Donna Rosenthal heads the pack across Shibuya's famed pedestrian crossing, grinning from ear to ear and arms waving hello. In Tokyo to meet with her agent about a possible Japanese edition of her book "The Israelis," she's more than happy to meet up in old territory.
"When first here in 1970, I lived in Shoto 1-chome, in a traditional wood house -- long gone, of course -- with five other 'gaijin.' Before that I was in Shizuoka, where my job was to be blonde. When I wanted to escape to Tokyo, it was Rabbi Tokayer of the synagogue in Hiroo who both came to my rescue and helped me improve my Hebrew. In 1986 he officiated at my marriage."
Donna, who now lives in California, was born to Sephardic and Ashkenazi Jewish parents in El Paso, Texas. It was Asian studies at Berkeley that led her to Japan for an initial year. In Shizuoka, the culture shock was extreme and she often cried herself to sleep. "In Tokyo, trying to find a bra that fit was my Longest Day."
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