Goliath's Head Presentation at Palm Beach State Nov. 15th and 16th, 2010



Professor Sandra Didner, Mr. Brian Kelley, Mr. Alan Fleishman



Mr. Alan Fleishman, author of "Goliath's Head", gave 2 days of amazing presentations at Palm Beach State College Library, Lake Worth Campus. Professor Sandra Didner made desserts like those that may have been eaten in late 1880's and early 1900's.

Mr. Fleishman is a "grand" storyteller.  He captivated his audience from the beginning of the presentation, telling us about visiting his father's birthplace in the Ukraine.  He told stories he learned from his guide, Vakeya, from the local college town.  He described when his father was born, on Oct. 12, 1905, under Russian rule, near Odessa, in the midst of the worst of riots or "Pogroms".  He told of Jewish life in the Pale of Settlement under the Tsars, and the massacres and persecutions instigated by the government.  He didn't hold back the details, as he portrayed the gruesome way the Jews were killed, including pregnant women, children and the elderly.

Even without reading the book before hand, we were able to follow Mr. Fleishman as he told story after story, beginning with the Jewish settlements in Palestine in the first century A.D.  He told us accounts of how and why the Jews had to move several times, and how they struggled to begin making a new home, all over again in a new country.  This was the best documented world history presentation I have ever attended. Mr. Fleishman gave each of us many reasons to be thankful for living in a free country, especially the week before celebrating Thanksgiving with family and friends.

Mr. Fleishman told us that upon returning to America after his visit to the Ukraine, he did research into his parents and grandparents past.  He gave his family copies of this information, but he wanted to do more.  He took 'writing' classes so he could fulfill his dream of writing a novel and share this wealth of knowledge and history. 

And this is how "Goliath's Head" was born.

On both days of the presentation we had a "packed house".  Professor Sandra Didner and Professor Susan Buchanan attended with their Contemporary Literature classes.  The students were very attentive; no chatting, texting or whispering.  When Mr. Fleishman's presentation was over, the students had many questions.  One student asked how he could "go about" taking writing classes, as he thought about writing a book. 

There were many students that stood in line to get his autograph for their book and also ask more questions. The students didn't want to leave.  It was like they couldn't get enough information from him and they wanted more. 

Professor Didner and Mr. Fleishman went to school together growing up, and it was fun listening to them tell stories and share fond memories.

Please see his web site below for more information including the historical time line.
http://alanfleishman.com/history


Mr. Alan Fleishman and Professor Susan Buchanan



Homemade treats by  Professor Didner







Thank you Mr. Fleishman for sharing your research with us.   We appreciate all your time and effort that went into your research and the writing of "Goliath's Head".