Dear Professor
One of your former students told my daughter
To tell me that I should read your book
So I did
I read it in two days
I want to thank you
You articulated what I’ve felt for some time
But I could only stumble over my words
With a few close friends
After a successful business career in Chicago
I retired and moved to Haifa
You’ll be interested to know
The Israel National Library has your book
Good for them!
People can learn something from you
I’m reveling each day
In the kindred political spirits I’ve met here
I refuse to go to Yad Vashem
I’ve had enough of memory
Without responsibility
Now is the time to be responsible!
I’m old enough to remember when Dr. King
Referred to “the fierce urgency of now”
To see what viciousness is happening in the West Bank
Is shocking and infuriating
Again thank you for your writing
It’s inspired me to get up off my ass
Larry Friedberg
–from forthcoming novel, Dear Layla Welcome to Palestine
