Eternally Yours - Stories and Essays

About the Book

    English is not Holzmann's mother tongue nor the language he uses in daily life. Then why did he write in English? "Hebrew is the language I speak." he says "But my Hebrew is too poor to write a book. Worse, I lack the background and knowledge of Hebrew literature and Jewish scriptures which are essential for writing a book in Hebrew."
    As to German, the language I know best," he says "I tried it. But to my surprise I found that my German is too schwerfällig to express the light mood of my stories and the way I use to think."

    Liz Robbins wrote to him from Victoria "The fact that English is not your first language adds a definite intrigue and beauty to your style so don't let anyone 'Americanize' your manuscript".

The essays and stories:

• Why am I Jewish?
• Dark Sunset over Germany
• How to get out of Ma?
• IQ
• Wedding in an Orange Grove
• The Hour that Never Was
• There is only One Mrs. Bauman
• See You at the Funeral

Holzmann met a multitude of characters in life who fill his stories. Here are some of them:

• CSM Menkins the Company Sergeant Major who cursed in Yiddish
• Dr. Logan. the bald headed Jecke who was Director General of the Ministry.
• "Clair, the schoolmate of his mother who flashed the deep cleft between her breasts and her naked upper thigh into his face."
• His two friends from the SS who came to visit him at night, when they discussed Germany and the Jews.
• Gretchen. the German woman who never ceased to curse Hitler.
• Lazlo Minkowith, the homosexual cook of the Officers Mess.
• Sister Mary Scott who sought revenge for Captain Sounder's slight.
• Colonel Helen Oak of Middle East GHQ in Cairo.
• Miri, the bridegroom's future sister in law, who wrote a book about men, whom she interviewed, tried out and documented.
• the Rav's daughter (wearing jeans) who stood in for the tenth man.

About the Author

    Zeev Holzmann was born in Germany in the township of Höchst a/M. In the 1930s, he emigrated to Palestine, where he worked as an agricultural labourer.
    During the Second World War Holzmann served with the British Army. After his release, he became secretary of a local labor council, and subsequently held a variety of offices in various institutions. In the late 1970s he retired as Deputy Director General from Israel's Social Security Institute.