Who is Alan from The Smoothest Way Is Full of Stones and what is their importance?

Alan is Rebecca's father. He does not physically appear directly in the story, but he talks to Rebecca and Aunt Malka on the telephone. His conversation with Rebecca shows that he has an easy, comfortable relationship with her. But he is angry with Malka for telling Rebecca to inform her mother about the importance of the mikveh, the ritual bath. It appears that Alan has strong views about how he wishes his daughter to be raised and does not take kindly to what he regards as interference.