---
title: Jewish Folklore Goes Queer in Alum’s New Novel
date: 2024-01-24T05:30:00-05:00
author: University of Maryland
canonical_url: "https://today.umd.edu/jewish-folklore-goes-queer-in-alums-new-novel"
section: Articles
---
# Jewish Folklore Goes Queer in Alum’s New Novel

*January 24, 2024* — by [Sala Levin ’10](/author/sala-levin-10)


> The Mystical and Mundane Meet in Story Inspired by Author’s Eastern European Family Matriarchs

*Firefly 20240123151145 1920x1080 — In her debut novel, "City of Laughter," Temim Fruchter '02, MFA '19 writes a "speculative history" of a family much like her own: orthodox Jews of Eastern European descent. Both Fruchter and the book's protagonist eventually travel to their family's Polish hometown, Ropshitz, depicted here via AI rendering.*

In 2011, Temim Fruchter ’02, MFA ’19 was on the road drumming with the Shondes, whose name ("disgrace" in Yiddish) was a wink to the group's unholy blend of rock, punk and klezmer-inflected music—and the queer, leftist makeup of its members. During a stop in Warsaw supporting the act’s second album, Fruchter realized she was only a few hours from a place that had long lived in her imagination: Ropshitz, once home to her great-grandparents and beyond.


*Temim Fruchter headshot*


*“City of Laughter” book cover*



**Sidebar note:**

Temim Fruchter will appear at Loyalty Bookstores, 843 Upshur St. NW, Washington, D.C., at 7 tonight to discuss “City of Laughter.” The event is free to attend, but [registration](https://www.loyaltybookstores.com/cityoflaughter) is required.





**Topics:** [People](https://today.umd.edu/tags/people)


**Tags:** [Alumni](https://today.umd.edu/topic/alumni), [Books](https://today.umd.edu/topic/books), [English](https://today.umd.edu/topic/english), [LGBTQ](https://today.umd.edu/topic/lgbtq)


**Units:** [College of Arts and Humanities](https://today.umd.edu/topic/college-arts-and-humanities)