Israeli author Etgar Keret was slated to speak at Old Dominion University’s Literary Festival this past September. Ahead of his visit, Jewish News published a review of his latest book, A Seven Year Memoir and an article about his receiving the $100,000 Bronfman Prize. Just before he was due in Norfolk, Keret was in an automobile accident in Boston. With several ribs broken, he flew home to Israel, bypassing ODU.
Madeline Budman, a Norfolk resident and avid Keret fan, knew that during her first week in Israel to study at Jerusalem’s Hebrew University, she would meet with the famed author. Obliging the Jewish News editor, she took a copy of the paper to have him sign. Finally!