A poignant memory
Bill Lowenberg of San Francisco was in the audience at the Osher Marin JCC in San Rafael last month to hear his friend Deborah Lipstadt talk about the “new” anti-Semitism and her book “History on Trial: My Day in Court with a Holocaust Denier.”
Lipstadt told the audience that when she considered going to trial in a highly publicized libel lawsuit against Holocaust denier David Irving several years ago, she called Lowenberg, a Holocaust survivor, who immediately offered to raise some of the funds needed to fight the case.
In a particularly poignant moment, the history professor and author recalled that when the verdict went in her favor, she called Lowenberg to let him know. “Thank you, in the name of my parents,” was his heartfelt response.
Book notables
“Realm of Silence: Reflections on the Holocaust,” an art and poetry book by San Anselmo resident Elvire Coriat de Baere, was named the best art book of 2010 by the Bay Area Independent Publishers Association, reports her friend Barbara Schechner of San Rafael. … In April, journalist-author Frances Dinkelspiel was one of the “literary lights” honored by the S.F. Library’s Laureates Dinner, which has honored Bay Area authors for the past 14 years.
Girls and science
Rachel Sheinbein of San Francisco, Teri Perl of Palo Alto and Stacey Roberts-Ohr of Oakland were among the leaders of Oakland-based nonprofit Expanding Your Horizons Network at a gala event at the State Department in Washington, D.C., last month to accept a National Science Board Public Service Award for the organization.
EYH holds one-day conferences on college campuses around the country and overseas to motivate middle-school girls to pursue math and science careers. The conference workshops are all led by women: scientists, mathematicians and engineers. Among past winners of the prestigious award are Bayer Corporation and the PBS series “Nova.” For more information, visit www.expandingyourhorizons.org.
Short shorts …
Retiring Sinai Memorial Chapel executive Gene Kaufman loved the story about him in the June 4 j., but notes that there was one small error: It was his wife Susan’s father who drove the car on their first date, not his dad, because Susan asked Gene out. (FYI: It was a New Year’s Eve party in 1959) … The 27 students at Gan Halev in San Geronimo Valley received the usual accolades and certificates at the congregation’s commencement ceremonies this year, plus something more — hip, Jewish street-wear T-shirts. Teacher Heather Richardson found out about the shirts (produced by Santa Cruz–based Shalom Cultural Peace Project) in a j. business supplement … Martha Ann Wishnev of Concord was honored as a Woman of Distinction by the Diablo Valley chapter of Hadassah … Rabbi George Schlesinger of Santa Rosa Congregation Beth Ami and Rabbi Leslie Alexander, the community rabbi for the Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley, were among 48 rabbis receiving honorary doctorate degrees from the Jewish Theological Seminary last month … Cantor Linda Hirschhorn and the a cappella ensemble Vocolot will be among the entertainers, and Rabbi Henry Shreibman will be one of two emcees, at “A Musical Celebration of Spirit,” slated for 7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 24, at Unity in Marin, a church in Novato. The concert will feature three other groups. For tickets, visit www.marinifc.org.