Bohemia: An Essay

Winner 2011 Pacific Northwest Literary Contest - Adult Short Topic

Daniel Offer nee Thomas Edgar Hirsch, is a world-famous psychiatrist most known for his groundbreaking research and findings about adolescents. Once upon a time, he too, was a teenager. This is his true, uncommon coming-of-age story, as told decades later by his adult daughter:

Born Jewish in Berlin in 1929, Thomas is among the fortunate few who escape Nazi Germany in 1936. His parents, Walter and Ilse, flee to Palestine with him in tow. While Walter and Ilse choose to leave Hitler's anti-semitism behind, they continue to cling to the bohemian movement and culture of free love, which they had enjoyed in Berlin. In the sleepy Middle Eastern town of Jerusalem, they throw memorable parties and pursue extra-marital lovers. Yet, they do not discuss the nature of their open arrangement with young Thomas or his two brothers.

Thomas's inevitable disillusionment of his parents’ fidelity and his discovery of additional shocking truths take place over the course of his adolescence amidst a historical backdrop that is singularly unique in time. It is a fascinating tale of his poignant journey from childhood to young adulthood.