United Jewish Federation of Tidewater & the Simon Family JCC’s Lee and Bernard Jaffe Family Jewish Book Festival 2021–2022 The annual celebration of Jewish writers, books, and ideas, Simon Family JCC’s Lee and Bernard Jaffe Family Jewish Book Festival provides opportunities to engage with talented authors about their latest books and projects. The Simon Family JCC is a member of the Jewish Book Council, a group that supports more than 120 organizations across North America, including JCC’s, synagogues, Hillels, Jewish Federations, and cultural centers.
To register for events, go to Jewishva.org/bookfest The Unexpected Spy Tracy Walder
Monday, October 25 | 7:30 pm
X Troop: The Secret Jewish Commandos of World War II Leah Garrett Thursday, October 28 | 7:30 pm
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Stockholm: The Adrenaline-Fueled Adventures of an Accidental Scientist Robert Lefkowitz
Thursday, November 4 | 7:30 pm (online only)
W
hen Tracy Walder enrolled at the University of Southern California, she never thought that one day she would offer her pink beanbag chair in the Delta Gamma house to a CIA recruiter, or that she’d fly to the Middle East under an alias identity. The Unexpected Spy is the riveting story of Walder’s tenure in the CIA and, later, the FBI. In high-security, steel-walled rooms in Virginia, Walder watched al-Qaeda members with drones as President Bush looked over her shoulder and CIA Director George Tenet brought her donuts. Walder moved to the FBI, where she worked in counterintelligence. Catching the bad guys wasn’t a problem in the FBI, but rampant sexism was. Walder left the FBI to teach and encourage young women to find a place in the FBI, CIA, State Department or the Senate—and thus change the world. In partnership with United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s Women’s Cabinet
T
he incredible World War II saga of the German-Jewish commandos who fought in Britain’s most secretive specialforces unit—but whose story has gone untold until now. Leah Garrett is a professor at Hunter College. Her last book, Young Lions: How Jewish Authors Reinvented the American War Novel, won and was short-listed for several major literary awards. See review of X Troop on page 24. In partnership with United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s Holocaust Commission
A
Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Stockholm: The Adrenaline-Fueled Adventures of an Accidental Scientist is a rollicking memoir from the cardiologist turned legendary scientist and winner of the Nobel Prize that revels in the joy of science and discovery. In addition to his being a “yellow beret” in the public health corps with Dr. Anthony Fauci, to his time as a cardiologist, and his extraordinary transition to biochemistry, which lead to his Nobel Prize win, Lefkowitz has ignited passion and curiosity as a fabled mentor and teacher, and as one of today’s leading scientists.
United Jewish Federation of Tidewater and Simon Family JCC’s Lee and Bernard Jaffe Family Jewish Book Festival is held in coordination with the Jewish Book Council, a national organization whose sole purpose is the promotion of Jewish books. All events are open to the community with RSVP or tickets required and will take place in-person at the Sandler Family Campus and online, unless noted online only. For more information about the Festival, to register, sponsor, or volunteer, contact Jill Grossman at 757-965-6137 or JGrossman@ujft.org or jewishva.org. 26 | JEWISH NEWS | October 25, 2021 | jewishnewsva.org
JEWISH BOOK FESTIVAL The Memory Monster Yishai Sarid
Last Summer at the Golden Hotel Elyssa Friedland
I Had a Brother Once: A Poem, A Memoir Adam Mansbach
T
A
I
Monday, November 8 | 12 pm (online only)
he Memory Monster confronts difficult questions that are all too relevant to Israel today: How to honor the memory of horror without being consumed by it? How to process human brutality? Is force the only way to resist force? Born and raised in Tel Aviv, Yishai Sarid is the son of the late politician and journalist Yossi Sarid. After five years in the Israeli Army, graduating from the IDF’s officers’ school and serving as an intelligence officer, Sarid studied law at Hebrew University of Jerusalem and has a Public Administration Master’s Degree from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. Today, he is an attorney and arbitrator, the prize-winning author of six novels, and one of Israel’s prominent contemporary writers. As part of United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s Jewish Community Relations Council, Simon Family JCC, and Community Partners’ 11th Annual Israel Today Series and a Simon Family JCC Book Club pick
Monday, November 15 | 12 pm
family reunion for the ages when two clans convene for the summer at their beloved getaway in the Catskills—perfect for fans of Dirty Dancing and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel —from the acclaimed author of The Floating Feldmans. In partnership with Simon Family JCC’s Seniors Club and a Simon Family JCC Book Club pick
My Wild Garden: Notes from a Writer’s Eden Meir Shalev
Wednesday, December 8 | 7:30 pm
Had a Brother Once is an expansive and deeply thoughtful poetic reflection of loss and a raw, darkly funny, human story of trying to create a ritual of remembrance, mourning, forgiveness, and acceptance where once there was life. Adam Mansbach’s work has appeared in The New Yorker, The New York Times Book Review, Esquire, The Believer, and The Guardian and on This American Life, The Moth, and All Things Considered. In partnership with Jewish Family Service of Tidewater and the Konikoff Center for Learning
Sunday, November 21 | 2 pm (online only)
The Great Age Reboot: Cracking the Longevity Code for a Younger Tomorrow Michael Roizen Wednesday, January 19 | 12 pm
Parenting with Sanity & Joy Susan Groner Sunday, November 14 | 2 pm
I
I
n this “perfect parenting book for parents who don’t have time to read parenting books,” Susan Groner, the founder of The Parenting Mentor, distills the best parenting wisdom into one easy-to-read book, providing simple, fun, and effective guidance. Parenting with Sanity and Joy will help parents feel more confident as they navigate one of the most important roles they will ever assume. In partnership with PJ Library and PJ Our Way
nformed by Meir Shalev’s literary sensibility, his sometime riotous humor, and his deep curiosity about the land, My Wild Garden abounds with appreciation for the joy of living, quite literally, on Earth. One of Israel’s most celebrated novelists, Shalev’s books have been translated into more than 25 languages and his honors include the National Jewish Book Award and Israel’s Brenner Prize for A Pigeon and a Boy. As part of United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s Jewish Community Relations Council, Simon Family JCC, and Community Partners’ 11th Annual Israel Today Series, in partnership with The Chrysler Museum of Arts Book Club
I
n his third visit to Tidewater, New York Times best-selling author Michael Roizen, M.D. explains how to prepare for a longer, healthier future. Over the next decade, people living to 100, 120, or even 130 years old will become increasingly common – and life past 100 may not look like what one would expect. In this groundbreaking narrative, Roizen reveals how current science and technology will revolutionize the ability to live longer, younger, and better. In partnership with Simon Family JCC’s JFit and Hadassah Norfolk/Virginia Beach
GO TO JEWISHVA.ORG/BOOKFEST jewishnewsva.org | October 25, 2021 | JEWISH NEWS | 27
JEWISH BOOK FESTIVAL Your Story, Well Told: Creative Strategies to Develop and Perform Stories that Wow an Audience Corey Rosen
JEWISH TIDEWATER
All Jewish teens are invited to join BBYO
Unorthodox: Live in Tidewater Stephanie Butnick, Liel Leibovitz, and Mark Oppenheimer Date and details TBD
Tuesday, February 15 | 7:30 pm
C
rafted to help ordinary people tell extraordinary stories, this laugh-out-loud handbook covers everything from how to tell a good story to going off-script. Using the best storytelling techniques from improvisational theatre, Corey Rosen designs an accessible guide for all ages and skill levels. In partnership with Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art and the Konikoff Center for Learning
How Magicians Think: And Why Magic Matters Joshua Jay Thursday, March 3 | 7:30 pm
Dave Flagler
E
njoy a night out with a LIVE taping of Tablet Magazine’s leading international flagship podcast, Unorthodox— always irreverent with discussions about Jewish news, politics, and so much more. About the book: Written by the podcast hosts, this unput-down-able encyclopedia of all things Jewish and Jew-ish is deeply knowing, highly entertaining, and just a little bit irreverent. In partnership with the Konikoff Center for Learning and Tidewater Together
A Wonderful Guy Eddie Shapiro
Thursday, June 30 | 7:30 pm
T
here’s a saying: The door to magic is closed, but it’s not locked. Professional magician and bestselling author of How Magicians Think , Joshua Jay will open the door and bring the audience inside, revealing the artistry, history, and fascinating traditions of a subject long shrouded in mystery. Jay consulted on illusions for Game of Thrones and helped the US Postal Service with their “Art of Magic” postage stamps. He has performed on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon and The Late Show with James Corden.
A
night of music, singing, and laughter on the lawn. In A Wonderful Guy, theatre journalist Eddie Shapiro sits down for intimate, career-encompassing conversations with 19 of Broadway’s most prolific and fascinating leading men. Full of detailed stories and reflections, these chapters tell the story of what it means to be a leading man on Broadway over the past 50 years.
Follow us on Facebook JewishNewsVA 28 | JEWISH NEWS | October 25, 2021 | jewishnewsva.org
Teens from across the Virginia Council of the Eastern Region of BBYO enjoy a day together at Busch Gardens.
T
idewater BBYO invites all area Jewish teens to get involved. BBYO provides teens in eighth through 12th grades the opportunity to make friends, gain leadership experience, and have fun being Jewish. All BBYO programming is peer led: the teens plan and create all their own programming and activities—with adult supervision. In addition to local programming, BBYO teens can travel and meet other teens from across the region, country, and even internationally. Older teens mentor younger teens from inside and outside the auspices of their leadership roles, and lifelong friendships are formed. BBYO is non-denominational and anyone can join. BBYO has deep roots in the Tidewater Jewish community. Many community leaders participated in the program as youth. The legacy of the impact that the BBYO experience had on their lives is evident and helps to strengthen Jewish life in Tidewater today. This is a great opportunity to have fun, connect with other teens, enjoy being Jewish, and plant the seeds for future Jewish life in Tidewater, To learn more about BBYO or other ways that teens can get involved in the Tidewater Jewish community, contact Dave Flagler, director of Camp and Teen Engagement at the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater, at DFlagler@UJFT.org or 757-452-3182.
Visit us on the web jewishnewsva.org