One Day and Forever

Large View 

Zeesala Hartstein, despite her wealthy, pampered and socially upper-class upbringing is the epitome of a true Jewish daughter. Modest, kind and caring, the beautiful Zeesala makes the match that is the fulfillment of every girl’s dream. During the “wedding-of-the-year” she marries Aryeh Leib Posner, scion of a prominent misnagdic rabbinic family, who is not only a young, brilliant Torah scholar, but also a man with an adventurous soul. Seeking to expand his spiritual horizons, Aryeh Leib is drawn to the visionary chassidim of Tomashov and their charismatic leader. To the stark disapproval of Zeesala’s father and the chagrin of his own family, Aryeh Leib begins to find spiritual fulfillment within this new circle of friends. The strain on their marriage, the concurrent deepening of their relationship, and Zeesala’s ultimate triumph are the enduring elements of this epic novel of historical fiction based on a unique biography. Sarah Birnhack’s rich, vivid characters speak in the language of their time but face real-life conflicts equally applicable today. Their gripping story and the resolution of their difficulties make for a page-turning read you simply won’t be able to put down.