Noni Kaufman Closes 51-Year Chapter on Father's Disappearance During Argentina's Dictatorship

Noni Kaufman, an Israeli author and former government official, has published her debut novel "Slides," inspired by the disappearance of her father, Jorge Kaufman, during Argentina's military dictatorship in 1975. Jorge, a young revolutionary active in the People's Revolutionary Army, was last seen being taken off a bus at a military checkpoint in Tucumán, northern Argentina, on June 10, 1975. His fate, like that of approximately 30,000 others who vanished during the dictatorship, remains unknown.

Born in Córdoba, Argentina, two years after her brother, Noni was raised in hiding due to her parents' political activism. Her mother, Beatriz Gerber, fled with her children to Israel in 1977 after years of evading authorities and losing contact with Jorge. Noni grew up aware of her father's disappearance and the political turmoil that led to it, with her grandmother actively participating in the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo movement, which sought justice for the disappeared.

After serving in the Israeli army and living in the United States, where she studied Latin American literature, Kaufman returned to Israel and worked in the Prime Minister's Office before turning to writing. The novel "Slides" blends historical mystery with personal and family narratives, sparked by a dream in which she saw her mother holding an old slide photograph of her father. The story explores themes of memory, loss, and the impact of political violence on families.

Kaufman emphasizes that her mother never hid the truth about her father's disappearance and that the book is a fictionalized account inspired by real events. She sees the novel as a personal closure, acknowledging the improbability of ever learning her father's fate. Kaufman also draws parallels between Argentina's past and current societal divisions in Israel, expressing concern over rising polarization.

The book has been well received, with plans for a television adaptation and a Spanish translation. Kaufman's family remains deeply connected to the story, with her children engaging with the novel and relatives in Argentina awaiting its release.

Summary: Israeli author Noni Kaufman has written a novel inspired by her father’s disappearance during Argentina’s 1975 military dictatorship, blending personal history with political mystery to seek closure after 51 years.

Points: - Jorge Kaufman disappeared in 1975 during Argentina’s military dictatorship, last seen at a military checkpoint. - Noni Kaufman, his daughter, was born in hiding and later emigrated to Israel with her family. - Kaufman’s debut novel "Slides" is inspired by a dream and explores her father’s disappearance and its impact. - The book combines historical facts with fictional elements to reach personal closure. - Kaufman highlights her mother’s openness about the past and the ongoing struggle for justice. - The novel will be translated into Spanish and adapted for television.

Topic: culture Israel_relevant: true Entities: {"people":["Noni Kaufman","Jorge Kaufman","Beatriz Gerber","Ari Kompel","Guy Tverovsky","Selina Kaufman","Gra Yanai"],"organizations":["People's Revolutionary Army","Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo","Prime Minister's Office"],"places":["Argentina","Buenos Aires","Tucumán","Córdoba","Israel","Be'er Sheva","Barcelona","Kfar Saba","Michigan"]}