Sephardic Heritage International (SHIN DC) is a cultural diplomacy NGO that raises awareness of Sephardic and other underrepresented Jewish heritages. One of our activities is organizing, since 2019, the annual Congressional Holocaust Commemoration that aims to bring often-omitted Sephardic narratives into focus. Dark Shadows Hover is very relevant because it is coming out at a time when more Jewish institutions have begun to recognize that Sephardic history and narratives are often too underrepresented in Jewish education.nAs the founding director of SHIN-DC, I receive requests from schools and other Jewish institutions to help them be more inclusive of Sephardic narratives. Every student of 2th century Sephardic history should read Dark Shadows Hover and no Jewish school should be without a copy in their libraries and classrooms.

Jordan Steven Sheru2019s biographical fiction Dark Shadows Hover is a superb book. Based on the true story of Sephardic Holocaust survivor and partisan fighter Moris Albahari, it brings to life the often-forgotten Sephardic and Balkan narratives of the Holocaust.nThe book employs interviews with Moris Albahariu2019s son Dado (whom I have the honor to know personally) and widow Ela, as well as extensive research on the war in Yugoslavia, to piece together the story of Morisu2019 life and survival as a partisan between the ages of 12 and 16.nSheru2019s book, with a riveting and engaging plot, remains true to history. It provides a rare insight into the complexity of Balkan Jewish identity through its account of Morisu2019 life as a teenage Sephardic Jew in the rapidly changing political landscape of 20th century Bosnia u2013 a life that was brutally upended by the Axis invasion of Yugoslavia. The narrative then shifts to the fight against the Nazis, Italians, Ustasha, and their fascist allies, and the movement borne out of that struggle to reclaim a new Yugoslavia.nThe unfolding of this underrepresented Sephardic perspective of the War and the Holocaust is powerful because it is relatable, as it brings to life shared human experiences: coming of age, love, family, friendship, loss, healing, and the resilience of the soul.nThe Nazis and their collaborators obliterated more than 100,000 Ladino/Judeo-Spanish speakers during the Holocaust in the Balkans. Famous historical Jewish communities of Thessaloniki, Sarajevo, and Belgrade are in essence no more. When Moris died in 2022, he was one of Bosniau2019s last Ladino speakers.nDark Shadows Hover has the potential to raise awareness of the Ladino communities and their role in the global Jewish identity. This is illustrated, for example, by Morisu2019 initially tense encounter with the Hispanic-American David Garinjo whose only shared language with him was Spanish. This allowed Moris to communicate to the downed American fighter pilot in Judeo-Spanish that, as a partisan fighter, he was an ally and wanted to help.

An enthralling historical fiction that reimagines the world of a young Sephardic Bosnian boy who navigates life prior to, during, and following the Holocaust. Based on the life of Moris Albahari, this powerful narrative weaves a tapestry of adventure, filled with separation, loss, friendship, hope, and the arduous task of rebuilding amidst the ruins of war. Sher carefully reconstructs this journey of survival, exploring Sephardic Jewish life in Bosnia and unveiling a lesser-known chapter in the history of WWII.

I first met Morris Albahari in the fall of 2008 when visiting the synagogue/Jewish Community Center in Sarajevo. He served unofficially as its ambassador greeting all visitors and worshippers. His stories recounting the history of Bosniau2019s Jews, and his life during and after World War II were mesmerizing. In Jordan Steven Sheru2019s book, you feel as if you are right there hiding in the hills with Moris and the partisan fighters. Youu2019ll follow him through desperate and dangerous times and rejoice in his survival. This is a heartwarming story that will be enjoyed by all.

Sometimes the essence of a period of history, or the truth about a personu2019s life, can be reached more effectively through a well-crafted piece of fiction than through dry non-fiction. In Dark Shadows Hover, author Jordan Steven Sher has accomplished this admirably. Filling out what we know about the life of Moric Albahari with historically plausible vignettes, Mr. Sher has created a nuanced and moving illustration of the dramatic early part of Albahariu2019s life. In a thoughtfully developed story, the author has depicted the personalities of the beloved Moric Albahari and his comrades in a rich and believable way. Sher has succeeded in representing the dangers of war and the spirit of liberation that shaped Albahariu2019s formative years.

Sheru2019s work of accessible biographical fiction deftly blends historical context and the close imaginings of an extraordinary life to captivate us with Moris Albahariu2019s story. Based on personal interviews conducted by Sher and those conducted by the Shoah Foundation, Albahariu2019s private writings, and historical research on wartime Yugoslavia, Sher draws us into the capricious landscape of the Ustasha state. Sher traces the wider progression of events through Albahariu2019s story, letting us into the everyday moments of the lesser-known experience in Yugoslavia, enriched by the Ladino/Sephardic Jewish world that served as Sheru2019s point of entry. This is the kind of book that will reach the inner world of readers and expand their ability to imagine the life struggles and achievements of another person in their deeply uncertain place and time. It is also suitable for young adult readers, who may wish to savor Albahariu2019s favorite raspberry cookies and remember his life and legacy.

The Holocaust: as Jews, we inherently u201cRemember the six millionu201d who perished at the hands of the Nazi regime. But what of the individual narratives behind this vast tragedy? It is a rarity to encounter a Holocaust story that embodies equal measures of sorrow and triumph, yet Jordan Steven Sher has gifted readers exactly this. Dark Shadows Hover is a fictionalized account of a Yugoslavian Jewish boy thrust into manhood when his only chance of survival is to join Josip Broz Titou2019s Partisan resistance. Students of history will find an exceptional guide to understanding both the Holocaust and Yugoslaviau2019s role in World War II. Readers of every stripe will learn about a little-known hero, a boy clinging to his u201clucky marbleu201d as tightly as his Jewish faith. Sher provides a rich portrait of Moris Albahari, a humanist and activist who remained loyal to his Bosnian homeland and its diminished Jewish community until his recent death.

Dark Shadows Hover is the extraordinarily moving saga of one young manu2019s unending bravery in the face of years of constant danger. Author Jordan Steven Sher masterfully weaves this chronicle of adversity, heartbreak and ultimately, triumph. Although Sher terms his work biographical fiction, this novel adheres quite closely to fact after remarkable fact: When World War II began, Moris Albahari was a young Sephardic Jew growing up in a small town in Bosnia. At the age of eleven, Albahari miraculously escaped a Croatian death-camp train. He survived a winter wandering alone in the frozen forests of Yugoslavia, then years as a teenaged courier and photographer with partisan guerrillas fighting against Nazis, Mussoliniu2019s Italians and Croatian fascists. Albahari is testament to the fact that the war produced not only unspeakable horror, but also remarkable heroism, even among those barely in their teens. However, Sher crafts this epic in a way to show that individuals like Albahari werenu2019t one-dimensional superman caricatures, but real flesh-and-blood humans, displaying fear and vulnerability, as well as steely resolve and unwavering acts of self-sacrifice. n