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The Write Stuff
The Jewish Writers' Workshop is a unique opportuni t y.
Also featuring a selection of
fine serigraph reproductions.
LYNNE KONSTANTIN STAFF WRITER
writing of original midrashim —
stories that attempt to complete
unfinished narrative in the Bible,
create legends about biblical fig-
ures. We'll see how this works;
it's an experiment.
I
f you are a Jewish writer —
amateur, professional, student
or closet — you may have fan-
tasized about a place where you
can gather with other like-mind-
ed writers.
Olin-Sang-Ruby Union Insti-
tute (OSRUI), an innovator in Re-
form Jewish education, takes
advantage of a wooded camp
about 15 minutes outside of Mil-
waukee to create that opportu-
nity. There, OSRUI will hold
SOFER: The Jewish Writers'
Workshop, a unique four-day pro-
gram for all who write, whether
in pursuit of profession or plea-
sure, to come together and study,
work and discuss their aspira-
tions.
Says Donny Maseng, the pro-
gram's coordinator, 'The purpose
is to bring together in one place
students, teachers, writers, as-
piring writers, poets, playwrights
— published and unpublished —
to deal specifically with what it
means to be a Jewish writer.
Founded by Aaron Hurt Man-
heimer, editor of Reform Jewish
Magazine, SOFER is preparing
for its second year with, at last
count, enrollment up to 55, com-
pared to last year's 20 partici-
pants.
Themes in this year's work-
shops will include poetry writing,
fiction writing, creative nonfic-
tion, modern Midrash and play
writing, students can choose from
the concurrent workshops on sub-
sequent days.
Steve Stern
"I was enticed by the opportu-
nity to hang out with all these
great writers," says Stern, who
has been described as "America's
foremost young Jewish novelist."
Author of the novels Lazar
Malkin Enters Heaven and A
Plague of Dreamers, Stern is of-
ten referred to as the Isaac
Bashevis Singer for a new gen-
eration of readers.
Steve Stern
Starring in his own off-Broadway
composition Wasting Time with
Harry Davidowitz and currently
collaborating with SOFER's guest
artist Ellen Gould on "The Glass
House," he was recently com-
missioned by Hadassah to write
a play commemorating the 100th
anniversary of Zionism; the play
is set to star Theodore Bikel.
Gerald Stern
One of today's most prominent
poets, Stern has been honored by
the National Endowment for the
Arts, and has received a Guggen-
heim Fellowship and the Fellow-
ship of the Academy of American
Poets. He received the
P.E.N. Award for Leaving
Another Kingdom and the
Melville Caine Award of the
Poetry Society of America
for The Red Coat.
Dina Elenbogen
Elenbogen's memoir Drawn
From Water recounts her experi-
ences of working with Ethiopian
immigrants in Israel. She is the
innovator of the Spertus Institute
of Jewish Studies Writers' Work-
shop and her volume of poetry,
Rage Before Pardon will appear
this year.
ANTIQUE POSTERS
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(810) 356-5454
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eric waugh
Ellen Gould
Writer, composer and per-
former Gould is this year's spe-
cial guest artist. Her one-woman
show, Bubbe Meises Bubbe Sto-
ries, began a national tour after
only a six-month run, followed by
a made-for-TV version, earning
Gould two Emmys, as writer and
performer.
At
perfect
Ranni
Rodger Kamenetz
The author of the best-
selling The Jew in the Lotus,
Kamenetz is a graduate of
Yale, Johns Hopkins and
Stanford. A new book of po-
etry, Stuck, will be pub-
lished in December, and a Ellen Gould
book of prose, Stalking Eli-
jah, a follow-up to Jew in the Lo-
tus, will appear in October. Lotus
will be adapted into a film, which
Kamenetz is hoping to have
shown at the Sundance Film Fes- SOFER will be held Thursday-
Sunday, Aug. 21-24. Located 30
tival.
miles west of Milwaukee, a two-
Howard Schwartz
hour drive from Chicago and
Roger Kamenetz
Poet and midrashist Schwartz O'Hare airport and one hour east
says, "This is a tremendous en- of Madison, Wis., the camp is held
couragement to Jewish writers. at Oconomowoc, Wis. For infor-
An acclaimed storyteller and folk- mation regarding the program,
lorist, Schwartz serves as pro- call (847) 509-0990, Ext. 25. For
Donny Maseng
"I'm a singer, actor, playwright fessor of English as the flight information or reservations,
..." explains the Renaissance Man University of Missouri of St. call Travel Service Corporation,
who serves as the SOFER chair. Louis. "I will teach [at SOFER] (800) 634-2153.
If You Go:
Acrylic and Mixed Media
on Paper 12" x 20"
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Gallery
4301
Orchard Lake at Lone Pine
Crosswinds Mall
West Bloomfield
810-626-5810
Mon.-Sat. 10:30-6, Sun. 12-4
The Faculty:
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