Opens for MAR-JCC members - Michael-Ann Russell Jewish ...

meet the author book series•Director: David Surowitz, ext. 127•Co-chair: Amy Chafetz•Honorary Chairs: George and Marla BergmannRabbi Norman Mussman Cultural Arts Departmentmeet the author jewish book series“With the support of the Miami-Dade CountyDepartment of Cultural Affairs and the CulturalAffairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Mayorand Board of County Commissioners.”MEET THE AUTHOR Jewish Book SeriesA Series featuring Jewish authors or authors who have written books of Jewish interest, who are on national tour todiscuss their most recent writings. After each presentation, there will be a question and answer period, followed bya book signing - light refreshments will be served and books will be available for purchase.MEET THE AUTHOR seeks to capture aspects of contemporary Jewish life, history, culture, and religion whilestimulating interest in reading books of Jewish interest. In September, a full menu of author events will be announced.The following represents an initial list of authors who will be visiting our community (dates are subject to change). Theviews expressed by the authors solely represent their own and are not reflective of the opinions or views of the MAR-JCC or Participating Organizations.Wednesday, December 5, 7pm at the Aventura Turnberry Jewish CenterANOUK MARKOVITS - I AM FORBIDDENA family is torn apart by fierce belief and private longing in this journey deep inside the most insularHasidic sect, the Satmar. Sweeping from the Central European countryside just before World War IIto Paris to contemporary Williamsburg, Brooklyn, this novel brings to life four generations of oneSatmar family. It is an emotionally gripping story of what happens when unwavering love, unyieldinglaw, and centuries of tradition collide.Anouk Markovits was raised in France in a Satmar home, breaking from the fold when she 19 yearsold to avoid an arranged marriage. Markovits went on to receive a bachelor of science fromColumbia University, a master of architecture from Harvard, and a Ph.D. in Romance studies fromCornell. Her first novel, PUR Coton, was written in French; I AM FORBIDDEN is Markovits' English - language debut.Wednesday, January 23, 7 pm, at Temple SinaiLESLIE MAITLAND - CROSSING THE BORDERS OF TIMEOn a pier in Marseille, in 1942, an 18 year old German Jewish girl - pried from the arms of theFrenchman she yearned to marry - boarded one of the last ships to escape the country. Five yearslater, living in America, 23 year old Janine married a dynamic American man but never forgot thewords of the young Frenchman who had captured her heart, "I give you my vow that whateverthe time we must wait, you will be my wife. Never forget, never doubt." But it was her daughter,former New York Times investigative reporter, Leslie Maitland, who eventually determined to findhim, and the story culminates in the daring fulfillment of a vow of love made 50 years earlier.Monday, March 18, 7 pm at Beth Torah Benny Rok CampusMAURICE D. HARRIS - MOSES: A Stranger Among UsWith Passover approaching, Rabbi Maurice Harris, brings the holiday's main character to life as helooks beyond familiar popular portrayals of Moses by interweaving traditional religiousinterpretations, academic Bible scholarship, psychological and sociological analysis, feministreadings, and more. Combining a deep respect for the Biblical text with a willingness to questionreceived tradition, Harris reveals a complex Moses whose life story gives us important tools for betterunderstanding issues like religious fundamentalism, intermarriage, identity confusion, and civildisobedience, among others.Open to the community at no charge. Made possible by the MAR-JCC’s Steven J. Kravitz Adult Jewish EducationFund and by Participating Organizations each sponsoring a different author event.-30-