The Lemon Tree

The Lemon Tree is the true story of a Siberian pioneer family's extraordinary year-long journey as they transport their late son's tiny lemon tree to Israel. Ten-year-old Sasha has one dying wish: he asks his family to take his lemon tree--the tree he raised from a seed floating in his tea--and plant it in an orchard in Israel.

Nothing deters Sasha's family from fulfilling his dream. The Wissotzskys travel on cattle trains through the Trans-Siberian line, become stranded in Shanghai, are shot at by Manchurian officials, and face the constant threat of typhoid fever, as they overcome these and other harrowing obstacles on their 1918 journey.

Against all odds, this real-life pioneer family perseveres in their quest to fulfill a child's dying wish. Can the little tropical tree survive the cold, harsh journey?

Ida Rosenfeld has traveled extensively and has lived in Siberia, France, and Israel. She passed away some years ago.

Ilil Arbel is the author of Maimonides: A Spiritual Biography and other books. She earned a doctorate in mythology and folklore and contributes to the award-winning Encyclopedia Mythica. Ilil has lived and studied in Tel-Aviv, Paris, and New York, and currently resides in Manhattan.