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to the West Bloomfield and Oak Park
buildings at the start of the nine-day
event would have drawn visitors. But
word also would have spread quickly if
the fair, which runs through Sunday,
was a bust.
The overall strength of this year's
offerings — 10,000 books represent-
ing 3,000 titles, and 45 events
including 30 different speakers — is
a tribute to the organizers' willingness
to be flexible and receptive.
In the afterglow of the opening
ceremonies Saturday night, I chatted
with Irwin Shaw, the JCC's executive
director emeritus who founded the
• Jewish Book Fair in 1951. Gazing
into a packed Shiffman Hall, he
recalled how the fair "started with
just 200 books and a single author —
and my going to New York City to
get Jewish titles on consignment from
publishers.
"To see this crowd tonight, it's unbe-
lievable," he said. "It's very gratifying."
Sunday's first-ever Local Authors
Fair is just one example, he said, of
how organizers improved the Jewish
Book Fair "in response to the chang-
ing times."
This year's Book Fair co-chairs are
Andi Wolfe, who is now in her fourth
year, and Sylvia Gotlib, her close
friend. They head a spirited Book Fair
team consisting of JCC staffers and
volunteers. Their planning began the
day last year's fair ended, and intensi-
fied four months ago.
At the opening ceremonies, JCC
President Larry Wolfe said, "Andi's
gift for organization and Sylvia's eye
for spotting quality writing worked
together to bring you the amazing
lineup of speakers and comprehensive
selection of books that you will find
this year."
His optimism proved prophetic as
the week unfolded.
Following her husband to the
podium, Andi Wolfe saluted her car-
ing crew, which set the tempo for this
oldest and biggest Jewish Book Fair
in the country. "To the people who
made this happen," she said, "it has
been a labor of love."
Putting this annual book lover's
delight — a sort of communal Jew-
ish educational experience — in per-
spective, Gotlib said: "Book Fair is
always evolving — growing in quali-
ty, not just quantity."

To leave a message for Robert
Sklar, please call (248) 354-6060,
ext.. 258, or e-mail rsklar@the-

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