Expectations and planning ahead!

Eight events and eight authors completed; six events and eight authors to go

By Gayle Dorio, Jewish Book Festival Chair

It’s February and, thus far, we have enjoyed eight events and eight authors. This month, we offer three events and four authors!

I hope you’ve been listening and reading, and enjoying it. We have tried to offer a bit of something for everyone. Did you get a chance to join us for the delightful brunch last month?

This month, we will hear from Marjorie Margolies regarding her book, “And How Are the Children?” We continue with Shaunna Edwards and Alyson Richman, co-authors of “The Thread Collectors.” Then, we finish the month with Lori Banov Kaufmann and her book, “Rebel Daughter.”

Our book festival is almost over. One more month and March will see us wrapping it up. Three events in March, with Diane Smith sharing her daughter, Mallory Smith’s, book, “Salt in My Soul.” Then we’ll have Erica Katz discussing her book, “Fake” and we’ll end with a double author event featuring Jen Maxfield with her book, “More after the Break,” and Ira Rosen and his book, “Ticking Clock.” Each is sure to be worth your time. (Notice how I kept the clock theme going....)

As you know, each article for the Federation Star has an early deadline. Articles must be submitted by the end of December to have an article printed in the February newsletter. So, planning and thinking ahead is necessary. It makes me think about the adage: Man plans and G-d laughs!

The Jewish Book Festival requires constant planning and thinking ahead. Back in June 2022, our committee read many books, debated pros and cons, and maneuvered right and left to select and organize an interesting assortment of books and authors. Changes had to be made, some at the last minute, testing resiliency and adaptability!

Now we are changing and adapting to a new building!

Yes, the Nina Iser Jewish Cultural Center is now open and ours! Sometimes change and adaptability are worth it!

It’s exciting to be able to do more and be together in the new building!

We are always at the mercy of technology. Sometimes the internet is our friend; sometimes it goes in and out, freezes or just behaves inexplicably. Livestreaming should be easy, we think, until it gives us grief. With everything that might go off kilter, isn’t it wonderful that so much does go right?!

I have enjoyed each author and book thus far. One book had a profound influence on me. I read Eleanor Reissa’s book, “The Letters Project.” Her comment that the proper term should be Holocaust fighters , not Holocaust survivors resonated with many, not just me. Survivor, she feels is more a passive term, while fighter shows that each person fought to stay alive, to make a difference in this world and never let us forget. I learned a great deal.

As I write this, the expectation is that each book event has gone well, that technology has been kind and that you have been staying well and attending these events that we have tried so hard to plan and present for your enjoyment and edification.

I have tried my best to call upon my alter ego, Gloriana the Great — the greatest fortuneteller in all the land — to predict the future and make sure all has gone well. I hope you are like me, anxious to hear the next author and learn more. I know G-d has a great sense of humor; I hope he hasn’t been laughing too much at the JBF!

THIS MONTH’S EVENTS

Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2 p.m. Marjorie Margolies “And How Are the Children?”

Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2 p.m. Shaunna Edwards & Alyson Richman “The Thread Collectors”

Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2 p.m Lori Banov Kaufmann “Rebel Daughter”

For tickets, visit jewishbookfestival.org.