On April 14, 2026 (Yom HaShoah), I gave a lecture at Beth Tikvah Synagogue (Toronto) about the Garment Workers Scheme/Tailor Project. Over 100 people attended my talk! I was delighted to learn some new information about the Tailor Project immigrants and their descendants.
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A Jeweller’s Legacy
On October 26, 2024, I was thrilled to attend the book launch of A Jeweller’s Legacy: A Boy’s Journey from War to Peace, Henry (Hank) Schaffer’s memoir. It was an honour and delight for me to edit this moving memoir of a child Holocaust survivor. Thank you to Renate Krakauer who introduced this courteous and intelligent man to me.
Here’s a brief description of the book: Henry’s journey was one from war to peace. Born a week before the Nazis invaded his hometown of Warsaw, Poland in 1939, Henry survived the war and Holocaust through luck, perseverance and love of his mother, Vera Schaffer. The family with the help of jeweller Simon Schaffer thrived in Belgium after the war and eventually in Montreal, where Henry became a jeweller himself as well as a beloved husband, father, and grandfather.
To hear Henry’s interview in 2021 for the Montreal Holocaust Museum, see: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wEG5RcxPdI
Another wonderful creation!
And here’s another wonderful creation by Vlad Dunaevsky of my bookshelf. Thank you, Vlad!
My book sparks art!
I’m always amazed and delighted that one story often leads to another; one creative spark lights a fire for someone else. A friend of mine recently read my book, Bobbie Rosenfeld: The Olympian Who Could Do Everything (Second Story Press), and added his own “commentary”. Used with permission by Vlad Dunaevsky. Enjoy!
Middle Grade Magic
On March 9, 2023, I participated in a panel called “Yes, It’s True”, part of SLJ’s “Middle Grade Magic”.
I talked about my new book, She’s a Mensch! : Ten Amazing Jewish Women. I was honoured to join these other panelists:
I talked about my new book, She’s a Mensch! : Ten Amazing Jewish Women. I was honoured to join these other panelists:Zaila Avant-Garde, It’s Not Bragging If It’s True (Penguin Random House)
Joseph Bruchac, Voices of the People (Reycraft)
David Roth and Rinee Shah, LOL 101 (Chronicle Books)
Jessica Speer, The Phone Book (Familius)
If you registered for the event, the recordings will be available until June 2023.
Fanny “Bobbie” Rosenfeld’s 118th Birthday
I was thrilled to see Bobbie Rosenfeld featured in the Google Doodle of Dec. 18/22! Let’s not forget her importance as a formidable Canadian Jewish woman athlete and journalist. I was honoured to write her biography: Bobbie Rosenfeld: The Olympian Who Could Do Everything (Second Story Press, 2004).
Here’s the link to my book:
A Writer’s Journey
My essay, “A Writer’s Journey”, part of “Reflections from the Field” was published in the December 2021 issue of Religious Studies and Theology. This special issue focused on Canadian Jewish women writers. This journal is published in Sheffield, UK: Religious Studies and Theology (equinoxpub.com). Thanks to Prof. Catherine Caufield for her continuing research in this often-ignored field of study.
Q&A on Deborah Kalb’s blog!
My first Q&A on a blog! Deborah Kalb was kind enough to interview me about Jacob and the Mandolin Adventure. Here’s the link: https://bit.ly/3td0S65. Thanks to Deborah for asking some great questions and giving me time and room to answer them. So exciting!
Virtual Book Launch
Jacob and the Mandolin Adventure was officially launched on Sun. March 21, 2021. Here’s the YouTube video of the launch.https://youtu.be/PGAp1-bZsBY
I enjoyed sharing this launch with my writer-friend, Rona Arato, whose new book is Righting Canada’s Wrongs: Anti-Semitism and the MS St. Louis (Lorimer Press). Two different stories but both connected in many ways.
Presenting at Limmud Toronto!
On Sun. Nov. 22, 2020, I’ll be on a panel with authors Tziporah Cohen and Kathy Kacer at the virtual Limmud Toronto conference. The topic is: “More than Menorahs: A Conversation with Authors of Jewish Children’s Literature”. Sidura Ludwig will moderate the discussion.
How do writers of Jewish books for children balance the need to provide educational and celebratory books about Jewish holidays and tell important Holocaust narratives while still ensuring a diversity of Jewish stories? Where are the stories about contemporary Jewish kids, about Sephardic kids, or about lesser-known happenings in Jewish history? Why isn’t the range of Jewish identity reflected in books for young readers?
For more information and to purchase tickets, go to the Limmud Toronto website: https://www.limmud.ca/