Sharon Benus, Gordon JCC Adult and Community Wide Programs Director

April is here, which means we are getting close to the end of this year’s Nashville Jewish Book Series. But luckily, we still have a few programs left. Join the Gordon JCC, Nashville Jewish Book Series, Vanderbilt Department of Jewish Studies, and the Vanderbilt Department of Gender and Sexuality Studies on Monday, April 3 at the Parthenon for a conversation with Allison Schachter.

Allison Schachter is a Professor of Jewish Studies, English, and Russian and East European Studies, and Chair of the Jewish Studies Department at Vanderbilt University. She teaches and publishes widely on modern Jewish literature and culture. Her books, From the Jewish Provinces, Selected Stories of Fradl Shtok, which she co-translated, and Women Writing Jewish Modernity, 1919-1939 (Northwestern University Press, 2022), which was a finalist for a National Jewish Book Award, will be topic of the conversation moderated by author, creative writing Professor at Vanderbilt, and Nashville Jewish Book Series committee member, Nancy Reisman.

The discussion will be wide-ranging about translating stories from Yiddish, women writers and artists, and the history of Jewish culture from the perspective of women. Schachter stated that, “Too often modern Jewish history is narrated as a story of how Jews became men, by adopting the norms of non-Jewish masculinity. We’ll talk about what modern Jewish culture meant for women.” The backdrop of Athena at the Parthenon is a perfect setting for this conversation. Prior to the discussion, attendees will enjoy non-alcoholic beverages from Killjoy, Nashville’s first specialty alcohol-free beverage shop. Doors open at 6:30 PM with conversation beginning at 7PM. Tickets are $18 and can be purchased at nashvillejcc.org/schachter.

Join the book series again on Thursday, April 20 at 7PM for a free virtual discussion with The New Yorker cartoonist David Sipress, whose book What’s So Funny? A Cartoonist’s Memoir recounts his hapless place in his Upper West Side Jewish family in the age of Sputnik and JFK. Sipress’ autobiography is a fascinating story which at its core delves into creativity and how it has guided his life. Sipress has been a staff cartoonist at The New Yorker since 1998. He’s published nearly seven hundred cartoons in the magazine in addition to other publications. Benjamin Benus, Professor of Art and Design History at Loyola University in New Orleans will be moderating the conversation. For more information and to register go to nashvillejcc.org/sipress.

The Nashville Jewish Book Series aims to bring people together for meaningful discussions about Jewish culture, identity, and life through literature. The NJBS runs from November 2022 to May 2023. You can find the schedule with registration and ticketing information at nasvhillejcc.org/book or contact community-wide programs director Sharon Benus at sharonb@nashvillejcc.org or 615-354-1697.