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SEQUEL TO "IN THE COURTYARD OF THE KABBALIST" JUST PUBLISHED!

The short story sequel, "The Rebbetzin's Courtyard" originally appeared in Narrative Magazine, and is now available in unabridged form from Blackstone Audio. CLICK HERE TO ORDER

Shaindel, the elderly widow of a dead kabbalist, seeks out her former assistant Isaac to help launch her debut as the new kabbalist of the courtyard. Isaac puts aside his own career plans (he's about to receive his rabbinic ordination) and gladly agrees to help with all the people flocking to the courtyard with their problems. He thinks the lady will be the same deeply warm, behind-the-scenes and discreetly wise woman he recalls from their old courtyard days. But he is shocked and unnerved to discover a very different Shaindel who has a kabbalistic mind of her own.

"The Rebbetzin's Courtyard" picks up where the novel, "In the Courtyard of the Kabbalist," left off. The award-winning novel was included in the Wall Street Journal's list of best fiction of the year, and was optioned to be made into a movie.

Ruchama King Feuerman was born in Nashville, grew up in Virginia and Maryland, and when she was seventeen, bought a one-way ticket to Israel to seek her spiritual fortune. She lived and taught in Israel for ten years. Seven Blessings (St. Martin's Press), her celebrated first novel about match-making, earned her the praise of the New York Times and the Dallas Morning News. Her second novel, In the Courtyard of the Kabbalist (New York Review Books), was an American Library Association Honor Title, was optioned to be made into a movie, and chosen as Best Jerusalem Novel in Tablet. Her short stories have appeared in Narrative Magazine, the Michigan Quarterly Review, Tablet, and other publications. One of her short stories was just awarded the Lawrence Foundation Prize. Her work has been recognized by fellowships from the Christopher Isherwood Foundation and the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. Ruchama is also the author of four children's books. Her books have been translated into Dutch and Spanish, and are also available in the U.K. Ruchama lives in New Jersey with her husband and children.

"Best novel I've read all year...sophisticated and engaging...it treats an endlessly tangled topic—relations between Palestinian Arabs and Jews—with intelligence and originality...a manifestly terrific novel!"

--Wall Street Journal




In the Courtyard of the Kabbalist




Named one of "31 books that will restore your faith in humanity" by Buzzfeed, and one of "37 books with plot twists that will blow your mind" also by Buzzfeed.

"A beautiful novel that coils the history and mystery of Jerusalem into a private and vivid tale of personal dignity, ownership, love-- and the overlap of all three, the space we call the soul."

--Dara Horn