JCC to hold 40th book fair

The Annual Jewish Community Book Fair will celebrate its 40th anniversary Nov. 1-12 and 19 with a series of events, which will be held at the Jewish Community Center, 2640 N. Forest Road in Getzville. .

The schedule for the 40th anniversary Jewish Community Book Fair program, as well as ticket/pass and anniversary party information, is featured in the Jewish Cultural Arts Guide. The JCAF Guide has been distributed by mail and is also available at JCC locations and at stores and organizations throughout the community.

Opening night will be held at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 1 with well-known author, storyteller, and teacher Rabbi Lawrence Kushner. He will discuss his new book, "Kabbalah: A Love Story." Rabbi Kushner is sponsored by the Foundation for Jewish Philanthropies and the Institute for Jewish Liberal Studies. The Foundation will hold a "Book of Life" signing at 7:15pm. A reception will follow.

Journalist Liele Leibovitz will discuss the difficulties, rich rewards, and emotional challenges of aliya at 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4. Leibovitz is a ninth- generation Israeli born in Tel Aviv, Israel. His new book, "Aliya: Three Generations of American-Jewish Immigration to Israel" examines the motivations of a single man, a couple, and a family of four who made Israel their home from its chaotic birth through its equally turbulent present. The program is sponsored by the Samuel and Sophie Weinstein Memorial Lecture Fund.

To celebrate this 40th year of Jewish Community Book Fair, a 40th anniversary party will be held at 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 5. Tickets must be purchased or reserved by Oct. 27 and are $10. Call 688-4114, ext. 337.

The Jewish Repertory Theatre will present Tim Newellin a one- act play, "A Lunch with Mr. Benny," by local playwright Mark Humphrey at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 6.

Michael Lasser will discuss "America's Songs: The Stories Behind the Songs of Broadway, Hollywood, and Tin Pan Alley" at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 7.

Author Rich Cohen will return to Book Fair at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 11 to discuss his most recent book, "Sweet and Low."

Buffalo native Michelle Goldberg is a writer and salon.com reporter making news herself with the publication of her book, "Kingdom Coming: The Rise of Christian Nationalism." She will discuss the book at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 9.

Yitzhak Buxbaum will share stories from his book, "The Light and Fire of the Baal Shem Tov" at 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 12.

Two free programs for the entire family are presented on Sunday, Nov. 12. A free family bagel buffet at noon will be followed at 1 pm by Aubrey Davis, an international storyteller from Canada. Davis is the author of "Bagels from Benny." Sisters of Sheynville, also from Canada, will entertain at 7 pm.

Poet Rick Hilles will talk at 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 19 and is the husband of noted Buffalo author and frequent Book Fair speaker Nancy Reisman.

All of the authors' books, along with the largest selection of Jewish-content books in Western New York, will be featured in the JCC Book Room.

Tickets for the programs range from $7 to $10, and cost $5 for students with ID. Individual tickets can be purchased at the door or at either JCC location: 2640 North Forest Road, Getzville or 787 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo. Call 688-4114, ext. 337.