Federation Star - February 2018

6B Federation Star February 2018
The Jewish Federation of Greater Naples thanks
the 3 rd Annual Jewish Book Festival Patrons:
Harvey Becker
Dana Lefkowitz
Joan Becker
Arlene Levin
Lea Bendes
Anna Levin
Eleanor Binder
Arlene Litow
Helene Blinder
Leda Lubin
Rosalee Bogo
Ida Margolis
Patti Boochever
Marci Margolis
Sue Bookbinder
Barbara Meek
Rhonda Brazina
Sheila Mesulam
Stephen Brazina
Ike Mesulam
Sally Brickman
Robin Mintz
Marybeth Brooks
Ileen Morris
Nancy Brother
Annette Pakula
Sandy Burton
Judi Palay
Gina Cannon
Susan Pittelman
Norma Carl
Rochelle Pollens
Jacqueline Chizever
Irene Pomerantz
Lois Cohen
Ben Post
Philip Cohen
Estelle Price
Myra Cristall
Stuart Price
Susan Dean
Susan Rabin
Karen Deutsch
Jack Rabin
Gayle Dorio
Cecille Raichlen
Barbara Druckman
Lourie Rapport
Michele Farrell
Sue Reiver
Geraldine Feldman
Mae Riefberg
Judith Finer Freedman
Ellaine Rosen
Rita Fleischmajer
Murial Rosenfeld
Madeline Foster
Judy Roth
Norman Foster
Luba Rotsztain
Jeremy Freedman
JoEllen Rubenstein
Myra Friedman
Joan Saperstein
Judith Friedland
Jamie Satz
Samuel Friedland
Stephen Satz
Susan Garelick
Rhona Saunders
Nancy Garfien
Jane Schiff
Priscilla Gerber
Betty Schwartz
Beth Gilman
Dina Shein
Janice Goldman
Iris Shur
Ron Goldsmith
Gay Silberg
Susie Goldsmith
Linda Simon
Bernie Goldstein
Marc Simona
Carole Greene
Linda Smith
Diane Greene
Arlene Sobol
Lenore Greenstein
Elaine Soffer
Linda Grusin
Tracey Sosnik
Buddy Grusin
Judi Spintman
Diane Hahn
Dan Spintman
Ronna Hain
Barbara Steckler
Lee Henson
Jeffrey Steckler
Carol Hirsch
Marilyn Storch
Susan Horowitz
Jim Storch
Michael Horowitz
Sylvia Taub
Lois Janger
Michael Taub
Phil Jason
Fritzi Thorner
Nancy Kahn
Allison Tucker
Merrylee Kandel
Joan Werhane
Judith Kane
Goldie Wetcher
Norm Kaplan
Nancy Wiadro
Carolyn Kimmel
Martin Wolfson
Debbie Laites
Janis Wolfson
Bruce Lane
Ellen Wollman
Ann Lane
Judy Zahn
Bernard Lashinsky
Mel Zahn
Barbara Lefkowitz
Joni Zalasky
Jewish Book Festival:
book reviews and author information
ARTS & CULTURE
Wherever You Go, There They Are,
by Annabelle Gurwitch
Review by Lee Henson, Jewish Book Festival committee member
Reading this book was like having urge to seek kinship and understanding
one of those long, in-depth conversations
with a good friend While reading this book, there were
connects her with all of us.
that you don’t want to end. You may times when I chuckled, or even laughed
skip from topic to topic, but the underlying
fact is an understanding of shared hurt are the most memorable. She may
out loud. However, the passages that
experiences and feelings. I’ve never have left her family and organized religion
searching for that unique connec-
met Annabelle Gurwitch, and our lives
could not be more different. She comes tion that she felt missing, but she carried
from a family that mixed gambling, them with her throughout her journey,
drinking and philandering, while my and returned to them over and over.
family members were teetotalers and Annabelle Gurwitch has been a
committed (to each other) – but the essence
was the same. I understood her coms (Seinfeld, Boston Legal, Dexter,
successful actor, ranging from sit-
emotional reaction to the world in which Melvin Goes to Dinner) to a Showtime
she moved, even if it was so different. Comedy Special, to co-hosting Dinner
When I was young I imagined living & a Movie on TV. She has been a regular
a life of an “artist.” Annabelle Gurwitch commentator on NPR. She became a
has done that. She has done more than successful author with I See You Made
just succeed in the business of acting. As an Effort, which was a New York Times
she discusses her journey, she portrays bestseller and Thurber Prize finalist.
She’s a veteran of many theatrical
each adventure and turn in her life in
a manner that it is fully relatable. Her productions, the funniest of which may
have been her high school productions,
where she used her self-taught skill for
crying on cue to imbue The Wizard of
Oz and Cinderella with pathos.
All of the stories contained in this
book are based on actual events in her
life. There are photographs to prove
it! She has shared intimate moments as
she grew up in the South; dabbled with a
UFO cult, secular humanist fellowships,
ways to protect the environment or save
the world; and explored her relationship
with her sister, parents, spouse and
son. She tells her tales with a mix of
humor, sadness and wit.
I am eager to listen to her discuss
her life and share how these experiences
have led her to where she is now:
“a Jewish mother, a reluctant atheist,
and an ardent environmentalist” who is
“empty-nesting in Los Angeles.” And,
coming to Naples!
Wednesday, February 14, 1:00 - 3:30 pm at Temple Shalom
Annabelle Gurwitch is the author of the three books, including
New York Times bestseller I See You Made an Effort. She is a
regular commentator on NPR and a former host of Dinner and a
Movie on TBS. Other numerous television appearances include
Boston Legal, Seinfeld and Murphy Brown.
Appearing with Annabelle Gurwitch will be Peter Gethers,
author of My Mother’s Kitchen.
This program is being generously sponsored by U.S. Bank
and the Naples Senior Center at JFCS.
APRIL
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7:00 pm
Beth Tikvah