks. I was so enchanted during my visit at this workshop for organ building in the Galilee. The article appeared in … Continue reading

Posted in miracles, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Israeli Aid Worker’s HeartBreaking Report: On the Ground with Refugees from Ukraine

Here’s the latest news…I spoke to Linor Attias, a relief worker in Moldova, helping refugees fleeing from Ukraine for Israel21C. A delegation of 15 physicians, medics and paramedics from Israel’s voluntary emergency response organization, United Hatzalah, was the first international relief organization … Continue reading

Posted in miracles | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Take Your Wife to Work Day in Israel

Tales from the heart: Out on the tractor at dawn Here’s my article in Israel21C about my husband, Jonny Kuritsky who has been farming the fields of Shavei Zion, Western Galilee, Israel. By  Diana Bletter  FEBRUARY 3, 2022, 2:15 PM Avocado grove … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments