ben Alexander

In Hebrew, ‘ben’ (בן) means ‘son’ or ‘son of’.

* * *

David Bogomolny was born in Jerusalem to parents who made Aliyah from the USSR in the mid-70’s. He grew up in America, and returned to Israel as an adult. He works for Hiddush – Freedom of Religion in Israel. He and his wife and daughter live in Jerusalem.

He began writing the ‘Skeptic’s Kaddish for the Atheist’ in Jerusalem, Israel, 30 days after burying his father in South Brunswick, New Jersey, USA. His series was originally published on the Times of Israel blogs.

Read his kaddish memoir.

72 thoughts on “ben Alexander”

  1. I think around 1910 to Chicago. My mother was born in Costa Rica in the late 40’s:) My mother is no longer alive, Allah yirhamha! I have an interesting blood mixture:)

      1. Dear Ben — It is wonderful that you have visited with me on my blog and I am so pleased. Thank you. I want to tell you I have looked at your blog and am fascinated with it. Keep up the good work and thanks again.

        1. John, it’s very nice to meet you!

          Please feel free to call me by my first name, which is ‘David’. The word ‘ben’ is Hebrew for ‘son of’, and my father’s name was ‘Alexander’. ‘ben Alexander’ thus became my pen name, but I’m actually a ‘David’ ❤

          All best,
          David

          1. King David of Ancient Israel was one of my favorite heroes. David Ben Oshie of Brooklyn, New York is an Internet friend and my baby sitter for years, Jeanette Juand was Jewish … possibly by conversion. Now you have been courteous and kind to me so I am much appreciative. Thank you. Be blessed in all that you do.

  2. Nice to know you a bit better, David, and I too, on my mother’s side, have ancestors from Odessa (Jewish) although she lived in Costa Rica.
    My father’s side and my husband from Jordan:)

  4. Hi David, I am old, which means that technology sometimes challenges me. But if this message gets through, I think I’ve got the particular issue of your web page solved–it works on my laptop, but not my phone. I don’t know what that’s about.
    I’ve been stopping by your site often and enjoying it. The last post I liked was Hopes, or Smoke Rings.
    I’ve been pondering your story from time to time. I’ve never been to Jerusalem, but given my background and my profession, one day I hope to be there. Tell me, is it as cool as I think it would be living in Jerusalem? We all plant ourselves somewhere on earth and make a life. But I believe that our environment shapes our identity to a great degree. I have to think that Jerusalem would make a powerful impression on who a person is, and the life options available to a person. I would appreciate your comments on this. So, is it as cool as I think it would be living in Jerusalem?

    1. David,

      Thanks for reaching out to me 🙂

      I actually wrote a poem about living in Jerusalem – https://skepticskaddish.com/2020/07/20/peaces-or-jerusalem/ – and that reflects some of my feelings about it.

      I was born here in Jerusalem, but I was raised in the USA, and I only returned to live here as an adult when I was nearly 30 years-old. It’s not easy, but it feels more like home to me than anywhere else that I’ve ever been. I’m not so focused on spirituality or the supernatural, personally, but I feel deeply connected to this city as my people’s ancient capital (even though technically the ancient capital was only the Old City, rather than the rest of modern Jerusalem).

      Also, I love that my daughter is growing up here – that is the most meaningful thing I can imagine.

      Sincerely,
      David

  5. Thank you for coming by my blog! Easy to see your father was a big part of your life.That has been opposite in my life. What does “kaddish” mean? Read and liked the seamless-ness of your last poem, but couldn’t find where to comment on that post. Jesh

    1. Thanks so much, Jesh.

      Kaddish is a hymn of praises (doxology) about God found in Jewish prayer services. The term “Kaddish” is often used to refer specifically to “The Mourner’s Kaddish”, said as part of the mourning rituals in Judaism in all prayer services. Following the death of a child, spouse, or sibling it is customary to recite the Mourner’s Kaddish for thirty days, or for eleven months in the case of a parent, and then on every anniversary of the death.

      After my father died, I wrote about the experience of mourning him here: https://skepticskaddish.com/my-kaddish-journey/

      All best,
      David

  6. My own papa was born the same year as yours, but died two years prior. He doesn’t have his own Wiki entry, but he was known nationally within his own scientific field. And while I was unable to even start the grieving process until just over two years ago, I still grieve, still mourn.

    It wasn’t until I started to grieve that I was truly able to find my voice, in a way I never had before, and I have been able to create my own artistic works because of my dad – his influence, his lessons, and his example.

    I still miss him every day.

    Your site is a beautiful tribute, and I greatly anticipate reading more of it. 🙂

    1. That’s very sweet of you, Angela. I appreciate your kind compliment. It’s really just basic stuff – I picked a ‘theme’ through WordPress and went with it 🙂

      Yours,
      David

  8. Здравствуйте, Давид. Your poem about your father touched me very deeply. My father’s passing was also the reason for starting the blog almost five years ago. His Yuhrzeit is three days before Pesach, and I still feel the loss just as deeply as on that first Pesach without him at my Seder.
    May your father’s Neshama have a speedy Aliyah.
    I will continue exploring your blog.
    Wish you the best,
    Dolly.

    1. Thanks for your kind comment, Dolly. My father died more than two-and-a-half years ago at this point. It’s surreal to put an amount of time to that. It seems so long ago in some ways, and simultaneously just like yesterday to me.

      I’m sorry for your loss – the holidays are now some of the hardest times for my Mom who always spent them with him together.

      BDE.

        1. Well, my father was born and raised in Moscow. My mother was born and raised in Vilnius. I was born in Jerusalem and raised in the USA. My wife was born and raised in Rostov on Don. My daughter was born and is being raised in Jerusalem 🙂

          1. What a mix! So you are a Yerushalmi, and so is your daughter – that’s very special.
            When you mentioned “Jewish underground,” I thought your parents had originated either from the Northern Capital (Leningrad), or from the Old Capital (Moscow). We didn’t call it that. I had some connections in both capitals’ underground so I am familiar with their mentality.

                  1. Curious how we both asked the same question about origins at the same time and now sent each other links at the same time – have you noticed? Same wavelength, I suppose.
                    Have a wonderful day,
                    D

  9. Thanks for liking my post about my mother’s clothes. She died Dec. 18th 2020- not from Covid but certainly the isolation contributed to her decline. I know how lucky I am to have had her for so long– she was 90– but still wish we had had more time. I am sorry for your loss of your father and impressed with your writing about his death. I’m hoping to post weekly for a year – something that ties in memories of my mother. Not sure I can find enough topics.
    I am not religious- raised very secular and cultural.

    1. Lisa, I’m so sorry for your loss. The traditional Jewish phrase that I’ve been taught to console mourners with is: ‘Baruch Dayan Ha-Emet’ which means ‘God is the True Judge’.

      I struggle with faith myself, but having something suitable to say helps me when I can’t find words of my own.

      If I can help you in any way, please let me know. Personally, I found writing about my Papa’s death to be very healing – and now, some two-and-a-half years after he died, I am so glad that I recorded my thoughts and experiences during that year. My writing, reading, and praying really anchored me.

      Yours,
      David

  10. Hi ben Alexander! I’ve been visiting your site quite a few times. I enjoy your work and your page! However, I have no end of difficulty formally “liking” your posts due to technical issues between my phone and WordPress, inc. Just know I’m out here liking, whether I’m able to formally indicate it or not.
    Dave

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