Sunday, Nov. 4–Sunday, Nov. 18
The Cardo area of the Sandler Family Campus will be filled with books of all shapes and sizes next month when the Simon Family JCC presents The Lee and Bernard Jaffe* Family Jewish Book Festival 2012.
In conjunction with its partner, Barnes and Noble, the JCC will have thousands of books for sale, including children’s books, novels, non-fiction, local interest, and cookbooks, as well as the works of the 12 authors making presentations. “The book festival is a great way to have fun and support the Jewish Community Center. Everything from the History of Ha to A Hanukkah Adventure, there is an event for everyone, as well as some holiday shopping while you’re here,” says Sandra Porter Leon.
Author presentations mirror the diversity of the categories of books on display, and range from comedy to traveling the Diaspora to writing a Jewish memoir. During the two author events for children, the kids will learn about a special Chanukah rescue and how to discover the inner beauty within each person.
Lynn Sher Cohen, Book Festival chair, along with her committee of Anne Kramer, Marcia Samuels, Cindy Krell, Sandy Sher, Shelly Loeb, Sandra Porter Leon, Gloria Siegel and Sheryl-Lynn Makela, has been working since June on festival details. The committee works closely with the Cultural Arts department of the JCC, producing the JCC’s largest cultural arts undertaking each November, carefully selecting books to sell and authors that this community will particularly enjoy.
“Books are a window for our eyes and ears and a wonderful way for us to see and learn about the world without leaving a room,” says Sher Cohen. “Because of this, I LOVE them and tend to get lost in them, and just want to share a piece of my passion with others in this community.” Now in her fifth year on the committee and her third year as chair, she is as enthusiastic as ever about working with the festival.
All events are free with the exception of two, as noted. For detailed information about the Book Festival, click here.
The Simon Family JCC acknowledges the Jewish Book Council and its membership in the JBC Network. *of blessed memory The Simon Family JCC is a constituent agency of United Jewish Federation of Tidewater.
by Leslie Shroyer