The community is invited to experience a number of talented authors as they share their work and what’s behind it as part of The Jewish Community Center’s (The J) Acclaimed Author Series presented by Jewish Experiences, a collaboration of Jewish Federation and The J.
While each of the Acclaimed Author Series programs are free, registration is required at thejkc.org/aas.
“We could not be more excited to launch our second season of the Acclaimed Author series,” said Ethan Helfand, The J’s Director of Jewish Experiences. “This year, we’re thrilled to be welcoming a new slate of authors to share different stories, perspectives, and ideas about what it looks like to live, think, and experience Jewishness in new and innovative ways.”
Nov. 3
On Thursday evening, Nov. 3, author Gabrielle Glaser will talk about her book, “American Baby: A Mother, a Child, and the Shadow History of Adoption.” This program is presented in partnership with Priya, a program of Jewish Family Services that supports local Jewish couples struggling with infertility and the National Council of Jewish Women-Greater Kansas City Section.
Glaser is a New York Times Best Selling Author for her work on culture, health, and medicine. Her work has also appeared in The Atlantic, The Washington Post, and many other publications. She also has appeared on several television and radio programs.
“American Baby” takes place in 1961 and is the story of two teenage children — Margaret Erle and George Katz — whose parents are Jewish refugees. Margaret gets pregnant at a time when abortion was illegal and birth control was hard to get. Her parents send her to the maternity home run by New York’s Jewish adoption agency, Louise Wise Services. As the story unfolds, social workers coerce Margaret into signing away the rights to see her son, David. She did not know his whereabouts or new identity. While the lucrative, exploitative adoption industry claimed to be in the best interest of all, it was founded on secrets and lies. Glaser’s book covers Margaret’s story and search for her firstborn as well as exploring the ways to heal wounds from the dark time in our history of adoption.
Ellen R. Portnoy, a journalist and nonprofit professional, will moderate the Nov. 3 event. Portnoy brings a unique perspective to the table as she and her husband are adoptive parents. Portnoy has served as the co-chair of The J’s Jewish Book Fair for many years.
Nov. 17
On Thursday evening, Nov. 17, Dr. Adam Stern will discuss his book, “Committed: Dispatches from a Psychiatrist in Training.” This program is in partnership with Jewish Family Services. Sondra Wallace, JFS’ Director of Mental Health Programs, will serve as moderator.
Dr. Stern, an assistant professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and the director of psychiatry at BIDMC’s Berenson-Allen Center for Noninvasive Brain Stimulation, tells what it’s like to be a doctor tasked with healing the mind. The book brings readers along during Stern’s residency as he and his fellow doctors work rounds in psychiatric wards, grapple with impostor syndrome, navigate their personal lives, and experience love and loss.
Stern has written extensively about his experiences as a physician in several publications including The New York Times, The Boston Globe, The New England Journal of Medicine, The Journal of the American Medical Association and The American Journal of Psychiatry. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Stern appeared on CNN as a psychiatric expert.
These events follow an event featuring Northwestern University Professor of History Dr. Deborah Cohen discussing her new book, “Last Call at the Hotel Imperial.” The program was co-sponsored by the Midwest Center for Holocaust Education and moderated by its Director of Education, Dr. Shelly Cline.
In March 2023, readers will have a chance to interact with and hear from four more authors who will join the community in person. Authors will include Jean Meltzer discussing her romantic-comedy novel “Mr. Perfect on Paper” and former professional basketball player Dan Grunfeld discussing the connection between his Holocaust-survivor grandfather and his career on the court in “By the Grace of the Game.” Additionally, the series will welcome Kansas City’s own Jason Kander to discuss his recent book “Invisible Storm: A Soldier’s Memoir of Politics and PTSD” and journalist Emily Tamkin to discuss “Bad Jews: A History of American Jewish Politics and Identities.”
The Acclaimed Author Series is made possible through a partnership with the Jewish Book Council that works to bring communities like Kansas City stories, authors, and books that expand the way we think about Jewish identity and culture. These programs are also made possible through the support of the Sam Schultz Jewish Book Fair Fund.
Jewish Experiences (JEX), a collaboration between Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City and The J, aims to find ways to bring both the Jewish people and Jewish organizations of Kansas City together to find new and innovative ways to live, learn, and think Jewishly. JEX seeks to empower people to be engaged in their Jewishness and strive to engage those who have not previously been engaged in our community, helping them live a Jewish life that is authentic and meaningful to them.
More information about Jewish Experiences can be found at thejkc.org/jewishexperiences/ or by contacting program director Ethan Helfand at .