‘'A* ?i§v Popular Entertatnmen Rare Vintage Posters 1890's-1970 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is to bring together in one place students, teachers, writers, as- piring writers, poets, playwrights — published and unpublished — to deal specifically with what it means to be a Jewish writer.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 29203 Northwestern Hwy. • Southfield (810) 356-5454 WANTED LOCAL JEWISH AUTHORS Published Between 10/96 - 10/97 for Selling and Promotion of your book. Call JCC Book Fair (248) 661-7649 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" Danielle Peleg Gallery 4301 Orchard Lake at Lone Pine Crosswinds Mall West Bloomfield 810-626-5810 Mon.-Sat. 10:30-6, Sun. 12-4 The Faculty: ❑ A subscription to Touch A Life. The United Way. THE JEWISH !- NEWS :1 1-810-354-6620 91