Letter from the Chair
Letter from the Chair
It is truly a joy and an honor to welcome you to the 54th Ann and Stephen Kaufman Jewish Book & Arts Festival.
This festival has long been a celebration of stories, ideas, and extraordinary voices that help us better understand ourselves and the world around us. This year, we are especially excited to celebrate the arts as an integral part of our festival. Through literature, art, theater, film, food, and shared experiences, we will explore the many ways Jewish life and creativity are expressed.
We are honored to open this year’s festival with Rachel Goldberg-Polin and her husband, Jon Polin, who will join us to discuss her book, When We See You Again. Rachel’s book encompasses unimaginable pain and loss, yet she shares her experiences and connects with others with remarkable grace and humanity. It is a privilege to welcome Rachel and Jon to our community and begin the festival with what promises to be a deeply meaningful evening.
At the heart of this year’s festival is something especially personal and important to me: Jewish joy. Jewish joy can be found in creativity, connection, tradition, humor, and sharing an experience. At a time when gathering together feels more meaningful than ever, I hope these two weeks offer opportunities not only to reflect and learn, but also to laugh, share a meal, enjoy the arts, and celebrate the richness of Jewish life.
Over two weeks, we will welcome an exciting and diverse group of authors, artists, and creative voices. Zibby Owens, Annabelle Gurwitch, and Jeffrey Seller will share personal reflections on life, creativity, resilience, and the experiences that shaped them. We also look forward to hearing from Rabbi Shira Stutman and exploring The Jewish Way to a Good Life.
As part of our commitment to finding new ways to share Jewish stories, we are excited to partner with the Jewish Book Council and its Nu Reads Program to bring Israeli novelist and filmmaker Ron Segal to Houston. He will share his new novel, Delicate, with us even before its official release.
The arts will take us beyond the page and into new ways of seeing and experiencing Jewish culture. David Shlachter will share Hinenu, a compilation of photographs and first-person stories captured at a remarkable moment in Israel’s history. Anna Abramzon will bring us an art exhibit and hands-on workshop incorporating our own Jewish stories. We will screen Dust Bowls and Jewish Souls, exploring the Jewish influences that shaped the life and music of American folk legend Woody Guthrie.
The Braid will bring On Being Jewish Now, the acclaimed anthology edited by Zibby Owens, to life in an intimate ensemble performance. And Rebecca Lowin, bestselling cookbook author and lifestyle expert known as “the Jewish Martha Stewart,” will inspire us to create meaningful gatherings with family and friends.
We are also proud to highlight a powerful Houston story with Rebecca Blumenstein’s The Last Free Women, which follows four young Afghan women who, after being evacuated from Kabul in 2021, resettled in Houston and began rebuilding their lives and futures in our community.
These are merely a taste of the programs offered this year. There will be opportunities to learn, laugh, be inspired, and be challenged.
I am deeply grateful to our festival committee, whose enthusiasm, dedication, and ideas have made this festival possible, and to the incredible staff at the J, including Guy Cohen, Myla Bell, Barbara Lindenberg, and Andrea Wolfe. It has been such a pleasure to work with this talented group and bring these programs to life.
I am so thankful to Susan Rosenbaum, our Vice Chair, whose sense of humor, focus, insight, and love for books have made this experience easier for me, and a lot more fun! A very special thank you goes to Amy Rahmani, Director of Arts & Culture, whose leadership, vision, and commitment have made this experience such a joy.
Finally, thank you to Ann and Stephen Kaufman, our Patrons of the Arts, as well as our generous underwriters, sponsors, and community partners. Your support makes this festival possible, and we are truly grateful.
My hope for this year is simple: that you will join us. Come hear a new author, explore the arts, or discover a new perspective. I look forward to sharing two weeks of books, arts, ideas, connection, and plenty of Jewish joy with all of you.
With warmest wishes,
Michelle Goldberg Moses
Chair, 54th Ann and Stephen Kaufman Jewish Book & Arts Festival
