Erika Dreifus

Toward the end of each week, the My Machberet blog presents a collection of links, drawn primarily from the world of Jewish books and writing.

• My Jewish Learning’s new creative writing workshops, which begin next week, are “offering a space in which those wishing to write on Jewish themes can come together in community and develop and share their work — in the form of fiction, creative nonfiction or memoir. Participants will be guided by Shira Nayman, a clinical psychologist and author of five books on Jewish themes, as well as essays and short stories.” As of this writing, spaces remain in the Wednesday workshop series only; use code WRITER15 for a 15% tuition discount.
• I won’t be attending the upcoming annual conference of the Association of Writers and Writing Programs (AWP), which takes place next week in Baltimore. But if you’re planning to be there, take note of the Jewish Writers Caucus meeting, an off-site Shabbat reading, and related conference tidbits as presented by Yetzirah.
• No travel required for “Tell Me a Lore: Revisiting the Children’s Books of Lore Segal.” Hosted by the Leo Baeck Institute (where I am a trustee), this free online event is scheduled for next Wednesday, March 4, beginning at 2pm (Eastern time). “Professor Ellen Handler Spitz (Yale University) will give scholarly insights into Lore Segal’s work for children. Sarah Lynn Baker, Executive Director of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, as well as artists Paul O. Zelinsky, Sergio Ruzzier, and Sophie Blackall will join the conversation.” NB: This session is offered as part of a program series curated in conjunction with LBI’s current exhibition, And That’s True Too: The Life and Work of Lore Segal.
• Another online happening on next week’s agenda: “Read with JWI x AAA: Lee Kofman and Tamar Paluch in Conversation with Erika Dreifus.” It’s the inaugural event in a brand-new series coordinated by Jewish Women’s International (JWI) and The Artists Against Antisemitism (AAA; here, too, I’m a board member). Our March 5 discussion will focus on the anthology Ruptured: Jewish Women in Australia Reflect on Life Post-October 7, co-edited by Kofman and Paluch.
• And in case you missed it: PEN America has been in the news again lately. About 10 days ago, I wrote a letter to the editor of The New York Times about their recent coverage. Since they’ve evidently chosen not to publish it, I’ve gone ahead and done so myself.

Shabbat shalom! And (not too long after): chag Purim sameach!