LA JOLLA, California (Press Release)–JewishPoets—Jewish Voices begins its fourth year Tuesday evening, January 17, 7:00 p.m. in the Astor Judaica Library at the Lawrence Family JCC with readings by three local poets, Frieda Levinsky, Elizabeth Schwartz and Sue Marder. Introduced by poet Joy Heitzmann, the three featured authors will read their works during the first hour. This will be followed by a half hour of open mike during which members of the audience are invited to read individual poems. There will a sign-up sheet in the library as people enter. Following the readings, there will be an opportunity to socialize over light refreshments.
Frieda Levinsky, a native of Belz, Poland and descendant of Talmudic Scholars, escaped the Nazis with her family by first going to the Soviet section of Poland, then being deported to Siberia. After surviving World War II, she was sent to a Displaced Persons Camp in Germany where she was educated before migrating to the USA. She earned her BA with a major in Spanish and history from SDSU. An outstanding student, she was elected to Alpha Mu Gamma, the Foreign Language Honor Society. Frieda taught at General Dynamics and later, in San Diego schools. As an award- winning poet, she received the Blue Ribbon Award in 2007 and 2008 from the Downtown San Diego Public Library for her poetry book, Enlightened Ambiance. Frieda has also served on the selection committee for Women in Poetry.
Elizabeth Schwartz, born in New York, has distinguished herself as a Yiddish singer. Lead vocalist with her husband, Yale Strom’s Klezmer ensemble, “Hot Pstromi,” she performs regularly throughout North America and Eastern and Western Europe. She has made numerous recordings in collaboration with Yale Strom, and was herself, the subject of a documentary, Rumenye, Rumenye. A writer and independent film-maker, she worked in Hollywood. Her credits include the documentary film, L’Chayim, Comrade Stalin! She also co-authored the book, A Wandering Feast: A Journey Through The Jewish Culture of Eastern Europe. With Strom and Ellen Kushner, Schwartz created The Witches of Lublin, which was presented as part of the 2011 Lipinsky Jewish Arts Festival at the Lyceum Theatre last June.
Sue Marder, originally from Kansas City, Missouri, attended the University of Arizona in Tucson, majoring in acting and secretarial studies. After marriage, she lived in Washington D.C., then San Diego where she was a travel agent and a pharmacy technician, working alongside her late husband. After selling the pharmacy, she did volunteer work with Project Wildlife, tutored Russian emigrants in English, was a docent at the San Diego Natural History Museum, a trail guide at Mission Trails Park, worked with the San Diego Probation Department and now works for the San Diego County Animal Shelter. A world traveler, she has been to all seven continents. She has been writing for fifteen years, including three poetry books, short stories, a novel, a children’s book and memoirs of her travels.
The second evening will be on February 21 and feature Bonnie Baron reading the poetry of her late mother, Gertrude Rubin, and Ida Deichaite from UCSD. The last evening, March 27, will feature the writing of local school students, including three from the San Diego Jewish Academy and Becca Myers.
There is no charge for these programs. Attendees are encouraged to RSVP to the JCC Library, 858-362-1150
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Preceding provided by the San Diego Center for Jewish Culture