From Fifty Stars To One Star

Description

From Fifty Stars to One Star is the deeply personal and wide-ranging story of BatSheva Pomerantz’s journey from childhood in New York to life in Israel.

In 1969, shortly after man first walked on the moon, eight-year-old Beth Hashkes crossed an ocean with her family and made Aliyah. In Israel, Beth became BatSheva. As a child of the dream, Aliyah is the defining story of her life.

With warmth and insight, Pomerantz looks at the challenges of immigrant absorption, becoming Israeli, and the question that followed her for decades: What gives a family the courage to leave the comfort of America and build a life in the Land of Israel?

Blending memoir, history, and journalism, From Fifty Stars to One Star portrays olim from around the world, Jewish communities past and present, and the quiet heroism of those who chose Israel. This book is a moving tribute to Aliyah, identity, and the shining pull of one star.

Isaac Herzog, the President of Israel, commented on this book, From Fifty Stars to One Star, “Aliyah is a giant step for the entire family. I hope that your book continues to tell in the best possible way … the process of Kibbutz Galuyot that we are privileged to live in.”

Other comments:

“I greatly enjoyed and learned from reading the book. I definitely recommend it as a reading and study book.” …
Pini Glinkewitz, Director, Immigrant Absorption Authority, Jerusalem Municipality

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“In this important book, the author relates her and her family’s immigration process from the United States to Israel … My expertise in history is about mass immigration in the twentieth century. In my research, I’ve seen that the personal stories of immigrants are of great importance.” …
Dr. Dov (Bernard) Marinbach, former faculty member, School of Overseas Students, Tel Aviv University

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“Through BatSheva’s interviews … we discover both her versatility as a journalist, and the earth-shaking dedication and creativity of individuals whose lives remind us why we are blessed to call this land our home.” …
Toby Klein Greenwald, Award-winning theater director and journalist; Editor, WholeFamily

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The Author
BatSheva Pomerantz, a resident of Jerusalem, immigrated as a child from New York to Israel.
As a feature writer, her articles, in English or Hebrew, have been published in newspapers and websites ranging the Jewish mosaic, including The Jerusalem Post, Jewish Federation newspapers, Israel 21C, Emunah Magazine, the World Zionist Organization, the Jewish Agency, and Etrog (of the Israel Teachers Union). Her articles are on education and culture, Jewish identity and communities, and Zionist history.

The author is an English-language editor of books on Jewish thought and commentary, biography and psychology, including editing translations of Hebrew texts. Among her clients is the Heritage and Museums Unit of the Israeli Ministry of Defense.

The Hebrew version of From Fifty Stars to One Star is MiHamishim Kokhavim L’Kokhav Ehad. This book is a result of the author’s activism in promoting Aliyah and encouraging olim, through her writing and volunteering. From Fifty Stars to One Star highlights the strength of those immigrating to Israel, and the miracle of the Ingathering of the Exiles.

• Author ‏ : ‎ BatSheva Pomerantz
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ August 13, 2026
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 240 pages
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1971155050