E

xperiences gained during 
20 trips to India and 
more times to Israel, 
joined with research gleaned 
from dozens of texts, enter into 
the pages of Susan Adelman’s 
third book, From Jerusalem to 
Delhi, through Persia (Gorgias 
Press), published 
this March. 
Adelman, a 
Southfield resident 
active with Adat 
Shalom Synagogue, 
is scheduling pre-
sentations to intro-
duce her book-ex-
pressed impressions exploring 
interreligious connections — 
from legends, through customs 

and into languages. 
Two speaking/book-signing 
engagements represent the reli-
gious reach of her chapters: 3:30 
p.m. Sunday, March 27, at Adat 
Shalom in Farmington Hills and 
2:30 p.m. Sunday, April 3, at the 
Bharatiya Temple in Troy.
“I’ve allowed myself to tell 
personal stories and to express 
my feelings about India, as 
well as spiritual and mystical 
experiences, in a way that I’ve 
never allowed myself to express 
before,
” Adelman said.
“My first book, The Rebel: A 
Biography of Ram Jethmalani, 
is about an extremely famous 
Indian lawyer and friend, and I 
felt my job was to tell his story 

and not intrude with my own 
thoughts. My second book, After 
Saturday Comes Sunday, is the 
history of the last living people 
who speak Aramaic.
”
Adelman, 80, a retired pedi-
atric surgeon who continues a 
longtime professional sideline of 

artistry — painting early on and 
making silver jewelry now — 
became curious about India in 
the 1970s. A neighbor working 
with traditional Indian textiles 
stirred her interest in seeing 
more authentic artistry.
“I had no exposure to the 
Indian religions until my hus-
band, Martin, and I went to 
India,
” Adelman said. 
Initially impressed with the 
architectural artistry of the 
temples, she made a point 
of getting to know about the 
beliefs expressed inside and 
the people who expressed 
them. Describing herself as 
“scholarly by nature,” Adelman 
launched her own book 
studies back home, and as 
her learning expanded, she 
became engrossed with new 
notions of religion, spirituality 
and mysticism.

Susan 
Adelman

50 | MARCH 17 • 2022 

ARTS&LIFE
BOOKS

New book looks at synergies between 
Judaism and Indian religions.
Ties with India

SUZANNE CHESSLER CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Adelman visits an 
Indian temple.

