AROUND TOWN

An Illuminating Afternoon

A bestselling author shares his creative experiences at a Hadassah luncheon.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANGIE BAAN

Emily Eisenberg of Ann Arbor and
Sharone Bigelman of Birmingham

Dodie Harris of Commerce and
Barbara Saltz of Farmington Hills

Rachael Polakoff of West Bloomfield
and Judy Tann of Bingham Farms

Elizabeth Silber of West Bloomfield
and Beverly Apel of West Bloomfield

Speaker Jonathan Safran Foer of New York City and Greater Detroit Chapter of

Hadassah President Judi Schram of West Bloomfield

Hadassah chapter executive director Evelyn Diskin
and luncheon coordinator Wendy Kohlenberg, both
of West Bloomfield

uthor Jonathan Safran Foer,
28, says there's no mystery
or magic to his writing
methods — he simply looks
at a blank page and uses willpower to find
the words. His technique is working like
a charm.
Foer's latest novel, Extremely Loud and
Incredibly Close, published in April 2005,
went straight to the national and interna-
tional bestseller lists. A movie based on
his first novel, Everything is Illuminated,
was also released last year. In it, a young
man searches for the woman who may
have saved his grandfather from the
Nazis.
The bright young Jewish author shared
his insights with more than 700 people at
Congregation Shaarey Zedek Southfield
at Hadassah's season-opening meeting.
"I don't ever write from inspiration;
that's not something I do," Foer told the
crowd. "I don't have a story to tell; I don't
have a voice to find; there's no muse."
Instead, Foer says his books are
good records of his imagination. The

A

dent of the Greater Detroit Chapter of
award-winning author who lives in
Hadassah. "It was a little insight into his
Brooklyn, N.Y., told the group about
brilliant mind."
his late grandmother who was president
Foer was not the only guest of
of her Hadassah chapter in
honor at the meeting. Sue Curtis
Washington. He also shared
of West Bloomfield was recog-
some of his childhood memo-
nized as an honorary chair on her
ries and observations about
40th anniversary with Hadassah.
Jewish humor. Recently, he has
A past chapter president who
spent a lot of time trying to
has held various leadership posi-
figure out what makes his 7-
tions over the years, Curtis made
month-old son smile and why.
a major gift that contributed to
"It's said that Jews are people
RO BIN
securing Hadassah House and also
of the book, but we're very
SCH WARTZ
helped fund the Ophthalmology
often not people of the spoken
COLU MNIST Department at Hadassah Hospital
word," Foer said. "I think that
in Israel.
laughter in my family was an
"She is the embodiment of the con-
antidote to silence."
summate Hadassah woman," said Schram.
"He's a delightful young man; I
"She's accomplished, committed and
enjoyed listening to him very much," said
active in the Jewish community."
Judi Schram of West Bloomfield, presi-

Karen Pollak of Farmington Hills, speaker Jonathan Safran Foer,
Sue Curtis of West Bloomfield and Nancy Jonas of Farmington Hills

Elaine Levine of Palm Beach, Esther Olson of
Commerce and Jeanne Kabeck of Farmington Hills

Hadassah is the largest women's and
volunteer organization in the nation and
is celebrating its 90th year in Detroit. In
addition to the speakers, the meeting also
included a luncheon, raffle and boutique
shopping with about 30 different vendors.
The Sept. 12 event was expected to raise
about $25,000.
"I hope people come away from
the opening meeting inspired about
Hadassah," said Schram. "We are a
dynamic force in the community."
Spotted in the crowd were: Event co-
chairs Nancy Jonas and Karen Pollak,
both of Farmington Hills; Betsy Kaman
and Gayle Gold, both of Huntington
Woods; Cathy Slavik and Joan Epstein,
both of Bloomfield Hills; Wendy
Kohlenberg, Francine Menken, Rachel
Polakoff and Margo Lazar, all of West
Bloomfield; Lisa Lis and Diane Brody,
both of Farmington Hills; Julie Solomon
and Rachel Kamin, both of Novi; Susan
Brody of Southfield; Joanne Pevos of
Flint; Fran Hack and Mara Moss, both
of Birmingham; and Marcie Orley of
Franklin. 111

JNPLATINUM • OCTOBER 2006 •

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