By Eileen Wingard
SAN DIEGO — Jewish Poets—Jewish Voices will continue in the Astor Judaica Library for the fifth year with three Tuesday evenings at 7:00 p.m., January 15, February 19 and March 12. These programs of poetry readings are open to the public at no charge. The first hour has three featured poets followed by a half hour of open mike for which audience members may sign up as they enter the library. Light refreshments are served afterwards.
The opening program on January 15 will feature poets Patti Haskell, Ysmael Escudero Tisnado II, and Joni Gerstein.
Rabbi Patti Haskell serves as the spiritual leader for Seacrest Village. Her poems have been published in the National Association of Jewish Chaplains’ Journal and in their Newsletter. Ysmael Escudero Tisnado II, writes in Ladino, the house language of the Jews of medieval Spain and their descendants. His poetry has been published in the online Jewish Newspaper, San Diego Jewish World. Joni Gurstein, a retired educator and psychotherapist, has had her works published in the San Diego Annual, the Magee Park Anthology, the Mira Costa’s Tidepools and Reflections, the Summations III and IV, and in Phantoms of the Gallery.
The February 19 program will feature Suzi Finklestein, Audrey Jacobs, Director of the San Diego Chapter of Stand With Us, reading the poetry of her grandmother, Margie Lipman, and Karen Deicas DePodesta.
Suzi Finklestein a civil trial lawyer from 1990 to 2010, participated in the New York Writers Institute from 2010-2012 as well as in the San Diego Playwright Project. The staged reading of her play, “Dear Mr. Stevie Wonder” was performed at Point Loma last September.
Margie Lipman, who died last year, was the beloved grandmother of San Diego Jewish activist, Audrey Jacobs, dynamic leader of the San Diego Chapter of Stand With Us. Audrey credits her grandmother for inspiring her Jewish Activism.
Karen Deicas DePodesta reads her poetry yearly at High Holiday services at Ohr Shalom.
On the March 12 program, Aimee Greenberg’s work will be featured. She is also a playwright whose work, “Light Falling Down,” was given a staged reading in the Astor Judaica Library last May. Not only is she a published poet and playwright, but her two young daughters are also published poets. The second featured poet will be Heidi Lerner, a mentor of brain injury survivors, who has published a book of her poetry relating to brain injuries.
The third poet for that evening will be selected from the open mike readers at the January and February programs.
Once again, the evenings will be introduced and moderated by local Jewish poet, Joy Heitzmann. The planning committee for these evenings is chaired by Eileen Wingard and includes Michael Horvitz, Bonnie Baron, Sara Appel-Lennon and Joy Heitzmann. JCC staff facilitating Jewish Poets—Jewish Voices are Marcia Wollner, Director of Literary Arts and Educational Resources, and her assistant, Susan Hagler.,
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Wingard is a freelance writer and retired San Diego Symphony violinist. She may be contacted at eileen.wingard@sdjewishworld.com