Phoenix Rising from a Savage Time: Book Three of the Savage Time Trilogy

By Marc Jordan Ben-Meir

This work of fiction is the third and final work in the Savage Time Trilogy. It continues to follows the Fridmans, the Falcos, the Bermans, the Williams and the Frees as well as the rest of the scattered families into the new era of the 20th century after surviving the American Civil War, Reconstruction and World War I. We start with a commemoration celebration of the70th anniversary of the founding father of the Fridmans arrival in America. Sol Fridman, and remember his journey from Jembin, Russia to Hamburg, Germany where he took a ship to follow his dream: America.
The story begins when the family gathers together to honor Sols memory and recap his adventures.
The story line leads the family into the 1929 stock market crash and its effect on the remainder of the family. Join the Fridmans, the Falcos, the Bermans, the Frees, and the rest of the scattered cousins as they make their way into the brave new world rising like a phoenix from the cold, dead ashes of war.
Join me and wander with me. Enjoy the story.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Sep 30, 2014
• ISBN: 9781499077650

Marc Jordan Ben-Meir

Marc Ben-Meir is an award winning historian, author, and historical researcher. His awards include the Thomas Alva Edison “Spirit of Edison” Award for excellence in research and education. He was also awarded the Jefferson Davis Gold Medal for excellence in Historical Research as well as the Judah Phillip Benjamin award for his contributions to humanity by the United Daughters of the Confederacy. Ben-Meir had completed four university degrees including a Ph.D. in Psychology and an adjunct professorship. He also graduated from seminary in New York and was ordained as a rabbi. He is married to His sweetheart Tina and is the father of three sons and seven grandchildren. The Ben-Meir’s live in Ft. Worth, Texas.

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Copyright © 2014 by Marc Jordan Ben-Meir.

ISBN:      Softcover      978-1-4990-7764-3

                eBook            978-1-4990-7765-0

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Rev. date: 09/25/2014

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CONTENTS

Dedication

Forward

I Am

Simcha

Anthony

Rafi

Anthony

Simcha

Marc

The Seminary

Anthony

Danny And Aaron

Aislin

Aaron

Simcha

Marc And Aislin

Tom

Marc And Aislin

Tom

Marc And Aislin

Tom

David

The New Hope

The Death Of Paradise

Camp Roosevelt; CCC

David

Robert

David

Marc And Aislin

Robert

A note from the author

This work of fiction is the third and final work in the "Savage Time Trilogy." It continues to follows the Fridman’s, the Falco’s, the Berman’s, the Williams and the Frees as well as the rest of the scattered families into the new era of the 20th century after surviving the American Civil War, Reconstruction and World War I. We start with a commemoration celebration of the70th anniversary of the founding father of the Fridman’s arrival in America. Sol Fridman, and remember his journey from Jembin, Russia to Hamburg, Germany where he took a ship to follow his dream: America.

The story begins when the family gathers together to honor Sol’s memory and recap his adventures.

The story line leads the family into the 1929 stock market crash and its effect on the remainder of the family. Join the Fridman’s, the Falco’s, the Berman’s, the Free’s, and the rest of the scattered cousins as they make their way into the brave new world rising like a phoenix from the cold, dead ashes of war.

Join me and wander with me. Enjoy the story.

DEDICATION

TO:

My sons

My grandchildren Aaron and Levi Ben-Meir, Arianna Sophia Ben-Meir, Aidan Fox Ben-Meir, Ellen-Marie, Katy and Mary White. The future is yours.

And to the memory of my beloved father-in-law, Chris Reger, who just recently left this earth.

And most importantly, to Tina.

With thanks to my niece Aislin Ciarcia who

came up with the name of this novel and who is

featured as a Character in this book.

Love you Aislin

Also by Dr. Ben-Meir

Concepts of Prisoner Rehabilitation; a Scholarly Research Work. Worth Press, 1984

The Sons of Joshua (the Story of the Jewish Contribution to the Confederacy). 2012, Xlibris Publishing

The Judah P. Benjamin Award for "Witness to a Savage Time." Xlibris Press 2012 – Book one of the Savage Times trilogy.

The Jefferson David award for "Ashes of a Savage Time," 2013, Xlibris Publishing – Book two of the Savage Times trilogy.

Cast your bread upon the face of the waters and they shall return after many days.

Ecclesiastes 11:1

the Holy Bible

I lived among the Choctaw people and helped them. I eased their minds. They gave me the name Shilombeth Atah, meaning spirit healer.

I can heal anyone’s spirit – but my own.

Author

FORWARD

Simcha stood at the head of the table and gently banged his tea spoon on the side of a water glass. It took a moment for everyone to give Simcha their attention.

70 years ago today, my grandfather, Sol Fridman, arrived on these shores. He was penniless, filthy, and hungry. As he rode over the waves to America, the only friend he had was an Italian immigrant. Neither spoke English yet, but they managed to communicate. Simcha paused for a moment as a tear dripped onto the table cloth.

That friend, Salvatore Falco, is represented here today by his grandson Anthony Falco and his wife Toni.

Anthony, who was a World War One veteran and starting to grey, stood and bowed his head out of respect for a moment.

They lost touch with each other for a while after landing on these shores and began to live out their American dream. Yet, as things frequently turn out, the separation wasn’t for long. My grandfather had started to study at the Brooklyn Constable’s Academy. On his first weekend off, he stumbled into Salvatore Falco’s barber shop. The two friends hugged each other and cried. As my grandfather used to say it was meant to be.

The friends, who had bonded on the ship that brought them to America, acted as if they had never been parted. Now able to speak English, the two friends did what every dear friend does when he finds another dear friend. They got drunk.

First the laughter started then the members of the extended family started to applaud. Simcha took a drink of his scotch in order to clear his throat and gain a moment of time.

The two men grew together like brothers. My grandfather met a beautiful woman and in spite of her father’s objections they courted and eventually married. Sal, as Salvatore was called, also met the woman of his dreams through his family and married. The family was growing.

Simcha had to stop as the tears began again. Rina placed her hand on her husband’s shoulder for a moment. Finally able to continue, Simcha returned to his feet.

My grandfather and grandmother had two sons, Simon and my father Jonathan. Simon, as many of you know, disappeared down in the desserts of Mexico. My grandmother and other members of our extended family went down to Monterrey, Mexico, the last place Simon was heard from. He was never found but he did have an active saving account in Monterrey and upon his death a notification and check was issued through their consulate in New York. My Uncle Manny picked it up and brought it to my Mother.

A small rubber ball, a toy he played with during his childhood, was buried symbolically in the soil covering my grandfather’s grave.

Again, Simcha paused for a moment to collect his thoughts.

My father, Jonathan, took the reins of the family law practice started by my late Uncle Manny, a Union Civil War veteran. Upon his death, he passed the family reins down to my father. Jonathan and his wife, my mother, were killed when their cruise ship was struck by a hurricane during a cruise. Once again Simcha had to pause remembering his parents.

It is now late summer in 1929 and our family has gone through a great deal. We also have grown. I can remember my Uncle David in Texas and his wife Abby. They were old when I met them but you could still see the beauty and joy in their eyes.

My cousin Rafi joins us today. Rafi is rabbi emeritus at his temple in New Jersey and while he is retired he still brings the joy and solace of faith to our family.

Simcha took another pull of his Scotch and sat for a moment. His beautiful wife Rina once again put her hand on Simcha’s shoulder to calm him.

Simcha finally continued. My late Uncle David was a physician and Confederate Civil War veteran. He saved a mistreated Negro slave named Dandy and eventually freed him. That freed slave’s offspring added to our extended family. His son Tom Free and wife Martha, who are with us today as well as his daughter, Candy, and her husband, Dr. Sam, are also here. Dr. Sam was a member of the first class of Negro physicians graduating from Rice University. We are, indeed, a family of go-getters.

I ask all of you now to raise your glasses to the memory not only of my grandfather, but of all the family members past and present. To those who we have mentioned here today and those who exist only in our memories. To Life, He toasted. He was joined by the rest of the family. To life!

I AM

I am the wind and I am the trees

I am the earth and I am the seas

I am a mother and I am a child

I am a lover of passions gone wild

I am the rain and I am the soul

I am the one who makes the spirit whole

I am the maiden, mother, and crone

I am the reaper of seeds that are sown

I am within and I am without

I am everywhere and everything about

As maiden I gave you the gift of joy

As mother I gave you nurturing and care

As crone I gave you wisdom unknown

All of these gifts I have given you to share

Blessings on thee

Pagan blessing

SIMCHA

Simcha and his wife Rina walked home to their Brownstone. Rina was six months pregnant and the walk did her good. The Sabbath, a day of rest, allowed no rest for Simcha. Monday he was preparing to plead a case before the New York State Supreme Court. He walked into his den, sat, and opened the missive that his research assistant had brought to him. A great deal depended on the outcome of this case. An attorney, Simcha continued the family tradition of the law started by his late, great uncle Manny.

After a half-hour Rina walked into tell him that lunch was ready. She found Simcha asleep and snoring. Rina bent down and kissed her husband. He worked hard and was a good husband.

Time to get up? he asked. Rina giggled in that special way she did. Its lunch time dear, she said. Simcha, realizing his mistake, joined her in laughter.

This particular case requires so much research that it put me to sleep.

Rina smiled. You were up until midnight last evening studying for the case. Let it go. You are more than ready. Simcha finally agreed and joined her in the kitchen for brunch.

Later that afternoon, with Rina taking a nap, Simcha walked down to the wharf area. He was here to inspect his most recent acquisition; a 90 foot yacht. Of course Rina didn’t know about it yet and he was reticent to share the news with her until the boat was finished, furnished and in the water.

It was a beauty. White painted sides and with overlapping wooden strakes and wide abeam.

She’s about ready, Mr. Fridman, the yard foreman said.

I can’t wait, replied Simcha.

But my wife will probably kill me.

The yard foreman smiled. Then perhaps you need a separate insurance policy he said. Both men laughed.

Everyone was class conscience and Simcha wanted the boat to fit in. He felt that with the boat he could increase his client base.

When will it be complete? Simcha asked the foreman.

A week from this Tuesday we can launch, he answered. A smile spread across Simcha’s face.

Then that is when I will bring Rina to the docks. She can see the boat launched.

Simcha stood and stared at the sleek features of his dream boat for a while then silently turned and walked towards his home.

Simcha started the week by appearing in court to represent his client. His client had been charged with attempting Insider trading and cornering the market by utilizing illegal means. This was both a criminal case as well as a suit issued by his competitors. Simcha very candidly told his client that under different circumstances he would not have taken the case but the client had been with Simcha’s firm for better than 20 years so he chose to go forward.

After the preliminaries the judge set the trial for two weeks hence. Simcha and his client shook hands and went their spate ways. Otherwise everything looked wonderful for Simcha. His firm was making more money than it ever had. Uncle Manny would be so proud of me, he thought.

At home Rina was concerned. She had been reading the paper and expressed her concern to Simcha.

The paper says that the market is very unstable. Simcha, let’s take our money out now. We can squirrel some away; dig a hole in the backyard. Something, anything! Simcha thought for a moment.

Honey, I have faith in our banking system. My business maintains several accounts which pay our workers and is used additionally for multiple purposes. I am sure that everything will be fine.

Rina was soothed for the moment but her women’s intuition told her otherwise. She was very concerned about Simcha’s spending and worried what would happen if the market crashed, as many of the newspapers were extoling.

Simcha and his client arrived for the verdict part of the trial. His client had been charged with theft by fiduciary and insider trading; both a criminal as well as a civil offense. He had rested his case but he knew he was on shaky ground. The jury entered the court room.

The judge, an old friend of Simcha’s, asked the foreman of the jury if they had reached a verdict. The foreman stood. Simcha and his client stood and faced the jury. The foreman read the verdict. We the jury, find the defendant Oliver McDonald, guilty as charged.

McDonald sat back down. He thanked Simcha for doing his best. The bailiff will take Mr. McDonald to the lockup. Penalty phase will begin next Wednesday.

Simcha watched his client being led away. He looked up at the judge and thought he saw a sad expression on his face. I did my best, he told himself.

Upon returning to his firm he found everyone in turmoil.

What is going on? he asked. Have you seen the paper? someone asked. The Daily News was thrust into his hands. The headline read: Stock Market Mini-Crash. The article went on.

"For the second time since March 25, investors made a run on the market today selling stocks at a rapid pace. Maybe Rina knows something I don’t, he thought.

Finally, Simcha spoke to his worried staff. Alright people, let’s just be very judicious with our spending. I am sure that the market will rebound. After all, this is America.

This seemed to satisfy his people, at least for the moment. Simcha thought about his yacht waiting to be launched. It will be fine, he thought.

Simcha dismissed the staff early. No new business was coming in and Simcha had to muddle through who he may have to lay off. I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it, he decided.

Simcha headed home. While driving home, Simcha spent time observing the people on the street. He felt an almost palpable layer of fear from them. Something was in the air and Simcha started to worry. Maybe Rina’s idea was correct.

Have you read the paper, she asked when he walked into the house.

Yes, and I have started to really consider your proposal. We do need to do something, he said. After dinner Simcha walked over to the dock area and to the builder who was preparing his yacht. The two men shook hands.

I have a concern, Simcha said without preamble.

You and everyone else, the builder added. What do you want to do?

Simcha paused for moment thinking.

I want to cancel the order. You may keep the fifteen grand deposit I gave you as a penalty.

His friend looked at him with a scowl on his face. If it were any other time or any other person I would refuse you but I understand. I am also deeply concerned about losing my income. The two men shook hands and parted. As Simcha walked from the docks, he paused for a moment and looked back at the boats in the yard. What is happening to my country, he thought.

The following Monday Simcha convened a meeting of his staff. I lost that big case last week. I didn’t have any allusion that I could win the case, I just wanted to present enough doubt in the jury’s collective mind and get our client off. He was found guilty.

I have something else on my mind. I feel that I must share it with you. We have been together for a long time and I feel that you are all family. That makes what I have to say even harder.

Simcha paused and looked at the expectant faces around the room.

Last week we had what the papers are calling a mini-crash of the stock market. Rina and I withdraw a significant amount of money from our accounts and have placed the money in a safe place. I recommend that is you have any savings in the banks or are playing the stock market; you need to make some hard decisions regarding the future and your money. We don’t know what will come next but I have an eerie feeling that something big is going to happen soon that will affect all of us. Please think this though and act.

No new business came in during the day so Simcha told the staff to take the rest of the day off. He could not shake the all-pervasive eerie feeling that something bad was waiting around the corner. He tried to shake it off but could not.

A week passed and the mood of the country seemed to get worse. The blackness was also pervasive at Simcha’s office. People were afraid. Small circles of clerks, technicians, and even other attorney’s stood together talking about what could be. Realizing the mood of his office workers, Simcha closed the door behind him and sat in his office. The teletype machine chattered and Simcha ignored it.

The following day, Tuesday, October 29, 1929, Simcha appeared with his client for sentencing. Simcha and his client stood for sentencing. Mr. McDonald, the judge began, you have been found guilty of insider trading as well as manipulating the stock market to your behalf. You are sentenced to five years in the state penitentiary in Ossining, New York. Additionally, you are assessed $50,000 in fines and costs and penalties. Bailiff, lead him away.

Saddened, Simcha drove back to his office. The all-pervasive gloom had taken hold of him as he drove. The feeling felt like something was about to happen but he didn’t know what it was. It did not take long to find out.

Upon entering the office he saw chaos where order had always prevailed. One of his junior partners approached him. Mr. Fridman, it’s all over. The stock market crashed. We have no money.

It took several days before Simcha realized the full impact of the crash. On Friday, with no money coming in and no money to pay his employees Simcha convened a staff meeting.

It seems that the excesses of the Roaring Twenties have caught up with us. We have speculated on a strong market and lived in excess. All of us! Steel production is declining, construction is down, the automobile market is weak at best, and consumers are building up significant debts by living on credit. Simcha scanned the room. He saw people