Shalom and welcome to my blog. I would like to introduce you to Chai Levene, my Jewish detective (Shamus). He is of Russian descent, an Askenazic Jew. Unfortunately, he knows very little of his own history, but he is devoted to helping others of Jewish lineage find their ancestry or discover the lives of relatives passed on. Sometimes he even solves crimes that were committed long ago, or finds the living among journals of the lost. It's a whole new/old world - like looking into the past with eyes fixed on the future.
Levene loves to eat, especially Jewish food. He can be found daily at his favorite deli, Mac's, where he kibitzes with his buddies and often does business. His favorite sandwich is corned beef on Jewish rye or pumpernickel with many tasty accoutrements.
Levene is a solitary man and does not like to disclose much of himself, however he is ever at the beck and call of those who need his services. He spends countless hours in pursuit of arcane facts and has a great working knowledge of the world's genealogical archives. He is the only genealogical Jewish detective in the world, himself a tree of life! Yet he is unaware of spiritual truths that are the generator of the work he does. Alas, perhaps in some way he will find enlightenment!
Come along and share Shamus (shay muss) Chai (life) Levene's busy, solitary life to observe and learn. Now, I must tell you that his genealogical adventures seem to be based in Eastern Europe; primarily in Ukraine, Belarus and Russia, though sometimes his adventures are centered here in the USA. He is not much of a traveler, but will go where his assignments take him.
To read these stories on cellphones, clickon the black HOME link and you'll get a list of chapters. There are ten to this story. The green HOME link will return you to the post page.
Gadgets may be seen by clicking on the link that gives you the WEBPAGE view.
Our first story. "The Brooch of Ivan the Terrible" is here for your enjoyment. Levene solves the mystery of the missing brooch that Ivan the Terrible gifted one of his wives with. For hundreds of years it appeared to be lost or stolen. Moscovitz appears as the unfortunate relative to whom it belongs, but we later learn that what appears to be true often is a ruse!
More stories from Levene's casework files are currently being gathered and will be listed on a link on this page.
My books and other sites I own are listed at the bottom of this blog.
Marlena Tanya Baker
marlenatanya@gmail.com
