Page 6 - Jewish News_04-2021

6A April 2021 FEDERATION NEWS

History takes center stage in April’s

People of the Book virtual author events

By Gayle Guynup
he People of the Book series of Sea Spies: The True Story of Mos- of chutzpah – but at its heart is a human What is it that you hope readers
virtual author events, sponsored sad’s Fake Diving Resort, reveals the story which needed to be told. That is, will take away from your book?
Tby The Jewish Federation of true story of a secret Israeli operation the incredible odyssey of the Ethiopian To me, the most important thing is
Sarasota-Manatee, continues in April to bring Ethiopian Jews in getting to Israel. for readers to feel tremendous admira-
with three works based on historical Jews to Israel, using Although the Mossad tion for the people – Israeli and Ethio-
themes. The events begin on Tuesday, a fake holiday resort led the way, the mission pian Jews – in the story and how they
April 13 at 2:00 p.m. with Raffi Berg as a base of opera- couldn’t have been ac- managed to carry out this incredible
and his book, Red Sea Spies. This tions. Between 1979 complished without the operation. I hope people not only think
will be followed on Wednesday, April and 1983, the oper- heroism of the Ethiopi- it’s an exciting read, but also open their
14 at 2:00 p.m. with author Steven E. ation relocated more an Jews themselves. If minds to the Ethiopian Jews and real-
Zipperstein and his book, Law and than 28,000 Ethio- all that wasn’t enough, ize, like I did, what a special commu-
the Arab-Israeli Conflict. The month pian Jews to Israel, you’ve also got the in- nity they are. I want readers, when they
will wrap up on Thursday, April 15 at and Berg’s well-re- credible ruse of a fake get to the end of the book, to sit back
10:30 a.m. with Maurice Samuels and searched book stands diving resort used to and go “Wow!”
his book, The Betrayal of the Duchess. as the definitive ac- carry the mission out Steven E. Zipperstein /
Raffi Berg / Red Sea Spies count of this heroic under the noses of the Law and the Arab-Israeli Conflict
Raffi Berg is the Middle East editor for mission. unsuspecting enemy. So, Steven E. Zipperstein is the Daniel E.
the BBC News website, and has ex- What was it that I mean, what’s not to Koshland Professor in Jewish Culture
tensive experience reporting on Israel first attracted you to Raffi Berg like? and History at Stanford University.
and the wider region. His article, which the theme or subject of your book? What is the main challenge in He has also taught at universities in
scratched the surface of this story, was I knew straight away that I had writing a historically based work, Russia, Poland, France and Israel, and
the most-read original feature in the come across an astonishing story and how did you overcome those for six years, taught at Oxford Univer-
history of the BBC website, with more which has everything in it – drama, challenges? sity. For 16 years, he was director of
than seven million readers to date. Red danger, derring-do, bravery and stacks Writing this book had many big the Taube Center for Jewish Studies at
challenges – not just gathering a huge Stanford. He is the author and editor of
amount of recent and historical infor- eight books, including the award-win-
mation and piecing it together, but also ning The Jews of Odessa: A Cultural
responsibly and authentically repre- History and Pogrom: Kishinev and the
senting what took place. I Tilt of History. His ar-
knew I was writing about ticles have appeared in
real people, many of whom The New York Times
are still alive, many who Sunday Book Review,
lost friends and relatives, The Washington Post
agents who operated in se- and The New Repub-
crecy, some of whom were lic, among other pub-
more difficult to get to lications. His newest
than others. But if you’re book, Law and the
sincere, you earn people’s Arab-Israeli Conflict,
trust, which is what helped describes how, from
2020-2021
R
H
C
TORCH stacles. There is also the Steven E. Zipperstein Arabs, Jews and the
TO
the 1920s to the 1940s,
me overcome some ob-
problem of writing about
British all used the
law to gain leverage and influence in-
something where there will be people
SPONSORS
S P O N S O R S out there who know much more about ternational opinion.
What was it that first attracted
this or that than I do, so I had to do a
you to the theme or subject of your
lot of rigorous research and checking
technicalities to make sure everything
in the book is correct. book? continued on next page
For a complete schedule
of events, admission
information, author bios

E die and David Chaif e tz PEOPLE OF THE BOOK and book synopses,
Edie and David Chaifetz
L eon R. and M ar gar e t M. Ellin visit jfedsrq.org/books.
Leon R. and Margaret M. Ellin
Debbie and L arry H aspel
Debbie and Larry Haspel
Rosenthal Roots Family Foundation
R osen thal R oo ts F amily F oundation
S ylvia and N orman Same t
Sylvia and Norman Samet
Bunny and Mort Skirboll
Bunn y and M ort (z”l) Skirboll
(
z”l)
Hadassah and Martin Strobel
H
adassah and M
tr
obel
artin S
L ois S tulber g
Lois Stulberg

( and help fund crucial services for people in need here (
We offer our very deep appreciation
to our 2020-21 Season Torch Sponsors!
They support our Federation’s efforts to bring
quality events and programs to our local community

in Sarasota-Manatee, in Israel and around the world.

*As of 10/11/20