Linking the Threads : A Tribute to a Litvak Tailor

In the midst of an epoch of memoirs, it is a rare joy to find a work that demonstrates both a compelling level of historical detail and offers a narrative driven by more than the facts alone -- just one of the reasons that newcomer Hilary Rudick''s stunning new family biography, Linking the Threads, is such a pleasure to read. In the early 20th Century, a young Lithuanian tailor flees his ancestral home and its burgeoning anti-Semitism and embarks for South Africa -- a land reminiscent of a young America featuring "streets paved with gold". Having left his home as "Doniyel" he becomes "Daniel" and, though he finds a welcoming Jewish community in his new country, the traditions of his homeland often seem a distant and painful memory. As Daniel''s story evolves, Rudick displays a great sensitivity to the notion of home, the power of culture, and the heartbreak involved with losing and gaining family and friends. The narrative does not end there, however Rudick proceeds to recount the stories of Daniel''s children (her grandparents) and of her own life in South Africa during the turbulent 1970s. But as the narrative broadens, Rudick ensures it remains cohesive by linking eras and characters with powerful Jewish imagery and symbolism. Pesach, the Seder, the chuppah -- even the spicy sweet confection ruggelach -- become characters themselves and offer their own history to the reader. Reading Linking the Threads is akin to exploring an ancient trunk and extracting an aged and fading tapestry that grows ever more vibrant as it is brought into the light. Rudick has woven a stunning and memorable tale that is nothing less than a model for the memoir format.