The Jewish Community Center is proud of be part of the Jewish Book Council. This is an organization that premiers 140 Jewish authors and authors of books of Jewish content each year. The authors then participate in the over 80 Jewish Book fairs all over the United States.
Each year well-known authors are brought in to New Orleans for Author Events. For a nominal fee, members of the community can meet these authors in person and purchase their books as well as shop our bookstore for the latest in Jewish books.
In addition, during Book Week, thanks to a fund set up by her friends, we host the Rosalie Cohen Booklover's luncheon, with an Author in residence. Other events during Book Week include children and family events, as well as a yearly Bookmark Contest, in which all of the Sunday Schools and day schools participate.
For information contact Debbie Pesses at the JCC - 504-897-0143 - debbie@nojcc.org.
9th Annual JCC Book Fair
Wednesday, November 12 – Thursday, November 20
9th Annual People of the Book Festival- Journey through Literature
Begins Wednesday, November 12- 12 Noon
The Booklover's Luncheon, featuring Rabbi Sherre' Hirsch, "We Plan, and God Laughs"-Co-Sponsored by the Jewish Endowment Foundation. Based on an old Yiddish proverb, Rabbi Hirsch leads us through a inspirational journey. From Publishers Weekly Hirsch, a rabbi who has counseled many individuals over the years, puts their stories to good use as she proffers 10 steps to self-improvement and spiritual health. In addition to everyday stories from Hirsch's work life, as well as personal reflections (for example, to illustrate the idea of step seven, the divine spark, Hirsch tells the story of how she decided to become a rabbi), Hirsch draws on familiar figures from the Bible. She uses Jacob and Esau in step three to demonstrate how to forget past hurts and fears in order to become present in the here and now, and Jacob's ladder to illustrate step eight's instruction to be adventurous and take leaps of faith. Hirsch writes fluidly and makes readers feel as if she's speaking directly to them and never patronizes. Anyone who can advise readers to [t]ake your chicken, put all your 'oopses' on it, swing it around a few times, and call it a day in a way that makes complete sense is worth reading. ($35)
Thurday, November 13- 8 PM
David Andelman presents, "A Shattered Peace : Versailles, 1919 and the Price we Pay Today"
Executive Editor of Forbes.com, former Business Editor of the New York Daily News, news editor for Bloomberg News, domestic and foreign correspondent for the New York Times.- A revealing look at the powerful lessons the Treaty of Versailles has for us today. A compelling new perspective on the origin of today's most critical international issues. ($15)
Patrons of this year's book festival will have the opportunity to attend a Wine and Dessert Party with Mr. Andelman prior to the book event and will receive an autographed copy of his book. Watch for details on how you can become a patron.
David is married to the former Pam Title of New Orleans.
Sunday, November 16- 4 PM
Camp at the J-A Camp Event for all Ages-featuring Roger Bennett, author of Camp Camp: Where Fantasy Island Meets Lord of the Flies. Just like his first successful book, "Bar Mitzvah Disco", Camp Camp is another incredible collection of pictures and stories from Jewish sleep-a-way camps from all over the country. Co-sponsored by Camp Henry S. Jacobs (which is featured in the book), the book is a full-color history of a generation told via 80,000 photos and hundreds of "tall tales". Covering the 1980's and 1990's, this book tells a coming-of-age story of self-definition, exploration, friendship, and mentorship. A cultural history.
In addition, for younger children, Sammy Spider books and Fancy Nancy books will be featured with accompanying activities. ($15 per family or $10 per adult)
Monday, November 17
Join us for "Bagels and Books", featuring Lily Koppel,who has written a poignant book called "The Red Leather Diary". Ms. Koppel, a writer for the New York Times, found this diary outside her apartment in a dumpster What if you found someone's diary in a dumpster outside of your apartment? What would you do?
Compelled by the hopes and heartaches captured in the pages, Koppel sets out to find the diary's owner, her only clue the inscription on the frontispiece--"This book belongs to . . . Florence Wolfson." A chance phone call from a private investigator leads Koppel to Florence Wolfson, a ninety-year-old woman living with her husband of sixty-seven years. Reunited with her diary, Florence ventures back to the girl she once was, rediscovering a lost self that burned with artistic fervor.
Joining intimate interviews with original diary entries, Koppel reveals the world of a New York teenager obsessed with the state of her soul and her appearance, and muses on the serendipitous chain of events that returned the lost journal to its owner. Evocative and entrancing, The Red Leather Diary re-creates the romance and glitter, sophistication and promise, of 1930s New York, bringing to life the true story of a precocious young woman who dared to follow her dreams. ($10)
Wednesday, November 19
We end our journey with Scott Lasensky, who along with Daniel Kurtzner, former emissary to the Middle East, has written a compelling book, "Negotiating Arab-Israeli Peace: American Leadership in the Middle East"-As Washington struggles to revive the Arab-Israeli peace process, New Orleans native, Scott Lasensky offers the definitive guidebook on how to broker peace in the Middle East. Scott is a senior research and Middle East expert in the United States Institute of Peace and co-chairs the Institute's study group on Arab-Israeli peace making. Scott is the son of former New Orleanians, Dorothy and Jerry Lasensky. ($10)
All events in the Mintz auditorium-The JCC Book Store will carry the authors books as well as the most complete, up-to-date collection of the best in Jewish literature, including fiction, non-fiction, children's books, young adult books, and Jewish scholarship. In addition author's books will be available and book signings will follow each event. Thanks to Octavia Books for their generous support of the book festival and all of our book events.
The JCC is pleased that Carol B. Good will again chair this year's book festival, and that Celia Katz will again chair our Patron event. Thanks to the other committee members of this year's book festival: Marjorie Bissinger, Julanne Isaacson, Babs Isaacson, Patty Barnett, Nancy Bissinger, Sandy Heller, Eileen Hamilton, Ellen Balkin, Vivian Friedman, and Debbie Schlackman.
For more information, please call Jewish Enrichment Director, Debbie Pesses at (504) 897-0143 or email.
|
